 |  |   |  | DEI, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We see this term tossed around quite often, especially in our state. It is often derided as ‘woke’, but the reality is that it is a very beneficial framework for moving forward. In fact, the League of Women Voters believes in the value of DEI to such a great extent that it is one of only two overarching policies of the League. We are non-partisan, never endorsing or opposing a particular candidate or party, and we are fully committed to DEI in principle and practice.
Looking back to our founding over 100 years ago, it was the women in America who were seeking a commitment to DEI as we gained the right to vote. From our nation’s founding the ability to vote has been under constant pressure to be more inclusive. We believe that universal access to voting for every American citizen should be the goal of our democracy.
I recently had an experience that highlighted why this is so important. I attended the National Gun Violence Prevention conference in Washington, DC. Over 200 people were there – young, old, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, survivors, advocates – all working on the same issue. What was abundantly clear was how much we needed to hear each other, to understand the factors effecting gun violence in each other’s communities and to envision a better path forward with input from all groups.
As we begin 2024, I encourage each of you to get involved with the League and help us expand our service in all communities. There is more information in this newsletter about several opportunities such as Martin Luther King Jr Day in Sanford on January 15th, our Hot Topics on January 25th and an evening forum on February 29th at SSC on the Changing Climate of DEI. Additionally we will have our Program Planning session -open to all members!! - on January 28th from 2 to 4 pm and a fun get-together on January 29th - Monday Matters!
Cathy Swerdlow
|  | LOBBY DAYS
JANUARY 23-24, 2024
There is still time to register to attend Lobby Days in Tallahassee! Come see our legislature in session and meet with Senators and Representatives to discuss the issues of importance to the League.
For more information, click here:
| | LWVFL Lobby 'Strike Force'
In December I was proud to be part of the LWVFL team that went to Tallahassee ahead of the 2024 session to meet with our legislators and discuss our legislative priorities. Pictured on the left is the team with State Senator Tina Polsky who is sponsoring a bill proposed by LWVFL regarding returning citizens, SB 904.
L to R - Cathy Swerdlow, Jill Spector-Lewis, Cecile Scoon, Sen. Tina Polsky, Debbie Chandler and Ginger Mundy. | | |  |
Trauma, Toxic Stress and the Brain
Why Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs)Matter
Join us for this information session about PACEs and the impacts they have on children and adults. We will touch on additional realms of adversity that can negatively impact individual and community wellbeing, while also discussing trauma informed practices, the five protective factors, and strategies that promote individual healing and resilience.
Venise White, MPH, MHPE, is a Certified Equity and Inclusion trainer with an extensive 25 years of experience in the Public Health arena including work here in Seminole County.
| LWV Seminole
Program Planning Meeting
January 28 2-4 pm
Lake Mary Public Library 580 Green Way Blvd
Every year, local Leagues participate in Program Planning for their local Leagues. Additionally, in alternating years, we also do Program Planning for state positions in odd numbered years, and for national positions in even numbered years.
What is League Program? LWVUS Program is the education and advocacy platform that the League membership adopts at each biennial LWV National Convention. The goal of the LWVUS Program Planning process is to achieve collective agreement around how LWV will move our mission forward for the next two years. Current LWVUS Positions can be found in Impact on Issues.
Impact on Issues is an indispensable resource for League members. A clear understanding of LWVUS positions, how they interrelate, and how they can complement and reinforce state and local positions, strengthens the League’s impact on issues at all levels of government.
Local Leagues adopt their own education and advocacy platform yearly at their annual meeting. Log in to LWVSC's website to see our positions in the documents section.
During January and February 2024, local Leagues conduct Program Planning exercises and make Program recommendations in a general membership meeting or board meeting.
At LWVSC, we will be doing this during a general membership meeting on January 28 from 2pm to 4pm at the Lake Mary Public Library, 580 Green Way Blvd., Lake Mary.
During this time, Leagues are also asked to share information on how their work will impact the Campaign for Making Democracy Work® and to identify LWVUS positions that they intend to use in education, advocacy, and lobbying. Leagues share this information with LWVUS through Program Planning.
During the Program Planning process, Leagues should incorporate an emphasis on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) into our work. A DEI lens is a way of examining the process as to how it is perceived by a variety of communities, voices, and perspectives, and what, if any, barriers may exist that prevent it from being equitable or inclusive of everyone.
If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Fenster at lfenster.lwv@gmail.com or (757) 335-2311.
|  | LWV Seminole is proud to join the Sanford annual
“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade & Festival in the Park”
MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2024
We will be marching (walking!) in the Parade at 10 am on Historic Goldsboro Boulevard, from Persimmon Avenue to South Holly Avenue. All marchers are asked to meet at the staging area at 8 am. The staging area is at Crooms Academy of Information Technology High School, 2200 Historic Goldsboro Boulevard.
After the parade there will be a festival on Seminole Boulevard, near the Civic Center, from noon – 4 pm with vendors, activities for children, music and more. Our League will be there with information on LWV, voting information, registration assistance, returning citizens information and gun locks! |  | RELAX AND UNWIND!
MONDAY MATTERS
JANUARY 29 6-7:30 PM
Connect with friends at the League of Women Voter’s at “Monday Matters” Happy Hour at Bahama Breeze on Monday, January 29, 2024, from 6-7:30 pm. Meet to catch up with what is happening and get to know some new faces.
It's a great time to renew old friendships and make new friends. Open to all League members and potential members! Hear from committee chairs with brief updates and then enjoy a round or two of “Speed Dating” as we get to know each other.
What have you got to lose? 2024 is a BIG year and you don’t want to miss a single thing!
Location: Bahama Breeze, 499 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Cost per person (includes appetizers): $12.00
Alcoholic Beverages: Self pay
Register on the League website. We can’t wait to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
|  | It's wonderful to open up the morning paper and see one of our League members with a letter to the editor! If you didn't have the chance to read Robin Dehlinger's letter in the December 24, 2023 Orlando Sentinel, you can read it here!
Where is the logic in removing books?
My heart sank when I read the article “Orange school district pulls 673 books.” I understand why media specialists would remove books as a precautionary measure. Punishment for a third-degree felony is imprisonment for up to five years. Whoever thought a media specialist could land in the slammer for five years for doing their job?
What is the logic of removing books that have been on schools’ shelves for years without objection? I haven’t read all the 673 books on the list, but I am puzzled as to how books such as “Paradise Lost,” “Native Son,” “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” “Invisible Man” or “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” meet the Department of Education’s criteria. Do these books truly appeal to prurient interests or indoctrinate students? The answer is no.
Yes, there are books that are not appropriate for students and media specialists and teachers should carefully curate their collections. Parents have always had the right to determine the appropriateness of materials for their child. Ask any teacher or principal how often a parent communicated a problem, and they will tell you it was a very rare occurrence. If there was an objection, it was usually resolved with the parent at the school level.
Write and call your legislators and Gov. DeSantis and tell them to put an end to this nonsense. Don’t let those who wish to determine what all students can read, rather than just their own student, be the only voices in the conversation.
Robin Dehlinger, Longwood
| LWVSC - Barry University
School of Law Collaboration
Environmental and Earth Law Clinic | Every semester our Seminole League has the pleasure of working with law students from the Barry University School of Law. Barry is known for its Environmental and Earth Law Clinic. Our Natural Resources Committee has worked with the clinic by providing project ideas impacting Seminole County for over 10 years.
The collaboration this past semester involved two issues; we asked them to examine the 1,4-dioxane issue affecting the water supply in parts of the County, and we asked that they initiate work on examining the County’s aging water infrastructure. Their presentations documenting the results of their research will be available on our website in the near future.
In the upcoming semester, we have asked them to tackle a project about recycling with a goal of zero waste, as well as ideas of how to expand our campaign sign recycling initiative.
| VOTER SERVICES
2024 is going to be very consequential for our democracy. The assaults on the integrity of our election process have continued relentlessly since 2016 resulting in a loss of confidence in our system and increased voter apathy.
We are the antidote to that apathy! In the past LWV has staffed a precinct. But what if we could do more? Being a part of the process ensures that we can speak up for our democracy at every opportunity.
GO VOTE - A campaign to help voters get their vote cast.
Our focus in 2024:
1. Getting voters to the polls both early and on election day
2. Getting Vote by Mail applications requested, and then in the mail, on time
3. Volunteers to Work the Polls
You CAN make a difference!
Join our Voter Services team and defend our democracy in 2024!
Contact Deana Schott at lwvscvoterservice@gmail.com
| Holiday Party Photos!
Thank you to our wonderful hosts, Fred and Deana Schott and our Party Planning Committee of Zelda Ladan, Deb Carswell and Deana Schott for a wonderful afternoon! And thank you to everyone who contributed to our collection for the Seminole County Victim Services unit at the Department of Health. With an overflowing trunkful I delivered our items on Monday, December 11th. These items will stay in Seminole County and provide clothing to victims in our county for the first time. |  | | Top photo L to R: Anna Thoma, Geri Wright, Robin Dehlinger, Peg Higgins, Taru Joshi, Diana Wix
Above L to R: Deb Carswell, Sue Kellicut, Deana Schott, Diana Wix
|  | Top Photo L to R: Zelda Ladan, Valerie Schulz, Deana Schott
Above: Aanya Shah - our Intern from Seminole High School for the Spring semester! | | |
 | | Top Photo: A very festive Leslie Grubl!
Above: Robin Dehlinger and a view of the wonderful foods we enjoyed! |  | Top Photo L to R: Steve Barnes, Pat Burkett, Marilyn Crotty, Diana Wix
Above: A very full trunk, with more in the car! | | |
| Welcome New Members
We're glad you're here!!
November/December 2023
Issel Fietas
Aanya Shah
Barbara Wayne | | | | Thank you for your continued support!
November/December 2023
Household Membership -
Vicki & Steve Barnes
Single Membership -
Carole Hinshaw
Kristine Kraus
Lynda Mays | | | | Looking for a unique gift for a community-minded friend or relative?
Why not the gift of League membership?
Or a donation to our League which will support our work and honor someone special.
Just go to our website - it's quick and easy!
| | | Make a Difference in an SCPS Student's Life
Become a DIVIDEND!
SCPS DIVIDEND | Check out the Calendar on the
Events Page of our Website for all
Committee Meetings and
Upcoming Events!!!
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