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Date: 10/3/2019
Subject: LWVSC October Newsletter
From: League of Women Voters of the Space Coast



LWVSC bi-monthly Newsletter Header

LWVSC President Jacquie Chandler     President's Corner

 
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 - October 15 2019
The Hispanic Heritage observance began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The NCHEPM is a membership-based organization consisting of an executive board, members, associates, and partners from multiple Federal agencies and other organizations from across the United States, advocating for the improvement of Hispanic participation in the Federal Government.
 
In League,
Jacquie Chandler
LWVSC President

International Relations
  • Are you tired of TV news networks spending too much time covering the divisive US politics and very little on events around the globe?
  • Would you like to learn more about other countries and our relationship with them?
  • Would you like to participate in a non-partisan discussion about various international topics that impact our lives?

    You are invited to join the LWV-SC sponsored monthly meeting where we learn about and discuss timely topics of international interest.  The subjects follow the Great Decisions topics compiled by the Foreign Policy Association.  Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs.  The program model involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing Book, watching the DVD and meeting in a Discussion Group to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today.

    The group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Satellite Beach Library.  The topics for the remainder of 2019 are as follows:    
    October 8:  Middle East Regional Disorder
    November 12:  Refugees and Global Migration
    December 10:  Nuclear Negotiations

    The 8 topics for 2020 will include Climate Change, India & Pakistan, Red Sea Security, Slavery & Human Trafficking, US Relations with Central America, China’s Road into Latin America, The Philippines & the US, and Artificial Intelligence.

  • Please join us:  Second Tuesday of each month, 1 pm at Satellite Beach Library


This Month's Hot Topic


Cape Canaveral City Council Candidate Forum
 

The League of Women Voters of the Space Coast (LWVSC) will be hosting a Candidate Forum for the City of Cape Canaveral City Council.  Candidates running for two available City Council seats are Mike Brown, Maria "Mickie" Kellum, Raymond Osborne and Rocky Randels. The moderator for the event will be League member Audrey Grayson and she will be assisted by Shannon Roberts also a LWVSC member and Cape Canaveral resident.

The forum will be held on Saturday, October 19th from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon at Cape Canaveral Library, 201 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral. Please consider signing up as a volunteer. Assisting with this event provides opportunities for learning more about Cape Canaveral as well as contributing to LWVSC’s efforts to encourage active participation in government. To sign up as a volunteer go to www.lwv-spacecoast.org and click on the ‘Volunteer’ button.


Census Information

LWVSC 2020 Census Preparation

Well, it has begun.  Last month, I reported, from a 5,000 foot level, that the 2020 Census is coming. I also reported that the League of Women Voters, both national and state have committed to partnering with the 2020 Census. Our job will be to assist them with the census process.  The first step is awareness, the second is training. 2020 Census Partnership Specialist Channa Lloyd delivered our first awareness workshop on Tuesday October 1st, prior to our monthly meeting.  I attended a 2020 Census Webinar the following day on Wednesday evening, October 2nd hosted by the league.  As the League of Women Voter’s liaison for the census, I look forward to building our team in support of the census.

One piece of additional information is that the 2020 census is hiring.  The public can go online to https://2020census.gov/jobs.  They say, you’ll find “great pay, flexible hours, weekly pay and paid training. The public can also call (855-JOB-2020) for more information.

That’s it for this month, more to come as we learn more and as we get more involved with the 2020 Census.
Audrey Grayson

Volunteer Opportunities

1. Thank you to Sherry Jensen who served as 2nd Vice President. Sherry and husband, Matthew have moved to Salt Lake City.
 
2. Thank you to Mary Murray who has stepped down as Secretary.  Thanks go to Diane Conaway who has accepted the position of Secretary.
 
3. We thank Elaine Harris who was chosen by the board to head the Nominating Committee for 2020.
 
4. A position is open for a member to serve on this nominating committee.  Please call or e-mail a board member if you would like to serve on this committee.
 
5. Thank you to League members who volunteered for National Voter Registration Day, Space Coast Pride and other events during September.

 
October Volunteer Opportunities
 
 
 
 
 
 

Committee Spotlights

Education Committee Report

Isn’t it great when well laid plans come to fruition?  Such was the case on September 21, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza in Indialantic.  The Hot Topic program “How Teachers’ Salaries Impact Brevard County” was a joint effort of the Melbourne Branch of the American Association of University Women and the Education Committee of the League of Women Voters of the Space Coast.

The panel of knowledgeable people educated those present on such topics as housing values, teacher morale, teacher retention and, from a student, the enduring positive effect of a teacher on a child’s life.  The discussion was moderated by Anselmo Baldonado, the host of “On the Latin Side” on WFIT.

Some sad statistics were presented.  Math and Science teachers are leaving, there are currently many teacher vacancies, the School Board and the Brevard Federation of Teachers do not seem to be able to reach agreement, teachers are having to work extra jobs to make ends meet, etc.

Questions were raised. Is the School Board working sufficiently with the legislature, can the community make more “noise” to influence Tallahassee, can the Board and BFT lobby the local legislative delegation together, what does the community want – STEM, sports, vocational programs, more bussing, would an increased millage be acceptable?

The impact of good schools on the housing market is huge.  Prospective buyers will either pay more for a house or settle for a smaller house, if need be, so that their children can be enrolled in a highly rated school.  Even those who do not have children in school realize the increased property value of a good school district.

It was obvious from the discussion that there is much that community members can do to help.  Keep attuned to education legislative activity, let School Board members know that voting is a way to express disappointment in the Board’s actions, encourage young people to speak up, demand financial transparency, attend School Board meetings, form community partnerships, work with business and other organizations and always advocate for teachers, children and education.

Each of the non-partisan sponsoring organizations, AAUW and LWVSC, believes that our teachers, our children and Brevard County will benefit from such community support.


Natural Resources Committee Report
 
Join us for a morning of fun with Marine Resource Council's staff at their Mangrove Nursery!! With 20 miles of mangroves to plant in the Save Our Lagoon plan we need all hands on deck.  Marine Resource Council has been busily planting mangroves for years but they need help.  Meet at the Ted Moorhead Lagoon House in Palm Bay at 8:15 AM on Oct. 24, 2019 and we will carpool to their nursery to help do whatever we can. 
Sign up on our website www.lwv-spacecoast.org, send me an email at ergajn88@gmail.com or give me a call 321-432-3843 and leave a message.  See you there!
 
 Legal Rights of our Environment by Maureen Rupe
 
A September 11, 2019 Orlando Weekly (www.orlandoweekly.com) Article by Dean Plotkin.
 
Efforts in Alachua, Orange, Lee, Brevard, and Osceola counties are trying to give the environment the same legal rights of corporations. 
In the article, Chuck O’Neal, with Speak up Wekiva, stated "Florida residents are increasingly aware that the problems with our water originate from the concept that corporations have the rights of humans, while nature and aquatic ecosystems have no legal rights," 
The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF), Speak up Wekiva and other grass root groups are trying to get county-wide laws to recognize the legally enforceable rights of the Indian River Lagoon, Santa Fe River, Wekiva River, Econlockhatchee River, Caloosahatchee River, and the Kissimmee River.  They are trying to create these county-wide laws through the citizens’ ballot initiative process or the county charter review commissions. The groups are hoping to give residents the opportunity to grant these county-wide in the 2020 elections. 
 
I know if given the opportunity, I will vote for it.  Too many are treating our rivers, lakes and lagoons as if dumping in or near these water bodies are just part of the means of doing business and they have to realize they have to pay for the long term problems it creates.

Reference:
https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/09/11/movement-grows-in-florida-to-preserve-nature-and-drinking-water-by-granting-legal-rights-to-rivers

Upcoming On Our Calendar

 
 
 
 
 

Photos / Odds and Ends.....

2019 Voter Registration Day
Volunteers at 2019 Space Coast Pride Event
September Hot Topic, How Teachers' Salaries Impact Brevard County
September Hot Topic, How Teachers'Salaries Impact Brevard County

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
 
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Visit our website at LWV-Spacecoast.org