“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” – Erma Bombeck (American humorist)
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All of the candidates in contested races will be present to discuss their views and qualifications. Judge Bob LeBlanc returns to quiz the candidates, a role he has ably performed for Hot Topics audiences in previous elections.
As an article in Orlando Weekly explained:
"These usually low-profile nonpartisan races, nonetheless, make a huge impact in our community. County trial judges hear criminal misdemeanors and civil cases in which the disputed amount is less than $15,000. Circuit judges deal with criminal felonies, domestic relations, juvenile delinquency, probate issues and civil disputes over $15,000. Murder cases end up in front of circuit judges, as well as financial fights. Both circuit and county court judges are elected for six-year terms and don't have term limits. If no candidate in a judicial race gets a majority of the vote during the August election, they will appear again on the ballot in the Nov. 3 general election." | | Shown left, Judge LeBlanc and Marty Sullivan at a previous Hot Topics.
Our July 8 luncheon will take place at noon next Wednesday. Picnic at your desk or gather at the table and tune in to our Zoom webinar to hear the 9th Judicial Circuit candidates.
| | |  | | "For those of us who remember the "Sisterhood is Powerful" days of the 1970s, the folks behind the new PBS documentary "The Vote" picked a doozy of an opening.
Speaking from the sidelines of a women's march in 1970, a male television reporter wryly advises male viewers: "If you go to work tomorrow and your secretary refuses to do the filing, and you go home and your wife refuses to do the cooking, don't blame them. Remember, 50 years ago, you gave them the right to vote."
|  | Premier of The VOTE on JULY 6-7, 9-11 PM on WUCF (folks with a PBS Passport can view it via streaming services now)
Last night, many of us tuned in to see a substantial preview of this momentous documentary with commentary by two Central Florida leaders, Linda Chapin and State Rep. Geraldine Thompson. Orange County's first elected mayor, Chapin chairs the LWVOC's celebration of the suffrage centennial. A longtime lawmaker and educator, Thompson is the founder of the Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture.
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 | | We're continuing to collect your recommendations of helpful resources as we confront the racial inequity in our society.
Podcasts:
~Scene on Radio-Season 2: Seeing White
~Brene Brown's Unlocking Us: Bne with Ibram Kendi on How to be an Antiracist
~Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert with Heather McGhee
Books:
Learning Simulation:
Contact Us with more of your ideas and recommendations.
|  | LWVFL's First Vice-President Cecile Scoon expresses her sorrow in a recent a recent letter to the Tampa Bay Times:
"I am sitting at my kitchen table, broken-hearted and weary. As a middle-aged black woman who loves my son, my nephews and many black men in my family and circle of friends, I am tired of quelling my fear when they say they are going out late or traveling.
The continuous stream of black people killed by white Americans who are either angry, frightened, hostile, ill-trained, trigger-happy, blinded by their sense of superiority or some combination of all of these factors is weighing my soul down."
Continue reading Cecile's letter HERE
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| 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 and Instagram users, to help increase our social media presence by interacting with the League's posts. 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
GET CLICKING and SHARE! Hover over one of our graphics, right click to save, and then follow your normal routine to upload the image to your social media accounts. | | | |
A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. Be part of the population that decides your future. More info VOTE411.org
Don't run out of time! Visit Important Dates to learn more about 2020 Election deadlines. JULY 20 is last day to change party affiliation/register to vote in the AUG 18 Primary Election. The last day to request a VBM ballot is AUG 8.
QUICK LINKS:
Calling all students!! JOIN the League for FREE and make a difference during this election year as well as in our many advocacy groups. | |
Veronica Bocco
John Klapchuk
Ginger Robinson
Maegen Pierce
Aislynn Weichman
Claudia Nunn
Margo Hamel
Invite your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to JOIN US | | | | Learn more about one of the sub-committees of our Government Committee.
It's the National Popular Vote (NPV) and the League has hosted workshops and a Hot Topics luncheon about the subject. Visit their new web page:
Or reach out directly to the Committee Co-Chairs, Anne Coppenhaven and Louise Thompson here: npvocfl@gmail.com: | | | Newsletter Checklist
- JULY is here already? Happy 4th and enjoy it socially distanced and masked up!
- A new month means a new Hot Topics; register today.
- Be a digital volunteer for the LWVOC and repost our graphics; encourage your followers to Vote-By-Mail
- Check out the new "Voting Info" on our website and make sure you are ready for next month's Primary Election
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