Letter from the President
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Happy Fourth of July, Leaguers!
For many years, our nation has celebrated its birth without acknowledging the painful history of the enslaved people that helped build it. This may make you uncomfortable; however, in discomfort, we can find growth and progress. Being an American means learning about and acknowledging our complicated, painful past and using it to challenge our ideals to shape a more perfect future for all of us. I believe that is what we do every day at the League; we love our country so much that we demand more of her in the shape of advocacy, education, and justice.
We are at a historic, pivotal moment in our nation's lifespan. It is up to all of us to do the work necessary to keep our communities safe and empowered. Democracy cannot survive without an engaged citizenry. I know that our League is one of many critical organizations that are improving civic health here in St. Petersburg. Thank you for being a part of that.
In League,
Linsey
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Get Ready for the Primary Election!
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The 2020 primary election is Aug. 18, which is just weeks away. Are you prepared?
We're encouraging everyone to sign up to request a mail ballot for the coming elections, even if you'd prefer to vote in person. Here's why:
- The pandemic means we may see fewer polling places and fewer poll workers, which could mean long lines on Election Day.
- Some people - such as people with disabilities - have no choice but to vote in person, and so you'll be protecting those people from the possibility of additional exposure to COVID-19.
- You'll also be protecting the county's poll workers, many of whom are over the age of 60.
- Bonus: If you request your ballot early and send it back early, you'll also be taking some pressure off the USPS.
Think of it as your voting back-up plan: You may not end up needing to use it, but if you do, you'll be glad to have it.
What You Need to Vote by Mail
How to Get Informed About the Candidates
- Candidate Forums: We currently have two virtual candidate forums on the schedule: 6th Circuit judicial candidates on July 13 and school board candidates on July 23. (Our sister League in Manatee County is hosting one for District 70 on July 20.) For more information - including how to watch them online - visit our website.
- Voter Guide: The Voter Guide for the 2020 primary election is set to go live on July 14. Sign up here to be notified when it goes live.
How to Empower Other Voters
- Social Media Toolkit: The Voter Services team created a social media toolkit for our campaign promoting voting by mail, called Democracy Starts at Home. Use the social media frames, graphics and copy to promote voting by mail on your social networks!
- Organize a Virtual Training: The Voter & Election Protection co-chairs are leading online trainings for groups that want to learn more about the basics of voting by mail and how to make sure their mail ballot counts. If you're interested in arranging one of these sessions for your own community group, church, club or organization, send an email to VoterProtection@lwvspa.org.
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Check Out Our Vote-By-Mail Mural!
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Last month, we were thrilled to announce that we'd commissioned two local artists -
Jabari Reed-Diop
and
Derek Donnelly
- to paint a mural promoting voting by mail on the outside of the Enoch Davis Community Center in south St. Petersburg.
The mural is part of our multi-prong campaign aimed at encouraging people to sign up to vote by mail. We're particularly targeting people who live in low voter turnout areas in an effort to let them know what they need to do to vote by mail and how to make sure their mail ballot is counted.
Sadly, we had to postpone the unveiling ceremony due to increases in COVID-19 cases in our community, but the mural is visible to anyone who visits the Enoch Davis center.
Many thanks to Jabari Reed-Diop and Derek Donnell for their creativity, and to St. Petersburg's Parks and Rec department and local community leaders for their support. And giant thanks to Voter Services co-chair Maryellen Gordon for her tireless efforts in ushering this project from idea to reality!
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LWVUS National Convention Highlights
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Last month, the LWVSPA sent seven delegates to the
2020 LWVUS National Convention
, which was held entirely online for the first time in the League's history.
Despite a few technical hiccups, the convention was largely a success, driven in large part by the passionate delegates from Leagues all around the country who spoke beautifully and intelligently on a variety of issues.
Here are some of the highlights from this year's convention:
- We elected Dr. Barbara Ann Turner, of Omaha, Nebraska, as our next LWVUS president, and she shared some remarks on what she envisions as her priorities for her term.
- CEO Virginia Kase shared some powerful and emotional thoughts about the current state of our democracy, including racism and voter suppression.
- We voted to elevate the enforcement of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies to the same level of organizational importance as our non-partisan status.
- We also voted in support of resolutions regarding climate change and racial justice.
- We adopted the following program, with the addition of the abolition of the electoral college to the areas of urgent focus.
Thanks to the delegates who dedicated a full weekend to taking part in the national convention! We appreciate you representing our local League on a national stage!
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Guess Who's Coming to (Digital) Dinner?
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LWVSPA's Food Politics action team will host its second digital dining event. And this time they'll host a very special guest: Wilbur and his friends from the Peacefield Farm Sanctuary.
Wilbur made a guest appearance on our inaugural digital dining event in June and he was a big hit — so the team decided to invite the whole farm family!
They'll take digital diners on a fun-filled virtual tour of the farm, which includes lots of farm friends, a big vegetable garden, solar energy to run the farm, and a lifestyle of respect and love for our democracy, personal health, the environment, and, of course, our furry and feathery friends.
The team is encouraging everyone who attends to take another step to embrace a plant-centered diet by ordering a terrific meal from one their plant-based partners. Please choose an awesome dinner meal, call it in, pick it up, be safe, and head back home to share this digital dining adventure with us
Please check out the menu and RSVP so a place will be set at the table for you.
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Member Spotlight: Deb Mazzaferro
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What brought you to the League?
Amy Weintraub is a neighbor and she convinced me to check out the LWV. Its non-partisan position appeals to me as an independent voter.
How are you involved with LWVSPA?
I co-founded
Floridians For National Popular Vote
as a result of being trained as a subject matter expert by the LWV FL. I am the issue chair for NPV for the LWVSPA and work on the membership committee and with Gulfport Votes 100.
What's a favorite experience you've had at a League activity or with League friends?
The Suffragist Shuffle — our 100-year anniversary soiree — by far! So well done: awesome music, food and everyone’s costumes!
What about the League's mission and principles speaks to you strongly today?
The non-partisan approach to political change, voting rights and education of voters.
What do you like to do outside League activities?
I own a boutique sales and marketing consultancy focused in the food industry, so I love to cook and eat. I’m a Sommelier, yogi and golf to a 24 handicap.
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What's Happening Around LWVSPA?
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Education
Gun Safety
This team is on hiatus through 2020.
Food Politics
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Immigration
Want to help educate the public, deepen your knowledge and make new friends?
You can join our sub teams who are creating additional FACT sheets, design and track a social media educational campaign or email your questions to Karen.
Also, make sure to mark your calendar for the next Immigration Conversation, happening Aug. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Details will be in the next Voter.
- Next meeting: Monday, July 27 @ 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Conference call, contact Karen Coale for information
- Chair: Karen Coale
Media/Publicity
- Next meeting: Wednesday, Aug. 6 @ 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Virtual conferencing
- Chair: Lisa Yacso
Membership Services
- Next meeting: Thursday, July 22 at 6 p.m.
- Location: Virtual conferencing
- Chair: Amy Weintraub
National Popular Vote
The NPV team shared
this interview
with New York Times editorial board member Jesse Wegman on his recent book,
Let the People Pick the President
.
Nominating
Membership on this committee is set by conditions in LWVSPA bylaws (election or Board appointment).
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This team is on hiatus through the 2020 election season.
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This team is currently on hiatus.
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July 9: Digital Dining: Wilbur and the Peacefield Farm Sanctuary
6:30-7:30 p.m. @ Online video session
July 13: 6th Circuit Judicial Candidate Forum
7-8:30 p.m. @
Online video session
July 20: Florida State House District 70 Candidate Forum
5-6 p.m. @ Online video session
Hosted by LWV of Manatee County
July 23: School Board Candidate Forum
7-9 p.m. @ Online video session
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For Other Upcoming Events
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Membership: Are You Up for Renewal?
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Join us. Renew your membership. We make a difference.
We need your support to continue our work in the community and at state and national levels. Whether you want to be an active member or a supporting member, your dues help advance the League's mission.
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We offer five levels of membership
:
Gold for $250*
Silver for $125*
Household for $78*
Individual for $52
Student for $26
*Includes two members residing at the same address.
Note that LWVSPA keeps only about $7 (!) of your basic dues paid at the Individual ($52) or Household ($78) levels. The rest goes to LWV-FL and LWV-US. Your local League has to raise almost all of its funds with voluntary contributions.
If you join at our Gold level ($250) or Silver level ($125), all the extra dues stay with our local League and we will recognize your generosity at our Annual Meeting.
You can also offer your financial support by upgrading your membership, offering an additional monthly, quarterly or annual donation, and encouraging others to do the same.
Consider including the League in your estate planning.
Your gifts allow us to continue our education, advocacy and leadership programs to forward our mission in Making Democracy Work in the St. Petersburg area. If you would like to discuss an estate planning contribution or other gift, please
contact our office
.
The following memberships are up for renewal during this 3-month span. We invite you to
renew today
!
May 2020 (past due)
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Fard, Trina
Franckle, Lorraine
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Azis, Jackie
Becchetti, Rita
Bragg, Andrew
Burr, Susan
Cahill, Judson
Carlin, Gregory
Clement, Laurie
DiPaolo, Bonnie
Ferguson, Pamm
Fife, Linda
Jurewicz, Stacey
Lippert, Cynthia
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Lundquist, Madeline
Lundquist, Sherri
Metzkow, Linda
Moore, Sarah
Oster, Shari
Oster, Gerni
Parker, Nancy
Tait Kamradt, Amelia
Wells, Betsy
Wines, Sarah
York, Ashley
Zien, Livia
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Baran, Evelyn
Bonanni, Elinor
Boyd, Jennifer
Carroll, Nita
Crabtree, Laura
Darlington, Theresa
Fite, Celia
Flaherty, Lisa
Hanewicz, Lisset
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Hartwell, Barbara
Hoekenga, Daniel
Keith, Amy
Kroto, Stacey
Moorefield, Marti
Nelson, Molly
Shaw, Lisa
Turley, Laura
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2020-2021 League Leadership
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OFFICERS
President: Linsey Grove
First Vice President: Robin Davidov
Second Vice President: Amy Keith
Secretary: Ken Wrede
Treasurer: Gina Gallo
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ama Appiah
Nita Carroll
Ann Dieterle
Beate Marston
Stephanie Owens
Click here
for more information about our education and advocacy groups.
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EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, COMMITTEE LEADS
Voter Service: Robin Davidov, Maryellen Gordon, Caitlin Constantine, Amy Keith, Stephanie Owens
Gun Safety: On hiatus
Immigration: Karen Coale
Reproductive Rights: On hiatus
Census: Gina Gallo
Food Politics: Julie Kessel, Jen Underhill, Wendy Wesley
Sustainability: Laura Crabtree
National Popular Vote: Deb Mazzaferro, Marty Shapiro
International Relations: Judy McSwine
Social Justice: Linsey Grove, Stacey Kroto
Media/Publicity: Lisa Yacso
Membership: Amy Weintraub
Nominating: Amy Weintraub
Office Administrator: Julia Sharp
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League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area
Telephone: 727-295-5255
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The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization,
encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase
understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy
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