HCLWV

June 2025 Voter Newsletter

Timothy Burke — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:01:07 +0000

Co-Presidents’ Corner:
Hello, members and friends of the Hillsborough and Pasco Counties LWV!
As your new co-president for the 2025-2026 year, I’m both honored and excited to step into this leadership role alongside Teresa Potter. I’d like to share a bit about myself, why I’m here – and why I believe so deeply in the mission of the League of Women Voters.

I’m passionate about serving the communities I live in. I’ve worked in volunteer capacities with organizations such as Dress for Success, Cooking Matters, No Kid Hungry and Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure. In recent years, I’ve focused my efforts on initiatives that address food insecurity, from food banks to serving as a chef educator in under-resourced neighborhoods.I come to this position as a retired Air Force Officer, with 27 years of service. I grew up as part of a Marine Corps family and spent a significant portion of my childhood living abroad which allowed me to observe the United States from the vantage point of living outside of it. I witnessed our nation as one of freedom and opportunity, with rights that served as a blueprint for democratic governance and constitutional protections. I’m passionate about protecting rights that were hard-won and fought for, and I believe there’s no greater calling than strengthening democracy at the community level.I’d like to thank the League members from across Florida that I joined during Lobby Days 2025 in Tallahassee. That experience affirmed my belief in the power of grassroots advocacy and the importance of showing up. I also want to thank Teresa Potter for her partnership as co-president, and for encouraging me to join the league and step into leadership. I’m so excited to have ‘found my people’ here in the Tampa Bay area.Looking ahead, I’m especially eager to focus on two areas: deepening our community outreach and advancing our legislative priorities. I look forward to responding to LWV calls to action at the state and national levels, and representing our chapter’s voice in those broader efforts. The strength of any organization lies in its members, so I appreciate your dedication, knowledge and willingness to act!

I hope you’ll join me in getting involved this year. We need one another – in meetings, in advocacy, at voter registration events, and everywhere our shared values take us. The work of the LWV continues in force from its birth in the final months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment until now! I’m grateful to be in this work, boots-on-ground, with all of you!

Diana Bishop-Pecha

Our New Leadership!

Elected leaders in attendance after the election: [L-R] Betsy Braden, Secretary; Teresa Potter, Co-President; Emily Hinsdale, Director; Sally Wilson, Director; Laurie Winkles, Vice-President; Johanne Castagan, Treasurer; Tim Burke, Nominating Committee; Diana Bishop-Pecha, Co-President; Norin Dollard, Nominating Committee Chair; Ida Williams Campbell, Director; Cheryl Umberger, Director. Not present: Ami Marie Grainger-Welch, Director; Christina Conti, Director; Angela Birdsong, Nominating Committee.Our Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, May 17, at the Seminole Heights Public Library, with 45 members and four guests in attendance.We have an exciting group of both new and long-time leaders for the coming year who will guide us in our program activities and toward our goals.Check out the HCLWV website for our 2025-26 programs and contact our action group and committee chairs to get involved!

Membership Expiring? No Problem!

Have you received an email notifying you of your membership expiration? Don’t worry! All that means is, it is time to RENEW!You may have heard that the renewal process has changed. It has. The League of Women Voters US (our national expression) has taken over the task of membership tracking, including accepting dues for new or renewing members. There are some differences from when you joined or renewed last time:

You will renew by going to the national website, specifically here.
League membership dues are now on a “pay what you can” basis. Dues are on a sliding scale, with a recommended rate of $75 per person. You may renew at as low as $20.
There are no longer “Student” memberships (which used to be free).
There are no longer “Household” memberships, however you can add more than one person to your renewal by following the instructions for that option
There are no longer our local “Sponsorship” level memberships (Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catts), which allowed our local members to donate the difference in cost between regular membership and the amount paid for the sponsorship to the Hillsborough/Pasco league. If you would like to make a donation directly to our league, there is an opportunity to do so during the join/renewal process.

If you require assistance, or have any questions about this new process, please contact our Membership Chair, Ida Campbell, at membership@hclwv.org.

2025 State Convention Coming Up June 6-7

Attending events sponsored by the Florida League of Women Voters is a terrific way to deepen your understanding of League activities and priorities, engage in organizational capacity building, and get to know fellow League members.

The LWVFL Biennial State Convention will take place in Orlando on June 6 and 7, 2025. The convention provides an opportunity to participate in the LWVFL Convention Plenary and vote on:

LWVFL’s Program
Budget
Board of Directors and Nominating Committee
Submitted bylaws amendments
and more.

Other activities include a reception and dinner on Saturday night and a variety of breakfast sessions and workshops hosted by members and supporters at all levels. There will also be opportunities to network with fellow League members, participate in training sessions, and hear from dynamic speakers.

Registration and details for the State Convention: lwvfl.org

HCLWV will provide financial support to members attending this event. The amount of support will depend on the number of folks traveling as part of our delegation. Our chapter can have up to 13 voting members attend and we have 3 confirmed so far. Please let us know you are attending at president@hclwv.org. Funding is also available from the LWVFL — check here.

League Leaders to present at convention

Two of our League members, Teresa Potter, Co-President, and Norín Dollard, Ph.D., who is also Senior Policy Analyst/KIDS COUNT Director, Florida Policy Institute, will present a workshop at the LWV Florida State Convention in June: Advocate Like a Pro: Florida Public School Funding Demystified.Education is the bedrock of democracy and is currently under threat at the local, state, and federal level. Many of the largest margins of victory in the 2024 elections were the approval of new or renewed property tax referendums to supplement inadequate state funding of public schools.Those overwhelming majorities are a clear indication that the education of Florida’s children is a top priority among voters, and that state funding is not adequate.This workshop will explain current Florida education funding, the league’s education platform, and how to advocate to increase funding for public schools. We will also cover potential impacts of proposed state and federal cuts.

Equal Ground Legislative Debrief Tour

The Equal Ground Legislative Debrief Tour, a multi-city effort to bring legislative transparency and political education directly to communities of color across Florida, is coming to Tampa on Saturday, June 7th at 3:00 PM EDT for an event hosted by Equal Ground in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Gamma Theta Omega chapter. This important conversation will break down Florida’s 2025 legislative session, what passed, what failed, and what it all means for our communities across the state.

From attacks on education and voting rights to inaction on economic policies that make Florida more affordable, they’ll unpack the legislative trends that are shaping Florida’s future and provide tools to help you stay informed and engaged.

During this session, you can expect:

A comprehensive overview of major bills and policy changes
Insightful discussion on political trends and their long-term impact
Space for live Q&A and community reflection
Tools and resources for continued civic engagement

RSVP today here to reserve your spot. Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with additional event details.

Volunteer for Juneteenth in Pasco County!

Our League is participating in the 5th Annual East Pasco Juneteenth Community Celebration from 11 am – 2 pm on Saturday, June 21. This free event gives us a chance to share current information on voting, elections and citizens’ amendments with the community, as well as helping people register to vote.

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, is an American holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States. Recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth continues to be a day of unity and reflection across the country.

Because the event lasts just 3 hours, we are scheduling one block with four volunteers, but you are welcome to sign up for a shorter time frame; just let us know in the comments. We’d love to see you there!
Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945ABA62BA1F9CE9-57142472-east

Monitoring the County

The Hillsborough County Charter Review Board is meeting again. They meet at 6 pm on the second Tuesday at the County Center in downtown Tampa and the next meeting is June 10. The basic website is https://hcfl.gov/councils/charter-review-board.

If you would like to volunteer to attend and observe the meetings, contactpresident@hclwv.org. It wouldn’t be a huge time burden, but would be helpful for our board to see what the charter review board members advocate for, in the likely event we want to take positions.

Moving Forward with Petition Collections

House Bill 1205 passed the Florida Senate and House and was signed into law by Governor DeSantis on May 2. This law will significantly affect the process for proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution via citizen initiatives going forward. While the overall law became effective on May 2, significant portions of the law do not become effective until July 1.League members are justly concerned with how the League will proceed with collecting any petitions, in particular, the “Right to Clean Water” and “Medicaid Expansion” petitions.First, it is important to understand that the League is not the sponsor of either of these proposed amendments. Therefore, we should look to each of the sponsors for guidance about their own petition. Each petition sponsor has issued different guidance as to how they want their volunteers to proceed for now. As such, the League will follow the guidance of these individual organizations for the gathering of their organization’s petitions up to July 1, 2025, when additional prohibitions and penalties will become effective. We will issue further guidance as that effective date approaches.Florida Right to Clean Water is the sponsor organization of the Right to Clean Water petition. They have issued the following guidance which we will adopt:

Please note we are currently suspending collection operations due to the new law signed in on Friday, May 2nd, that places (we believe an unconstitutional level of) burdens on you and this citizens’ initiative.
Please turn in any signed petition ASAP to your county captain, regional coordinator, or our main address: FL RTCW, 13300 S. Cleveland Ave, Ste 56, Fort Myers, FL 33907 and hold off for now in collecting more signatures until we’ve been able to provide you with the guidance based on these new legal requirements.
If you have any questions, please email admin@floridarighttocleanwater.org.

Florida Decides Healthcare is the sponsor organization of the Medicaid Expansion petition. Their guidance is essentially the opposite. Petition gathering will continue with two changes, in order to comply with the law:

First, do not use pre-filled petitions or fill in any portion of the petition. The voter must complete the entire form themselves.
Second, petitions must now be turned in within 24 hours of collection to a hub or mailed to: Florida Decides Healthcare, c/o Cynthia Caldwell, 12869 Boney Road, Jacksonville, FL 3226. NOTE: This is not the address on the petition form.
Any completed, signed petitions that you currently possess should be immediately turned into a hub or mailed to the address indicated above, sorted by county with a cover sheet. Use this form to request pre-paid postage, if needed, to return completed petitions (postage request question is next to last question on form).
If you have any questions, please email anachristina@floridadecideshealthcare.org.

There will be major changes in petition collection procedures starting on July 1, these will include modifications in the petition form itself and requirements for petition collectors. Stay tuned as implementation of this law unfolds!

Defending Democracy in Florida

On May 13, the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) filed a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit to challenge Florida’s House Bill 1205, which erects major barriers to participating in the state’s ballot initiative process. LWVFL and LULAC, represented by Democracy Defenders Fund, argue that HB 1205 is unconstitutional because it violates the organizations’ and petition collectors’ and circulators’ First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights to free speech, due process, and assembly — threatening the future of direct democracy in the state.”The right to pursue citizen-led ballot initiatives is enshrined in the Florida state constitution,” said Debbie Chandler, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Florida. “This new law doesn’t just make it harder to utilize this constitutionally protected process, it makes it virtually impossible. It’s a shameful and illegal attack on Florida’s voters by legislators who are unwilling to listen to the voters.””The passage of HB 1205 is just the latest egregious attack on direct democracy that the League of Women Voters has been tracking across the country,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the US. ” In a healthy democracy, voters can see widely supported ideas enacted into law; instead, we see politicians try to silence voters, entrench their own political power, and undermine direct democracy. The League is proud to stand with our Florida chapter in fighting back against this antidemocratic law in court.”Among its provisions, HB 1205 would:

Shorten the time-frame within which sponsors must return signed petitions to Supervisors of Elections from 30 days to 10 days
Require petition circulators to re-register with the state and to be both US citizens and Florida residents
Subject those who make a mistake to severe criminal penalties or fines
Require voters to include their ID number (driver’s license, ID card, or SSN) when signing a petition

Nonprofit VOTE focus:
Voter ID requirements & name changes

Nonprofit Vote is sharing information each month to promote Voter Engagement, and this month’s focus is on voter ID requirements and name changes.

Between ongoing advocacy efforts against the SAVE Act and the recent REAL ID deadline, it’s been an eventful several weeks around the topic of how voter ID issues can impact ballot access. On page 15 of the Voter Engagement Guide, you’ll find a rundown of best practices around voter ID questions, as well as common questions and concerns that nonprofits are likely to run into.

LGBTQ+ Sex Ed Series

Rainbow Room Summer Series w/Planned Parenthood
Every week, June 1st – August 24th, Sundays at 4:00 pm EST
A virtual LGBTQ+ Centered Sex Education Series
Click here to register.

Public Meeting on Pasco County’s Stormwater Master Plan

Only two weeks to go! Get ready as #PascoCounty Public Works would like to share our Stormwater Master Plan. The plan shows stormwater areas of concern and how we plan to address flooding.
Attend one of our two public meetings in June.
• June 3, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at the West Pasco Government Center Boardroom.
• June 10, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse Boardroom.
Your feedback is important. For more information about the project, visit mypasco.net/swmp.

Sulphur Springs Museum June Events

Celebrate World Ocean Day

Dive into a wave of fun and learning at World Ocean Day events.Saturday, June 7 9-11 AM, Gandy Bridge: Team up with Tampa Bay Waterkeeper and Suncoast Sierra Club for a paddle-powered cleanup adventure. Rent a kayak from Urban Kai or bring your own and help us sweep away the nasties from our waterways! LIMITED SPACE – RSVP!Or, meet us at the Clearwater Aquarium on Saturday, June 7, from 10 am to 2 pm. Admission to the event is completely FREE, and you’ll also receive a fantastic 20% discount for your visit to the Aquarium afterward. Check out the cool exhibitors hanging out in the 4th-floor ballroom. RSVP here.Let’s make a splash for the ocean!

Durney Key Restoration

The Florida Suncoast Sierra Club is providing a grant and helping to recruit volunteers for the Durney Key restoration. Join an educational seminar by UF/IFAS Extension Florida Sea Grant Pasco County about the project, led by the Energy and Marine Center. The seminar takes place from 5-6 pm on Tuesday, June 24, in the Magnolia Room of the New Port Richey library.The project involves surveying invasive species, assessing oyster beds, monitoring water quality, removing litter, and replacing invasive plants with natives. Goals include enhancing oyster habitats, reducing erosion, improving ecosystem health, and creating a safe public space. Learn about the project, sponsors, and volunteering opportunities. RSVP Here.

Tiger Bay

Join the non-partisan Tiger Bay Club the third Friday of each month for non-partisan discussions of current events. On Friday, June 20, the topic will be “State of the State” with guest Wilton Simpson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture.Commissioner Simpson has served as the Florida commissioner of agriculture since 2023. From 2012 to 2022, he served as a member of the Florida Senate, representing areas around Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties and was elected Senate President for the 2020–2022 legislature.Click on the Tiger below to register.

Who Needs Single-Use Grocery Bags?

Plastic debris can choke and entangle wildlife as well as leach harmful chemicals into our water. As one of the largest users of plastic bags, please sign the Sierra Club’s petition that specifically asks Publix to cease using disposable plastic bags and also add your own comments on Senate Bill 1822 and House Bill 565 which they are supporting. Your petition and remarks will go directly to Publix.

Be polite, but firm. Praise what they are doing right. Critique and ask for change on what they are doing that harms the environment.

Beyond Baseball Sessions

Now that the deal between the Tampa Bay Rays and the city of St. Petersburg has fallen through, we are presented with a new opportunity — one that invites all of us to reimagine the future of this important space together. What are the possibilities for place-making? How do we, as a community, make the most of this opportunity in a way that honors the past and positions us for future-focused growth? What should this space include? Who should it serve? How do we ensure equity, accessibility and sustainability, not only in its development but in the way it functions as a new anchor in our city’s landscape?Join the Tampa Bay Times for a dynamic community conversation featuring a panel of diverse voices and perspectives. We’ll hear from place-making experts, longtime residents, local leaders and more as we explore what’s next for this vital part of St. Petersburg’s future.Tiuesday, June 3 – Free Admission and Parking
5-6 pm Living Showcase; 6-7:30 pm – Panel Discussion
At Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg’s Center for Health Equity, 2333 34th St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33711.Tickets here

Florida Talks:
Oh, Florida! How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country
10-11 am Saturday, June 6 at Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill.

Some people regard Florida as nothing but the Punchline State because so many weird things happen here. Craig Pittman argues that it is also the greatest state with the greatest impact on other states. In this presentation based on his hilarious and thought-provoking New York Times bestselling book Oh Florida!, Mr. Pittman explains how what he calls The Most Interesting State got to be the way it is.

Craig Pittman is a native Floridian. Born in Pensacola, he graduated from Troy State University in Alabama, where his muckraking work for the student paper prompted an agitated dean to label him the most destructive force on campus. After 31 years at the Tampa Bay Times, he now writes a weekly column on environmental issues for the Florida Phoenix and co-hosts the podcast Welcome to Florida. He has written six non-fiction books about Florida and lives in St. Petersburg.

Registration is suggeted but not required to attend.
Register at https://hernandocounty.librarycalendar.com/event/florida-talks-oh-florida-how-americas-weirdest-state-influences-rest-country-spring-hill

The Plastic Arts

Jennifer Steinkamp: Madame Curie celebrates two female trailblazers: scientist Marie Curie (Polish-French, 1876-1934) and artist Jennifer Steinkamp (American, b. 1958) at the Tampa Museum of Art through August 10. Curie remains the only woman awarded two Nobel Prizes for her groundbreaking scientific discoveries and research. Born nearly a century later, Steinkamp is internationally recognized for her monumental installations that unite art with technology. TMA, through August 10.

Green Book of Tampa Bay Legacy Unveiled opened May 31 at Studio@620 and highlights the creativity and cultural impact of local Black artists. Through June 30.

So many OLLI courses started in May and now there are courses at St. Leo University in Pasco County as well! Want to learn about these topics and more? Click the logo above.

Climate Change 101 – Thursdays, June 12-19, 11M – 12:30 pm
Energy Real Issues – Tuesdays, July 8-22, 1-3 pm
Presidents in Crises – Tuesdays, July 22-29, 1-3 pm
Case Studies in Democracy – Thursdays, July 24-Aug 21, 1-2:30 pm

Going on at TBHC this month:

June 14 Ybor City Walking Tour
June 19 Online Book Discussion: “If You See Them: Young, Unhoused and Alone in America”
June 21 Downtown Tampa Walking Tour
Gallery Exhibit: Invisible Immigrants: Spaniards in the US (1868-1945)

Click on logo above for more information.

Save our Manatees!

The Tampa Bay Sierra Club is hosting an online session on the status of manatees in Florida. Their speaker will be Beth Brady.

Beth is the Director of Science for the Save the Manatee Club.. This club was founded in 1981 by Jimmy Buffett and Governor Bob Graham. Beth will be discussing the biology of manatees, the threats they face, and research efforts to aid in conservation. The session will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 7:00 pm.

Online: Google Meet (6:45 to share, 7:00 for program)

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

It’s not too late to buy tickets for the Sun’s 2025-2026 season! Let’s get out and support the first and only women’s professional sports team in the area. Click on the logo.

Upcoming Member Meetings

June 4, 9-10 am, Monthly Issues Update Meeting. DetailsJune 6, 7, 8, State League of Women Voters Convention, Orlando. DetailsJune 14, FLAG DAYJune 19, JUNETEENTH/FREEDOM DAY

June 21, 11am-2pm, East Pasco Juneteenth Community Celebration

June 25-29, League of Women Voters US National Council, Leesburg, VA. Details

Check the League’s website calendar of events throughout the month for new meetings and events.

Want to know what’s coming up? You can now subscribe to our HCLWV Events Calendar so our events show up on your online calendar! Find the subscribe link just below the calendar heading here.

EMPOWERING VOTERS. DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.

League of Women Voters of Hillsborough and Pasco Counties
813-461-5365 | hclwv.org

Remembering Idelia Phillips

Timothy Burke — Sun, 04 May 2025 19:30:38 +0000

We are deeply saddened to let you know about the death of Idelia Phillips, dedicated League member and former President of our League.
Idelia passed away in late April at the age of 77.

Idelia’s family will be planning a memorial service for May. We will share details as soon as the information is available.

Dr. Idelia Phillips was a retired educator, with over forty years in public health epidemiology, higher education academic affairs, and career and technical education. In recent year, she provided instruction in general science at a local university and was the Owner/CEO of ProcPhil Consulting, an educational consulting services provider specializing in grant seeking and writing, curriculum development, dissertation coaching and Program review and evaluation

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Siena College, a Master of Public Health degree from the University of South Carolina and a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of Tennessee. Her work experiences include:

Director of Career & Technical Education, State College of Florida
Academic Dean, Concorde Career College
Associate Professor, Health Science, Tallahassee State College
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Denmark Technical College
Senior Scientist, Waste Management & Environmental Restoration
Director, Faculty Development & Instructional Improvement
Chronic Disease Program Manager
Chief of Health Promotion and Information

She was the holder of many awards and accolades:

Total Quality Achievement Award, Department of Energy, Savannah River Site
Chancellor’s Leadership, Florida Department of Education
Testimony before the Committee on Post-Secondary Education, Florida House of Representatives
Outstanding Newcomer, Morris College
Hazel Pettice Award, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

During her tenure as Director of Career & Technical Education, she served on many college, university, technical institute and community advisory committees.

Her dedication and commitment to our league cannot be expressed in mere words. She served as Chair of Membership and Chair of Voter Services before serving as President. Idelia served as President for three terms from 2018-2021, managing our league through two chaotic election cycles, including the one in the middle of a pandemic. She took on the challenges of Covid with her usual professionalism, making a seamless transition to online work. Idelia also always continued to work in voter services, manning voter registration tables at Alpha Kappa Alpha and other partner events.

Idelia did not even take a well-deserved break after stepping down as President. She continued to represent the LWV of Hillsborough & Pasco Counties on the Hillsborough Commission on the Status of Women (2019-2025). She also served on our Board of Directors, providing years of institutional knowledge, as well as Chair of our DEI Committee.

It is with a very sad heart that we say good-bye to Idelia Phillips. You will be missed!

EMPOWERING VOTERS. DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.

League of Women Voters of Hillsborough and Pasco Counties
813-461-5365 | hclwv.org

May 2025 Voter Newsletter

Timothy Burke — Thu, 01 May 2025 19:30:38 +0000

The VOTER MAY 2025

We have a busy May calendar and I hope you are able to join us at an event this month:

Monthly Member Meeting (Virtual) – Monday, May 5, 6 pm-7 pm
Annual Meeting – Saturday, May 17, at 11 am-1 pm (RSVP at the link below)

We have also been invited to provide voter information at these events:

May 1 Day of Action, Thursday, May 1, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm – New World Tampa – Click here for details and to RSVP.
LULAC Florida State Convention, Saturday, May 17, 1:30 pm-4 pm at USF Tampa. The St. Petersburg and North Pinellas leagues will be staffing the table from 10:30 am-1:30 pm. If you can help deliver materials for set-up at 10 am or help staff the table from 1:30 pm – 4 pm, please contact me by replying to this email.
Voter Information Table at Moms Demand Action Event – Sunday, May 18, 3 pm-5 pm (See Gun Safety Update below for sign-up if you can help).

So much other great information and some other informational and action events coming up very soon so make sure you scroll through all the way to the bottom. The last item is the calendar – you may need to click ‘load full message’ or something similar depending on your email service to access the full newsletter.

Food, Planning, and Fun

Our Annual Meeting is set for 11 am-1 pm, Saturday, May 17, at the Seminole Heights Public Library. Doors open at 10:30 am. There is no charge for attending, and guests, especially prospective members, are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

We will share the accomplishments of the League’s past year and plan for the 2025-26 year. We will approve a program (aka our list of priorities), elect officers and a board, and approve a budget. We will also have opportunities to ask questions, share feedback, and spend time with each other in person.

Meeting materials are available on our website. Any items currently missing will be added shortly.

RSVP

MEETING MATERIALS

2025 State Convention

LWVFL State Convention Coming Up

The LWVFL Biennial State Convention will take place in Orlando on June 6 and 7, 2025. The convention provides an opportunity to participate in the LWVFL Convention Plenary and vote on:

LWVFL’s Program
Budget
Board of Directors and Nominating Committee
Submitted bylaws amendments
and more.

Tabling for Public Service

A group of smiling League members attended and tabled at an April 14 event at USF, which we cosponsored with the Center for Sustainable Democracy and We are Más.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Anonia Novello spoke as part of the Democracy and Citizenship Speakers.

Dr. Novello shared wisdom from her memoir, Duty Calls: Lessons Learned from an Unexpected Life of Service and discussed how public service uplifts our communities.

Celebrating Earth Day
While We Still Have One

League members enjoyed tabling at the Pasco County Earth Day Celebration on April 26, at Crews Lake Wilderness Park. The Earth Day event featured upcycled and cottage industry products, food vendors, plant vendors, and other eco-friendly items. It was sponsored by Keep Pasco Beautiful.

Monitoring the County

The Hillsborough County Charter Review Board is meeting again. They meet at 6 pm on the second Tuesday at the County Center in downtown Tampa and the next meeting is May 13. The basic website is https://hcfl.gov/councils/charter-review-board.

If you would like to volunteer to attend and observe the meetings, contact president@hclwv.org. It wouldn’t be a huge time burden, but would be helpful for our board to see what the charter review board members advocate for, in the likely event we want to take positions.

The Bare Minimum

Busy people who still want to fight for reproductive rights, a clean environment, civil and human rights, free and fair elections, public education, and everything else that the LWV stands for can use Chop Wood, Carry Water and/or 5 Calls to communicate easily with their elected officials. It takes just a few minutes each day and if you don’t have time or don’t agree with the daily message, skip it.

Gun Safety Update

Invite to Partner with Moms Demand Action on May 18

This session in Tallahassee we have been watching HB 759. This bill would dismantle the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act by dropping the minimum age to buy a long gun from 21 to 18. Currently this bill has stalled in the senate, we are hoping it will not go anywhere but we still need to be vigilant and call our lawmakers. Other bills were introduced such as to allow bump stocks (used in the Las Vegas concert massacre) and to allow guns on campus. Thankfully these bills never made it out of committee.

Moms Demand Action held its Tallahassee Advocacy Day on April 1. They supported a Safe Storage bill that never made it out of committee. Locking up guns would help prevent mass shootings. This bill would have also made irresponsible gun owners liable for not locking up guns used in crimes.If you would like to be a public advocate for safe gun storage, here is a zoom link for a training call May 12 at 1 pm.

Moms Demand Action will host a gun violence awareness community event on Sunday, May 18, 3- 5 pm at Festival Field, Waterworks Park, 1701 N. Highland Ave, Tampa. They will be partnering with other gun violence prevention partners, such as 813 Stop the Violence, Rise Up for Peace, Kuntry Connections, Safe and Sound Hillsborough, and Victims Assistance. To sign up, click here.Our league has been invited to have a table at the May 18 event to offer voter registration and information. Please click here if you can help that day.

Calling All Legal Professionals

Sustainable Growth Forum

Join the Tampa Bay Times for a May 7 community discussion focusing on responsible, sustainable development as Tampa Bay’s landscape continues to grow and evolve. With large-scale real estate projects underway on both sides of the bay, from Water Street to Gasworx and the Historic Gas Plant District, the need for innovations in development and construction is top of mind given rising sea levels and changing weather patterns. This discussion will explore how innovative practices are helping shape the future of our region. Find out more here.

Evolving Signatures?

Still committed to voting? Your handwriting may change over time, so it’s important to update your signature with the Supervisor of Elections periodically. The signatures you have on file is used to verify your identity on petitions, provisional ballots, and vote-by-mail ballots.

An easy way to update it can be found at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, which brings the signature from your driver’s license into your voter record. Alternatively, you can sign and submit a new paper voter registration application.

While you are updating your signature, don’t forget to make sure all your information is up to date. Go to your Supervisor of Elections’ website to review your information and request any updates needed. Go here for Hillsborough County and here for Pasco County. As always, if you have any questions, never hesitate to reach out to the SOE in Hillsborough County by sending an email to voter@votehillsborough.gov or calling 813-744-5900. In Pasco County, it’s webcomment@pascovotes.gov and 800-851-8754.

Pop Quiz

At what point will you consider the U.S. to be a dictatorship? Take this fun quiz and see whether you are in the mainstream.

May Day Protests

Regardless of your views on the current president, there is no denying the fact that the administration’s actions will increase unemployment, lower wages, decrease worker safety and benefits, break our unions, silence immigrant voices, and cause disruptions in food and drug safety, scientific research, medical care, and protections for vulnerable people.

From May 1-3, 2025, stand united for a world where every family has housing, healthcare, fair wages, union protection, and safety—regardless of race, zip code, or immigration status. Stand united for public education, public services and public servants, and working people. Reclaim our power from corporate elites.

To stand together on International Worker’s Day, several groups have come together: Move On, Chicago Teachers Union, Indivisible, 50501, Working Families Party, NEA, Bargaining for the Common Good, Sunrise Movement, AAUP, Debt Collective, Public Citizen 50, Popular Democracy, People’s Action Institute, and more. Read more about this on MayDay Strong and/or 50501.

For information on the May 3 protest in Ybor City, click here. For a list of 26 other May Day protests in Florida, click here.

Women Against Fascism

More information and sign-up here.

Report Cards

The first 100 days of the Trump administration has ended. If you weren’t keeping track of its actions, check out the NYT tracker. Read what NYT writers have to say about this period. Find out what the ACLU has to say (and learn about the 104 lawsuits it has filed in the last 100 days). Get a historical perspective from NPR. See Rolling Stone‘s list of the 100 most terrifying, cruel, and absurd actions. Learn from Robert Reich. See the Center for Reproductive Rights‘ report on, well, reproductive rights, and the Guttmacher Institute‘s report on science and reproductive rights.. For higher education, check out The Chronicle of Higher Education‘s series. To learn what Congress did these past 100 days, read Time‘s report.

If You Can’t Beat ’em,
Join ’em

Are you interested in serving on the Hillsborough County DOGE Liaison Committee? Hillsborough Commissioners are seeking applications for five open positions. People interested in seeking the appointment must reside and vote in Hillsborough County. These are voluntary positions, without compensation.

Please contact: Glenda Rotger, Director of Board Services, (813) 272-5826 or Rotgerg@HCFL.gov.

Applications are due by close of business on May 2, 2025. Learn more here.

Between Hurricane Seasons

Join WUSF in St. Petersburg for a special one-hour episode of Florida Matters.

Hurricane season is upon us, just months after several major storms devastated the Tampa Bay region. Lessons have been learned. But gaps remain. Florida Matters Host Matthew Peddie will lead a conversation on the crucial role community plays in recovery. Hear from residents who served their neighbors, and others who are forever grateful for the support they received.

And you’ll have a chance to share your questions.

Date and time

Friday, May 9, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, at the Palladium Side Door in St. Pete.

This episode will air on WUSF 89.7, YouTube, and the “Florida Matters” podcast app.

The event is free, but registration is required and seating is limited.

Pasco Recycles Glass

Petition Publix

Who Needs Single-Use Grocery Bags?

Plastic debris can choke and entangle wildlife as well as leach harmful chemicals into our water.

As one of the largest users of plastic bags, please sign the Sierra Club’s petition that specifically asks Publix to cease using disposable plastic bags and also add your own comments on Senate Bill 1822 and House Bill 565 which they are supporting. Your petition and remarks will go directly to Publix.

Be polite, but firm. Praise what they are doing right. Critique and ask for change on what they are doing that harms the environment.

Barhopping for Good

What: Planned Parenthood’s Condom Crawl
Date: Friday, May 2, 2025

Time: 4 pm-8 pm and/or 8 pm-11:30 pm

Location: Downtown St. Pete. Exact meetup location will be shared upon confirmation.

RSVP Link: https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/a/st-pete-condom-crawl

Tampa Community Wellness

Planned Parenthood is offering free community wellness in MacFarlane Park, May 9, 10 am-12 pm. Treat yourself to a peaceful morning of yoga, soundbath, and qigong. This is a free event open to all—bring a friend and enjoy some healing movement in community.

RSVP here. [editor’s note — what are soundbath and qigong?]

For more Planned Parenthood events — phonebanking, tabling, and sex education trivia night — enter your zip code in this website. Who wouldn’t want to play sex education trivia?

To volunteer with Planned Parenthood, click here.

The Tampa Bay Abortion Fund has apparently been flooded by people wanting to volunteer and, thus, has a list of ways we can help on our own. Check it out at TBAF.

In the meantime, the Tampa Period Pantry has expanded to 22 pantries in just two years. If you would like to help get period products in the hands of people who need them, check out its website.

Liz Coursen, the author of “Having Fun, Wish You Were Here!: An Illustrated History”, takes the audience on a trip back in time from a Florida when ox carts traveled via ferry and air-conditioning existed only in the imagination to the Florida of Streamliners and Orange Blossom Specials. Coursen uses museum-quality postcards to tell this story.Parking is available onsite. Coffee and refreshments will be served. May 11, 2-3 pm at the Sulpher Springs Museum. More information here.

The Plastic Arts

Jennifer Steinkamp: Madame Curie celebrates two female trailblazers: scientist Marie Curie (Polish-French, 1876-1934) and artist Jennifer Steinkamp (American, b. 1958). Curie remains the only woman awarded two Nobel Prizes for her groundbreaking scientific discoveries and research. Born nearly a century later, Steinkamp is internationally recognized for her monumental installations that unite art with technology. TMA, through August 10.

Green Book of Tampa Bay Legacy Unveiled opens May 31 at Studio@620 and highlights the creativity and cultural impact of local Black artists. Through June 30.

The Performing Arts

FreeFall’s For Closure is a hilarious and satirical look at the foibles and hypocrisies of modern life, set on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Through May 11.

Catch Morning Side at Stageworks. Women gather for a baby shower. Family secrets are revealed and propriety flies out the window. A laugh-out-loud look at the modern family and sibling rivalry. Through May 11.

Enjoy New Tampa Unplugged: The Women of Jazz at the New Tampa Cultural Center, May 11.The program includes instrumental and vocal jazz, showcasing songs written or made famous by women.

The film Lilly will play at the Tampa Theatre May 9-13. Based on the real life story of Lilly Ledbetter, Lilly follows the transformation of an ordinary citizen into the face of an issue, illuminating the impact a single, courageous person can have.

Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator is playing at the Tampa Theatre on May 14. Click on the link to learn about what drove Chaplin to make this film in 1940.

Going on at TBHC this month:

History boat tour
Tampa’s Emancipation Day celebration
Walking tours and gallery tours
Book group discussions.

Click on logo above for more information.

Attend the OLLI Summer Open House at 10 am on Wednesday, May 7 at the Embassy Suites on the USF in order to learn about summer courses and talk with faculty. Public health expert Donna Peterson will be the keynote speaker. Click here to register.So many OLLI courses start in May and now there are courses at St. Leo University in Pasco County as well! Want to learn about:

Murals in Tampa?
Current politics?
Traffic roundabouts?
Affordable housing and local food production?
Historical conflict between Ukraine and Russia?
African-American military Hhstory?
Climate change — global and local?
Financial w¸ellness?
Historical maps of Tampa?

Click on the above bull for the full catalogue.

Laugh and cry on Friday, May 2, as local environmental journalist Craig Pittman talks about “nudists, citrus, alligators and other true tales from America’s Most Interesting State.” Pittman writes that “nine hundred new people move here every day, most without any clue about what they’ve gotten themselves into.” His book, Welcome to Florida, tells them some of the things they need to know.“Café con Tampa brings together community activists every Friday morning at 8:00, at the downtown Portico, for breakfast, community announcements, networking, and a talk. No topic is off limits at Café con Tampa whose founders describe the forum as a place for insightful conversations. Click on the logo above for more information and, for the most up-to-date information, subscribe to their email notifications.

Learn About Tampa
and Feed Families

Tampa, Florida has one of the highest rates of childhood hunger. According to Feeding America, 59,270 children experience food insecurity in Hillsborough County. Where Love Grow’s programs address the immediate needs of hungry children, while implementing long-term positive change. Originally called Do the Local Motion, Where Love Grows hosts family dinner nights and cooking programs, looking to break the cycle of hunger for children and their families in Tampa.

Funds for their programs are raised in part by walking tours of downtown Tampa and the environs during the fall, winter, and spring.

Join Where Love Grows on its Friday, May 2 Walk to End Hunger downtown Tampa streetcar tour. Tours are free, but $10 donations are encouraged. Donate here. Register here.

Register here for the May 14 Florida legislative wrap-up focusing on community planning, conservation, transportation, and water quality.

The Manatee County LWV is teaming with the Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club on a zoom discussion of Florida’s legislative actions regarding the environment and how the Sierra Club will move forward during the next year.. The zoom will be May 15, 5-6 pm. Sign up here.Hillsborough residents may join the Tampa Bay Club and Pasco County residents may join the the Suncoast Club. The Tampa Bay Group’s Conservation Committee meets on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 pm. Email here for details. The Suncoast Club’s political committee usually meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the Barbara S. Ponce Library in Pinellas Park. General membership meetings are usually the 3rd Tuesday. For information about the Suncoast Club’s outings, meetings, and activism, click here.

Tiger Bay

Join the non-partisan Tiger Bay Club the third Friday of each month for non-partisan discussions of current events. On Friday, May 16, the topic will be a 25-year retrospective of term limits, with a focus on the pros and cons. Pet the tiger to register for the lunch. The doors of the Cuban Club open at 11:30 and the program starts at 12.

What To Believe?

Social media platforms are rejecting fact-checking. The use of artificial intelligence to create eye-catching posts and visuals is exploding. Giant financial incentives can drive the information environment. How do you know what you can believe online?

Join the Poynter Institute on May 6 for a Community Conversation about information integrity on social media platforms, how artificial intelligence is shaping messages, what dangers lie ahead, and the tools you can use to find the truth.

More information and tickets here.

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

It’s not too late to buy tickets for the Sun’s 2025-2026 season! Let’s get out and support the first and only women’s professional sports team in the area. Click on the logo.

Upcoming Member Meetings

May 5, 6-7 pm, Monthly Issues Update Meeting. Details

May 11, Mother’s Day for mothers and others

May 17, 11 am-1 pm, Annual Meeting. Details

Check the League’s website calendar of events throughout the month for new meetings and events.

Want to know what’s coming up? You can now subscribe to our HCLWV Events Calendar so our events show up on your online calendar! Find the subscribe link just below the calendar heading here.

EMPOWERING VOTERS. DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.League of Women Voters of Hillsborough and Pasco Counties
813-461-5365 | hclwv.org

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can unsubscribe from this list.

April 2025 Voter Newsletter

Timothy Burke — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:15:52 +0000

The VOTER APRIL 2025

Hello league members! Please take a brief moment today to skim through this month’s newsletter – many of the important action items included are happening this week. I’ll recap a few here:

League Event: April 8 and April 26 Tabling Events – Help!
League Co-sponsored Event: April 14 event at USF on Public Health & Democracy
Planned Parenthood legislative update on April 1 and dinner on April 3. A new call to action was issued tonight regarding Title X funding. I highly encourage signing up for Planned Parenthood alerts directly.
Citizen ballot amendment legislation being heard on the Florida house floor on April 3.
April 5 Hands Off Day of Action – locations below.
Early voting April 4-5, election day April 8 in Plant City

Also, please plan to attend our Monthly Member Update Meeting on Wednesday, April 2 at 9 am. In addition to legislative updates, we will discuss the LWV-US study to develop a position on the federal judiciary as an essential component of US democracy. The study’s purpose includes addressing concerns and clarifying judicial accountability, transparency, independence, and ethics. All members received information on this from the LWV-US. For more information about the study, please visit the League Management Site, where you will find policy briefs, discussion prompts, survey questions, and a link to the January Town Hall where experts discussed the issue.

Each local league needs to discuss and take a position on it by April 14. After our discussion on Wednesday, we will determine if another meeting exclusive to this topic is needed. Please reply to this email if you cannot make the meeting on Wednesday, but wish to be involved in this discussion.

Legislative Update Tonight!

Florida’s state legislative session is in full swing. Planned Parenthood is fighting extreme and dangerous bills, including a bill that would make it harder for teens to access birth control and testing and treatment for STIs. They’re also pushing forward proactive legislation to end the state’s extreme abortion ban.

Join Planned Parenthood for a legislative update on April 1 at 6 pm. Learn what bills they’re pushing forward to expand care, what bills they are trying to stop, including steps that could lead to an outright abortion ban, and how we can help.

Learn!

Also, the Planned Parenthood Tampa Bay Dinner: Care. No Matter What. is this week on Thursday, April 3, at Hotel Flor (905 N Florida Ave). Proceeds from this event will directly support Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, ensuring that our community continues to have access to essential reproductive health care.

More Info & Tickets

Table at HOPE’s Action Meeting – April 8th

Our league has been invited to offer voter registration and information at the HOPE (Hillsborough Organization for Progress & Equality) Nehemiah Action Meeting where 1,400 people from across the county will be seeking leadership from our County and City officials to take concrete steps around affordable housing, mental health, and flooding and water quality. More information here.

The event will be on Tuesday, April 8th from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Bible-Based Fellowship Church Tampa Bay (4811 Ehrlich Rd, Tampa). Click here to sign up.

Table at Pasco’s Earth Day Event April 26th

We are tabling at the Pasco County Earth Day Celebration from 9 am -1 pm on Saturday, April 26, at Crews Lake Wilderness Park (16739 Crews Lake Dr, Shady Hills,FL).

The Earth Day event features upcycled and cottage industry products, food vendors, plant vendors, and other eco-friendly items. It is sponsored by Keep Pasco Beautiful. This is generally a fun event with lots of community interaction.

Go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945ABA62BA1F9CE9-55992530-celebrate to sign up!

Silencing Voters?
Not our Jam!

It’s been a long time since we could count on our representatives in Tallahassee to represent the needs and desires of their constituents, which has meant that citizen-driven ballot amendments have been crucial. The LWVFL has supported numerous ballot initiatives over the years, some successful and some not. State legislators are currently attempting to add more bureaucratic hurdles: setting unrealistic deadlines to submit signatures, banning important quality control measures, and threatening volunteers collecting petition signatures with felony charges and massive fines. These measures could effectively dismantle the citizen initiative process, silencing the voices of everyday Floridians.

Florida’s Senate Bill 7016 and House Bill 1205 seek to impose stringent restrictions on citizen-led constitutional amendments. Florida’s citizen-led amendment process in Florida is already the strictest in the nation, requiring nearly one million signatures to get on the ballot and 60% support from voters to pass. HB 1205 is scheduled to be heard on the floor on April 3. Click below to urge your state legislators to oppose attacks on the citizen-led amendment process.

Raise Hell!

SB 7016 has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

Rise Up on April 5!

Fight fascism and stand up for women on April 5. Join MoveOn, Public Citizen, Stand Up America, and the Not Above the Law Coalition by taking to the streets on this Hands Off day of action. You can find a protest wherever you are or want to be.

Wesley Chapel at 9:30 a.m.
New Port Richey at 11:00 a.m.
St. Pete at 12:00 p.m.
Tampa at 3:00 p.m.
Elsewhere? Everywhere! All day!

Find information about these events and hundreds others using this map and get out on April 5.

Vote Now in Plant City!

The City of Plant City municipal elections will be held on April 8. The vote will be for the two City Commissioner seats currently held by Mayor Nate Kilton and Vice-Mayor Jason Jones. Early voting is April 4-5.If a runoff date is necessary, that will happen on May 27.

More information is available here.

What about those Public Servants?

The USF College of Arts & Sciences and the Center for Sustainable Democracy are pleased to present an event with former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Antonia Novello on Monday, April 14. “Public Service and a Cause Greater than Oneself” will explore Dr. Novello’s consequential moments leading and participating in significant public health campaigns on behalf of the United States. Dr. Novello also will sign copies of her book Duty Calls. Dr. Janelle Applequist, Associate Professor of Health Communication in the Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications, will moderate. This event is sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Hillsborough and Pasco Counties as well as We Are Más. Register here.

Want to Track a Bill?

WUSF explains here how to track a bill through the Florida legislature.

Environmental Bills?

Track environmental bills here on the Sierra Club’s tracker.

Land Usage Bills?

Track land usage bills here on the 1000 Friends of Florida website.

Contact your Legislators

The legislative session in Tallahassee started March 4. If you want to contact your legislators or the governor, check out https://lwvfl.org/floridagovernment/.

Feminist History

Explore the Feminist Futures eight-part video series about the history of feminist movements. —how they fought, what they built, and what we must carry forward. Because a feminist future isn’t just a dream—it’s a choice we make together.

Watch!

Free Fitness in the Park

The Tampa Downtown Partnership hosts free fitness classes in downtown Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park each weeknight at 6:00.

Mondays: Rumble Boxing
Tuesdays: Zumba
Wednesdays: Barre
Thursdays: Pilates
Sundays: Yoga

For more information on this and other events, click on the logo above.

April 26, in St. Pete, learn about sacred lands preservation and education. David Anderson represents the third generation of the Anderson family to serve as caretaker at the Sacred Lands property. He will discuss the Tocobaga people who built the shell midden, and the journey of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, who landed here in 1528 with the Narvaez expedition, and, along with only four other survivors, walked from Florida all the way to the Pacific Ocean over eight years (1528 – 1536)! Go to www.discoverfloridatours.com to book this tour.

The Plastic Arts

Bodies and Souls represents Suchitra Mattai’s (Guyanese, b. 1973) first solo Museum exhibition on the East Coast and in Florida. Compromised largely of new works, the show focuses on three themes central to Mattai’s practice: migration, motherland, and materiality. Tampa Museum of Art, through April 20.

Jennifer Steinkamp: Madame Curie celebrates two female trailblazers: scientist Marie Curie (Polish-French, 1876-1934) and artist Jennifer Steinkamp (American, b. 1958). Curie remains the only woman awarded two Nobel Prizes for her groundbreaking scientific discoveries and research. Born nearly a century later, Steinkamp is internationally recognized for her monumental installations that unite art with technology. TMA, through August 10.

The Performing Arts

Catch American Stage‘s outdoor production of Hair. Hair isn’t just about the music or the protests—it’s about the power of community, the strength of love, and the belief that change starts from within. Through April 27.

FreeFall’s For Closure is a hilarious and satirical look at the foibles and hypocrisies of modern life, set on Florida’s Gulf Coast. April 11-May 11.

Going on at TBHC this month:

Sara McNamara explores the important role women played in Ybor City. April 9.
The Honorable E.J. Salcines will present an historical overview inspired by the current exhibition, Invisible Immigrants: Spaniards in the U.S. (1868–1945), highlighting the unique experiences of Tampa’s immigrant community. April 17.
Reception for HBCU alumni. April 10.
Walking tours and gallery tours.
Book group discussions.

Click on logo above for more information.

So many OLLI courses starting in March and now there are courses at St. Leo University in Pasco County as well! Learn about Nazis and the Holocaust, the climate crisis, better capitalism, rock ‘n roll, Florida food, Ybor, the Bay of Pigs, cars in American culture, FDR, gardening, and more. Click on the above bull for the full catalogue.

Café con Tampa brings together community activists every Friday morning at 8:00, at the downtown Portico, for breakfast, community announcements, networking, and a talk. No topic is off limits at Café con Tampa whose founders describe the forum as a place for insightful conversations. Click on the logo above for more information, but for the most up-to-date information, subscribe to their email notifications.

Support Seminole Heights

Take a tour of houses in Old Seminole Heights, Sunday, April 6. More information and tickets here.

Join an April 2 webinar on the current legislative session.12 noon. Details and registration here.

The Florida Wildlife Corridor is a visionary 18-million-acre network of interconnected lands and waters which afford critical ecosystem services. About a third of this land is in agriculture. Learn more at noon on April 17 in the free webinar, “Building Bridges.” Representatives from the agriculture and conservation communities will discuss areas of common concern and strategies for cooperation. Learn more here.

Stay tuned for the May 14 legislative wrap-up.

Florida State Parks Love Fest!

Celebrate and protect Florida’s state parks, and send a loud, clear message they are for nature- NOT developers! The Sierra Club’s love fest is taking place all over the state, mostly on April 4 and 5. In Hillsborough County, the celebration will be on April 13, 9-11 am, at Hillsborough River State Park. Learn more by sending an email to fvaonline@yahoo.com.

Don’t forget that Hillsborough residents may join the Tampa Bay Club and Pasco County residents may join the the Suncoast Club. The Tampa Bay Group’s Conservation Committee meets on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 pm. Email here for details. The Suncoast Club’s political committee usually meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the Barbara S. Ponce Library in Pinellas Park. General membership meetings are usually the 3rd Tuesday. For information about the Suncoast Club’s outings, meetings, and activism, click here.

Tiger Bay

Join the non-partisan Tiger Bay Club the third Friday of each month for non-partisan discussions of current events. In April, the airport. Pet the tiger to register for the lunch. The doors of the Cuban Club open at 11:30 and the program starts at 12.

Follow the Sun

Upcoming Member Meetings

April 2, 9-10 am, Monthly Issues Update Meeting. Details

April 21, 12-1 pm, Monthly Board meeting. Details

April 26, 9 am-1 pm, Pasco County Earth Day. Details

May 17, 11 am-1 pm, Annual Meeting. Details

Check the League’s website calendar of events throughout the month for new meetings and events.

Want to know what’s coming up? You can now subscribe to our HCLWV Events Calendar so our events show up on your online calendar! Find the subscribe link just below the calendar heading here.

EMPOWERING VOTERS. DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.League of Women Voters of Hillsborough and Pasco Counties
813-461-5365 | hclwv.org