BIG CHANGE COMING: RENEW NOW!
As part of the LWVUS structural transformation, the process of joining and renewing memberships will change in 2025. Beginning in February all membership transactions will take place on a software platform called ChapterSpot rather than our own website. Members will be getting information from LWVUS in January about signing in to the new software.
We are therefore urging everyone whose expiration date is prior to January 31 to renew as soon as they receive their expiration notice so that we can benefit fully from your support of our local league. |
LWVCC NEEDS YOUR INPUT
The State League has asked all local leagues to rank a list of 11 issues in order to determine the top 4 legislative priorities on which LWVFL's lobbyists will focus. Voting & Election Reform is always priority #1. (The ranked order of issues does not mean that those with a lower ranking are less important. It simply is a way of deciding on the top 4 issues on which lobbyists will focus.) We are asking you, our members, to fill out your rankings and return them to Diane Moore no later than Friday, December 13th. We will tabulate the results from LWVCC and return them to LWVFL. Thank you for your input!
|  | WALK THE DUNES
December 12 @ 9:00-11:00
Lowdermilk Park
The Naples Botanical Garden will make a presentation followed by a guided walk on the dunes. They will show us how the Garden uses plants to increase the resiliency of Southwest Florida beaches. We will see how our county is responding with natural solutions to build back our beaches and dunes to protect against future storm surges and coastal erosion due to climate change.
We will meet at 9am, at Lowdermilk Park. Space is limited to 40 people. LWV Members will be given priority.
Parking for beach access in the City of Naples requires residents or visitors to have a beach parking permit or pay-by-space. This is enforced year-round.
We will meet at the Pavillion on the south end of Lowdermilk Park. Please bring your own seating as there will be a short program before we go out on the walk.
Participants must walk on soft sand and stand on a warm beach for about 45 minutes while participating in this educational opportunity. Comfortable shoes, a water bottle, hats, sunglasses, and attire fit for the outdoors is recommended.
| DEI COMMITTEE PLANNING EXCITING TOURS
 Two informative and enjoyable tours are planned by the LWVCC DEI Committee! We are looking for interest from ALL League members before finalizing reservations. On December 18, 2024, we will take an airboat tour on Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours which is managed by our impressive November speaker, Betty Osceola. We will leave about noon by carpool to the site as the tour will originate off Tamiami Trail and last 1 hour. Cost is expected to be $50 per person. If you wish to join us, please contact Cynthia Cromwell or REGISTER.
 On January 15, 2025, we will visit the Naples Pride Center, with a tour and information from LWVCC member and Center Director, Cori Cracium. We look for information about the center and the local experiences of LGBTQ residents in Collier County. Due to limited parking, we plan to meet at the Home Depot on Airport Road at 11:45 and carpool to the Pride Center. After Cori’s presentation, we will go to a nearby local restaurant, Sushi-Thai of Naples, for lunch. The DEI committee invites ALL league members to join us for our tour and luncheon. If you can join us, please contact Cynthia Cromwell or REGISTER. | ENDOWMENT FUND ADVANCES
We are thrilled to announce that the LWVCC Endowment Fund has reached over $43,000 where it is custodied, at the Collier Community Foundation. In recognition of the generosity of former President Helen Franke in donating the original gift which started our endowment fund, the LWVCC formed the Helen Franke Legacy Society, and all donors to the Endowment through the end of 2024 will become Charter Members of the Society.
Here are the Charter Members through November 15, 2024:
Patricia Aiken-O'Neill
Carolyn E Alden
Sarah Berg
Gloria Bailey
Linda Brandis
Libbie Bramson
Nancy Chism
Cynthia Cromwell
Katherine Doerr
Stephanie Dixon
Jan Eustis
Carissa Funk
Susan Golden
Cathy Hackney
Ellen Hannan
Melinda Heim
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Janet Hoffman
Ray Kalich
Joanne Huskey
Anna Christina (Paul) Kardon
Suzanne Low
Lynn Martin
Denise McLaughlin
Diane Preston Moore
Judi Palay
Tina Palmese
Sandy Parker
Susan Pezzullo
Martha Phillips
Pat Plummer
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Larry Polansky
Wendy (Susan) Riedel
Patricia Rodilosso
Linda Scherzinger
Betty Schwartz
Laura Scott
Karen Sendik
Connie Fako Shoemake
Elizabeth Smith
Susan Sonnenschein
Teresa Stohs
Lisabeth VanDamme
Stacy Vermylen
Diana Walsh
Anonymous (2)
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This distinguished group includes most of our Board members. We hope you will want to join these individuals who have “voted with their wallets” to ensure the League has a strong future defending democracy and educating voters in Collier County, regardless of economic, weather, political or other unforeseen events to come.
Ensure that you are on this illustrious list by making a tax-deductible gift to the Endowment Fund today! Donations may be made through the League website or by check mailed to PO Box 9883, Naples, FL 34101. Remember that if you qualify, you can make a tax-deductible contribution directly from your IRA even if you don’t itemize your federal tax deductions. Contact your tax advisor for more information about that option. If you want information about the LWVCC Endowment Fund, contact Endowment Chair Suzanne Low .
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Join us for a New Member Coffee on Friday, January 24 from 9:00am-10:30am. If you are a new member—or have been a member 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 more involved. Address and parking info will be sent when you RSVP. Please register at the LWVCC website on the Event Calendar page. This is a member and guest only event, so you must log in to register.
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Time is running out!
Only two weeks left for a chance to win a $100 Turtle Club Restaurant Gift Card?
Fill out your membership survey today!
That's right, LWVCC members! Your feedback is so valuable to us that we are offering a special incentive for completing our membership satisfaction survey.
By taking a few minutes to share your thoughts on our programs, events, and overall membership experience, you will not only help us improve LWVCC but could also win a fantastic prize.
The names of every member who completes the survey will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 gift card for the Turtle Club Restaurant. Members may only submit one survey. The drawing will take place on January 13, 2025, at the General Meeting. The winner does not need to be present to win.
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HELP CELEBRATE THE LEAGUE
WITH A CORK PULL
Wine donations will be taken again this year for the Cork Pull at Celebrate the League—Empowering Collier County Voters for 50 Years, February 27, 2025, at The Olde Cyress Club. Last year we had so much fun and a wide variety of donated wines. If you donated last year, please think about donating once again. And if you would like to share the fun by donating a bottle or two of wine this year—great! We will be collecting wines at our monthly meetings beginning in November. Gayle Repetto is leading the Cork Pull this year. If you would like to coordinate a pick-up or drop-off of your wine, please reach out to Gayle. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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January 13 @ 11:30-1:30
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Luncheon & General Meeting
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January 24 @ 9:00-10:30
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New Member Coffee
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February 27
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2025 Celebrate the League
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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. | Plastics Task Force Meeting
December 5 @ 3:30-5:00
Zoom | Juvenile Justice Committee Meeting
December 6 @ 9:45-12:00 NOTE STARTING TIME CHANGE
Finemark Bank
| Education Committee Meeting
December 11 @ 2:00-3:30
Collier Community Foundation
| Environmental Affairs Committee Dune Walk
December 12 @ 9:00-11:00
Lowdermilk Park
The Naples Botanical Garden will make a presentation followed by a guided walk on the dunes. They will show us how the Garden uses plants to increase the resiliency of Southwest Florida beaches. We will see how our county is responding with natural solutions to build back our beaches and dunes to protect a.gainst future storm surges and coastal erosion due to climate change | Development & Outreach Committee Meeting
December 13 @ 10:00-11:30
Zoom
| DEI Committee Airboat Tour of the Everglades
December 18 @ 12:00-5:00
Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours 29701 SW 8th street Miami Florida 33194
(local meeting location for carpooling will be sent to registrants)
| Board Meeting
January 2 @ 9:30-12:00
Moorings Park Clubhouse
| Afffordable Housing Subcommittee Meeting
January 16 @10:30-12:00
Moorings Park Building O Social Room
| Book Club
January 23 @ 3:00-4:30
Moorings Park Building O Social Room
The Vineyards, 5588 Hammock Isles Drive, Naples
| 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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