 | COLLIER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CANDIDATE FORUM
May 8 @ 5:00-7:30
Commission Chamber
Greater Naples Leadership (GNL) is partnering with Collier Citizens Council (CCC) to host a public forum on May 8th featuring the candidates for County Commissioner seats, Districts 3 and 5. Additional candidates may be added, following filings to run. The forum will be held in the Commissioner's chambers at 3299 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 303 from 5 - 7:30 pm. Tom McCann, GNL Class IX, will moderate. It will be streamed on the county network and will be available to view following the program on the county website.
The forum is one of a number of election forums scheduled this year under the auspices of a coalition of local community organizations, the Collier County Forum Coalition; in addition to GNL and CCC, the members include: Naples Chamber of Commerce; the League of Women Voters of Collier County (LWVCC); Naples Better Government; NABOR and Collier Building Industry Association (CBIA).
Call for volunteers
10-15 volunteers are needed to work the event. Duties will include greeting the public, providing assistance and directions, distributing programs, collecting audience questions and closing up following the event. Please sign up with Patricia Aiken-O'Neill, text 240 338 1945.
| YES ON 4 MESSAGING TRAINING
COMING TO A LOCATION NEAR YOU
Saturday April 20
The official kickoff rally for the Yes On 4 campaign, to enshrine abortion rights in the Florida Constitution took place on April 13 in Orlando, FL. Patients, providers and abortion advocates spoke and shared stories to fire up the crowd of approximately 1500 before a march around Lake Eola.
Join FPF for a teach-in with Yes on 4! Learn about the state of abortion access in FL, how to talk about Amendment 4, and how to craft your personal story with the FPF team! Learn more about how you can limit government interference with abortion in your home community.
Can’t make it on Saturday? That’s okay! FPF is hosting another Virtual Yes on 4 Messaging training
Tuesday, April 23, from 10:00-12:00
APRIL 23 VIRTUAL MESSAGING TRAINING SIGN UP
LWVC Reproductive Health Subcommittee Meeting
May 2 @ 11:00
At this meeting we will talk about the Amendment 4 Launch (in Orlando on 4/13), Super Saturday trainings and others and plan where our advocacy efforts go from here!
For more information contact Paul Kardon or Catherine Hackney. | AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING
May 2 @ 9:30-11:00
Moorings Park O Building Social Room
The guest speaker for the May 2 Social Policy Committee meeting at 9:30 am at Moorings Park in O building will be Michael Puchalla. Mr. Puchalla is the Executive Director of the Housing Development Corporation of SW Florida, Inc., which started the Collier County Community Land Trust. Mr. Puchalla recently organized a new housing initiative called The Housing Alliance which will serve as a hub to disseminate information about housing.
As Attainable Housing is a primary issue for this Committee, it is important that our members know the functions of the Land Trust and The Housing Alliance so that we can effectively support and be involved with housing initiatives. The coming year will be challenging and interesting, so we are pleased to have Michael Puchalla share his knowledge and plans with us.
REGISTER
| LW VCC ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Tina Palmese, Teresa Stohs, Ellen Hannon, Catherine Hackney, Connie Fako Shoemake,
Diane Preston Moore, Suzanne Pezzulo,Patricia Aiken-O'Neill, Paula Schwerin, Beth VanDamme
The LWVCC’s Annual Meeting was held on April 8, 2024. Members approved the 2024-2025 Budget, Program Plans, several amendments to the Bylaws, and voted in new Officers and Board members. The new officers are: President: Diane Preston Moore; 1st Vice President: Catherine Hackney; 2nd Vice President: Susan Pezzullo; Treasurer: Ellen Hannan; and Secretary: Connie Fako Shoemake. The new Board members are: Tina Palmese, Susan Wendy Riedel, Lisabeth VanDamme, Susan Golden, Paula Schwerin, and Teresa Stohs. The Nominating Committee also recommended that the new Board appoint the following members to the Board: Patricia Aiken-O’Neill, Paul Kardon, Lynn Martin, Betty Schwartz. The Board will take up this nomination at its first meeting in May. Congratulations to the new Board!
At the meeting, members of the Board who completed their terms were thanked, including Libbie Bramson, Pat Plummer and Joanne Huskey. Thanks were also given to Denise McLaughlin, who served as the Treasurer for the past 3 years, and Linda Scherzinger who served as Secretary for the past 2 years.
 President Diane Preston Moore also recognized two people who have impacted LWVCC and our community over the past year in a positive way. First, Jan Eustis was recognized as this year’s Unsung Hero for her tireless work in making sure our events and programs run smoothly, for founding the League Leadership Program, chairing the Membership Committee, helping draft the new Dues Assistance Policy, serving as a former Board member, and assisting in LWVCC’s conversion to Club Express. Thank you, Jan, for all you do for the League!
 Second, LWVCC’s Outstanding Community Partner was awarded to Sandy Parker. Author of Sparker’s Soapbox, Sandy was recognized for her nonpartisan efforts to ensure that our community is informed about state and local government, our county’s political climate, and local elections. Because she is an unparalleled marketer for and partner of the League, the Board created a new role for her – and for us – and Sandy is now our League’s Ambassador. Thank you, Sandy, for your tireless work in informing our electorate.
A video montage recapped many of LWVCC’s activities over the past year. Our League should be proud of the breadth and depth of our education and advocacy efforts!
WATCH THE ANNUAL MEETING VIDEO
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CELEBRATE EARTH DAY 2024
April 20 @ 10:00-3:00
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
On April 20, 2024 we will be celebrating Earth Day at The Conservancy. The event will be from 10-3. Our League will have a table showcasing the activities of the Environmental Affairs Committee, the Plastics Task Force and Voter Services. This is a wonderful event to meet the community and join League members discussing our activities. Please volunteer to join us at the table and spread the word. You can sign up to volunteer via the LWVCC website or contact lynnsmartin14@gmail.com with questions.
VOLUNTEER FOR 2024 EARTH DAY
| ENDOWMENT FUND UPDATE
Our LWVCC Strategic Plan calls for the League to raise $39,000 in Endowment Funds by the end of 2024. In September 2022, the Board voted to start the LWVCC Endowment Fund. Following that, President Diane Moore led 100% of the Board members to make an endowment gift – an impressive accomplishment showing real leadership by the Board! Other gifts followed. We are thrilled to announce that we currently have raised $25,000. After extensive research by the Finance Committee, the Board approved moving these funds to the Collier Community Foundation (CCF). At the 2024 LWVCC annual meeting the membership approved a bylaws change allowing endowment funds to be invested in brokerage accounts for growth and safety. These investments are insured by the SIPC, a U. S. government corporation. The funds will be invested in accordance with an Investment Policy Statement approved by the Board.
Stay tuned, more information to follow in future Updates! Meanwhile, contact Suzanne Low, Endowment Chair, with any questions.
| RETURNING CITIZENS POSTCARD PARTIES
April 18 @ 1:00-300
The League of Women Voters of Florida is committed to helping returning Citizens regain the right to vote after completing their sentence. The State is a founding partner in getting Amendment 4 on the ballot in 2018, which overwhelmingly passed with 64% of the Florida Electorate. The League helped reduce fees and administrative costs returning citizens were required to pay. Cecile Scoon, LWVFL Co-President, established a state program to identify and educate returning citizens of their rights and developed training for attorneys to work pro bono for those in need.
Now the LWVCC again needs your help! Our League is assisting LWVFL in mailing out postcards and we have 1500 postcards to write and mail for the month of April. We will have two postcard writing parties that we hope you can join: Thursday April 11th and Thursday April 18th from 1pm to 3pm. Please note that you will have to sign via Docu-sign a confidentiality agreement. Contact Tina Palmese for more information
For those of us that have been part of this, it is truly a rewarding experience!
| LWVUS CONVENTION JUST 3 MONTHS AWAY
June 27-30
Washington, DC
The LWVUS Convention will take place from June 27-30, 2024 in Washington, DC. This is an unforgettable opportunity to better understand how the national League works and to connect with Leaguers from across the country. If any member is interested in attending, please contact Diane Moore.
|  PLASTICS POINTERS
We bet you always remember to take reusable bags to the store! But are you ready to take the next step? Stop using those disposable bags in the produce department at the grocery store! Buy some reusable mesh produce bags and keep them with your grocery bags. Be sure to get some big enough for broccoli or a head of lettuce! |
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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April 20 @ 10:00-12:00
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Say Yes on 4 Training
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April 20 @ 10:00-3:00
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Earth Day Celebration
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April 23 @ 10:-12:00
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Say Yes on 4 Virtual Training
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April 29 @ 9:30-11:30
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Board & Committee Chair
Orientation
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May 8 @ 5:00-7:30
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Collier County Commissioners Forum
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May 13 @ 11:30-1:30
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May Luncheon & General Meeting
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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
April 11 @ 10:00-12:00
Collier Community Foundation Board Room
| Gun Violence Preventtion Subcommittee Meeting
April 16 @ 4:00-5:00
| Housing Subcommittee Meeting
April 18 @10:30-12:00
Moorings Park Building O Social Room
| Juvenile Justice Committee Meeting
April 28 @ 10:00-12:00
Finemark Bank Waterside
| Board Meeting
May 1 @ 9:30-12:00
Moorings Park Conference Room
| Social Policy Committee Meeting
May 2 @ 9:30-11:00 NOTE UNUSUAL TIME
Moorings Park Building O Social Room
The guest speaker is Michael Puchalla, the Executive Director of the Housing Development Corporation of SW Florida, Inc., which started the Collier County Community Land Trust. Mr. Puchalla recently organized a new housing initiative called The Housing Alliance.
| Reproductive Health Subcommittee Meeting
May 2 @ 11:00
Moorings Park Building O Social 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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