 | | | | An Invaluable Lesson
As many of you know, my mother passed away very recently. One of the many things I am thankful to her for was that made sure each of her children were registered to vote soon after turning 18 years old. For me, she took me to the County Supervisors of Election office and helped me fill out my voter registration form. But even before we were old enough to vote, she would alternate taking a different child (there were six of us) with her to the polling site to vote during elections. She would take the time to explain what she was doing and why she was doing it. And she would always say "we vote, that's what we do.” That stuck with me all these years. When I joined the Navy and moved away from home, my mother clipped articles from the local newspaper and mailed them to me. These were articles about the county planning board, the school board, the local police chief, and things going on in our small Department of Health clinic (they conducted our school physicals, our sports physicals and our vaccinations for public school). And while she never told me how to vote, she always included some notes along with the articles so I understood how things were impacting our small town and neighbors. Long before the internet conveniently reminded me about voter registration deadlines, voter identification or election dates, my mother sent reminders in her letters to make sure I never missed an opportunity to cast my vote whether I was stationed in the states or in another country. |  | I hope each of you teach the children in your lives about voting and elections and the value of each voice in our nation's democracy. I hope you make the time to share your voting and election experience with them and help them get connected to the information they need to register, find factual information to cast an informed vote and help connect them to the Supervisor of Elections so they can become trained election workers to support their fellow citizens. And when you have the opportunity, take them to the polling site with you so they can see the process.
My mother was proud of my work to register Sailors to vote when I served as Assistant Voting Officer at prior military commands, my service as an election worker, and she was proud of the work I have the opportunity to do with the League of Women Voters but it all really started with my mother's influence. I hope each of us will have that kind of influence on the youth in our community.
Lanelle Phillmon
President, LWVJFC | | |
Women’s History Month
We're proud to announce that the League of Women Voters of Jacksonville First Coast is once again a sponsor of Women's History Month on JAX PBS! Throughout the month of March, WJCT will be celebrating the inspiring women who have shaped history, broken barriers, and led change — a mission that aligns perfectly with the values at the heart of our League.
Be sure to watch for our sponsorship spots on JAX PBS/WJCT all month long! | Membership Orientation - March 7, 2026 @ 3pm
Our quarterly membership orientation hybrid session offers an opportunity for you to join us in person or via zoom. We appreciate how engaged our members are in the community and with their loved ones but ask that you consider investing 90 minutes of your time to enhance your League experience and engagement.
Our orientation is an opportunity to learn about the League of Women Voters, our mission and guiding principles, our board structure and how we conduct business. It is also an opportunity to meet League members from across our four county area, our board members and action chairs. While we often refer to orientation as "new member orientation", we welcome all members regardless of how long you've been with the League.
If you would like to attend, complete the registration which will ask you to indicate if you are attending in person or via Zoom. We want to ensure we have adequate seating and materials for in person attendees and that we know who to send the zoom link to for virtual attendance.
March 7, 2026 at 3:00 pm
University Park Branch Library
Community Room B3435
University Blvd N Jacksonville, FL 32277
Casual attire is appropriate for this event.
The zoom link will be emailed to virtual attendees March 6th.
| | Happy Hour!!
Come out to join us for an evening of networking with others who care about our beautiful state and work to help legislators understand our needs and desired outcomes.
We hope you will join us March 10, 2025 as we collaborate with AAUW St Augustine and Jax NOW to discuss legislation and connect with others willing to do the work to create a better Florida.
Scan QR code to RSVP. | | | Movies that Matter - Coming in March
Come watch a movie with us! And bring a friend. The March movie is a 2025 Oscar-nominated documentary, "Mr. Nobody Against Putin."
The filmmaker is a teacher in Russia who videoed how the government is forcing propaganda about the Ukraine war to be presented regularly to students.
We’ll follow with a discussion and post carding to our U.S. legislators about ICE or other timely topics. We’ll bring talking points for the post cards. Snacks will be provided.
To register, click one of these links:
The address will be sent to those who register. Space is limited!
| Hometown Huddle Event
Please join our Vice President at the Hometown Huddle for Women's History Month on March 17th at 6:30pm at the Jessie Ball DuPont Center (40 East Adams Street in Jacksonville). This event is sponsored by the Jacksonville Policy Engagement Group and will explore how women are shaping policy, education, and community change in Jacksonville. All residents interested in local policy, leadership, and civic participation are invited.
| Want to Make a Difference? Apply to Be a Poll Worker!
The St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections office is recruiting poll workers ahead of the 2026 elections. Orientations are available through March 2026, with limited seating — so don't wait. It's a rewarding way to serve your community and ensure every vote counts.
| Get Out the Vote and Election Preparations (We need YOU)
In the coming months we will begin to focus on Get Out The Vote (GOTV) and election protection work. We are asking you to complete this brief survey to indicate your interest in this work. We will be identifying specific areas in our counties for voter registration as well as phone/text banking and door to door canvassing. We will also be training members to provide Election Protection which may include observing L&A (Logic and Accuracy Testing of election equipment), canvassing board monitoring, poll site observance, or poll watching. And, we'd like to get an idea as to how many members we have in each county that will be trained election workers.
We appreciate members taking the time to complete the survey to help us prepare for this important work:
| Call For Bylaws Review
Each year in advance of our Annual Business Meeting we offer our members the opportunity to review and offer input regarding our chapter's bylaws. The input offered by members is considered by the board who puts forth suggested amendments at the annual meeting.
Please take a moment to review the current bylaws at lwvjaxfc.org and provide your recommendations via the link provided below. The deadline for input is March 15th.
| Voter Registration News
Dr. Russell Wigginton, Director of The National Civil Rights Museum, gave a talk at the Cummer Museum on February 10th. He was asked the question: “What is something you would like us to know about the Civil Rights Movement?” Dr. Wigginton's response was "It never would have happened without the women." He went on to explain that women were really the backbone of the movement.
On February 12th the Main Library hosted the LEVAS Symposium: Our Democracy and the Ballot. One of the speakers read a speech given by James Weldon Johnson on March 10,1923, titled “Our Democracy and the Ballot.” It is an honest and powerful speech about the state of our democracy then which resonates today.
At the three tabling events we had during February we have seen an uptick in people becoming aware of the midterms. We are assisting people wanting to check their registration status, request a vote by mail ballot and handing out cards with Vote 411 information. | Forbidden Florida Reads
Izzy Miletic is a junior Economics and Literature student at Florida State University. She is a board member of the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee, where she began publishing Forbidden Florida Reads. Forbidden Florida Reads is Izzy’s original monthly column that highlights a book banned in at least one Florida school district. Izzy is passionate about books and educational policy making. She hopes to attend law school and earn her Masters in Library and Information Science.
| New Members - Welcome aboard!
Sharon Coon
Jane Corcoran
Kathleen Davis
Anne Horton
| Donations are always appreciated!
We wish to acknowledge and thank those who made donations this month:
Mary Finnan
Debra Carter
Carolyn Derby
Angela DeMonbreun
Sara Wenger
Dianne Main
Faith Ricketts Ross
Ronald Ross
Karen Parish
Virginia McMillan
Carol Hamilton
Elaine Weistock - 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 350210
Jacksonville, FL 32235-9998 | | | | 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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