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I want to get out there and DO something!
You've probably seen that marches and meetings are happening across the country. If you're an advocate who wants to be amongst other like-minded thinkers, consider these events (not LWVOC sponsored):
- Saturday, April 5 there are rallies for democracy planned across the nation. Locally, an event is planned at Orlando City Hall at 2 pm that day.
- Saturday, April 12, there will be an Assembly for Action. It will be at First Unitarian Church of Orlando (1901 E. Robinson St) from 4-7pm. LWVOC President Kathy Schmitz will be offering a workshop on avoiding burnout.
- Sign Up for available Voter Services slots highlighted in our Events below.
I can only HELP from home. What can I DO?
Local Leaguers have an opportunity to help shape a new national League position on the federal judiciary. The goal is a position that outlines the values – the standards and norms – the LWV should use in evaluating proposed changes to policies, laws, and regulations about the federal judiciary. We have scheduled a local discussion for local members via Zoom on Tuesday, April 8. Please register HERE to receive the information packet with background materials to review ahead of time.
I'm ready to LEARN more about my League!
Next week's Annual Meeting is a great opportunity to meet other Leaguers and participate in our yearly "business meeting" while also hearing from an important local leader, the newly elected Supervisor of Elections! Register HERE
|  | | In lieu of Hot Topics, we will be hosting our Annual Membership Meeting at that time and space. SAVE THE DATE, April 9 and join us for a special presentation from newly elected SOE Karen Castor Dentel (also a longtime Leaguer) as well as our annual business meeting.
| | APR 8, 6pm, Tues
Federal Judiciary Study
Zoom mtg.
Members Only
APR 9, 11am, Weds
LWVOC Annual Meeting
Special presentation & business meeting
| | APR 16, 7pm, Wed
DEIA Social Justice Book Club
MAY 1, 5pm, Thurs
NPV, What exactly is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?
Check the calendar for all upcoming Committee meetings (most on Zoom) and become an active Leaguer!
| | | Special Alert! We have many VOLUNTEER OPPPORTUNITIES available and need your help! Check the page often and sign up.
*We table and sometimes provide power points to provide voter registration and civic information at the following opportunities. You must have taken and passed the League voter registration test HERE
APR 7, begins at 7am
Jones High School, student presentation & registration
APR 18, begins at 7am
Edgewater High School, student presentation & registration
Other community event dates available for tabling include APR 12, 19, 25, 16
VISIT our Volunteering Site Page regularly and play an important part of Defending Democracy and as you can see below, have a fun day with your fellow Leaguers! | 6th Annual Women's History Breakfast~ A sold out crowd celebrated local women pioneers who have broken the glass ceiling of central Florida politics last week. LWVOC co-sponsored the event and League President Rev. Kathy Schmitz also spoke: "We can honor these women leaders by continuing our work to bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice; it's needed now more than ever."
VIEW the event photo album and READ a summary of the event HERE.
Shown above L-R: honorees Glenda Hood, Mabel Butler, Martha O. Haynie, Linda Chapin; History Center Exec. Dir. Azela Santana, Mayor Jerry Demings, Wendy Wallenberg |  | | "Meet the new generation of political activists—armed with facts, fueled by passion!"
Shown, the interactive Politics on Tap Event last week at Rollins College presented by the Democracy Project. Topic: current immigration policy and it's impact on students, families and the most vulnerable, touching many aspects of life, including health care, education and legal resources. The Rollins DP members are LWVOC members and work with Terry Osborne and Pam Lindon. The three participating panelists: Oscar Muñiz from Florida Farm Workers Association; Gisselle Martinez, co-founder and legal director of the Orlando Center for Justice; Katie Alonso Associate Director of International Student and Scholar Services.
ENCOURAGE the students you know to JOIN the League. We'll cover the co$t for them! |  | "Celebrate past generations of political activists—they've been determined to defend democracy for decades!"
LEAGUE TREASURES is an occasional series from the Membership and History committees saluting Orange County Leaguers who have been members for more than a quarter of a century. We’re proud that the LWVOC and its activities have been so rich and vital to our community that members have continued their commitment over decades. We salute these League Treasures and the inspiration we find in their stories. (Shown above, Linda Chapin and author of the series, Ann Patton)
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 | | Emily Raucci
Gayley Lauteria
Janice Leger
Aleena Reddy
Nancy Jo Mannix
Amanda Zawadski
Not a member yet? Visit JOIN HERE and learn about becoming a Leaguer! |  |
Lauren Zelek, "in honor of Bob & Beth Carroll for teaching me the importance of community service"
Cassandra McAdams, a Giving Society gift
Diana L. Smith, generous gift to LWVOC Fund
Ann Hicks Murrah, a Giving Society gift, "in honor of the LWVOC Officers"
REMEMBER, if you're joining or renewing on the national site, COME BACK and
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DONORS Continued:
Eugene Stoccardo Tilly Starling Carolina Lofgren Jeanette Lockington
Marilee Emerson Melinda Wright Gayley Lauteria Nanci Adler
Rachel Allen Sheila Miller
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READ a recent "letter to the editor" by Judi Hayes as well as previous pieces. If you're interested in learning more about HOW to write and submit your own, reach out to Ann Patton.
These are timely commentaries (personal submissions) authored by Leaguers featured recently in local news outlets.
TOPICS include immigration, democracy, election law...basically, EVERYTHING that the League is fighting FOR and AGAINST! | | | SPECIAL "Take Action" Alerts Now Available from Pres. Kathy Schmitz
“Alert lists” are open to both LWVOC members and non-members. They are a way to share timely opportunities, for example, upcoming rallies, volunteer needs, or urgent legislative actions. To keep email volume down, only I, or someone I specify, will be posting to this list.
“Sharing lists” are an additional option for LWVOC members. Within guidelines that will be posted, anyone who joins one of these lists will be able to post. Guidelines will focus on posting actionable information, avoiding debate, and maintaining a respectful tone.
Current topics are Immigration, Housing & Poverty, Women’s Issues & Health Care, and Defending Democracy
To sign up for any of the lists, fill out this simple form HERE.
|  |  | 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. |  |  | | Statewide call to action: The League of Women Voters supports the Florida Right to Clean Water campaign, a citizens' initiative to amend the Florida Constitution with the right to clean and healthy waters. If our current laws were working, then we wouldn’t have manatees dying in record numbers, 80% of our 1000 springs impaired, and harmful blue-green algae and red tide in greater frequency and duration. A constitutional right takes precedence over legislation that permits pollution, restricts fertilizer bans, and allows radioactive materials to be used in our roads. Create a legacy for the future of our waters!
The Right to Clean Water! In support of establishing our basic right to clean and healthy water, LWVOC has committed to helping get this citizen initiative on the 2026 ballot. Please sign your own petition. Those who signed prior to 2024 will need to sign the new petition.
Learn how YOU can become an active volunteer here: https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/resources | |