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Armchair activist? We have an assignment for you! At Hot Topics, we often ask our panelists, "Do you have a call to action for the League of Women Voters of Orange County and its 800+ members?"
At our March Hot Topics the women leading our local justice system gave a clear and urgent answer: Use your voices to demand increased funding for our court system to keep pace with the growing population of our area.
In response, we’ve created two important petitions: one directed to Florida legislators, who will begin a special budget session on May 12th, and another to the Florida Attorney General’s office, calling for the restoration of Victims of Crime Act funding to support victims of domestic abuse.
You can help make a real difference. Sign these petitions today and share this link with your network to send a powerful message on behalf of our community. Together, we can amplify our voices and demand the change we need.
|  | But wait, there's MORE! Public Defender Melissa Vickers also participated in our March Hot Topics and she encouraged Leaguers to get more involved with her office. Here's a great opportunity for Leaguers or local volunteers.
The Public Defender's Office is looking for licensed mental health, counselors, psychiatrists, and or psychologists to volunteer for a pilot program at the juvenile detention center in Orange County. The ask is for 3 to 5 hours each week. If you’re interested in learning more about this pilot program, please contact Melissa Vickers at Mvickers@circuit9.org | | |  |  | | On Saturday, May 2nd, the League of Women Voters Orange County received the Dr. Dorothy Height Social Justice Award for voter outreach and civic engagement in our community. The award was presented at the Central FL Section of the National Council of Negro Women's Annual Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Black Rose Scholarship and Community Awards Luncheon. Co-President Kathy Sheerin accepted the award from League member and CFS-NCNW member Saudi Ellis. Pictured are OC D-6 Commissioner Mike Scott, Saudi Ellis, Kathy Sheerin, and Pres. Carole Davis and 1st VP Dr. Delores Grant of CFS-NCNW. | | Orlando, The City's Magazine honors 2026 Women of the Year
“Leadership isn’t about avoiding hard conversations. It’s about approaching them with transparency, empathy and integrity.” ~Jennifer Cook (seated), a Leaguer since 2018, recognized for her leadership and contributions to her industry and community. Big applause, everyone for Jennifer!
Read about Jennifer and all the honorees: Orlando Women of the Year 2026, Orlando Magazine,From left: Deb Krekel, Jamie Merrill, Jennifer Cook, Azela Santana. | | | | Leaguers have opinions and they're being shared in our local news media. We keep an archive of our Leaguers' opinion essays on our site HERE but enjoy these few below that were posted recently in the media as well as shared with us. |  | Longtime Leaguer Ricky Ly shares Pres. Eisenhower's cautionary statement about the very real and detrimental COST of war.
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 | What is a "responsible" gun owner? Val Mobley - Sensible gun legislation is almost impossible in the US. The gun manufacturers have Congressional approval to NOT be regulated. The ammunition industry is out of control. Who needs an assault rifle with a 100-round cylinder?
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 | Accidents or Preventable? Linda Coffin - When a child gains access to a loaded firearm and pulls the trigger, it is not random or unavoidable—it is a failure of prevention. These are preventable shootings, and the language we use matters because it shapes what we accept.
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| The Untold Story, Kam Shenai - Every May, AAPI Heritage Month arrives, and the conversation follows a predictable script: discrimination, hate crimes, and immigration struggles. These are real and they matter. We must never look away from injustice. But that is not the whole story. There is another story.
| | |  | We honor the rich cultures, vibrant histories, and incredible contributions of AAPI communities, especially those here in central Florida. Learn more about this year's theme: Power in Unity |  | The Social Justice Book Club is sponsoring a community read in June. We have selected the book Homelessness is a Housing Problem: How Structural Factors Explain US Patterns by Gregg Colburn and Clayton Page.
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 | | Mary Swain Landreth
Helen Icardi
Hannah Miller
Shakhea Hinton
Catherine Hinman
Lisa Munyon
Rylee Goodyear
|  | Diane H. Burns, In memory of Yvonne Hubbard
Joyce C. Romano
Barbara C. Knapp
Lisa Adkins
Suzanne M. Martin
Lynn F. Nelson
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| A generous donor has offered a $25,000 Match, doubling every contribution!
Every dollar you give DOUBLES the power of our actions to:
· Register, inform and mobilize voters for the upcoming elections
· Provide nonpartisan voter information that people trust through VOTE411.org, our Speakers Bureau, Hot Topics, and candidate forums and
· Advocate in Tallahassee for fair and accessible elections.
Double your Impact HERE | | | | So popular that we may have to close registrations soon!
Signed, sealed, suppressed? Let's talk about it next week with our very experienced and knowledgeable panel.
Among the issues to be discussed at Hot Topics:
--What obstacles to voting the new ID law will create.
--How restrictions on signature gathering have affected citizens’ efforts to change the state’s constitution.
--The results of the redistricting special session.
--How dark money affects redistricting efforts.
| | CAN YOU HELP?
We are kindly asking if anyone has a DSLR video camera they are willing to share with us. If you aren't sure what that is, a DSLR is a type of high-quality camera used to take sharp, professional-looking videos. We would be grateful if you could either:
- Donate a camera to us for permanent use, or
- Lend one to us for just one day each month during the Hot Topics event.
Having better video quality will help us reach more people and tell our stories better. If you have an older model gathering dust in a box, or if you are willing to share your current one, please let us know by contacting our committee chairs: Diana Smith or Karen Estrin | | | |
50% off discount code: SEASONFIVE (one word)
*Activate the discount BEFORE tickets are selected in the “promo code” field on the ticketing page
Presented by ORLANDO SINGS, Harmonia’s STAND TALL traces the journey of the women’s suffrage movement from first calls for justice to the ongoing spirit of empowerment—beginning with Alexandra Olsavsky’s What Happens When a Woman? and closing with Rosephanye Powell’s rousing Still I Rise | | | Voter Services teams were at the Olympia HS Senior Clearance recently sharing voter education/registration information with graduating students. Shown left - 4/30 volunteers L to R: SOE rep, Mary Montanus, Caroline Blydenburgh, Patrice Knowles, Anne Packham, selfie by Kathleen Cavanagh;
Shown right-5/1 volunteers L to R: front row: Caroline Blydenburgh, Terry Osborne, SOE rep Meisha King; back row: Mary Montanus, Nancy Nix |
>>Click How to Volunteer video for easy instructions! Volunteer opportunities are open to League members only.
High School Voter Registration and Senior Clearance
We partner with OCPS and the SOE for voter education/registration presentations. Senior Clearance is Apr 30-May 19, when HS seniors complete their graduation checklists. We need a lot of member VOLUNTEERS!
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.
>>MAY 12 Cypress Crk HS Senior
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Voter Info/Registration COMMUNITY Events
Observer Corps
Volunteers observe council meetings (via Zoom or in person) and submit for Gov. committee. Check the Volunteer page for Apopka.
NEEDED: Voter Outreach volunteers who speak Spanish or Haitian Creole!! Please contact>> Saudi Ellis
Speakers always needed to handle our public outreach. We offer different topics and our Speaker's Bureau committee is happy to train you. For more information, contact Chairperson Jean Yglesias lwvocspeakers@gmail.com
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The LWVOC Immigration Committee shares community events like these as they support partnerships that align with our mission.
Check our Events Calendar regularly for upcoming opportunities with our League and partners. | | |  | | SAVE the DATE!
JUNE 6, 1-4pm
Please join us for this Wear Orange/ Prevent Gun Violence event. We will have a panel discussion and audience questions after the screening of this powerful film. Our goal..NO more empty rooms.
|  | SAVE THE DATE
JULY 11-12, Council of Leaders
2026 Council will feature three different training tracks and networking focused on:
Election Protection, Bringing Floridians Together, Local League Best Practices
*Those of us in the Orange and Seminole County Leagues won't need a place to stay for LWVFL Council in July but those coming from around the state will. If you can offer housing to someone attending the Council, please click HERE to fill out a "hospitality form." We will do our best to match you as Central Florida welcomes the state! | | |
Introducing our Appointed Directors |  | | Barbara Lanning began her journey with the League in 2019 as Co-Chair for the Orange County League's flagship event, Hot Topics and then served as Co-President from 2021 to 2023. Currently, she holds the esteemed position of 1st Vice President at the League of Women Voters of Florida, |
 | | Margo Hamel joined the League of Women Voters in 2020 and quickly found purpose and satisfaction working with Voter Services, particularly with the UCF collegiate chapter. Her mentoring has been greatly appreciated by the young people she has worked with, perfectly complementing her professional life. |
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 | | Carol Wonsavage is on the boards of the Steinway Society of Central Florida, which provides music education and pianos to disadvantaged children; and the Orlando chapter DAR. She has been a member of the League of Women Voters for over a decade and served as co-chair of its communications committee. |
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 | | Winnie Hogue is an attorney, a member of the Florida Bar for over 30 years, who now works full time as a mediator. Winnie has been active in her community, including serving on the Board of Directors with the local softball/baseball league while her children were playing. |
 | | Jennifer Willman is an urban planner specializing in community development. She was president of her neighborhood association in Tampa for a decade and returned to Orlando in 2022. Her involvement in voter protection efforts in recent years motivated her to join the League to broaden her impact. |
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 | | Since 2018, Mira Tanna has served as the City of Orlando’s Grants Manager, winning over $125M in grant funding to improve water quality, make schools safer and protect neighborhoods from flooding. Mira has served on the board of the American Friends Service Committee, is a member of the Quaker United Nations Committee, and is clerk of the Quakers of Orlando. |
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 | 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
|  |  |  |  | LWVOC is a 501(c)(3 )tax-exempt organization and your gift is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a gift as a deduction on your taxes, please keep your email gift receipt as your official record. The receipt is sent to you upon successful completion of your donation.
A copy of the official registration and financial information for LWVOC, a Florida based nonprofit organization (Registration No. CH26900) may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll free 1-800-435-7352 within the state or visiting their website at fdacs.gov/CONSUMERSERVCES. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. | |