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Date: 6/4/2020
Subject: LWVOC Newsletter & Events
From: Lisa K Adkins




"Voting is the Best Form of Protest"
We join the voices of our national and Florida leagues to condemn the senseless and heinous killing of George Floyd and so many others perpetrated by the explosion of repetitive police brutality and racial injustice. We endorse the right of all people to peacefully protest this tragedy and culture of racism. We also recognize that voting is the most effective means of protest. The League’s purpose for 100 years has been to protect this right.  Continue reading the full statement from our LWVOC Co-Presidents, Gloria Pickar and Sandi Vidal HERE
 
Although we are conducting our election volunteerism virtually now, the League continues to offer MANY opportunities to engage in the 2020 election process.  This newsletter highlights several ways for you to PARTICIPATE now and in the future as we continue to "Empower Voters and Defend Democracy."

HOT TOPICS@HOME
Election Security & Accessibility in 2020

Join our conversation with Orange County Supervisor or Elections Bill Cowles and Prof. Aubrey Jewett for a wide-ranging discussion of the hottest voting topics today. We are sorry to announce that Rep. Val Demings will be unable to join us due to a legislative conflict. However, the silver lining is that we will have the full hour to question the Supervisor of Elections on all issues elections and voting. We hope to tackle many of the following areas of concern to League members:
  • Security issues such as hacking of registration data or votes cast and/or reported
  • In person voting health for voters and poll workers
  • Expansion/flexibility of early in-person voting and vote-by-mail
  • What resources are needed to accomplish a safe and secure election
Since this is a ZOOM webinar, we'd like to prepare your questions in advance to help guide the discussion.  Please send your questions to Barbara Lanning or Sue Gilman
 
Registration is OPEN and REMEMBER, your $10 fee helps support our League efforts.  Before event, you will receive LOG IN information from us.

The LWVOC is recruiting volunteers for Adopt-A-Precinct for August 18 and November 3 Elections...contact us by JUNE 8.
 
Our league has traditionally adopted a precinct for each major election, and we intend to do so again if we can recruit enough volunteers. We are planning now to best assure the health and safety of our poll workers who will staff our LWVOC Adopt-A-Precinct location for both the August 18 Primary and November 3 General Elections. Some of our volunteers have opted out of staffing our Adopt-A-Precinct for the August and November elections for health and safety reasons. We sincerely respect their decision.
We are recruiting for replacements by June 8.
Shown above, volunteers from previous Adopt-A-Precinct endeavors.  If you're ready to volunteer but this isn't the right fit, consider joining our Voter Services Committee for other upcoming opportunities.  The League is exploring new ways to empower voters in this era of pandemic.
 
Election/voting questions?  We've assembled information from our local Orange County Elections office, the LWV's election info site-VOTE 411, as well as resource links to help you engage with your elected representatives.
Visit LWVOC and click on our Voting INFO or visit VOTE 411.

COVID-19 has created challenges for the League’s voter registration efforts. Nationally and locally, Leaguers are busy working on a Vote by Mail campaign. Social media is one of the strategies we’ll utilize. We’re asking members, who are Facebook users, to help increase our social media presence by interacting with the League's posts.

Navigating Facebook can be tricky and depends on your device and software. To make sure the League’s posts appear first in your news feed, go to Facebook’s SETTINGS on a laptop, desktop or tablet and click on the down arrow in the top right corner. On a smart phone click on the three lines in the bottom right corner, next select Settings, scroll down and select News Feed Preferences, then select Prioritize Who to See First, next search for and/or scroll down and select LWVOC.

Interacting with our posts is where the magic happens. Every time you do, our voice is amplified. The more interactions we have, the more people will see our message and the greater our impact. A “like” is good, a “comment” is better and a “share” is best of all.  ~ R. Pando

 
Like our Vote by Mail graphic designed by member Jill Shargaa?  You can share it on your Facebook page.  Hover over the graphic, "right click" and save to your device, then follow your normal routine for sharing an image.  

Please join us for the Ninth Circuit State Attorney Candidate Forum! LWVOC is joining together with the ACLU of Central Florida and Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers to host this important event. Criminal Justice reform starts at the local level. The change we need to see right now is often in the hands of the prosecutor. Election day is August 18th, now is the time to hear from those who hope to become one the most powerful officials in the Florida criminal justice system. This free event is virtual and can be viewed on our facebook page.


ORLANDO SOLAR CO-OP 2020 HAS OPENED
Once again, the LWVOC is partnering with the City of Orlando to offer homeowners across Orange County the opportunity to join the Orlando Solar Co-op 2020.
By joining a Co-op, homeowners can access affordable solar pv for their homes and have a trusted third party, Solar United Neighbors, providing education and assistance along the way.  Homeowners pay no fee to join the Co-op and are under no obligation to sign a contract with a solar installer.  Please share this good news with your circles.  
Note: the Co-op has gone virtual and solar information meetings are now held on Zoom.
Fact: Over 1,600 families in Florida have obtained solar pv through the co-ops.
To join or get more information, go to Orlando Solar Co-op | Solar United Neighbors
Also, you are welcome to contact Mary Dipboye, LWVF Co-chair, Make Florida #1 in Solar, at 407-340-9680



Maureen C Damiani made a generous donation to the LWVOC Education Fund in memory of Carol Davis; for the inspiration she gave to so many as Voter Services Chair
Lori Rauch made a generous donation to the LWVOC Education Fund in memory of her mother Lynda Van Scoyoc

We know that many of you looking for ways "to honor" or give "in memoriam" for fellow League members, friends, family and colleagues.  Our system makes it easy for you to make that contribution. 
 
Make sure you are logged into your LWVOC account and donate to our Education (tax deductible) Fund  
LWVOC YouTube channel:If you're missing our monthly Hot Topics gatherings, revisit some of our previous luncheons with topics that remain HOT and continue to be newsworthy. 
 
Click on our "Playlists" to see our Warriors for Democracy interviews with important League leaders discussing our history.  Click here:  LWVOC Channel-YouTube  and remember to "Subscribe" to receive notification of our latest uploads.
 


Leslie Lieberman
Alan Apte
____________Who is missing in this space?  Maybe it's your friend, relative, colleague, student, classmate or neighbor.  We need every determined citizen wanting to make a difference to DEFEND DEMOCRACY and EMPOWER VOTERS.
 
Share this newsletter and encourage them to join the LWVOC in this important election year.
Current members
 
DID YOU KNOW that even after your membership has expired, you can and should still log onto our website lwvoc.org  to renew.
You can renew with the same membership, upgrade or change it and you can update your personal information here:  
[Shown above: Catherine Cummings and Roger McDonald]


 
Newsletter Checklist
 
1) HOT TOPICS @ Home is happening!  Get registered today.
2) Adopt a Precinct is looking for volunteers.  Notify us by June 8.
3) We are co-hosts for a local candidate forum. Tune in June 11.
4) Kimberly Cohen is helping us move into a new era of Voter Registration but before that, she was "on the move" in Europe!
5) Solar Co-ops are opening again.  Let the sunshine power your home!


The League of Women Voters Orange County has been defending democracy for 81 years.  Learn more about our History Committee, and remember, if you need reading material for this extended shut-down, we still have our history book available and we SHIP!  
 
Visit our LWVOC History Timeline for more details about our history. 

Most of Florida entering Phase 2.  Read Orlando Sentinel article: Gov. DeSantis Announces FL's move to Phase 2
 
 To get updates on numbers diagnosed and more information about COVID 19, visit the Florida Department of Health's COVID 19 site.  (NEW information/updates on a daily basis)

Florida/Local Resources: 
  1. The Florida Department of Health has a 24/7 Hotline that can be reached at by calling 1 (866) 779-6121.
  2. Advent Health's 24/7 hotline can be reached by calling:  1 (877) 847-8747 or 877-VIRUSHQ
  3. Orlando Health's Questions and Answers COVID-19