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Date: 1/13/2023
Subject: January 2023 Newsletter
From: League of Women Voters of the Space Coast


LWVSC bi-monthly Newsletter Header
JANUARY 2023
 

From
Suzanne's
Desk

Happy New Year, LWVSC Members!

 

     I just read an article that recommended we should "Always Be Resolving".  You don’t have to make resolutions only on January 1; every day we can all try new things and start positive habits and behaviors.  Some will stick, some won’t.  For the ones that don’t, we can try again tomorrow.  No reason to declare failure, just keep trying!  I hope one resolution you think about often is how you can help the LWVSC fulfill its mission.  Every day there will be a new opportunity for you!

 

     Meetings and events coming up this month include:

Mon, Jan 16:  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

  There are lots of events, so google it and find the one that

works for you.

Tues, Jan 17:  Natural Resources Committee by Zoom

Weds, Jan 18:  Education Committee Meeting

Thurs, Jan 19:  Lagoon Straight Talk in Titusville

Sun, Jan 22:  March at City Hall, Orlando, for

anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision

(see our Facebook page for info)

Mon, Jan 23:  Statewide Natural Resources Committee by Zoom

Weds, Jan 25:  Sustainability Committee Meeting by Zoom

Weds, Feb 8:  Voter Services Committee Meeting by Zoom

  (We’ll be making plans for the year,

please attend and share ideas!)

Sat, Feb 25:  Bunco Party fundraiser at Wickham Park.

  Contact Suzanne with ideas about person/business you can ask

for a donation.  We are coordinating so we don’t have several

people asking the same prospective donor.

 

I encourage everyone to attend any meeting they are able to, just to stay informed about what we are doing and provide input if you have any.  Most of our committee meetings are by Zoom, so easier to attend.  You don’t have to join a committee to attend a meeting.  Check on the website calendar for details of these and other events.

 

Looking forward to 2023, we have no major elections!!  Yay!!  But we need to plan and prepare because 2024 is going to be a doozy, and we need to keep improving our efforts to protect American democracy.  It appears that Education is going to be the focus of politics in Florida for the time being, so I encourage everyone to attend those meetings and School Board meetings wherever possible, to show our interest in how our schools are being run.  Local School Boards are the height of local politics, especially now that this institution is being so regularly and strongly attacked.

 

We now have regular monthly meetings, alternating between an evening meeting and a Saturday afternoon meeting, to try to accommodate as many members and the public as we can.  Our next is Saturday, Feb. 11 at Suntree Library, where we’ll be focusing on education.  The March meeting will be a big one:  Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic will attend our meeting at the Iron Oak Post in downtown Melbourne on Thursday, March 9.  There will be open social time from 5-6, with the meeting starting promptly at 6 and ending by 8.  Monthly meetings are open to anyone, so please invite a friend, a spouse, a neighbor, a family member. 

 

Our April meeting will be our Annual Meeting, so just members are allowed to attend that meeting.  It will be in person at the Cocoa Women's Club on Saturday, April 15 at 10:30 a.m.  Everyone should try to attend.  We will elect officers and board members for the 2022-2023, vote on bylaws changes, and have an opportunity to meet members we haven’t seen in a while as well as newer members.  Please try to attend.

 

I was out of town around Thanksgiving, so let me now say that I am so grateful to the many members who have stepped up to improve our Chapter and take action on our Mission, Value and Vision Statements:

 

MISSION:  Empowering voters. Defending democracy.

VISION:  We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate.

VALUE:  We believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy.

 

Please look for opportunities to help us do these things however works for you.  Attend a LWVSC meeting.  Attend a local government meeting (and if you do, use the form on our website to write a brief report about what occurred).  Donate items or money if you are able.  If we all do what’s in our power, there is no limit to the great things we can accomplish!

 


 

Suzanne Taylor

President
COMMITTEE REPORTS

International Relations Group
 
 
 


International Relations Committee
Martha Bradshaw
and
Diane Conaway
Co-Chairs
 

The first meeting of 2023 will take place on Tuesday, January 17, at the Suntree Public Library.  Please note new meeting time: 1:00 p.m.  The program is to be Diane Conaway's long-awaited presentation regarding the policies of the current President of the United States.  We need also to develop a schedule for 2023 presentations beyond the month of March.

 

Margee Smith has the 2023 Great Decisions books to distribute. If you ordered one, please attend the meeting to get yours or make arrangements to get it from her.   Margee's phone is 310-483-5900.

 

The following 2023 topics have been spoken for:

Energy Geopolitics (February)

War Crimes (March)

Politics in Latin America

              Climate Migration 

 
Please consider taking one of the remaining topics to present in April or later:

China and the U.S.

Economic Warfare

Global Famine

Iran at a Crossroads

 

Regards, and Happy New Year to all,

Martha

Education Committee
 
 
 
Education Committee
Hilah Mercer, Chair

Education Committee Meeting

 

Notification of Education Committee Time Change: We will begin meeting from 6:00 – 7:00 PM beginning January 18, 2023. We will continue to meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. This change is being made to better accommodate members who cannot meet during the day.

 

Importance of LWV-SC Presence at Brevard Public Schools (BPS) Board Meetings

 

At the first meeting of our new school board, held on November 22, 2022, two new members and a returning member, who was elected Board Chair at the same meeting, determined that they wanted new leadership for BPS. Our board has 5 members so three members form a majority. The sitting superintendent, Dr. Mark Mullins, who has served BPS in various capacities for twenty-nine years, agreed to step down due to this request for a new leader. This item was not on the official agenda, but it certainly carried weight and held consequences.

 

It is vitally important that this board knows that the public, including the League of Women Voters of the Space Coast, is watching and evaluating the decisions it makes and actions it takes. The agenda for each meeting is posted on the BPS website. Please wear your LWV-SC t-shirt or LWV-SC Observer button if you have them but join us regardless. Arrive at least 15 minutes early to help insure a seat. Meetings are held at the Educational Services Facility (ESF), 2700 Fran Jamieson Way, Viera 32940.

 

Board Meeting Dates – 2023 (Special meetings will be added as deemed necessary) All meetings start at 5:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Most are on Tuesday. Please read left to right for all dates.
January 24
February 21
March 28
April 25
May 30
June 27  --- 9:30 a.m.
July 27 (Thursday)
August 22
September 19
October 24
December 12
February 7
March 7
April 11
May 9
June 13 --- 9:30 a.m.
July 11  --- 9:30 a.m.
August 8
September 7  (Thursday)
October 10
November 14
 
BREVARD SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
   
Educational School Facilities (ESF)
2700 Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, FL
 
Meeting schedule above
 
Most meetings start at 5:30 p.m.
Please arrive by 5:15 p.m.

Natural Resources

 
Natural Resources Committee
Susan Little & Maureen Rupe
Co-Chairs

Around the Lagoon January/February 2023

 

Many of you may be aware that the Save Our Lagoon Plan is updated annually by the Citizens Oversight Committee and sent to the Brevard Board of County Commissioners for approval.  This is in process for 2023 at this time.  On January 20, 2023 from 8 AM to 11:30 AM the COC will be meeting in the County Commission Room, 1st Floor, Building C, Viera Government Center at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, Fl 32940.  To find a link to the meetings, agendas and minutes go to this site:

https://www.brevardfl.gov/SaveOurLagoon/CitizenOversightCommittee.

 

You can also find a link to the Facebook site where the meetings are live broadcast.  

 

Here is a link to the agendas for the Brevard County Board of County Commissioner.  You will have to scroll all the way down as the meetings are scheduled for the entire year with December 2023 at the top. https://brevardfl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

 

The first BCBCC meeting after the COC meets on Jan. 20th is on January 24, 2023.  I doubt if the Save Our Lagoon Plan update will be discussed then but it could be.  I encourage you to keep checking the agendas to determine when they will be discussing the Plan and how to spend the tax dollars collected from sales tax within the county.  At both the COC and the County Commissioner meetings public comment is always welcomed.

 

On January 26, 2023 at the Marine Resource Council, 3275 Dixie Highway NE, Palm Bay, Fl 32905 at 5 PM there will be an Lagoonside Chat called “S.O.S Save Our Seagrass!!”.  Please join the scientists of the Marine Seagrass Assembly for music, food, drinks and some stimulating discussion of Seagrass!!  The link is below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sos-save-our-seagrass-mrc-lagoonside-chat-reception-tickets-488641057557?aff=mrcirl

 

For the past several years, the Education Committee and the Natural Resource Committee have teamed up to offer an award for a Science Fair Project that demonstrates the student’s awareness of the need to restore the Indian River Lagoon to a healthier state.  This year the fairs are on February 23, 2023 at the Port St. John Jr./Sr High School and on March 9, 2023 at the Central Middle School in Melbourne. League members wishing to help with judging the science fair projects should contact Hilah Mercer at hilahmercer@gmail.com.

 

Please check our calendar at www.lwv-spacecoast for meeting dates and times.  Our committee meetings are open to the public and all our membership.

 

In League

Sue Little

Social Justice
 

Social Justice Committee
This Could be You, Chair
 
 

SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM OF WORK

  • Monitor and advocate for reproductive rights at the state and federal levels.
  • Increase awareness and support efforts toward diversity, equity and inclusion in LWVSC and in our community. Work toward equal rights for all, including people of color, LGBTQ persons, the disabled, and women.

  • Monitor, educate and advocate on issues relating to juvenile justice (including pre-arrest diversion), racial and religious profiling, basic human and constitutional rights, and human trafficking

  • Monitor, educate, and advocate for public health care, including but not limited to, oral, mental, children’s health and the expansion of the Florida Medicaid Program.
A WORD FROM KATHY EBERSBERGER
 

As you know, elections have consequences. At the LWVSC Social Justice Committee meeting on  December 19, 2022, we discussed the consequences of the November 2022 election for our program of work. Unfortunately, one of those consequences was the election of a new school board, which has raised critical social justice issues from the day the new school board members were installed. I have decided to step down as Chair of the Social Justice Committee to focus on the social justice issues in the Brevard Public School System. I will concentrate my social justice efforts as a member of LWVSC’s Education Committee.

Kathy Ebersberger

 
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
 

In light of this, the Social Justice Committee is in need of a new chairperson.  This position can be filled by one person… or several.  It can be organized in a number of ways (see three options below).  The way we organize ourselves is only limited by our imaginations.  So… dream a little;  talk a little and see where your heart leads you.  What are you passionate about?  Where do you feel called to do in the area of Social Justice?  What can you do to help us meet our Social Justice goals?

 
SOME IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT ORGANIZE
IDEA ONE
 
One person who chairs the committee.  The chair will be responsible for setting up the meeting days and times on our website, setting up a zoom link for the meeting, notifying members of the meeting day and time, setting the agenda for the meeting and chairing the meeting; arrange for speakers for the committee and League; and, represent the committee at the board meetings (1x/month).

 

The most challenging aspect of the chairmanship is setting the agenda for the meeting. The committee has a very broad program of work and there are always a range of topics our members are interested in. Many social justice issues arise during the legislative session and LWVFL gives us a heads up when these issues arise. It is clear that reproductive rights are in danger during the next legislative session. Many committee meetings will need to be devoted to this issue alone.

 

IDEA TWO

 

One person could handle the administrative functions of setting up the meeting and running the zoom link, one or more people could develop the agenda and run the meeting, one or more people could find and arrange for speakers, and one person could represent the committee at the board meeting.

 

IDEA 3
 
Another possibility would be to divide jobs based on a particular area our program of work—reproductive rights, civil rights, justice, healthcare, or diversity, equity and inclusion
 
 
 
--------------------------
 
 
 
 
OTHER IDEAS
ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT ORGANIZE?
 
WHERE ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP?
 
CONTACT SUZANNE TAYLOR OR KATHY EBERSBERGER FOR MORE INFORMATION
Citizens' Initiative Petition Campaign for Medicaid Expansion
 

At the beginning of December, the LWVFL Health Care Action Team received the disappointing news that Florida Decides Healthcare’s Executive Committee voted to establish a goal for the passage of a citizen initiative expanding Medicaid in Florida in the 2026 General Election. Due to this decision, the Medicaid expansion campaign for 2024 has now been suspended and petition collection should be discontinued. If you do have any signed petitions, please send them to the Tallahassee address on the petition. Thank you to all those who participated in collecting Medicaid expansion petitions for the 2024 election.

Jo Shim

Voter Services

 
Voter Services Committee
Suzanne Taylor, Chair
New Year's Resolution request

  Visibly attending local government meetings is one of the core functions of the League.  How else will our elected representatives know that they are being observed and their actions will not go unnoticed?  

  We haven't been doing a great job of this in the last year, so I'm issuing a call to ALL MEMBERS to please think about helping us do a better job at this in the coming year.  Finding a meeting you're able to attend should be pretty easy, because there are so many to choose from.  Don't think that because you cannot commit to attending a particular meeting all the time that you shouldn't try to attend some of the time.  Even once is helpful.  

  Most importantly, the Board of County Commissioners needs to be covered.  Yes, their meetings can be long, but the decisions they make impact all of us in Brevard County.  With the addition of 2 new members, there is no way to predict what issues might arise and what actions they will take.  Luckily, these meetings are broadcast live and recorded.  You can watch in person, live on your computer or TV, or the recording at any time.  

  If you are able to observe any meeting, please go to our website, under Teams at Work, click Observer Corps.  There is a very short form to complete to let us know what occurred at that meeting.  When you complete it, email it to Deb Clark (Deb@debclark.net) and she will upload it to the website.  Deb Clark or I can help you find a meeting that will work for you and help with any issues about completing the form.

  Even if you just do this once, you are helping the League, and all citizens of Brevard.  Please make a New Year's Resolution to observe and report on one meeting in January.  Maybe it will become a habit in some form.  Definitely it will be worthwhile.  Thank you!

Suzanne Taylor
OTHER LEAGUE BUSINESS
ANNUAL LEAGUE MEETING 
 
Saturday, April 15
10:30 a.m. 
Cocoa Women's Club
 
Agenda
Elect 2023-24 officers and board members  
Vote on bylaws changes,
Meet new members and see old friends 

LWVSC Nominating Committee

 

Please join us in building the future of our League!

 

This year's nominating committee needs to create a slate of nominees for the following positions to serve on the LWVSC Board from 2023 –2025: 

  • President 
  • Vice Presidents (2)
  • Secretary 
  • Elected Directors (3)
  • Nominating Committee Chair 
  • Nominating Committee Members (2)

Please feel free to volunteer for any of the positions or nominate someone you know (if that person agrees to be nominated).

 

Submit your suggestions to Jo Shim shimjo2001@yahoo.com/321-431-9932

 
A HEARTFELT THANKS...
 
Fund Raising and Member Donations are critical to our ability to offer programs, create and distribute educational materials, and, register voters. This is especially true when you consider we receive $16 from every membership dues.  So here's a heartfelt thanks to the following people:
 
  All members who gave us additional financial gifts in 2022;
 
  The people who worked on the Canvassing Board project. 
They raised $2800 for the General Fund, and, 
 
  Everyone who wrapped gifts on Christmas Eve
raising $1017 for the Education Fund.
 
We are grateful for your generosity. 
 
Our first big fundraiser in 2023 is the Bunco Party on Saturday, February 25 (see flyer below).  We hope everyone will find a way to contribute... by attending the party; soliciting donations from businesses; arranging beautiful gift baskets; selling tickets; etc.  No effort is too small... or ... to large. Join in the fun of working together and getting to know each other better... while supporting our League by raising much needed funds.  
 
 
Thanks to all who gave
gift cards for Aging Matters
and 
items fr Recycle Brevard
 at the Holiday Party.
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.
 
Click on one of these options to support us or learn more:
Visit our website at LWV-Spacecoast.org
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