 | | | | Become a League Leader
Just a little over seven years ago I started my work in the League as a volunteer for Voter Registration. This afforded me the opportunity to spend time with Bernadette Miron (former Education chair), Linda Mann (former President), Sandy Martin (former Treasurer), Dianne Main (former Voter Registration Director), and Bobbi Nord (one of our very active members). During our Voter Registration events, they would discuss the various works of the League, local issues in our community, and taught me a lot in a short period of time. Within my first year as a member, an opportunity became available to serve as the Vice President and then due to a health issue of the President, I became acting President and was subsequently elected to President. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for these League Leaders who helped me lay the foundation for my League knowledge or understanding for how the League functions and operates at the local, state or national level. Their investment in me definitely paid off and prepared me for the work in our local chapter but also the work I have done with our state and national League and other organizations on behalf of the League.
In the coming weeks, you will see emails from our Nominating Committee Chair, Paige Gottlieb announcing the various positions that will be in need of League Leaders for our June 2025 elections. If you are curious about a board position that will be up for election, reach out to Paige or other nominating committee members or a current board member so we can address concerns and questions. Several of our current board members have served for 6 or more years and while we are proud of the work we do, new ideas, energy and perspective are always valuable. |  | One of our longtime board members, Angela DeMonbreun is a former President and has served on the board for 14 years and has done a magnificent job of representing the League with local and state environmental groups and as a trusted representative of our Speakers Bureau especially offering presentations during elections. I realize that board membership and service is not for everyone but am asking each member to consider at least serving on or leading a committee (see "COMMITTEE ESTABLISHMENT FOR 2025 LEAGUE WORK" email). Many of our current board members will be attending the committee establishment meetings in December so you can also ask questions of them during these events.
The work of the League has continued for over 104 years and only exists because of members who find value in our work and are willing to join with other members to see that it gets done. The mission of creating a more perfect democracy is endless and rewarding and I hope you will find a way to join us for the challenges that 2025 will bring.
Lanelle Phillmon
President, LWVJFC | | |
| | | December First Wednesday Speaker Series
Join the League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast virtually on Wednesday, December 4th at 11:30 am to learn more about the Electoral College and the National Popular Vote.Rosemary Heilemann is a retired teacher who has been a member of the League of Women Voters for 45 years in Illinois. She serves on the board of her local League, LWV Deerfield/Lincolnshire, and is active in other levels of League, including the Lake County League and the Illinois League’s state committees. She has also served in off-board roles for the LWV Lake Michigan Region ILO and the LWV Upper Mississippi River Region ILO. She has been a moderator for candidate forums throughout the area, has chaired studies, and acts as Zoom host for meetings and webinars. |  | In 2017, she co-founded a League committee whose goal is to educate the public about why we should abolish the electoral college by Constitutional amendment. This LWVDL Electoral College Committee has continued to give presentations since 2017 and includes members from local Leagues around Illinois as well as from numerous other states. Since June, 2022, when LWVUS identified the abolition of the electoral college by Constitutional amendment as a “next big goal,” this committee has been working with LWVUS as a resource for that national campaign.
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Rebuilding the Foundation of our Work
If you have not already signed up to support our Local Program by attending one of our upcoming membership meetings, I encourage you to do so. You should have received an email titled "COMMITTEE ESTABLISHMENT FOR 2025 LEAGUE WORK" that provides you with a link to our current Local Program, list of committees and registration links for the meetings which will be held December 7 and 14 in person and December 18th via Zoom.
Our members established the Local Program which identified the work we feel is most important to us in 2025 but it takes the dedication and work of members to actually see that the work is done. We will establish committees, seek out chairs and co-chairs, discuss League positions, and how/when members meet for their particular work of interest. How much time and energy goes into each committee will be decided by each committee. We will also get committee members connected with their state committee leaders so we can learn from others around the state and support local and state initiatives.
While there are no immediate elections on the 2025 horizon, this is a great time to refocus our collective energy on our Local Program. | Education Committee Seeking Volunteers
Please contact our Education Committee Chair at lwv.jax.education@gmail.com if you are willing to volunteer for any of the opportunities below.
- Volunteer to write the DCPS board members. Join our Duval google group so you’ll receive summaries of the Duval County Public School board meetings.
- Volunteer to lead an education subcommittee for Nassau, Clay, or St. Johns.
- Volunteer for the LWV-Florida Education Action Team subcommittee focused on higher education.
| 2025 Florida Legislative Session
For those not familiar with the Florida Legislature, in odd numbered years, session begins in March and in even numbered years in January. In Florida however, interim committee meetings begin several months in advance of session and most bills are fast tracked during these meetings. Our legislators have already met in Tallahassee to receive committee assignments and will meet regularly according to the below listed schedule. As soon as committee assignments are posted to the public website, you will be provided with a contact sheet for each of our four counties so you can begin to phone, email and make office visits with your legislators while they are in their local district offices.
2024 – 2025 Interim Committee Meeting Schedule: These are the meetings that will take place in Tallahassee PRIOR to session and are open to the public to observe.
December 2024 — Week of the 9th
January 2025 — Week of the 13th
January 2025 — Week of the 20th *
February 2025 — Week of the 3rd
February 2025 — Week of the 10th
February 2025 — Week of the 17th
* Meetings to begin on Tuesday due to Monday holiday
The 2025 Regulation Session Dates are March 4, 2025 - May 2, 2025. | League Lobby Days 2025
While you are highly encouraged to meet with your legislators in their local offices, League of Women Voters of Florida will host "Lobby Days" in Tallahassee March 11 -12, 2025. Lobby Days is an excellent time to meet other League members from across the state, our state board members and state legislators. There will be training sessions on current League priorities and bills, "how to lobby" your legislator, and we will hear from our Lobby Firm Capital Alliance Group. We also host a gala where the "Defenders of Democracy" award is presented to a member of the public or a legislator for their work in furthering the freedoms of others. We will also offer room and ride sharing for anyone who would like to attend but driving or costs might be a barrier. More to come on this in the next few weeks.
Prior to the legislative session, the League of Women Voters of Florida will determine what our priorities are during the session and they do this by holding two listening sessions. These sessions are open to all members and are held virtually and registration was recently announced via the " Preparing for Florida's 2025 Legislative Session: Legislative Priorities Process" email from comms@lwvfl.com. If you did not receive this email, you can email them and ask to have it sent to you. The sessions will be held December 4 and 9 and will be recorded if you are not able to attend the live sessions. In addition to listening to input from members directly, each chapter will also be allowed to submit a ranking of the issues that are established from the listening sessions. You can expect to see an email from us asking for your input later in December.
While the prioritized issues will receive the direct support of our lobbying firm, Capital Alliance Group and our strike team in Tallahassee, all issues of the League will receive the support and focus of members across the state. Throughout the legislative session, you will receive "Action Alerts" that will ask you to call, email or visit your representative or members of committees asking them to support or oppose or to amend bills. While we understand that many of our members are also members of other civically engaged organizations, we do ask that you respond to the alerts to help support the legislative priorities and positions of the League. If you are not already receiving emails from League of Women Voters of Florida, send an email to "comms@lwvfl.com" asking that they add you to our email distribution list. Communication with our state leaders and action committee chairs is extremely valuable during session but throughout the year as our work does slow down during non-election years. | New Members - Welcome aboard!
Diane Eger
Jillian Grindstaff
Lindsay Linsky
| Donations are always appreciated!
We wish to acknowledge and thank those who made donations this month:
Rosemary Takacs
Mae Jones
Bernadette and David Miron to the Ed Fund
Suzanne Martin to the Ed Fund
LWVJFC Fleet Landing Unit to the Ed Fund
Our website lwvjaxfc.org offers an easy way to make donations to LWVJFC, even if you prefer to pay by check. Click on the red "Donate" button at the top of the Homepage. | | | | Local
Stay up-to-date on all local upcoming events on the LWV of Jacksonville / First Coast:
• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
Regional
The Regional Facebook Group, LWV Florida North Region Leagues, includes Alachua, Bay, Jacksonville/First Coast, Okaloosa & Walton, Pensacola Bay Area, and Tallahassee.
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Contact Us!
Phone: 904-355-8683
Email: LWVJAXFC@gmail.com
Postal Address:
League of Women Voters of Jacksonville First Coast
PO Box 330353
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 | | | | The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. We influence public policy through education and advocacy. | | |
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