League Florida is sponsoring Lobby Days in Tallahassee from Tuesday February 4 through Wednesday February 5. Many of you may have seen and replied to their emailed invitation to join them in lobbying our state legislators on these important issues:
Election reform and ensuring Amendment 4 is implemented fairly
Protecting our public schools
Preventing gun violence
Protecting our state's environment
Ensuring access to affordable health care
Lobby days is designed to show our Florida state legislators our League strength and to give you an opportunity to meet and talk with legislators. More here: https://lwvfl.z2systems.com/neon/resource/lwvfl/files/2020%20Agenda.pdf
Traveling to Tallahassee is expensive. Our Executive Committee feels strongly that we should lobby our local state representatives and state senators here, in Palm Beach County. We have concluded we can afford to reimburse expenses only for members with a compelling reason to attend: one designated member of each committee working on one of the five League priorities listed above plus our President and our Advocacy Chair.
Expenses will be reimbursed at 80% using our standard policy: LWVFL registration fee, two nights in hotel (shared, 1/2 double occupancy rate), and shared driving costs (six to a van, rented or $.58/mile RT). Each person must file their own expense voucher, with receipts. Other members are welcome to attend but no expenses will be reimbursed.
If you have already registered or plan to register, please advise our new Advocacy Chair, Jim Eisenberg, at bigjimlaw@aol.com.
ADDRESSING VOTING PROBLEMS
On November 13, representatives of the Voting Rights Coalition, Mark Schneider, Nancy Cohen and Harriet Diamond met with Supervisor of Elections Wendy Link and PBC Director of Elections Sean Williams to discuss problems experienced in past elections and ways to correct them for the upcoming elections. This was a ... READ MORE
The next meeting of the Voting Rights Coalition is Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. Meetings are held at Compass in Lake Worth Beach. For more information, click button.
For the past few years, LWVPBC has sponsored several High School interns who work with the League. Hopefully, you have met some of them at one of our events, or learned about them in the NEWS. They have been extremely valuable in League activities by assisting with voter registration and production of our "Minis." What is a benefit to us, also helps them.
Attached is a portion of a letter from a former intern who has gone on to do great things..... "I just wanted to say thank you so much for your letter of recommendation this past semester. I was able to receive the internship at LatinoJustice and they were very much impressed with the work that I had done with LWVPBC, and furthermore, with your glowing recommendation!
If it weren’t for you I probably would not be where I am now. The office does not take undergraduate students, but they made an exception for me and trusted me with incredibly important work, like the Close Rikers campaign up here in NYC, or a letter comment to the U.S. government disapproving of changes to the visa which allows Hispanic farmworkers to come to the U.S. legally (I hate having to use that expression).
Again, thank you so much for guiding me throughout high school, for welcoming me into LWVPBC with open arms, for setting me up for success in the future. There’s not a day that I don’t think about LWVPBC, the amazing work that you do, and the amazing mentors I left in Florida."
The primary mentors, Christene Campbell-Gabor and Pam Maldonado have reason to be proud.
TIME TO HAVE YOUR VOICES HEARD By Shirley Aronson
League of Women Voters is a non-partisan and highly respected organization focused on objective approaches to community concerns and well being. With our advocacy efforts and collective voices, we can make change.
It takes minutes to email or call an elected official. You may not get instant gratification, but the experience is empowering.
Remember, you must act as a private citizen rather than speaking for and with the approval of the League President.
2020 MATTERS: A VIDEO PROJECT IN ONLY FOUR DAYS
The Young Leaguers are undertaking a wonderful project to encourage voting. It is being done in connection with 2020 Matters. To participate, simply go to the County Library, 3650 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach between 11:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. on January 4, 2020. You can be filmed explaining why you vote and what voting means to you.
NEXT LEAGUE ORIENTATION IS ONLY 39 DAYS AWAY
Learn about the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County in our 100th year! If you are a new member, or have an interest in the League, please attend our next Orientation on February 8, 2020. You will learn about who we are, what we do, and how we came to be. Chairs of our Issue Groups and Standing Committees (our workers) will be there to give you an overview and answer any questions you may have. It will be held at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
To register: dkostrub@aol.com or 561-852-0496. Don’t delay.
ELECTION SEASON IS ALMOST HERE
LWVPBC is the place to go for reliable voter information and resources for the 2020 Election. We need your ideas on ways you and your issue groups can assist in providing information and promoting:
Election-related Hot and Cool Topics
Speakers Bureau presentation
Voter Guide
Vote 411
Candidate forums
NEWS
Social media
Civics Education in the schools and communities
We need your ideas, so please contact us to see how you can help promote this effort to educate people and get them out to vote in 2020.
The NEWS staff wishes all of our readers a very happy New Year as we get ready to celebrate the League's 100th birthday.
The NEWS needs you!
Please consider joining this crucial part of the League & get the NEWS first. We can always use your help. Please contact Debra Chandler at dachandler55@gmail.com or (561) 254-4441 if you are interested or have questions.
Do you enjoy writing?
If you would like to submit an article pertinent to the League for consideration, please send it to Debra Chandler at dachandler55@gmail.comas a word document. It may be published in the NEWS.
Our Media Team Needs You!
Do you enjoy taking pictures and shooting video? There is a media volunteer position available. We live stream every Hot and Cool Topic and need a second media person to make sure we are there 100% of the time. Equipment and training is provided. Email KenHorkavy@gmail.com for details.
