CELEBRATING OUR NEW SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS | | Melissa Blazier was sworn in as the Supervisor of Elections on Wednesday, June 21st, and several Leaguers were present to join the celebration including Diane Moore, Janet Hoffman, Jan Eustis and Denise McLaughlin. Presiding over the ceremony was Judge Tamara Nicola, who several of the League members had met when the judge presented to high school students in March during our Know Your County Government program. Recently retired SOE, Jennifer Edwards, greeted us enthusiastically and introduced the brief ceremony saying that Melissa had been with the SOE for 17 years. Trish Robertson, Public Relations Officer for the SOE, thanked Leaguers who had shared information from our recent LWVCC Convention in Orlando. | League members Denise McLauglin, Janet Hoffman, Melissa Blazier, Diane Preston Moore, Janet Eustis
| SAVE THE DATE
2nd Annual Celebrate the League
February 6, 2024
The Club at Olde Cypress
More details to follow | DON'T WORRY!
BE HAPPY!
NAPLES PRIDE FEST WAS A TRIUMPH
By all accounts the fifth annual Naples Pride Festival was a major success. Thanks to our many volunteers from the LWVCC who helped make the day one to remember! A special thanks to Betty Schwartz, Louise Cromwell, Tina Palmese, Janet Hoffman, Diane Moore and Denise McLaughlin for their excellent coordination, setup, and formidable skills in obtaining signatures for the Reproductive Rights and Right to Clean Water petitions. A big shout out to LWVCC member Cori Craciun for her leadership of Naples Pride. Naples Pride was rewarded for its persistence and courage with strong sponsorship from leading businesses and nonprofits from across the county. Turnout was great and the atmosphere was supportive and upbeat.
Despite narrowly gaining the city council’s approval and a few last-minute changes that moved the GP-rated drag show indoors at the Norris Center, this year’s performance was a gamechanger. For the first time the Norris Center offered the performance the benefits of air conditioning. That meant a break from the heat and humidity for the audience and the stars of the VIP Experience- could remain perfectly coiffed, their makeup intact all day! The stage also offered special effects with smoke and laser lights. Some of the performances were sold out. Here’s hoping, to paraphrase one sponsor’s motto, these bonds build a better community.
VIEW OUR WHOLE PHOTO ALBUM
| 
The petition drive for the
Clean Water Amendment
continues
| LIMITING GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE
IN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS |  Do you believe that politicians should make decisions regarding women’s medical care? The League believes in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy, and we believe protection for reproductive health decisions is a democracy issue. Without the ability to make reproductive decisions for one’s own body, women cannot participate equally in our democracy. This harm will exacerbate societal inequalities and fall disproportionately on people of color and low-income communities already facing egregious obstacles to health care.
Throughout Florida, citizens are gathering signatures to place a Constitutional Amendment on the November 5, 2024 General Ballot that would ensure Floridian’s reproductive freedom is codified into law and allows Floridians to make personal medical decisions without government interference. The Amendment Ballot Summary states, “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.”
Based on the right to privacy guaranteed in the Florida Constitution, if you believe reproductive decisions should be determined by patients and their healthcare providers, download the Constitutional Amendment Petition Form. Be sure to use the same name you use to vote. Add your address, city, zip, County, and Date of Birth. Add your signature, date signed, and deliver it to the locked mailbox at 6340 Napa Woods Way, 34116 or mail the completed Petition Form back to Floridians Protecting Freedom, Inc., PO Box 4068, Sarasota, FL 34230. Each petition needs to be filled out carefully and fully by a person registered to vote in Florida. The signature should match what is used for elections.
DOWNLOAD THE PETITION FORM
This initiative spearheaded by Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF) is a statewide campaign that requires the efforts of an army of volunteers to collect the petitions and follow the required submission procedures. The financial commitment is significant for a project of this magnitude. The printing of the petitions and corresponding supporting materials are a large expense. All of the petitions are required to be verified by each county’s Supervisor of Elections Office to ensure that the signers are registered voters. This vetting process must be paid for. The training of volunteers and tabulating, handling, mailing and other administrative costs must be covered. Paid petition collectors are a necessary expense because even thousands of volunteers cannot collect the signatures needed within the mandated time limits. Donations from those who believe in this cause and realize the importance of protecting our personal freedoms are making this monumental effort possible.
MORE INFORMATION
For questions, Janet Hoffman is the LWVCC point person.
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS |
|
| ONLINE REIMBURSEMENT FORM IS NOW AVAILABLE
Board members, committee chairs, and others who need to submit reimbursement requests can now do so via our Submit Online Forms page. | UPCOMING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Because LWVCC committee meetings are for members and their invited guests unless stated otherwise,
members should log in to the website to register
to get the Zoom links for committee meetings and other events. | Board Meeting
August 9
Zoom
| MISSED AN ISSUE OF THE VOTER?
NEED TO CATCH UP ON THE NEWS?
Check out our updated News & Newsletters page, which has all our latest news and links to current and back issues of The Voter and The LWVCC Update.
| Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in Government. We influence public policy through education and advocacy. Our goal is to empower citizens to take an active role in shaping better communities worldwide. The League of Women Voters of Collier County does not support or endorse any candidate or political party.
| League of Women Voters of Collier County
P.O. Box 9883Naples, FL 34101
| |