 | Two months! The federal election is two months from today! The last two months have been a wild ride and the next two promise to be no less exciting. (Keep scrolling to see the wild ride in action when it comes to next week's Hot Topics!) For those of us invested in empowering voters and defending democracy, this is a busy time. Some are busy supporting specific candidates while others are focused on issues. Here at the League, our focus is getting out the vote. Our teams are making sure that Orange County citizens eligible to vote are registered, well-informed, and ready to make their voices heard. We are tabling at community events and presenting in schools, to seniors, and for community groups… on voting in general and of the MANY ballot questions (see what's happening this Saturday as we ponder those questions) that will be before us this Fall. We are preparing to adopt our precincts, recycling elections signs, and keeping of award-winning VOTE411.org up to date with trusted information for all voters.
If you are a League member, find your ways to be involved on the Volunteer tab on our website. If you are not, consider joining or supporting us, and, of course, be sure to vote!
Yours in Service,
Kathy | LWVOC DEIA Alert: Next Monday kicks off National Disability Voting Rights Week, hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities and REV UP. DVRW is about advocacy, celebrating community, and building power. The disability community is an important voting bloc that can pack a powerful punch to elections, but individuals are often challenged in obtaining voter information and getting to the polls. Disabled voters are a part of every community, yet systemic barriers prevent many people with disabilities from accessing their right to vote.
ACTION PLAN: We invite all League members to consider who they may know and how they can help voters with disabilities increase their participation. Make contact directly and ask what their plan is for voting. Offer to help in any way possible to get them voter information VOTE411.org, register for vote by mail, or transport them to their polling precinct. Read this article by DEIA Co-Chair Marilyn Baldwin and share it.
Please take the time to make the connection with any individuals or groups that could use our resources and/or assistance. Thank you!! |
This Saturday, Sept 7, 9am-noon
Discussion of the 10 Amendments on the ballot regarding the League's endorsements.
Broadway Methodist Church
306 E. Amelia St, Orlando
Sept 11, Hot Topics-State Attorney Candidate Forum
The political drama with this race continues with the field down to two candidates.
| | Sept 14, Ballots and Bites, 10am-2pm
Community Voter Forum featuring Speakers Bureau Co-Chair Denise Burton
J.R. Smith Ctr, 1723 Bruton Blvd, Orlando | | |
Sept 18, FILMtalk Documentary Series
Film screening with Q/A director's reception post-film
Rollins College Bush Auditorium
| | OCT 15, Fall League Showcase, 6PM
New Member Welcome to the League
Winter Park Community Center
| | | Wow! Hot Topics got even hotter! Register HERE The Republican candidate for state attorney has WITHDRAWN from the race. Seth Hyman endorsed NPA candidate Andrew Bain, which means that next week's forum features NPA candidate Bain and Monique Worrell, the Democratic candidate. Register HERE | | LWVOC is partnering with the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority on Saturday 9/14/24 for Ballots & Bites, a community voter forum. Speakers Bureau Co-Chair Denise Burton will be presenting and Voter Services volunteers will be tabling. | Register HERE It's an evening event!! The League of Women Voters of Orange County announces a new documentary discussion series, the first of which will be held Sept. 18 at Rollins College as part of the 2024 Global Peace Film Festival. FILMtalk will pair the screening of an award-winning documentary with a reception afterward with food, wine and a discussion with the film director. Click HERE for more details.
Use the discount code LEA24 when purchasing tickets on the GPFF site and they will donate $5 to LWVOC for each ticket.
| | The 4th Annual BLK Joy Festival held at Lorna Doone Park on Saturday 8/24/24. The festival is sponsored by the Black Health Commission, a group of dynamic young black health professionals whose mission is to bring awareness and education to health disparities in the black community. Volunteers were Saudi Ellis, Tara Russakov, Trish Bowman, Victor Collazo, Nancy Nix and Terri Osborne. League members supporting the festival were Orlando D-5 City Comm. Shan Rose and Traci Blue of Bright Community Trust. | | The mission of our LWVOC Targeted Outreach Team Subcommittee (TOTS) is to provide voter outreach to underserved communities. The homeless population is a unique challenge and a voter registration/outreach event was held at the Christian Service Center at 808 W. Central Blvd. Voter Services members Patrice Cherico, Saudi Ellis, Marsha Davis, Terry Creighton, and LWVOC President Kathy Schmitz assisted dozens of individuals experiencing homelessness with vote registration assistance. Election 2024 is in full effect! | | SEPT Leadership Workshop
The Level-Up League Leadership Workshop Series (Level-Up) aims to identify potential future leaders and to provide tools to increase their activity and involvement in League programs and processes. This program stems from the strategic plan and requests from membership to learn more about civic engagement and League leadership roles.
Members of the League, the Board of Directors, and Committee Chairs are invited to identify potential candidates before September 11, 2024 and invited to apply and/or to nominate individuals to the program. Application Form HERE
| | |  | | Local Government Makes All the Difference! Study Hall - SAT, Sept 7, 9:00am- 12:00pm
It's time to to study the work of the 2024 Charter review Committee. Your smarts are needed!
Join the Government Committee, Transportation and Natural Resources Committees to learn about the details and effects of the 10 Orange County Charter Amendments on our ballots in November. We’ll prepare a presentation to the LWVOC Board to help them determine the League’s endorsements in the 2024 election season.
Broadway Methodist Church
306 E. Amelia St. Orlando FL 32803 |  | League leadership periodically submits op-eds to local news outlets. Two of their latest:
Marilyn Baldwin, Co-chair DEIA Committee
Support Voting Rights for People with Disabilities
Rev. Kathy Schmitz, President and LWVFL Co-Presidents Cecile Scoon and Debbie Chandler
Support Education with one "No" and one "Yes"
If unable to access above articles, we've loaded them into a document HERE. | | |
 | Special Alert! The Voter Services team is fielding multiple requests for Leaguers to "table" at community events with voting information and they invite all members to join their efforts!
To register voters, members must pass the certification test and then they can volunteer at events. Certification training and testing information can be found on the Voter Services Committee page CLICK HERE
New Voter Services members will be partnered with experienced members at tabling events and community activities to learn how to engage citizens as well as become familiar with the various policies and procedures we must follow. Click on the committee link above or reach out to our Co-Chairs if you'd like to learn more: Kathy Sheerin or Gina Hall | SIGN UP HERE! Members, be sure you're logged into the system and visit our site page for ALL the available openings.
|  | | Maxine Goldman
Meadow Good
Blondell Smith
Aiesha Blyden
Owen Bednar
Jose Conejo
Magdala St. Jean
Carla Bresnahan
Share this newsletter and invite your family and social circles to JOIN the League of Women Voters of Orange County!
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Judy K. Wood
Visit our Donor page to see the many different ways you can support the League of Women Voters of Orange County. Double Your Gift Campaign happening now! | | |
| With the primary and presidential elections around the corner, we hope you have plugged into the power of your vote to protect democracy.
Jennifer and Phil Anderson are back! Thanks to their generosity, we are pleased to announce that any gift you make by November 5 will be doubled by a matching grant up to $25,000.
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Why Give? Your financial support fuels our mission to educate, empower, and advocate for informed and active voters. As we strive to build a democracy that works for everyone, your donation becomes a catalyst for positive change. Your gift supports:
Voter Empowerment: We are dedicated to providing unbiased and comprehensive information to voters. Your donation bolsters information and education initiatives, allowing voters to make more informed choices at the ballot box.
Civic Engagement Programs: Our community outreach and educational programs encourage active participation in civic life. Your support helps organize events and community forums that foster dialogue and engagement among community members.
Advocating for Democracy: The League of Women Voters of Orange County is a relentless advocate for policies that enhance democracy and protect the rights of all citizens. Your gift adds your voice as an advocate for positive change.
Accessible Elections: We work tirelessly to ensure that elections are accessible to all citizens. Your gift helps eliminate barriers to voting and promotes fair and inclusive elections.
Ways You Can Make a Difference
One-Time Gift: A single gift has a significant impact on our programs and initiatives.
Sustaining Gift: Join our community of sustaining donors by making a monthly, quarterly or annual commitment to support our goal for a vibrant democracy.
Corporate or Individual Sponsorship: Partner with us to promote social responsibility and contribute to the betterment of our community. |  | Sponsors are vital to our work to empower voters by providing timely information for the benefit of non-partisan civic engagement in our community.
To further explore how becoming a Hot Topics Sponsor can align with your business goals, please contact LWVOC Vice President, Lee Rambeau Kemp HERE
A range of sponsorship levels are available. | |