The League of Women Voters of Collier County mourns the passing of LWVUS President Dr. Deborah Ann Turner. Dr. Turner was a tireless advocate for women's rights and voting rights, and we join with other Leagues around the nation in expressing our collective grief at the loss of an extraordinary leader. As LWVUS CEO, Virginia Case Solomon suggests, we can honor Dr. Turner's legacy by continuing to uphold our values to empower voters and build a stronger, more inclusive democracy.
|  | UPCOMING MEMBERSHIP EVENTS
League 101
presented by
Diana Walsh & Denise McLaughlin
February 28 @11:00-12:00
All Members and guests are encouraged to attend this online presentation. Learn about our local Chapter, its work, and its relationship with the State and National League of Women Voters. Hear how LWVCC is committed to its non-partisanship while being a political organization committed to empowering voters and defending democracy. Find out about our committees and the issues they tackle as well as our dual role of providing Education as well as Advocacy.
We look forward to your attendance.
Join us for a New Member Coffee on Friday, March 15 from 9-10:30am. If you are a new member—or have been a member of LWVCC for a while and just want to get reconnected—please join us at the home of Sara Werder. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow members, the Board and other LWVCC leaders, and to learn how you can become involved. Address and parking info will be forwarded when you RSVP.
| 2024 CANDIDATE FORUM
NAPLES MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL
The recording of the February 1 Candidate Forum is now available on Facebook from WGCU
VIEW WGCU RECORDING
and at the Naples Daily News
WATCH NDN RECORDING
In addition to watching the forum, you can now find candidate information and responses to our questions at Vote411.
| KNOW YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT 2024
Know Your County Government, day 1, was Tuesday January 23. It was a big success, and lots of fun! This was year 41!! The students visited 9 county offices, including the Tax Collector, Sheriff, CAT, the Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, and Traffic Management. We are looking forward to day 2 (February 13 when we visit 6 County agencies), and day 3 (March 26 focused on the County Commission, Courts, and Clerk). The program is co-sponsored by Collier County 4-H, Collier County Public Schools, and LWVCC.
 
| LWVCC AT 2024 LEAGUE LOBBY DAYS
On January 23rd and 24th, five representatives from LWVCC participated in the Florida State League Lobby Days. On Tuesday, Tina Palmese, Laura Hansen Reynolds, Linda Scherzinger and Diane Preston Moore joined League members from Miami/Dade to Jacksonville and Bay County to attend sessions hosted by LWVFL on lobbying, collaborated with members of Alpha Kappa Alpha on a Returning Citizens postcarding project, and celebrated at a LWVFL dinner with Leaguers from across the state. On Wednesday, they jumped into the legislative process, speaking separately about issues concerning Collier County with Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Representative Bob Rommel, and Representative Lauren Melo’s Legislative Aide, Joel Ramos. They also attended LWVFL’s press conference in the Capitol Rotunda, along with several partner organizations and legislators.
As part of League Lobby Days, the first LWVFL Sara Werder League Leadership Program class enthusiastically came together to better understand how to advocate to our legislators and to connect with classmates from various parts of Florida. Pat Plummer and Diana Walsh created the state’s LLP, and Pat led the group through Lobby Days last week. Cynthia Cave, LWVCC member and member of our local LLP Class 4, is a member of the inaugural state Leadership Program and participated in League Lobby Days. League Lobby Days is a perfect way to better understand the legislative process, to meet legislators in person, and to explain the issues and values that the League holds dear. If you are interested in joining LWVCC’s delegation to League Lobby Days in 2025, please contact Diane.
 | 2024 EVERGLADES COALITION CONFERENCE
The annual Everglades Coalition Conference took place January 25-27, 2024 in Bonita Springs. There were 430 attendees from 57 Everglades Coalition members at the meeting including 10 members of the Collier League. The League of Women Voters of Collier County was a sponsor and had a table in the lobby.
The theme of the conference was Everglades Restoration Rewards – Benefiting Ecosystems, Economies, and Communities. The meetings underscored the multiple bottom-line benefits that Everglades restoration provides to communities in south Florida. The conference discussed the progress that has been made toward a restored River of Grass and opportunities for further restoration and benefits in the future
Thank you to Gary Bromley and his wife Judy who organized, set-up and oversaw our table.
| 
CANVASSING BOARD VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
FOR PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY +
NAPLES MUNICIPAL ELECTION
Volunteer to observe the Collier County Canvassing Board for the March 19 Presidential Preference primary + Naples Municipal election! The Canvassing Board conducts the Logic and Accuracy test of the voting machines, reviews Vote-by-Mail and provisional ballots, and certifies the official results of the election. Dates are pending for the review of vote by mail and provisional ballots but the Logic and Accuracy Test of the voting machines will take place on February 21 at 9am. The test will take place at the Supervisor of Elections buildings, 3750 Enterprise Avenue, Naples 34104.
You’ll receive background information on observing this important and interesting task. When dates are set for the Canvassing Board reviews of ballots and certification of the election results, more volunteer opportunities will be posted. | 
WINTER 2024 BOOK CLUB MEETING
The theme for this meeting is "Banned Books".
Thursday afternoon March 14 @ 4 p.m.
Clubhouse @ Park Shore Tower
4251 Gulf Shore Blvd. North
We have selected The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
JOIN THE BOOK CLUB
|  PLASTICS POINTERS
When you get takeout, remember to tell the store you don’t need any condiments, cutlery, plates and straws. Check the bag before you leave the store! Americans use more than 36 billion disposable plastic utensils a year, and countless straws, plastic plates, and tiny packets of condiments. These are almost impossible to recycle. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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February 15 @ 5:00-7:00
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Book Talk--John Lewis: In Search of the Beloved Community |
February 21 @ 4:00-5:00
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Plastics 101
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February 22
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Celebrate the League
Non-Partisan, No-Nonsense News
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February 28 @ 11:00-12:00
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League 101
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March 4 @ 5:00-6:00
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Hot Topic
Lock It Up: Let’s Save Lives From Gun Violence
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March 11 @ 11:30-1:30
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March Luncheon & General Meeting
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March 14 @ 4:00-5:30
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Spring 2024 Book Club
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March 15 @ 9:00-10:30
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New Member Coffee
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Visit the LWVCC Calendar for event details
| 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. | Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting
February 8 @ 10:00-12:00
Collier Community Foundation
Gene Wordehoff and Nanette Rivers will talk about "Water Quality in Collier County" | Plastics Task Force Meeting
February 8 @3:30-4:30
Zoom | Juvenile Justice Committee Meeting
February 9 @ 1:00 - 2:30
Home of Libby Bramson
NOTE NEW TIME AND LOCATION
| Education Committee Meeting
February 14 @ 12:00-1:30
North Naples Government Center Meeting Room | Gun Violence Preventtion Subcommittee Meeting
February 20 @ 4:00-5:00
Zoom | Board Meeting
March 6 @ 9:30-12:00
Moorings Park Conference Room
| 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
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