Happening Next Month:
The St. Petersburg Primary Election
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The St. Petersburg Primary Election is happening Aug. 27. Voters in Districts 1, 3, 5 & 7 will have the chance to vote for candidates in those races. Since this is a primary, the top two vote-getters in each district will then go on the ballot for the General Election on Nov. 5.
Our mobile-friendly Voter Guide will include responses from all of the candidates on the issues that matter most to St. Petersburg's voters.
Sign up here to get notified by email when the election guide launches. The Voter Guide also contains a wealth of knowledge about voting in Pinellas County, so make sure to check it out at
pinellasvoterguide.com.
The candidates will also be taking part in a
candidate forum to be held July 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sunshine Center. The audience will have the chance to hear directly from all of the city council candidates, so make sure to attend so you can make an informed decision when casting your ballot.
Attention college students! The voter registration deadline for this election is coming up July 29, which means you only have a few more weeks to make a plan for voting in the primary election. Make sure you know where you are registered and what you need to do to make sure you're able to vote.
Something for you to think about: Even if you consider another city to be your home base, you may want to consider registering to vote in the community where you attend college. By participating in local elections, you have the opportunity to exercise some influence in your community - even if you only live there during your college years.
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Show Your Support for Sex Ed in Pinellas County!
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The Pinellas County School Board will be considering updating the sex education policy at its July 16 workshop.
While we cannot comment as the public at this workshop,
we can show up to hold them accountable -- join us at 9 a.m. at the PCSB Administration Building, located at 301 4th St. SW in Largo.
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Mark Your Calendars:
2 Nights of Games and Fun Coming Up!
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We've got two super-fun events coming up in the next two months, both of which will give you a chance to flex your trivia muscles while having fun and hanging out with your fellow Leaguers.
On Wednesday, July 17, we'll be turning our monthly Cocktails and Conversation into a
Super Sex Ed Trivia Night! The event, which is co-sponsored by the Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, will be a fun playful night of sex-themed games and trivia at Vortex Bar and Game Room. (Bonus: Vortex is woman-owned!)
The Vortex Bar and Game Room is located at 2329 28th St N in St. Petersburg, and the event will run from 6-8 p.m. If you're interested in attending, make sure to RSVP using
this link so the organizers know how many to plan for.
And then on Aug. 8, the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area will host
Hopped Up on Democracy, a free, non-partisan, democracy-themed game night.
Made possible with funding from Engage St. Pete, it’s like trivia meets scavenger hunt meets game show AND with local craft beer. There will be prizes, snacks, voter registration and a whole lot of fun! It'll be held from 7-9 p.m. at Flying Boat Brewing, located at 1776 11th Ave. N in St. Petersburg.
The event is open to eligible voters of all ages, so please join us as we celebrate democracy, and bring your friends, bring your spouse who's apathetic about voting, bring your mom!
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Thanks to all of the members - and friends and family of members - who showed up to walk with us in the St. Pete Pride Parade last month!
It was a great opportunity to show our support for the LGBTQ community, and to also get the word out about
the importance of voting and civic engagement when it comes to protecting the rights of marginalized communities. (Also, the pro-comprehensive sex ed stickers were a big hit with the crowds!)
We look forward to taking part in the Pride parade next year, and we hope even more of you can join us for it!
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What's Happening Around LWVSPA?
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Education
This cross-county action group is co-chaired by
Nikki Fleming and
Barbara Meloche of LWV of North Pinellas County. Their next meeting will be held Thursday, July 18 at 10:30 a.m. at 2642 Sabal Springs Dr. in Clearwater. Contact the co-chairs if you are interested in working with this action group.
Election & Voter Protection
The team is preparing for the St. Petersburg municipal election in November. They will be recruiting and organizing volunteer poll monitors and legal experts and developing public outreach campaigns to educate voters as to their rights when it comes to voting.
Gun Safety
The team's newly-formed gun safety coalition, supported by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete, will survey St. Petersburg residents over the next six months to better understand the impact of gun violence in our neighborhoods. An analysis of that information will help us identify and hopefully implement programs that will be most effective in preventing gun violence here in St. Petersburg.
The team recommends reading
this analysis of the monetary cost of gun violence in Detroit, as well as
this report about the study, conducted by the nonprofit Force Detroit.
The team's next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 29 at Allendale United Methodist Church (Wesley Room), located at 3803 Haines Rd. N in St. Petersburg.
Contact Team Lead
Sharon Winters
for more information.
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Immigration
On July 3, team members joined a coalition of local organizations deeply concerned about the treatment of migrants - in particular, the 2,600 children detained at the for-profit facility in Homestead - who met with Rep. Charlie Crist’s Staff Director, Steven Cary.
We asked that the congressman co-sponsor the Restoring Oversight for Members of Congress Act and to visit Homestead. He agreed to both.
We also asked that the House Appropriations Committee conduct hearings regarding the fiscal oversight of the various no-bid contracts, the hiring practices of the vendors and the treatment of the detainees. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for July 24.
If you'd like to get involved with the Immigration Action Team, email Team Lead
Karen Coale
for more information.
Media/Publicity
This action group is always looking for effective ways to get the word out about our efforts through traditional, social and digital media. If you have experience with this - or you're just interested in learning more and helping out - then attend the committee's next meeting on Thursday, July 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the LWVSPA Office, located at 233 3rd St. N., St. Petersburg.
Email Team Lead
Amy Weintraub
for more information about joining this action group.
Membership Services
National Popular Vote
Plant Power
This team will hold its next meeting on July 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the LWVSPA Office, located at 233 3rd St. N. in St. Petersburg. For more information, email
Julie Kessel
or
Jen Underhill
.
Reproductive Justice
The team's next meeting is Thursday, July 11 at 7 p.m. at the LWVSPA Office, 233 3rd St. N., St. Petersburg. Email Team Lead
Stacey Kroto
for more information about getting involved with this action group.
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Sustainability
The team recently launched
a Facebook group
as a way for interested members to stay in touch with what the team is working on and to share useful and interesting stories and articles with one another.
Voter Service
The Voter Service action group is preparing for the St. Petersburg municipal primary election on Aug. 27. Those preparations include holding a candidate forum, launching the updated Voter Guide and registering voters ahead of the July 29 deadline.
The team's next meeting has been rescheduled to July 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the LWVSPA office. Training for voter registrars will be held at this meeting. Email Team Lead
Raechel Garafalo for more information.
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July 17: Super Sex Ed Trivia Night
6-8 p.m. @ The Vortex Bar and Game Room, 2329 28th St. N, St. Petersburg
July 12: Lights for Liberty
7-9 p.m. @ Allendale United Methodist Church, 3803 Haines Road, St. Petersburg
July 23: St. Petersburg City Council Candidate Forum
6:30-8 @ The Sunshine Center, 330 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
Aug. 8: Hopped Up On Democracy: A Night of Trivia, Games and Beer!
6-8 p.m. @ Flying Boat Brewing Co., 1776 11th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
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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
:
Carrie Chapman Catt (Gold) for $250*
Susan B. Anthony (Silver) for $125*
Household for $78*
Individual for $52
Student for $26
*Includes two members residing at the same address.
Only $7 of your basic membership goes to the support the activities of the local league; a large percentage of what you pay for an individual membership goes to support our state and national Leagues. By selecting the Gold or Silver membership level, most of your dues will help support the work of our local League.
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
!
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Michelle Anderson
Ama Appiah
Ruth Bentley
Meghan Cottrell
Eleanor Davidov
Janet Debiasio
Joanne Delmonico
Lisa Flaherty
Jamie Flanagan
Barbara Hartwell
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Susan Kaineg
Rebecca Klonel
Kimberly Lopater
Amanda Patanow
Valerie Rigual
Thomas Schenck
Bonnie Sklaren
Laura Turley
Kathy Wagner
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Kathryn Adikes
Mary Lou Ambrose
Nina & Ken Bailey
Joe Barkley
Lisa DiPiero
Timothy Dutton
Megan & Seth Firestone
AnneMarie Fraley
Ed Fraley
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Amy Keith
Kathleen Kingston
Jacqueline Ott
Dana & Scott Robertson
Jackson Stewart
Jackie Swigler
Amy Volpe
Kimberly Walker
Julie Weston
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Ingrid Bredenberg
Terry Citti
Beverly Cohen
Murray Cohen
Ken Degen
Carley Going
Jennifer Hewitt
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Christine Lowrie
Dianne Morrow
Kelly Rouse
Da'juh Sawyer
Jane Thomas
Carol Ulmer
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2019-2020 League Leadership
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OFFICERS
President: Linsey Grove
First Vice President: Robin Davidov
Second Vice President: Maryellen Gordon
Secretary: Ken Wrede
Treasurer: Caroline Bloodworth
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ama Appiah
Caitlin Constantine
Amanda Dodge
Raechel Garafalo
Stephanie Owens
Click here
for more information about our education and advocacy groups.
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EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY LEADS
Gun Safety: Sharon Winters
Immigration: Karen Coale
Reproductive Rights: Stacey Kroto
Census: Gina Gallo
Plant Power: Julie Kessel, Jen Underhill
Election Protection: Caitlin Constantine, Stephanie Owens
Voter Service: Raechel Garafalo
Sustainability: Carol Marks, Kal Marquise
National Popular Vote: Deb Mazzaferro, Marty Shapiro
International Relations: Judy McSwine
Media/Publicity Lead: Amy Weintraub
Membership: Kathi Garrity, Stacey Jurewicz
Office Administrator: Julia Sharp
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League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area
Telephone: 727-896-5197
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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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