 | JANUARY 2025 LUNCHEON & GENERAL MEETING
January 13 @ 11:30-1:30
Tiburon Golf Club
Reflections of Collier County:
A 50 Year Art Adventure
featuring
Paul Arsenault
Since moving here in 1974, Paul has pursued his passion of painting contemporary life in coastal communities. His paintings reflect his passion for history and his natural storytelling ability, and his presentations will include paintings and stories depicting his 50 years chronicling the landmarks and special places of Naples and Collier County. Paul and his wife Eileen have lived in their historic home on Gordon Drive for 42 years. Through their many fundraising exhibitions and events, they have supported environmental protection, humanitarian causes, and historic preservation.
REGISTER
If you are bringing one or more guests, please be sure to register them when you register yourself.
Registration and payment must be made online by January 7 @ 12:00 PM
Walk-ins will be seated in order of arrival on a space available basis
Late registration/walk in price will be strictly enforced
Did you register for the cancelled October 14 General Meeting?
If so, you were issued a credit in ClubExpress to apply to this or other future meetings.
VIEW INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING CREDITS
Let's Grow Together! Bring a Friend to Our General Meetings |
Big changes are coming soon! As part of the LWVUS structural transformation, the process of joining and renewing memberships will change in 2025. Beginning in February, a new software platform called ChapterSpot will be up and running. Members will be getting information from LWVUS in January about signing in to the new software.
If you are up for renewal prior to January 31, please renew promptly so that we can benefit fully from the support of your local league.
|  | HOT TOPIC: SAVING KIDS' FUTURES
Juvenile Justice Committee
Civil Citation Zoom
January 6 @ 6:00-7:00
True or False? One juvenile arrest for a misdemeanor offense results in a child having a permanent criminal record for the rest of his or her life? Unfortunately, this is true. Join us for a Hot Topic Zoom presentation on January 6, 2025, to learn what Civil Citation is, who is eligible, and how it gives kids a second chance for a successful future. With a recidivism rate of 4% - 5%, this is one of the most effective tools available to combat juvenile delinquency. Collier County is one of leaders in Florida in using Civil Citation but there remains further opportunity to expand its usage. To learn more, join us on Zoom, January 6, 2025, 6:00 PM.
| 
Please join us at the home of Sara Werder on January 24th, 9:00-10:30 AM for an opportunity to meet fellow members, connect with the Board and LWVCC leadership, and explore volunteer opportunities. 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.
|  IT'S TIME TO START READING
Book Club
January 23 @ 3:00-4:30
Did you notice that most of the campaigning took place this year in battleground states? Did you begin to wonder if your vote matters less, since our state is seen as overwhelmingly ‘Red”? Would you be surprised that voters and politicians of both major parties have questioned the current system over the years, even since the earliest elections in our nation’s history, and that in 1969 the United States House of Representatives actually voted to abolish the Electoral College, and the Senate came close to making that happen?
Join fellow League members on Thursday, January 23, at 3 p.m. to discuss this easy-to-read book. Come and share what you learned and what surprised you, and how your viewpoint may or may not have changed. Come to listen and learn, even if you didn’t read it. The discussion will be facilitated by Linda Denning.
For more information contact Ida Margolis.
| FLORIDA LEAGUE'S VOTER FIGHT AGAINST
VOTER INTIMIDATION HIGHLIGHTED BY LWVUS
The national League of Women Voters has recognized the League of Women Voters of Florida for its fight against voter intimidation and other forms of voter suppression.
|
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT
The League of Women Voters of Collier County has ranked the following issues in the following order as legislative priorities for 2025. The issue of “Voting & Election Reform” is always and will remain the League’s number 1 priority. The other priorities were determined by submissions from LWVCC members. In determining the rankings, members have considered whether the issue is at a critical juncture, the potential impact our League can have, and whether other organizations are already addressing the same issue. The rankings do not mean that those issues falling further down the list are less important or meaningful to our community.
- Voting & Election Reform
- Reproductive Health & Justice
- Education
- Poverty & Affordable Housing
- Natural Resources
- National Popular Vote
- Gun Violence Prevention
- Health Care
- Clean Energy
- Home Rule/Preemption
- Juvenile Justice
Thanks to all who provided input!
| DIG INTO DUNES
RESTORING BEACH ECOSYSTEMS WITH PLANTS
On December 12, 2024, the LWVCC Environmental Affairs Committee had a “field trip” to learn about the plantings on the beach dunes with the Naples Botanical Garden. The Naples Botanical Garden made a presentation followed by a guided walk on the dunes. The presentation discussed the importance of the dunes to protect property from flooding and storm surge; to create a wildlife habitat, and as an economic driver of tourism. Building and vegetating the dunes is an important way to address coastal erosion and build resiliency. The Botanical Garden has been studying the dune ecosystem since 2019. They have studied the types of plants that thrive and will maintain other plants and animals. At the time of Hurricane Ian, there were three planted test sites which provided a proof-of-concept opportunity. In addition, the Garden has developed protocols for the collection of seeds, propagation of plants and effective planting. When the County needed to replace the dunes, after Hurricane Ian, the Botanical Garden was ready to partner with a commercial grower and the installer to revegetate the dunes. There are 16 special plants in the palette that will be grown on the dunes. The planting will occur as a “tossed salad” approach rather than rows of one type. The revegetating will take place over the next several weeks. After the dunes have been planted, the community needs to keep off the dunes and the plants, so the plants will take root before the next hurricane season. While the County will be installing some type of barrier with notices, we want everyone to keep alert for any damage to the dune plantings and let the EA Committee know. At our next EA Committee meeting on January 9, 2025, we will discuss ways that we will be able to with the Garden to educate the community on respecting the importance of the dunes. | PLASTICS TASK FORCE PRESENTS
TO GRACE PLACE PARENTS
On October 23, 2024, members of the League’s Plastic Task Force delivered the “Take A Pass on Plastics” presentation to the parents of students at Grace Place for Children and Families. We were part of their Adult Education program which helps Grace Place parents acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to learn the English language and assimilate to the culture of the United States. Susan Pezzullo spoke Spanish for most of the presentation with Loralee LeBoeuf cheering her on by passing out prizes of bar soap to those who brought their own water bottles. The interactive presentation was well received and great fun. | 
HELP CELEBRATE THE LEAGUE
WITH A CORK PULL
While stocking up for holidays parties, buy an extra bottle or two, to donate to the Celebrate the League Cork Pull. We ask that bottles have a value of $20 or more. We will be collecting at our January & February monthly luncheons, or we can arrange a pickup or a drop off. Gayle Repetto is coordinating our Cork Pull this year. You can reach her with any questions.
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS |
|
|
January 13 @ 11:30-1:30
|
Luncheon & General Meeting
|
January 20 @ 8:00-12:00
|
Martin Luther King Day Parade
|
January 24 @ 9:00-10:30
|
New Member Coffee
|
February 27
|
2025 Celebrate the League
|
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. | Board Meeting
January 2 @ 9:30-12:00
Moorings Park Clubhouse
| Plastics Task Force Meeting
January 2 @ 3:30-5:00
Zoom | Education Committee Meeting
January 8 @ 2:00-3:30
Collier Community Foundation
| Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting
January 9 @ 10:00-12:00
Collier Community Foundation
| Development & Outreach Committee Meeting
January 10 @ 10:00-11:30
Zoom
| DEI Committee Tour of Naples Pride Center
January 14 @ 11:45-3:00
Meet at Home Depot on Airport Road S to carpool to Center
| Afffordable Housing Subcommittee Meeting
January 16 @10:30-12:00
Moorings Park Building O Social Room
| Juvenile Justice Committee Juvenile Detention Center Visit
January 22 @ 10:00-11:30
Collier County Sheriff's Office, Government Complex
| Book Club
January 23 @ 3:00-4:30
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
| |