Co-President Jane Hursh was recently interviewed about the SAVE America Act and its impact on voter access. “You know, in our very core, the mission of the League is to empower voters, and what the SAVE Act would do is actually add another barrier to voting,” said Jane Hursh, the co-president of the League of Women Voters.
Her group [LWVOC] aims to educate Floridians about upcoming elections.
“The SAVE Act, quite simply, is trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist," Hursh said. "What it would require of already registered voters would be additional documents to prove what they've already proven by having registered to vote previously.”
Watch Jane (shown below) in action on Spectrum 13 News HERE. |  | | Although LWVOC is known for its monthly Hot Topics (and next month's is going to be great), we also do non-traditional programs. This week, the Fund Development Committee hosted an evening event "Is the sun setting on clean water?" Our guests were former LWVOC/LWVFL President Deirdre Macnab and Rollins College Assoc. Professor and author Dr. Leslie Poole. Sue Foreman graciously hosted the event at her home, and it was quite a turnout! Don't miss the next one, especially if your schedule needs evening or weekend hours! View full photo album HERE Shown above top-bottom, l-r: Jane Hursh, Deirdre Macnab, Leslie Poole, Rick Wack, Lee Rambeau Kemp, Sue Foreman, Deirdre, Leslie, Sue, Katie Sanders, Nancy Galyen, Barbara Knapp, Leslie; Photography by Carol Wonsavage | | | |
The Healthcare System We've
Chosen to Keep
"United States spends nearly $5 trillion annually on healthcare — more than any other nation — yet many Americans still struggle with affordability and transparency. By exploring industry consolidation, complex pricing structures, and the slow pace of structural reform, the piece argues that meaningful change will require sustained, informed civic engagement rather than short-term political reactions. It is a call not for outrage, but for persistence — reminding readers that long-term reform in complex systems demands the steady involvement of engaged citizens."
| | | Leaguer Kamalakar Shenai writes about healthcare with a personal perspective. After being diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney failure, subsequent dialysis and eventually, a kidney transplant, he's literally been on the front lines of a medical journey. Read more HERE. Also, we congratulate him upon his recent appointment to the Board of Trustees for the UCF Lake Nona Hospital. | |
Second shift at Oak Ridge: (Front) Gina Hall, Marsha Davis; (Back) Mary Ann Coffey, Nancy Nix, Sheila from the SOE, Patricia O'Neill
Not pictured: First shift: Betty Saulpaugh, Winnie Hogue, Emily Glickstein, Karen Picciano | | |  | |
Our RECAP from last week's Hot Topics is live! Watch the professionally recorded program on YouTube and read the full RECAP here with a review, bios of the panelists, photos and CALLS to ACTION!
|  | SAVE the DATE ~ March 11
We have another incredible panel scheduled for next month's Hot Topics!
Making History: Women Lead the Judiciary
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Adopt-a-Precinct 2026
Attention all past Adopt-a-Precinct volunteers, and those that would like to join our dedicated teams. We were not assigned a precinct for the municipal elections this March but expect to be participating in full force for the Midterms - the August 18th Primary and the November 3rd General Election. Please mark those dates on your calendars. Veterans, I will be in touch soon.
Potential new poll workers, please contact me - Mary Montanus at mcmontanus@gmail.com. Take this personal opportunity to join together in support of the security and integrity of our elections. | | | BE INVOLVED in a different way!
1. Logic & Accuracy Testing at the Orange County SOE's office on Feb. 26 at 10AM. Logic & Accuracy Testing of voting equipment is performed prior to every election per FL law and the public is invited to view this process. Here is the link to register thru our voter outreach partner All Voting is Local:
View form HERE
2. Poll Monitor Training (Virtual) is being offered from the Florida Election Protection Coalition (FLEPC). Poll Monitors volunteer at election sites and monitor activity for voting rights violations. The training is free and there is no obligation to volunteer at a site. Training dates and links HERE
| More Volunteer Opportunities | | Observer Corps
Volunteers observe council meetings (via Zoom or in person) and submit for Gov. committee. Check the Volunteer page for Orlando and Apopka opportunities.
Hot Topics Merch Table
Once a month, come a little early to Hot Topics to set up and manage a table selling our League branded merchandise. Upcoming opportunities in March and April
>>Click How to Volunteer video for easy instructions! Volunteer opportunities are open to League members only.
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High School Voter Registration and Speaker Presentations
We partner with Student Government Associations (SGA) at lunchtime to register students to vote and often with staff from the Supervisor of Elections office. All volunteers must have taken and passed the LWVFL Voter Registration Assistance Quiz and be registered with Orange County Public Schools as ADDitions Volunteers for whichever high school you're volunteering for.
| | | NEEDED: Voter Outreach volunteers who speak Spanish or Haitian Creole!! Please contact>> Saudi Ellis | | |  |  @LWVFlorida is launching its virtual book club on Feb. 27, 2026 as part of our statewide initiative to build trust within our communities and strengthen Floridians’ ability to engage in civil dialogue. We’re excited to connect with our neighbors and discuss High Conflict by Amanda Ripley. You don’t want to miss this book club! RSVP at bit.ly/LWVFLBookClub_Feb.
|  | From our friends at Equality Florida: The Anti-Diversity in Local Government bill would ban, repeal, and defund any local government programming, policy, or activity that provides “preferential treatment or special benefits” or is “designed or implemented” with respect to race, color, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Despite carve-outs, many threats remain, including to City and County promotion, funding, or support for: Come Out With Pride , Orlando Latino Fest , Central Florida Jewish Film Festival, Language translation regarding government services – 33% of Orange County residents are Hispanic/Latino and should have full access to services, and Pulse Remembrance Proclamations
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 | Is it RENEWAL time for you? We learned in December that some of our members may have thought that their membership was up to date but this was actually NOT the case. If you have not renewed recently, please visit the LWVUS portal HERE to confirm your membership is still active. Thank you for your support! We could not do this without you!
If you have any questions please reach out to Katie Sanders, our Operations Manager at operationsmanager@lwvoc.org.
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Our Nominating Committee is in the process of interviewing prospective members of the 2026-2027 Board of Directors. Our board guides our priorities, encourages members in their activism and supports League efforts to defend democracy. If you feel called to serve the League in this capacity, please contact Kay Hudson lwvkay@gmail.com or any member of the Nominating Committee: Sandi Vidal, Gina Hall, Kathy Sheeran and Joan Erwin. | | |
| |  | | Kamilah Perry
Cherlynn Williams
Samantha Tucker
Jennifer Bondy
Rachel Joyce
Eric Schrimshaw
Paul Snatchko
Janet Leavens
Share this newsletter and encourage your friends and family to JOIN HERE
*Current members, don't forget that you'll be renewing through our national LWVUS site! Watch your email for reminders! |  |
LWVOC offers multiple ways to $upport our non-profit with giving preferences such as "planned giving" as well as our "Giving Society". Explore these and more on our Giving page HERE. Contact Lee Rambeau Kemp if you have questions. | | |
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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