Give the Gift of Democracy!
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Are you looking for a gift for the democracy lover in your life? Why not consider giving them the gift of an LWVSPA membership?
Our membership is what gives us the clout necessary to advocate for democracy and good government. The more members we have, the more of a force we are to be reckoned with! In addition, a portion of the membership fee is used to support our program at a local level (as well as at the state and national level).
We offer
several levels of membership, some of which include cool LWVSPA swag like tumblers and coffee mugs. If you'd like to purchase a gift membership, follow
this link to go to our gift membership page.
We also have several other ways you can celebrate the season of giving!
- You can make a donation directly to the LWVSPA, perhaps in honor of one of our milestones i.e. $100 to celebrate our centennial, $20 to mark the year the LWV was founded, $65 in honor of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
- You can buy something for our new office at the Sanderlin Center from our Amazon wishlist.
- You can give the gift of your time by signing up to be part of our volunteer team.
- You can include the LWVSPA in your estate planning. Learn more about this option by contacting our office.
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(Holiday) Party Time! Excellent!
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The annual holiday party is coming up on Saturday, Dec. 14 - have you RSVPed yet? If not,
you can do it right now. The holiday party is a great opportunity to relax and hang out with your League friends while enjoying good food, drinks, and conversation.
This year, the Sustainability action team is also organizing a clothing swap as part of their efforts to encourage more mindful consumption. Did you know the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world? A clothing swap is not only good for your wallet; it's also good for the planet!
If you have clothes you'd like to contribute to the clothing swap, you can drop them off until Dec. 12. Please email Julia Sharp at
office@lwvspa.org or text at 703-489-8079 for Sanderlin Center office drop offs. Please email Carol Marks at
clmsea@gmail.com for drop-offs at Carol's home in Crescent Lake.
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Mark Your Calendars: Suffragist Shuffle
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Next year marks the League's 100th anniversary, and we're getting ready to celebrate in style! Join us for the Suffragist Shuffle for some live jazz, an open bar, a buffet, a photo booth, games and more!
Where: St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club
When: Feb. 13, 2020
Dress code: Your best vintage/flapper/Jazz Age attire
Tickets: $49 for early birds, $59 after that
Watch for the tickets to go on sale next month.
Are you interested in sponsoring this event? Contact
Ama Appiah for more information.
Volunteers Needed
We'll need volunteers for next year’s LWV Centennial Celebration events, particularly for the St. Pete Suffragist Shuffle.
Volunteers for the following activities are needed:
- Decorating/set up & clean up
- Ticket tables
- VIP handlers
- Speakeasy password guards for the Suffragist Shuffle VIP Lounge area
- Voter registration table
If you're interested in volunteering at these events, send an email to
Ama Appiah.
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Voting Rights Restoration:
Legal Training and Fines & Fees Clinic
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The training will be held at Stetson University College of Law from 12-3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Attorneys who complete the training will receive a two-hour CLE credit approved by the Florida Bar.
Click here to register. Please spread the word to any attorneys you know who may also be interested in attending.
Afterwards, the attorneys who complete the training are invited to take part in a free legal clinic at Campbell Park Resource Center from 4-6 p.m. where they will help people navigate the process of ensuring all of their fees, fines and court costs are paid so they can register to vote. We'll also have voter registrars on site to help anyone register at that time.
If you or someone you know would be interested in utilizing the services of this clinic, please make sure to bring any documents or receipts you have related to your fines and fees.
This is a joint effort with the Leagues of Women Voters of Florida and North Pinellas County, the Community Law Program, Gulfcoast Legal Services, Stetson University College of Law, the Florida Bar Foundation, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and PERC.
Volunteers Needed
We will have voter registrars on hand for this event, but we also need volunteers to help with general set up, etc., prior to the event itself.
You needn't be part of Voter Services but you should be willing to welcome and support this amazing opportunity for returning citizens. Please contact Maryellen Gordon at
maryellengordon1@gmail.com if you're interested in volunteering.
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The Florida Commission on the Status of Women is asking women from around the state to share about challenges encountered in their everyday lives on the 2019 Voices of Florida Women Survey.
It takes just a few minutes to complete – but will give important feedback that will be compiled and shared with local, state, and national leaders.
It will also help the Commission focus future educational and collaborative efforts on the issues that matter most to women in Florida.
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Help Wanted: Media & Publicity Chair
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After several years in the role, Amy Weintraub will be leaving her post as Chair of Media & Publicity in the coming months.
If you have a background or interest in marketing/communications and have time to coordinate committee efforts to get the word out to the greater community regarding the League, as well its priorities, events, and activities, please consider stepping up.
For a description of the current Chair role, please
click here.
If you are interested in discussing the position, please contact Amy via
email.
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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 via conference call Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. Contact the co-chairs if you are interested in working with this action group.
Election & Voter Protection
The EVP action team has been working to partner with Leagues in Hillsborough and North Pinellas on efforts related to election security, voting rights restoration and Amendment 4, including a legal training and free legal clinic. More information about these events can be found above.
If you're interested in getting involved, the team's next meeting will be held
Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the LWVSPA office in the Sanderlin Center, located at 2335 22nd
Ave S
in St. Petersburg. Please contact
Caitlin Constantine
,
Amy Keith
or
Stephanie Owens
for more information.
Gun Safety
The
Tampa Bay Times recently published an
opinion article by Dr. David Berman, a member of our gun safety action team and a pediatrician, highlighting our epidemic of gun violence and its impact on children.
"The Science of Gun Violence" from
Discover is a solid introductory article with authoritative and current data and findings. In exploring gun violence from a public health perspective,
Discover reports on a recent analysis by RAND which found that only child-access prevention laws, such as those that require keeping guns at home safely locked, met their highest evidence-based standard for reducing injuries and deaths in children.
This action team has cancelled its regular Dec. 23 meeting. The next meeting will be held Jan. 27, 7-8:30 p.m., Wesley Room, Allendale United Methodist Church.
Want to learn more about gun safety? Visit our
Gun Safety Action Guide, which includes link to current status of 2020 FL proposed firearm-related legislation or contact team lead
Sharon Winters.
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Immigration
On behalf of the Pinellas Coalition for immigration Justice, we drafted letters that were sent from the Coalition to Reps. Gus Bilirakis and Charlie Crist, as well as Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.
Our request is to support the passage of a budget for the current fiscal year that began on Oct. 1, 2019. We also asked that the reporting requirements regarding the treatment of migrants that was passed as part of the July 2019 $4.5-billion Supplemental Funding bill to address the crisis at our border with Mexico be carried forward into this year's funding.
Mark your calendars for our next Immigration Conversation on Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Hop and Props. For more information about this team, please
email Team Lead
Karen Coale.
Media/Publicity
The committee will meet Thursday, Jan. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the LWVSPA office in the Sanderlin Center, located at 2335 22nd
Ave S
in St. Petersburg.
Email chair
Amy Weintraub
for more information about joining this standing committee.
Membership Services
The Membership Committee is meeting at the LWVSPA office on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. Come join us as we discuss ways to enhance the membership experience.
National Popular Vote
Two state legislators have made moves to support the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact: Rep. Joseph Geller sponsored HB335 and Sen. Victor Torres sponsored SB908. The NPVIC has been passed by 15 states plus the District of Columbia, representing 196 of the 270 electoral votes needed to enact the law.
For more information, visit
FloridiansForNPV.com where you can request a speaker, sign up for our newsletter and donate to pass the law in Florida.
Nominating
The committee will be meeting Monday, Dec. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the LWVSPA office in the Sanderlin Center, located at 2335 22nd
Ave S
in St. Petersburg. The team will be meeting with the board to identify potential leaders among the membership.
Membership on this committee is set by conditions in LWVSPA bylaws (election or Board appointment). Email chair
Amy Weintraub
for more information about this standing committee.
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The Plant Power team will hold its next meeting on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Sanderlin Center, located at 2335 22nd Ave S in St. Petersburg. For more information, email
Julie Kessel
or
Jen Underhill
.
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This Reproductive Rights team group will meet for its monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at the LWVSPA Office in the Sanderlin Center, located at 2335 22nd
Ave S
in St. Petersburg. Email Team Lead
Stacey Kroto
for more information about getting involved with this action group.
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The Sustainability Committee is organizing a clothing swap at this year's holiday party on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Drop-offs will be accepted Dec. 2-12. Please email Julia Sharp at
office@lwvspa.org or text at 703-489-8079 for Sanderlin Center office drop offs. Please email Carol Marks at
clmsea@gmail.com for drop-offs at Carol's home in Crescent Lake.
The Sustainability Team will collect and sort the items. Be ready to shop at this year's League holiday party for that next great outfit!
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Voter Service
This team's next meeting will be held Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Allendale United Methodist Church, located at 3803 Haines Road in St. Petersburg.
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Dec. 11: Voting Rights Restoration CLE
12-3 p.m. @ Stetson University College of Law, 1401 61st St. S, Gulfport
Dec. 11: Free Legal Clinic: Voting Rights Restoration
4-6 p.m. @ Campbell Park Resource Center, 701 16th St. S, St. Petersburg
Dec. 13: Fund Florida Forever Press Conference
10:30 a.m. @ Sierra Club Florida, 1990 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
Dec. 14: Are You My Neighbor? A Community Discussion on Poverty in Pinellas County
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Dunedin Public Library, 223 Douglas Ave., Dunedin
Dec. 14: Holiday Party
2-4 p.m. @ Member's Home
Jan. 22: Roe v. Wade Anniversary Visibility Event
12-1 p.m. @ 277 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
Feb. 14: Suffragist Shuffle: Celebrating 100 Years of LWV
7-10 p.m. @ St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, 559 Mirror Lake Dr. 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
:
Gold for $250*
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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Adler, Ana
Berkheiser, Nina
Bokulic, Karen
Ciembronowicz, Kate
Clarke, Dianne
Falkenberry, Rebecca
Glod, Linda
Griffin, Becky
Hubbard, Connie
Marder, Karen
Marder, Mark
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Marston, Beate
Marzilli, J James
Mayer, Dennis
Mayer, Susan
Roberts, Christine
Rothlein, Gina
Shulman, Marsha
Thurmond, Joan
Trochez, Gretchell
Yetter, Iris
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Allyn, Jan
Angelides, Laura
Arterton, Jon
Auld, Molly & Brian
Bedford, Faith & Robert
Blake, Amy
Bradlow, Hattie
Cappadona, Dorothy
Cappadona, William
Cody, Erin
Crawford, Ruth
Delong, Susan
Dobiesz, Maureen
Dornstauder, Candace
Drake, Kayla
Engleby, Laura
Fanning, Jane & Kent
Fisher, Aleta
Fox, Cynthia
Freeman, Bonnie
Freeman, Stephan
Fudge, Kim Marie
Gill, Julia
Ginn, Valerie
Gordon, Maryellen
Greene, Leslie
Grumbles, Roy
Grumbles, Sally
Hall, Judy
Hanrahan, Mary
Hanrahan, Michael
Hutto, Suzanne
Justus, Debra
Kessel, Terry
Kruse, Sarah
Kulaas, Kris
Lehman, Hilary
Loewenstein, Estelle
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Lopez, Ivanna
Lukens, Lois
Mack, James
Mahoney, Mary
Maples, Jana
Marquise, Kal
Mazuros, Michelle
Miller, Raegan & Todd
Mohns, June
Morgenstein, Betty
Ollis, Tara
Phelan, Kathy
Piacentino, Marcia
Plato, Nancy
Poore, Barbara
Rawson, Kathryn
Renfrow, Mary Ann
Riskin, Vollie
Robertson, Sara
Rome, Cathy
Romeo, Kymberlyn
Salsich, Jan Salsich
Sedgwick, Emily
Shapiro, Marty
Siberski, Robert
Stanfield, Elithia
Stein, Nancy
Steinway, Kate
Tait, Nancy
Thomas, Trisha
Van Ostenberg, Barbara & Don
Vanneste, Elizabeth
Vincent, Susan
Warren, Robin
Willis, Judith
Wirth, Eleanor
Zolan, Paul
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Alford, Faith
Banez, George
Burr, Jenna
Caitak, Doris
Chaniel, Jeanette
Clarke, Celia
Domingo, Alexandria
Fruit, Lynn
Givens Jr., Corey
Hahn-Campanella, Kitty
Harris, Angela
Hawkins, Cg
Heinen, Carol
Hodson, M Diane
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James, Chesney
Keeler-Pettigrew, Meaghan
Kelso, Daniel
Knorr, Rita
Lebron, Liz
Owens, Sandra
Pizana, Orlando
Pocius, Marilyn
Reid, Kendall
Rogers, Dawn
Rowles, Jonathan
Shollenberger, Sydni
Updegraff, Elizabeth
Weagle, Jane
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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, Amy Keith, 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: Stacey Jurewicz
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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