By Lynn Frazier
Dear Alachua County,
There are many important things happening that require your attention. It's time to gear up for the Legislative session. While the session begins January 2021, committee meetings are taking place now and being closely monitored by LWVFL. You should receive the Capitol Report from the LWVFL reporting on the various legislative committees. Please read these and take action as requested by LWVFL.
Diane Dimperio, our League’s point person on redistricting, has been presenting articles each month in the Voter, and they are worth your attention. In this month’s article, Diane points out that, “The drawing of new state and federal legislative seats will determine the partisan balance of power for the next decade in the Florida legislature and possibly in the U.S. Congress.” This is important. All of the redistricting articles are on our website. Please read these and share them with your friends and others interested in ensuring that as populations grow and change, every Florida voter can have equal representation and equal voice in government.
Please also feel free to share the Voter and our website and Facebook page with friends who might be interested in the issues addressed by League. Encourage them to join and become active in our League. Our success as a League in addressing issues we care about is only as productive as the efforts of our members. If you are concerned with the issues of voter rights, social justice, natural resources/climate change, local issues, education, etc., please join the committee(s) of your choice and become active in the issues. Connie Nicklin, Voter Editor, will be introducing our various committees each month. We hope you will find a committee or committees of interest and become an active member. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments on what you would like to see happening in LWVAC.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. See you in League!
Lynn
elgfrazier@gmail.com
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Gainesville City Special Election | |
Election Day - 11/16
Election day for the City of Gainesville election is Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Polling places are open from 7:00 am-7:00 pm on election day. Registered voters must vote at their precinct on election day.
The Mail-in dropbox will ONLY be available at the Alachua Supervisor of Elections Office during the following days and times:
- Monday, November 15 from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (office hours)
- Tuesday, November 16 (election day) from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Go to the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections website for the most up-to-date information, to find your precinct, or check your registration status.
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LWVAC Virtual Candidate Forum Recording Available
If you missed the live event or just want to revisit the candidates before election day, you can find the recording here.
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Save the Date: Hot Topic on 12/7 @ 7 p.m. | |
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LWVAC is happy to host Dr. Neil Buchanan, nationally cited UF Professor of Tax Law and Public Policy, for a lively discussion on December 7 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Dr. Buchanan is a prolific columnist, writing provocative columns such as, "Dead Democracy Walking" in Verdict on August 30, 2021. More information is coming soon. In the meantime, mark your calendars and plan to join us.
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Introducing Your LWVAC Committees | |
In this section, we are introducing you to your LWVAC Committees, with one Committee highlighted per month. Committees are the best way to get involved in LWVAC and your local community. Feel free to reach out to the Committee Chairs to express interest, join their meetings, and get involved. | |
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The Natural Resources Committee works in support of expedited, just, and effective policies and actions to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and thereby restore and protect our area’s land, water, air, and biodiversity.
NR is an active, supportive, and welcoming committee open to all members.
Sixty- to ninety-minute meetings are scheduled via Zoom on the fourth Wednesday of every month beginning at 5:30 or more frequently if needed.
Contact Roberta Gastmeyer or Jay Rosenbek if you want to:
- learn more about local, state, and national environmental and climate issues;
- find out how you can contribute to addressing those issues;
- add your voice to the growing chorus of those advocating for preserving a habitable planet.
A list of the committee's ongoing activities, including advocating for an end to GRUs natural gas subsidies and supporting the city's transition to 100% renewable energy is available on its newly revamped webpage.
If you worry that individuals, even individuals working in groups such as LWV, can do nothing to fight climate change, you will find a list of accomplishments on the committee's webpage. The NR Committee, acting alone and in collaboration with other groups, including the NAACP, has had many recent successes.
Join us and share in the work, the challenges, and the progress.
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Follow redistricting in Florida with the ongoing series of articles about the redistricting process in Florida on the LWVAC Redistricting webpage. Below is an introduction and link to Part 4 in the series. | |
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Redistricting in Action
by Diane Dimperio
Redistricting 2022 has major political ramifications for individual politicians, the state of Florida, and the nation. The new state and federal legislative seats may determine the partisan balance of power for the next decade in the Florida Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Legislative committees responsible for Florida and Congressional redistricting have just begun, and the process is already beset by controversy. This is the latest on redistricting in Florida as well as updates on local redistricting in Alachua County, the school board, and the City of Gainesville.
Read more
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Volunteer Opportunity Available
We're currently looking for a volunteer to serve as Voter Services Co-Chair, along with Courtney Pyche.
Be in the heart of the League with:
- Voter Registration Drives
- Election Protection Efforts
- Local Candidate Forums
- and much, much more!
Email Courtney to learn more today!
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OutreachCircle
is a fun way to follow LWV and get involved with regular action items on the most important issues of our day. Just scan the QR code with a QR reader or iPhone camera or use this link.
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Social engineering is the art of manipulating, influencing, or deceiving you in order to gain control over your computer system. The hacker might use the phone, email, snail mail or direct contact to gain illegal access. Most of us have heard of phishing, which is the process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity using bulk email which tries to evade spam filters. Phishing is a form of social engineering.
KnowBe4, a large security awareness training company and platform, offers social engineering infographics to help show you what to watch out for in email. Feel free to print it out for reference.
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LWVAC 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.
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To avoid missing future LWVAC email, please add our email address to your Safe Senders List
or add the From address (lwv@lwv-alachua.org) to your Address Book or Contacts.
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