The Voter

September 2021

President's Message

By Lynn Frazier

Dear Alachua County,

Thank you to all who responded to the rankings of the LWVFL 2021 legislative priorities. I know it is a tough decision to rank items that are all critical priorities. As LWVFL president, Cecile Scoon, reminded us, “if a particular issue does not make it into the allocated 6 legislative priority spots, it does not mean the issue is not monitored or followed or acted upon by state League or local Leagues. The priority process allows for resources, staff/lobbyist time, and League Lobby Corps to be allocated in a productive manner, but we plan to be responsive to important matters that develop without notice in the legislative arena.”

I am sure there will be unexpected important issues that come up during this year’s legislative session, and I’m glad to know that League will be nimble enough to respond. For instance, LWVFL presented a statement Sept 3 responding to the Florida legislature’s anticipated restrictive reproductive legislation. Redistricting is also on the agenda this year. Redistricting is the redrawing of congressional and state legislative districts to adjust for uneven growth rates in different parts of the state. Districts determine which voters participate in which elections. Please see Diane Dimperio’s article below and check our website for updates.

Our state and community continue to struggle with COVID, and we support the Alachua County Superintendent and School Board in their efforts protecting the health and lives of students, staff, and community. League continues to support Home Rule. Policymakers within local school districts must be able to make safety decisions in local schools.

Be sure to check our calendar of activities each month and plan to join the committee(s) of your choice. All committees welcome new members and are looking for active involvement in the issues of the committee. Your participation is vital to LWVAC.

Thanks for all the work you do.

Lynn

elgfrazier@gmail.com

Transitioning Toward 100% Clean Energy - 9/25 @ 9:00 am

NAACP Alachua Environmental and Climate Justice Committee will host a virtual discussion on how Alachua County can transition toward 100% clean energy. LWVAC Natural Resource Committee Co-Chairs, Roberta Gastmeyer and Jay Rosenbek and LWVAC Local Issues Chair, Jeff Shapiro serve on this committee. All League members are invited and encouraged to attend.

A panel of subject matter experts will highlight and stress the intersectionality of Equity, Clean Energy, Weatherization, and Sustainable Food Systems. Panel discussions will be followed by the breakout sessions which will allow participants to: 1) dive deeper into Clean Energy, Weatherization, and Sustainable Food Systems; and 2) focus on developing at least one goal specific to their municipality based on the panel and breakout session discussions.

This event is free and open to the public but registration is required.

Learn more and register here

Introduction to Redistricting

By Diane Dimperio

There are lots of discussions about redistricting these days. So you may be wondering… What’s it all about? What does it mean? Why should I care?

If we did not know before, we now understand how important our vote for political office holders can be. Politicians make decisions that affect our health and safety, our economic status and our environment. Understanding of, and involvement in, the process of redistricting can be the first step in preserving your ability to make decisions about your life by voting.

The League of Women Voters encourages everyone to vote and to actively engage in civic life. We want to help you understand issues that affect your ability to vote and to make your vote count. Voting at every level is critical to achieving the quality of life we value. Fair districts are key to our ability to choose politicians who share our values. The decisions on state redistricting will affect our voting choices for at least a decade. We will give periodic updates on redistricting and urge you to become active members of the electorate.

Introducing Some of Your

Administrative Committee Chairs

Dues Treasurer

Ruth Angaran

I joined the league after retiring as a private psychotherapist who had specialized in cases of divorce and divorcing families. I developed and taught a course for couples in high conflict that the Court ordered couples who were really harming their children in the middle of their conflict. My first foray into League work was with Voter Services, which I love. Then Kathy Kidder and her husband drafted me into this job. Seems there aren’t many who are proficient in Word and Excel.

My job is to get your renewal notices together and mailed out to you on your anniversary month, then to post to your record when you send your dues payment back. I also add new members who join online to our database. Oddly, I feel as though I know you because I see your names each month!

Hospitality/Events

Jean Robinson

I am one of those women who say I am going to join the LWV when I retire. And I did. I have always admired the work of the League and am proud to be a part of it. My past experience includes political lobby leader of the teachers union and past president of the North Central Florida Central Labor Council. When I joined the LWV, I worked my way up to serving as president of the League. I currently serve as the Events Coordinator, though there have been no events recently, and on the Education and Voter Service committees.

Membership

Sue Legg

Shortly after retiring from U.F., I joined the LWVAC Education Committee and became chair at both the local and state levels. Our work on charter schools won a number of awards and was presented at a LWVUS conference. I was President of our local league from 2015-17. In 2018, we formed ‘Parents Against Corporate Takeovers’ to advocate for public schools. Our league won an award for PACT in 2018. Currently, I serve on the national board of the Network for Public Education-Action.

Naturalization

Mary White

I have lived in Gainesville since the early 70s when my husband took a job in the math dept at UF. I taught for several years at Idylwild Elementary School. I now live at Oak Hammock, just a few blocks from Idylwild. I have two sons and three granddaughters. I have been a League member for several years. I was put in charge of the naturalization ceremony for the League by my dear friend, Kathy Kidder several years ago.

National Popular Vote Volunteer Opportunity

Floridians for National Popular Vote (FL4NPV) is seeking representative(s) from LWVAC. If this is a topic of interest to you and you'd like to get involved, contact Lynn Frazier.

In Memorial

Susan Davis Wiltshire died at the age of 87 on August 15, 2021. Susan was an active member of the League for over fifty years. She served as president of the Massachusetts League of Women Voters. In that role, she moderated a 1982 gubernatorial primary debate between Ed King and Michael Dukakis. Susan wrote the 1993 U.S. League of Women Voters publication A Nuclear Waste Primer and served on the League's Nuclear Waste Education Project Planning Committee. For the last ten years, Susan lived at Oak Hammock and was very active in organizing League activities at Oak Hammock. She will be missed.

Leadership Team

President: Lynn Frazier

Vice-President: Deb Shimon

Secretary: Carole Fernandez

Treasurer: Fran Towk

A full list of LWVAC Board Members and Committee Chairs can be found here.

Comments, Questions, Feedback? Contact the editor Connie Nicklin

Alachua County League of Women Voters

info@lwv-alachua.org | www.lwvalachua.org

352-448-5408