Luncheon and General Meeting
October 9, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Tiburon Golf Club
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An Update on Collier County Public Schools
Presented by
Dr. Leslie Ricciardelli
Collier County Superintendent of Schools
The Education Committee is pleased to host Dr. Leslie Ricciardelli for our October meeting. Dr. Ricciardelli was named Collier County Public Schools Superintendent in December 2022 following several months serving as Interim Superintendent. She is a Naples native and has worked in education for over 28 years. "Dr. Ricciardelli’s experiences and expertise within the district and the community have provided her with an in-depth understanding of the expectations and values the people of Collier County have of our public education system” (CCPS website).
Registration and Payment Must Be Made Online
by 3:00 p.m., October 5
More information and registration
| Message from the President
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LWVCC President
Diane Preston Moore
Welcome back to our monthly publication of The Voter after a short summer hiatus! As we move into fall, our League is gearing up to do what the League does best: empower voters and defend democracy.
It may seem early, but "election season" is fast approaching. Everglades City holds its local election in November 2023, and the Presidential Preference Primary and Naples City Council elections are slated for March 2024. The LWVCC is preparing now to ensure that Collier County voters have the information they need to cast their ballots in 2024. Throughout the summer, our Voter Services Committee has been laying the groundwork for election season by providing opportunities for citizens to register to vote and to confirm their registration status, educating voters about the need to request vote by mail ballots, preparing for candidate forums, and developing strategies for Vote411.org and printed voter guides.
But we cannot do this work alone. We need your help! YOU power the LWVCC! When you devote your time and talent to doing the work of defending our democracy, we all benefit. There are so many ways to make an impact by working with the LWVCC.
- All of our committees are active in the community and have been busy throughout the summer. Scroll down to see what they’ve been up to.
- Choose a committee, attend a meeting, and learn more about the issues you are passionate about.
- Introduce someone new to the League by bringing a friend to our first General Meeting of the season and hear the Superintendent’s update on the state of Collier County Public Schools.
If you’re not a member of the League, join us! Membership is just a click away!
JOIN HERE
Whatever your passion, get involved! In the process of working with the League, you might find new ways to connect with others who hold similar values. I look forward to connecting with you in the coming months as we empower voters and power the League. | Welcome Back Meet & Greet
| Save the Date!
November 15, 2023 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Rees Meeting Room, Naples Regional Library
650 Central Avenue, Naples
Please come out and meet our Committee Chairs, Board Members and fellow LWVCC members at this fun and informative event. You will have the chance to learn about what we're doing this season and how you can get involved. Light refreshments will be served. | On September 6, LWVCC NPV team leader and Floridians for the National Popular Vote District Chair Suzanne Low, JD gave a Zoom presentation on "Deciphering the National Popular Vote” to a statewide audience of 53 Florida League members.
This event was sponsored and promoted by the LWVFL, to "spread the word" and educate League members about the proposed interstate compact and how it works. At the start, the attendees were asked to vote whether or not they believed that every citizen’s vote for President of the United States should count equally. 100% of those voting said yes. Suzanne described the current system, how it interacts with the constitution, how it came about, its problems and pitfalls, and how it can be changed state by state, without a constitutional amendment. She explained that, to date, 17 jurisdictions representing 205 electoral votes have passed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact - so the United States is 76% of the way toward making NPV the governing law in our presidential elections. She also refuted a number of myths and misconceptions about the presidential election process and conducted a Q&A session after the presentation.
To ensure that this vital topic is understood by all Floridians, the LWVFL is offering the opportunity for League members and anyone interested, whether affiliated with the League or not, to join Suzanne for her repeat presentation of "Deciphering the NPV" on Zoom on December 6 from 5-6 p.m. If you want a refresher, have friends or colleagues who may want to learn about NPV, or want an update on what states may be next to adopt NPV, you will have the opportunity to register to join us on December 6. Stay tuned for further information about how to sign up.
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Social Policy Committee
Janet Hoffman, Betty Schwartz, Co-Chairs
We are looking forward to seeing everyone for our first meeting on Thursday, October 5 at 10:30 a.m. in the lovely Social Room of Building O in Moorings Park. You will need to enter from Goodlette Road, go through security, turn right at the stop sign, turn right at the next stop sign, stay straight until the road ends, turn left and park in front of Building O, go in the West entrance door, and push 2R to get to the Social Room.
We plan to organize our committee into three sub-committees: Reproductive Health and Justice, Gun Violence Prevention, and Affordable Housing. We will also need to hold our meetings at different times to accommodate those who are working or attending school. At the meeting, we can provide updates on the ballot initiative, plans for showing a gun safety movie and distributing gun locks, and the latest in the county’s involvement in affordable housing.
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Education Committee
Nancy Chism, Pat Plummer, Co-Chairs
The LWVCC held a well-attended special summer meeting featuring a wide-ranging discussion of K-12 and higher education issues and challenges with Dr. Michael Martin, recently retired president of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU).
Dr. Martin provided an overview of pressing issues and answered questions in an open, frank, informative presentation that included: economic effects of current legislation on both education and the workforce; specific issues of teacher/professor recruitment and retention; and the impact of the expanded voucher program, book bans, DEI challenges, bans on instruction and more. Our last question to him, "How can we help?" led to a recommendation that the LWVCC, as a respected voice in the community plan, an initiative to educate the public about these serious issues, perhaps under a title of "Public Education is a Public Good."
We will be discussing this effort at our first meeting for the season on October 11. The Education Committee is also hosting the first LWVCC General meeting on October 9 with Superintendent Ricciardelli. Hope to see you all there.
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Environmental Affairs Committee
Lynn Martin and Patti Forkan, Co-Chairs
LEAGUE MEMBERS SUPPORT CONSERVATION COLLIER
AT BCC MEETING
On Thursday, Sept 21, 2023, the Board of County Commissioners held their final budget hearing. Funding for Conservation Collier was proposed to be reduced and the environmental community was there in force.
The LWV of Collier County has been instrumental in supporting Conservation Collier since the beginning. Conservation Collier was approved in a referendum, three times, most recently, by a 77% vote in 2020. The ballot language specified a tax levy of .25 mill for 10 years to buy and maintain conservation land. Since 2020, Conservation Collier had received full funding and was in the process of approving multiple land purchases. Members of the LWVCC Environmental Affairs Committee wrote letters to the Commissioners and the Naples Daily News to support full funding at .25 mill this year. At the BCC meeting, Patti Forkan, Susan Calkins, Gaylene Vasaturo, and Gary Bromley voiced support for full funding, along with over 50 others.
Unfortunately, the Commissioners were not persuaded. The BCC decided on a rate of .2242 mill for Conservation Collier, providing funding of $31 million for F2024. At the same time, most of the accumulated funding for both land acquisition and future maintenance was siphoned-off for other unrelated county operating expenses with no promise to repay Conservation Collier. We must work to assure that the County fully funds this program next year.
Ray Bearfield, Collier County Waterkeeper, will be our guest speaker at the next EAC meeting on October 12, 10:00-12:00 p.m. at the Collier Community Foundation.
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Juvenile Justice Committee
Libbie Bramson, Chair
Restorative Practices: A Successful Approach to
Reducing Delinquency
States Attorney Monique Worrell of the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida (Orlando and Osceola Counties) championed juvenile and adult diversionary programs, many of which included restorative practices. In August 2023, after being accused of "neglect of duty and incompetence" and of being soft on crime, she was removed from office.
Worrell’s successor immediately canceled all adult diversionary programs and sent pending cases back to the justice system for follow-up and potential sentencing. Ninth Circuit juvenile diversionary programs have not been cancelled yet, but their impact is being closely monitored. Elected in 2020 by 66% of voters, Worrell is the second duly elected States Attorney in Florida removed in the past two years. Her removal not only made national news but sent shudders across the state of Florida. We cannot assume that proven juvenile diversionary programs (with their low recidivism rates and average costs that are 90% less than incarceration) will not be cancelled in Florida Judicial Circuits in the future.
For these reasons, the Juvenile Justice Committee discussed Restorative Practices at its September 29 meeting. Restorative practices are used in the Juvenile Justice system to prevent kids from getting a permanent criminal record for first time misdemeanors. In schools, they are used to prevent kids from drifting into a pattern of school absences, disruptive behavior and exclusionary suspensions which can lead to involvement with the law (the school-to-prison-pipeline).
Who represents vulnerable kids in Florida? They are too young to vote, and they are not represented in Tallahassee by high-paid lobbyists. That leaves the League of Woman Voters and other like-minded organizations. Our kids are our future! What are we doing about it?
At our October 27 meeting, our guest speaker will highlight all that the Collier County Sheriff’s Office does to support youth with services and diversionary programs to prevent delinquency and its consequences. All interested Leaguers are welcome to attend. |
Membership Committee
Beth VanDamme, Chair
Welcome New Members
Carolyn E. Alden
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Amy Kalmans |
| Yudy Barbera |
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Barb Kurko |
| Chloe Bowman |
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Shandon Land |
| Pallas Diaz |
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Nanci Lochner |
| Stephanie Dixon |
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Jamibeth Margolis |
| Paula Federman |
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Patty Molnar |
| Jennifer Galloway |
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Gloria Padilla |
| Madelaine Gardner |
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Amy Perwien |
| Deborah Giso |
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Kathy Postelle |
| Ellie Gruber |
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Hailey Shapiro (High School Student) |
| Marcia Hawken |
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Leslie Stevens
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| Blanche Hawkins |
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Sherri Torres
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| Georgia Hopefl |
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Tiana Vachara (High School Student) |
| Judy Isserlis |
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Mary Waller |
Afternoon and Evening Events for Our Busy Members!
Our growing ranks include a number of people who work or volunteer during the day. They often can't attend our luncheons or morning committee meetings. The Membership Team is putting together a group of members to help us organize events in the late afternoon and evening. These events could focus on a speaker or topic -- or be purely social and networking! Hopefully, they'll occur year-round, not just during "the season.” If you are interested, please contact Membership Team Chair, Beth VanDamme.
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LWVCC Communications Team
Communication is not just a one-way activity. Getting our message out is only half the battle; the other half is listening to understand. Stacy Vermylen, a member of the Communications Team, recently shared her thoughts on ways to rise above the contentiousness that can permeate election season. Follow the link to read Stacy's essay.
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LWVCC Book Club
The Book Club has voted for the Fall 2023 selection. We will be reading and discussing The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio. Please check the Book Club page on the LWVCC website for more information.
| League News From Across the Country
| National League News
For more information, visit LWV.org.
State League News
At the LWVFL Convention in June 2023, Pat Plummer was elected a Director on the Board and LWVCC past President Diana Walsh was elected to the Nominating Committee. The Florida board has asked both to help develop a Leadership Program modeled after our successful LWVCC League Leadership Program (LLP), now in its fifth year. LWVFL is funding the program and Diana and Pat are working closely with an impressive committee of LWVFL experts to launch the state LLP beginning in November 2023. Nominations and applications will be announced in early October. In other news. LWVUS is sponsoring "Power the South" in Orlando on October 20-21, 2023. Two LWV members from each Florida county will come together to spearhead Voter Services efforts throughout the state.
For more information, visit LWVFL.org.
| Please refer to the LWVCC Weekly Update for a complete list of upcoming events or visit the LWVCC website: lwvcolliercounty.org.
Members should log in to ensure they see members-only events and registration options. | 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 9883, Naples, FL 34101
Sent by lwvcc@lwvcolliercounty.org
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