 | | Does it seem too early to be thinking about back-to-school? We think not as education consistently remains at the top of news cycles as a hot topic. Nationally, we hear about the Department of Education and its possible demise. Statewide, Florida's teachers rank 50th in the nation for average teacher pay...two years in a row. Orange County Public Schools recently announced a projected loss of 3,130 students in the 2025-26 year, which will result in a $27.8 million loss in state funding and require cutbacks in all departments.
The AUG 13th Hot Topics panel will look at a voucher law that helps parents pay for homeschooling or private schools and also will discuss how public school students and the community are being adversely affected. These programs and how education money is being siphoned from public schools will be the focus of the League of Women Voters of Orange County’s Aug. 13 Hot Topics lunch and panel discussion — “Diverted Dollar$: The Real Cost of School Choice.”
Doors open at 10:30 a.m. at the Winter Park Events Center for a buffet lunch. The discussion starts at 11:45 a.m. at 1050 W. Morse Blvd. in Winter Park and ends at 1 p.m. Tickets are $30 for League members, $37 non-members.
|  | Beth Kassab, editor of the Winter Park Voice will be moderator for the AUG 13 Hot Topics. Panelists include:
- Stephanie Vanos, member of the OCPS School Board
- Annie Martin, an investigative reporter for the Orlando Sentinel with extensive work on education stories
- Dr. Norín Dollard, Senior Policy Analyst with Florida Policy Institute
- Dr. Tashanda Brown-Cannon, Chief Academic Officer at OCPS
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CLICK below to view a short "how-to video" on our YouTube channel and start your volunteering era with the League.
JULY 17, 11:30am, Government Committee Zoom Mtg.
MEMBERS ONLY-Special guest, FL House of Representatives-Dist. 42, Dr. Anna V. Eskamani
Details HERE
JULY 19, 9am, Gun Lock Giveaway
John Bridges Community Ctr., Apopka
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Check Volunteering Opportunities page often and sign up. *We table and sometimes provide power points to provide voter registration and civic information at the following opportunities. For Voter Registration, you must have taken and passed the League voter registration test HERE
JULY 19, 9am, Gun Lock Giveaway
John Bridges Community Ctr.
JULY 26, 8:15am, Back to School
Bithlo Community Center
| | | | |  | | Unity Corner Dedication
The larger-than-life bronze statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, titled "Ripple," and memorial which includes a memory wall displaying quotes from Dr. King and the names of the Black families who were originally displaced from the land in the 1950s, was dedicated July 12 in Winter Park. In attendance were many League members including (shown left) Lee Rambeau Kemp, LWVOC 1st VP. as she and others worked closely with the CWP for this tribute to the history of Lake Island Park. |  | Coined by civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis, "Good Trouble" is the action of coming together to take peaceful, non-violent action to challenge injustice and create meaningful change. Good Trouble is marches, protests, service work – any action where communities come together, take a stand against wrongdoings, and speak truth to power.
LWVUS is supporting this year’s efforts as a national partner. READ these "Preparing for a Protest" tips before event. | | |
LWVOC members were in attendance at Tuesday's Board of Orange County Commissioner's Meeting speaking out about many topics including ICE and immigrant detention, retaining the rural boundary and growth planning, etc. View the full video recording of the meeting HERE and read the agenda HERE.
Shown top to bottom l. to r.: LWVOC Co-President Kathy Schmitz, Leaguers Linda Coffin, Eugene Stoccardo, Kay Hudson, Jim Erwin | | |
Visionary Sponsors 2025 Jennifer and Phil Anderson challenge you to another WINNING match! Thanks to their generosity, we are pleased to announce that ANY GIFT you make this summer by July 31st will be doubled by a matching grant up to $25,000.
Your gift can provide twice the resources that will be greatly needed as we face a tumultuous summer of our democracy being tested in ways that most of us have never seen. Read more about our work here. And click below to see our 2024-2025 Annual Report that details our success.
| | MAKE TWICE THE IMPACT
Two sets down, one to go! We're at $16k plus and on the way to "win this match." We are so grateful to the supporters who are stepping up to the baseline for this summer matching campaign.
THANK YOU to the donors shown below! Join them and GIVE HERE
**Also, please note that we are challenging each of our LWVOC Committees to raise $1000 in this effort. If you're a committee member, make note of it when you give!
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Nancy A. Nix, in memory of Terry Gillam, a devoted volunteer of the LWVOC
Kay Hudson, in memory of Terry Gillam
Emily L. Glickstein, in memory of Sandra Powers
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Saudi M. Ellis, Giving Society, in memory of Terry Gillam for her tireless devotion to Voter Services
Linda and Skip Dalton, Giving Society, in honor of the Voter Services Committee |
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Virginia M. Meany, Giving Society, in honor of the DEIA Committee
Nancy C. Weinsier, generous donation to the LWVOC Fund |
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| Terry Gillam's "Celebration of Life" will be held SEPT 28, 2:00-4:00pm, Leu Gardens
As so many of you continue to contribute "in memory" of League members, enjoy this throwback from 2012 of (l.-r.) Terry Gillam and former LWVOC Co-President Sandra Powers shown with Barbara Siry.
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Ana-Chris Acosta Gaspar de Alba
April Gavin
James Langford
Visit JOIN HERE and learn about becoming a Leaguer!
SHARE this newsletter with your social and family circle so they can see the great benefits of becoming a Leaguer!
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We extend a heartfelt WELCOME to our newest Hot Topics Silver Sponsor,
The Kindred Three. Thank you for your support! | Sponsors are vital to our work to empower voters by providing timely information for the benefit of non-partisan civic engagement in our community and we have a range of sponsorship levels available. To further explore how to become a sponsor, please contact LWVOC Vice President and Fund Development Chair Lee Rambeau Kemp HERE
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