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Serving the People of Brevard County, Florida
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Date: 10/9/2022
Subject: October 2022 Newsletter
From: League of Women Voters of the Space Coast



LWVSC bi-monthly Newsletter Header
OCTOBER 2022

 

From
Suzanne's
Desk

Dear League Members and Friends,

Election season is in full swing, and we've been actively doing all we can to engage with voters and ensure everyone who is able to vote does in fact vote.  Here's some of our recent efforts:

-    Registered young soon-to-be voters at Holy Trinity Academy and eligible voters at each of the 4 campuses of Eastern Florida State College.  We attended Pride Fest and registered more voters, and engaged in many discussions about issues around voting, including two potential returning citizens and how the law affects their voting rights.  We registered voters at Daily Bread's campus for homeless citizens and the Fee Avenue Library.

-    Drafted summaries of the 11 constitutional amendments and local proposals and referenda on the ballot on Nov. 8.  This has been a monumental effort, due to the number of proposals and the manner in which they were written.  We are trying to fully explain what's at stake for each, but there's much more to each of them than appears on the ballot.  This should be released soon and made available on our website

-    Engaged with Florida Today to do candidate forums.  We are working on a forum sponsored just by us for the Palm Bay City Council.

-    Held events to educate voters, including a presentation by Superintendent of Brevard Schools Mark Mullins to discuss the millage increase for funding our schools; and Rockets Away to discuss the effects of increased launch schedules on our county and its people. 

-    Scheduled events to educate voters, including Space Coast Health Foundation presenting the results of their 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment for Brevard;  and Reproductive Rights in Peril.  Please go look at the calendar on our website ASAP to see info and sign up for these important presentations. 

Please join us at our meetings, both in person and by Zoom, whenever you are able.  I think we do our best work when many of us come together to try to do what we can to expand and protect voting rights in Brevard County.  Please always feel free to reach out to me any time (texting is best to find a time to talk).  Thank you for all your efforts to make our chapter strong and impactful, and please continue those efforts.

 

Suzanne Taylor

 President

 


Social Justice

 

Social Justice Committee
Kathy Ebersberger, Chair
 
 

Natural Resources


 
Natural Resources Committee
Susan Little & Maureen Rupe
Co-Chairs

Environmentally Endangered Lands County Referendum

 

    Since 1990 the Environmentally Endangered Land Program has been tasked with acquiring and protecting environmentally sensitive lands and to provide passive recreation opportunities while providing environmental education on these lands.  Recognizing that we live in a very special paradise worthy of preservation, the voters approved a modest increase on their property taxes of .1456 mil which is about $44.00 per year.  This money has been leveraged with state and federal funds to buy, restore and protect 28, 000 acres of land in Brevard County.  The EEL program has built 4 education facilities that attract many visitors a year-both local and tourists to our area.

    They have protected 37 miles of area along the Indian River Lagoon, protecting the mangroves, oysters, and clams that are helping to restore our IRL Lagoon.
    Restoring the natural cycles of fire and water flow and removing invasive species has helped restore habitats for Florida native species.  It has also helped preserve our aquifer and decreased the danger of out-of-control wildfires that threaten private property and business. By allowing water to percolate into the ground, flooding on surrounding land has been decreased and nearby land values have increased.
    The lands that are purchased by the EEL program are evaluated on rarity of species on the land, vulnerability to the threats of development and threats of local extinction of species in Brevard.  These lands have been purchased from willing sellers and are chosen by an advisory committee to the EEL Board.

 

    The proposed increase to 0.1465 mils will be about an $3.60 increase for most Brevard homeowners.  This is a small price to pay to protect our homes, our property values and our recreation areas.  Please vote yes on the Environmentally Endangered Land and Water Areas Bond Referendum on the November 8, 2022 ballet.

 

    For more information on the EELS program, please see

http://www.brevardfl.gov/EELProgram/EELProgramFAQs

    Thank you for supporting this important program.

Sue Little 

 


Voter Services


 
Voter Services Committee
Suzanne Taylor, Chair
Suzanne and Deb register voters
at Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church.
Our Registration Table at Pride Fest!
Want to help register people to vote?  Watch the website's calendar to learn about dates and times as well as sign up.  Questions?  Call Suzanne Taylor.
___________________________________________________________

KEY VOTING DATES:
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Register to Vote
 
Early Voting 
 
Request Mail Ballot by
 
Mail In Ballot Must be Received by
 
Election Day
October 11
 
October 24 - November 5
 
October 29
 
November 8 at 7 pm
 
November 8

 

What's it Really Like to be a Poll Worker?
Deb Clark
 
 

    After hearing about poll workers around the country getting harassed because of false claims of election fraud, I knew what I wanted to do: become a poll worker.

    Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. I wanted to play a small part to help make sure that tradition continues while also standing in solidarity with election workers unfairly bullied for simply doing their jobs.  This turned out to be a good call, as there is a shortage of poll workers in Brevard County. Some dropped out because of the COVID pandemic, while others did not return due to fear of violence from the aforementioned conspiracy theorists.

    Applying to be a poll worker was easy. I found the application on the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections website, filled it out and mailed it in. Shortly before the August primary, I got a call asking if I would work on election day as a precinct tech. I would be paid $250. Yes!
    At every precinct, poll workers are assembled in an election team, which includes a clerk, precinct tech, precinct deputy, inside deputy, ballot box inspector, ballot distributors and Electronic Voter Identification (EViD) operators. As precinct tech, I was responsible for setting up and troubleshooting the electronic voting equipment.
    The week before the election, I attended a six-hour training at the Supervisor of Elections office. I got a binder full of details on all the technology used at our polling place: from the EViD machines that check voters in, to the electronic ballot box that scans completed ballots, to the ExpressVote Universal Voting System, which is designed for disabled voters and Spanish-speaking voters but can be used by anyone who requests it. I had the option of attending more training to make sure I was comfortable with the machinery.
    On election day, all the poll workers showed up at our precinct at 5:30 am. We had already been there the day before to set everything up. As at every precinct, we were an even mix of Republicans and Democrats, with the occasional No Party Affiliation thrown in. Everyone got along well. It helped that we were not allowed to talk politics while we were working.
    At 7 am, we opened the doors to the first voters. For the next twelve hours, we greeted people from all political persuasions. Everyone was polite and patient, even when a small line developed. It was a very long day (poll workers are not allowed to leave the precinct the entire time they are working) but all went smoothly. Other than the ballot scanner jamming a few times—and easily cleared—nothing went wrong.
    Every process was so well organized that some of us joked we were not smart enough to commit voter fraud at our precinct. Voters had to present identification and be verified in the electronic poll book. We then checked and double checked that each voter received the correct ballot. If a voter had received a mail ballot, we asked them to turn it in before receiving a ballot at our precinct. Voters were not allowed to take their mail ballot into the voting booth with their precinct ballot (but they could take a photo of their mail ballot if they needed the information to vote). Anyone who had gotten a mail ballot but did not bring it with them was required to vote using a special provisional ballot, which would be double checked after the polls closed to make sure they had not voted twice.
    At 7 pm, the polls closed and we locked the doors and began packing up equipment and preparing the closing report. Precinct workers do not tally votes, we only determine how many ballots were voted and how many are leftover, and make sure that number agrees with the tally kept by our electronic equipment. We were done by 9 pm, and the Clerk and I took the ballots to Supervisor of Elections receiving center. They double checked our numbers and then released us to go home.
    I am proud to be among the more than 1,200 citizens in Brevard County who serve as poll workers and ensure that fair and accurate elections are conducted.

    If you want to join me, go to the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections website at www.votebrevard.gov and click on the “Poll Workers” section for more information and an application.


Observer Corps

 
 
 
Observer Corps
Deb Clark, Chair

Do you have an hour or two/month

to join the Observer Corps?

   
Our work doesn't just begin and end with the Election!
Our League sends Observers 
to Local Government Meetings
around the county 
throughout the year!

There is SO MUCH going on in our county governments,
that we need additional observers...
to follow the County's happenings throughout the year!!!
It takes a few hours each month.  
 

Contact Deb Clark at deb@debclark.net to get more information and sign up!


Education Committee

 
 
 
Education Committee
Hilah Mercer, Chair

A Millage Referendum to Support Brevard Public Schools Will Be on the November Ballot

Be An Informed Voter

 

    The following information was taken from a flyer on the Brevard Public Schools website. More information can be found at: https://sites.google.com/share.brevardschools.org/brevardmillage/home

    Ballot Language: Ad valorem millage to increase teacher pay and other purposes: For increasing teacher and staff pay, funding for technical training to students, and other similar purposes, shall the School District of Brevard County authorize a one mill ad valorem millage for four years to ensure student achievement, recruit and retain teachers and staff with competitive salaries, and distribute funds as statute requires to charter schools based on their proportionate share of district enrollment, with all expenditures to be reviewed by an independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee.

 ”MILL” = property tax levy of $1.00 per $1,000.00 of taxable property value

Median Home Value of $153,100 = $153.10 per year = 40 cents per day

    Millage funds will be used for employee compensation, student programs, and technology. Millage impact will serve to correct wage compression and keep Brevard competitive. The plan is for compensation and benefits to receive 80 percent of the revenue derived from the millage increase. 16% would go toward student programs and 4% would go to technology. Programs that will benefit from the millage include Career and Technical Education, performing arts, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, athletics, and enrichment.  Classrooms of the Future initiative: 1 to 1 computing initiative, interactive Promethean Panels, professional development for staff and more will benefit. 

    Dr. Mark Mullins, Superintendent of Brevard Public Schools, provided a presentation about the millage increase on Monday, October 3, 2022 via Zoom. A recording was made of the presentation and is available on our website.  Go to https://lwvsc.clubexpress.com and click on "Get to Know Us" followed by "Recording Library to listen to the recording.

 

GOAL
 
LWVSC MEMBERS
ATTEND SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
TO SHOW SUPPORT
OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF
and
BE INFORMED
ABOUT SCHOOL RELATED ISSUES
 
BREVARD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES
Oct 11
Oct 25
Nov 22* (10:00 a.m.)
Dec. 13
 
TIME
GATHERING:  5 PM
MEETING BEGINS: 5:30 PM
 
LOCATION
Educational School Facilities (ESF)
2700 Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, FL
 
* for organization of Board/Oath of Office

International Relations Group

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
International Relations Committee
Martha Bradshaw and Diane Conaway, Co-Chair
 
International Relations Group

Tuesday, October 18
1:15 pm
Suntree Public Library 
Topic:  Biden's Agenda 
Diane Conaway presenting
 

Resource links:

 

Glossary https://www.fpa.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Biden%20Glossary.pdf

 

Great Decisions Fall Update https://www.fpa.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Fall%20Update%202022.pdf

"How America Can Shore Up  Asian Order: A Strategy fro Restoring Balance and Legitimacy," Foreign Affairs, January 12, 2021

 

Try this link to read full article: https://www.realclearworld.com/2021/01/12/how_america_can_shore_up_asian_order_656246.html

 

"More, Less, or Different? Where U.S. Foreign Policy Should--and Shouldn't--Go from Here, Foreign Affairs January/February 2019

   https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/review-essay/2018-12-11/more-less-or-different

 

If Foreign Affairs will not allow you to read article on their site, try https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/01/03/more-less-or-different-pub-78062

 
Contact MargeeSmith2@gmail.com for more information.

POSTCARDS!  POSTCARDS! POSTCARDS!

GOAL - JOIN THE STATE LEAGUE'S
RETURNING CITIZEN POSTCARD PROJECT
 
1,000 POSTCARDS 
ADDRESSED 
ALONG WITH A NOTE
TO RETURNING CITIZENS
 
Nineteen (19) members participated in this project. 
NINETEEN (19) MEMBERS JOINED IN
"THE RESTORATION OF RIGHTS" POSTCARD PROJECT...
Our Florida League says "We have been working on the eliminating felony disenfranchisement for many years and the next step in our work is postcarding Floridians who are Returning Citizens.  
Who are the "Returning Citizens"?
  • Citizens who have been convicted of a felony 
  • They have served the time of their sentence, probation and parole
  • They have paid whatever fines that were part of their sentence 
  • They have NOT been convicted of murder or sex related offences. 
Where did we get the names?
from the Florida State League of Women Voters.
 
What did the Postcards say?
  • Amendment 4 has passed so they are eligible to restore their voting rights, and, 
  • The FL League has pro bono attorneys that can help them review their sentence to see what needs to be done to get their voting rights back.
How many League members participated?
19 people helped with this project!  That's teamwork! A HUGE THANKS to all who helped. 
  
 

Membership Report

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUARTERLY
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING - October
 
    Thirty-four (34) members and friends gathered at the Suntree Library for our second face-to-face meeting of the year.  It was fun to see each other and catch up on what we're working on as a League and in life!
    Many thanks to the Education Committee for a presentation about a brief history of public education in the US in addition to specifics about the Brevard School District.  Issues facing the district include wage compression for teachers and staff; the school voucher system syphoning funds from public schools; and, the severe teacher shortage.  
    A huge thank you to special guest, Kai Hodges, for his presentation of his Science Fair project - "Cracking, Packing, and Gerrymandering".  He won last year's District Science "Fair Best in Show".  Kai is currently a 6th grader at Long Leaf Elementary School.  
   
We also gathered items for teacher use.
Things like post-its, dry erase markers, and copy paper were collected to be distributed to Brevard Teachers. 
Many times, teachers pay for these items out of their own pockets! 
Our gifts will help defray some of these expenses. 
Thanks to all who contributed. 

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE


LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
VOTER GUIDES AVAILABLE 
 
Voter Guides in English have arrived!   Voter Guides in Spanish will be available soon.  In addition to receiving a copy with your Florida Today subscription, you can also get paper copies from Suzanne Taylor.  Contact her if you'd like to pick up a copy ... or several!  
 
If you'd like to deliver some Voter Guides around town (eg local offices, stores, and retirement communities), please contact Suzanne.  Need an idea about specific places you might deliver Voter Guides to, contact Jo Shim.  
 
 



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