Our nonprofit and nonpartisan League is powered by grassroots volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that democracy and democratic principles prevail which is why we love to share photos of our Leaguers in Action at community and school events. We've had an unprecedented number of tabling opportunities and want to make sure that we're fully prepared for a busy summer.
To do that, we're working on a new giving goal of $10k by June 15. Your $upport is greatly appreciated and will be thoughtfully used as we stand up for free and fair education for all, gun violence prevention, accessible housing, protecting individual rights, women's rights, natural resources, and more! Support us HERE
| | THIS MORNING, The US House of Representatives voted to approve $715 billion in cuts to Medicaid, the largest in history, after a 21-hour Rules committee hearing that began at 1 a.m.
WHAT COMES NEXT
The legislation will now be sent to the Senate; it IS NOT expected that the Senate will go through a standard committee process with their version of the bill, leaving a much shorter timeline to contact and advocate with Senators.
CALL EMAIL TEXT
| | | | The school year is winding down and with it, the last few of our Voter Service teams (in partnership with the Supervisor of Elections office) are completing their visits for outgoing senior graduates.
| | | | Shown above top-bottom, L-R: Timber Creek HS-Gina Hall, Virginia Meany; Freedom HS-Marbri Pereira and SOE intern, Victor Collazo, Karen Picciano; Horizon HS-Michele Stone, John Chapman from SOE, Nancy Nix; Boone HS-Martha Kesler, Mary Hardy, Marsha Davis, Bob Leger | | May 20th marked the 160 year anniversary of Florida's Emancipation Day reading by Union Troops in Tallahassee. The 2nd annual Emancipation Day Celebration by the City of Apopka was at Alonzo Williams Park, a fun family event with great musical entertainment. Shown right, LWVOC members Melva Bentley Ross, Mary Dysart, Saudi Ellis and Blondell Smith provided voter outreach. Shown left, Apopka City Commissioner Alex Smith and LWVOC member Aiesha Blyden stopped by in support, and middle, an enthusiastic event attendee. |  |  | RECAP of last week's Hot Topics is ready including a review written by Judi Hayes, a full photo album by Carol Wonsavage, plus "calls to action" ideas from our panelists. In addition, you can watch a recording of the event on YouTube here!
BELOW, more photos from last week's Hot Topics, left to right Jeanette Lambert and Kay Hudson who organized the food donation drive for Hope CommUnity Center; Nicole Abbondandolo (Central FL Public Media Dev. Dir.), Linda Chapin (former Orange County Mayor), Lee Rambeau Kemp (LWVOC 1st VP) |  | June's Hot Topics is filled with pride! Check out our impressive panel and all the details, plus register yourself and friends for next month's "Pride under Attack" by visiting our Hot Topics page.
- MODERATOR: Gina Duncan, president and CEO of the Pride Chamber of Greater Orlando
- Dr. George Wallace, CEO of The LGBTQ+ Center Orlando
- Heather Wilkie, exec. dir. of Zebra Youth
- Nathan Bruemmer, attorney and board member of Equality Florida
- Gabriella Rodriguez, exec. dir. of QLatinx
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| The AANHPI community is a diverse and growing population that make up about 7 percent of the total U.S. population. Orange County now has the largest AANHPI population with over 95,000 in Florida. AANHPI Heritage Month 2025 events in Orange County will take place through Saturday, May 31.
Throughout the history of our nation, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have helped shape America's character, becoming a vital asset to the Central Florida community while contributing to the economic growth and cultural enrichment of our region.
| | | | Shown below, LWVOC members (Kathy Schmitz, Lee Rambeau Kemp, Marilyn Baldwin, Ricky Ly, and LWVFL Co-President Cecile Scoon) taking part in local AANHPI events including celebrations of culture and the impact of this important community in central Florida. |  | | There are
no names
this week
which means you
should invite your
friends to join us!
Visit JOIN HERE and learn about becoming a Leaguer! |  |
Cassandra McAdams, Giving Society
Pamela Lindon, Giving Society
Harold Rhoads, Giving Society
Margie Varney, LWVOC Fund
Elizabeth K. Bosserman, Giving Society
REMEMBER, if you're joining or renewing on the national site, COME BACK and
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Want to Serve as a LWVOC Delegate?
LWVOC is allowed up to 30 delegates to the state convention and has funds to pay the registration fee for 25 of them. Priority in serving goes to Board Members and Committee Chairs first and then is open to the general membership. If you are interested in attending as a delegate, please email Kathy Schmitz at president@lwvoc.org and indicate whether or not you would be seeking reimbursement. To be reimbursed for the $285 registrations fee, you will need to attend the full event and afterwards, submit a brief report.
Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in our Convention Plenary and vote on our 2025–2027 Program, 2025–2026 budget, 2025–2027 LWVFL Board of Directors and Nominating Committee, and submitted bylaws amendments.
ORANGE COUNTY LEAGUERS: Those of us in LWVOC won't need a place to stay but those coming from around the state will. If you are able to offer housing to someone attending convention, please click HERE to fill out a "hospitality form" and we will do our best to match you as LWV of Orange County Welcomes the State!
(FYI: There is a block of rooms at the convention hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, in Downtown Orlando, at 60 S Ivanhoe Blvd, Orlando, FL 32804. For those who don't know, this is adjacent to the Florida LWV offices in the Conduit.) | | Floridians for National Popular Vote invites you to attend a special pre-event workshop at the 40th Biennial State Convention of the League of Women Voters of Florida
• Date: Thursday, June 5 2025
• Time: 1:30pm - 5pm ET, Dinner to Follow
• Location: Orlando Doubletree Hotel, 60 S. Ivanhoe Blvd, Orlando (meeting room TBD)
• Registration: 1:00pm, Orlando Doubletree
FREE to league members, community partners and interested parties. This is an independent program which does not require participation in the LWVFL Convention. There will be a Caucus during the LWV Florida Convention on June 6 as well for those attending the Convention. Pat Rosenstiel will speak at both events.
| | |  | | LWVOC Homelessness Study 2025
Members of the Orange County League are expressing increased interest in being part of the conversation surrounding homelessness in our community, particularly with regard to the options available to our unsheltered neighbors. The conversation intensified following the March 12 Hot Topics, Unsheltered: Criminalized and Cast Aside, and the subsequent public meetings about shelter proposals in SoDo (South of Downtown) and East Orlando.
While members can support or oppose proposals as individuals, when we speak as a League, we base our advocacy on positions developed through a study and consensus process. To give the League more grounding going forward, we will be conducting a short and intense study.
This will begin with the assembling of a task force to gather information and create summaries and study guides. We expect this first phase to be completed in August. In September and October, during Phase 2, information will be available to all League members to review and discuss, with the goal of coming to some common understanding on what the League will and will not support.
Anyone interested in being part of Phase I, in small ways or large, can contact one of the co-presidents, Jane Hursh (co-president@lwvoc.org) or Kathy Schmitz (president@lwvoc.org).
Visit the Hot Topics RECAP here to find out more about how the LWVOC is highlighting the issue. | 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. | |