Approximately 21% of Orange County's eligible voters turned out for the primary election. If you're reading this, you were probably one of them, but it's sobering that 79% of registered voters chose NOT to use their voice. Much discussion will take place before the NOV 3 general election on how to MOTIVATE these voters. General elections typically have a higher turnout than primaries so there's hope that we can get more voters to the polls. We'll need your help!
- Be a League volunteer; keep scrolling to the TAKE ACTION section for upcoming opportunities.
- Attend upcoming candidate forums to educate yourself and share that knowledge. Check the Events Calendar for September forums.
- Consider a monetary gift to help us use every tool we can. Giving options HERE
And if you are in need of a mental and emotional diversion from the divisiveness of politics, take advantage of a cultural learning opportunity on August 30 without having to travel far (plus it's FREE). Details below. |  | |
August 30 | Noon–4:30 p.m. A Unique Experience: Building Connection and Belonging
Join the LWVOC DEIA Committee and the Forever Welcome Foundation for an interactive workshop focused on creating communities where everyone belongs.The event is free and open to everyone—League members and non-members alike. Before the workshop we'll join the Sikh Society of Central Florida for a temple service followed by lunch.
Come learn, share, and connect with others who want to help build more welcoming communities.
Get all the details and SIGN UP HERE | Every conversation matters. Every volunteer matters. And every voter we reach helps build a stronger, more representative democracy.~Kay Hudson | LWVOC participated in 7 Adopt-A-Precincts Tuesday for the primary election. Their combined teams processed over 1300 voters! THANK YOU to all the volunteers who worked the polls, organized the day, and fed the volunteers! (photo unavailable for Precinct #420)
| | Affordability Isn't One Issue. It's the Whole Issue.
Kam's piece makes three points:
First, affordability isn't one item on the list. It's what the rest of the list adds up to. The other four issues don't compete with it. They produce it.
Second, the household math. Sixty-three cents of every dollar goes to housing, transportation and food. One in four households spends more than 95 percent of income on necessities. In metro Orlando, 60 percent of renters are cost burdened — Florida leads the nation.
Third, the national math. Roughly $40 trillion in debt, with interest now running past a trillion dollars a year — more than defense. Health spending headed toward a fifth of the economy. And a population that stops growing without immigration after 2030. Both parties built this arithmetic. Neither is running on fixing it.
| | | | DON'T TOSS THOSE AUG. 18 ELECTION SIGNS!
RECYCLE THEM INSTEAD!
Drive-thru and drop off this Saturday, AUG 22, 9-11am
Collect them from your neighborhood (with permission, of course) and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
>>Separate plastic from metal; the materials will be recycled by local processors.
DROP OFF also available:
Tues, August 18 through Tuesday, August 25
@ Fire Station 64 | 1439 Howell Branch Road
Tues, August 18 through Sunday, August 30
@ First Unitarian Church | 1901 E. Robinson Street, Orlando
You can even VOLUNTEER to help with the collection:
| | | | There are many opportunities to make these forums a great success (Greeters, Media Sign-in Table, Candidate Escort, Question Card Collector, Room Setup and Monitor, League Information Table.) Check the members only volunteer section to sign up today: Volunteering Opportunities | | NOT SURE which District you're in?
Use this ballot tool from Vote411, enter your address and choose "Show Districts"
Then MARK your calendar and show up at your district's (if scheduled) upcoming County Commissioner Candidate Forum shown above! | | |  |  | |
Click above to revisit the panelists' thoughts about the impact on municipalities (a probable 25 percent decrease in revenues) and public schools. Florida sheriffs, police and firefighters have spoken out against the amendment and pointed out that the language of the amendment itself is misleading because it promises not to cut local services when it clearly does.
>>VIEW the taped program
>>READ a review, speaker bios, calls to action
>>SEE the full photo album |  | SEPT 9
The Next Chapter: Orange County Mayoral Forum
The candidates are set. Join us for a conversation with the primary winners, Tiffany Moore Russell and Chris Messina, who are vying to become the next Orange County Mayor.
What is their vision for the future of the county? How will their plans affect your everyday life?
Hear answers to these questions and many more as you decide who guides us to the next chapter of Orange County. | | |
| |  | | VOLUNTEER with our Election Support Teams
| | | | LAST MINUTE OPPORTUNITY!
TODAY, the Government Committee is hosting a special guest speaker, Melissa E. Vickers! Do you want to know about the Public Defender process and more? Come and participate and find out what you and LWVOC can do. We hope to see you on the Zoom call at 11:30am.
| | | Education Committee representative Lauren Zelnek recently spoke on behalf of LWVOC supporting public education, especially with the upcoming election featuring the proposed Property Tax Amendment.
Interested in this topic?
Click the link to their committee above and get involved in strengthening our public education system. Use link below to an info card to prompt discussions within your social circle.
| | | |
Judith Kovacs-Long
Erin Long
Meredith Neizer
Eva Weeden
| | | | Tickets are going to sell quickly! League members and supporters should get theirs now PLUS we have a discount code!
For a 15% ticket discount, use CODE LWV651
| 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. | |