January 23-24, 2024

Below are reports from several attendees who attended this year's LWVFL Lobby Days event. 

Attendees

LWV of Alachua County (LWVAC): Candy Birch, Shayna Rich, Janice Garry, and Katie Barnett
LWV at University of Florida (LWVUF): Leah Edwards and Gleda Kronen
LWV at Santa Fe College (LWVSF): Baylee Van Doren and Nour Alissa

Candy Birch, LWVAC Voter Services committee member

League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL) epitomizes the League of Women Voters’ mission and vision with its annual Lobby Days in Tallahassee. Local League leaders from across the state convened to learn from the experts about what is and will be happening in the 2024 Florida Legislature. And then they converged on the Capitol to talk to individual legislators and attend committee meetings and legislative sessions.

Eight Alachua County members — including four students from the University of Florida and Santa Fe College — attended an event at Tallahassee City Hall in solidarity with Alpha Kappa Alpha, a first-ever collaboration between the two groups. A Tuesday evening banquet celebrated the work of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as they joined LWV in the effort to help convicted felons who have served their sentences regain their voting rights.

We visited the offices of Rep. Mike Caruso to discuss the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) takeover, Rep. Chuck Clemons to discuss GRU and the 15-week abortion ban, and Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson to discuss her opposition to the GRU takeover and her efforts to make secure gun storage in cars a priority.

The press conference with LWVFL co-president Cecile Scoon and a coalition of other powerful allies, including Sen. Tracie Davis, Rep. Angie Nixon, representatives of Common Cause Florida, Progress Florida, Equality Florida, the Tallahassee NAACP branch and Florida NOW, denounced the “sustained attacks” on fundamental rights by the Governor and state legislature and demanded change.

The powerful, nonpartisan reputation of the League of Women Voters was evident wherever we went. So many approached us once they saw our LWV insignia to offer encouragement and show their respect.

Janice Garry, LWVAC President

I’ll leave the details to the other writers. My takeaway was that the League is doing exactly the right thing to preserve democracy and move toward social justice. We inform ourselves and we show up consistently, persistently and with conviction. We also file lawsuits on laws that subvert the issues.

Leah Edwards, LWVUF Secretary

From my time as a student lobbyist, I learned that activism is everywhere. It is the elementary school students invited to attend a congressional hearing, the college student who just landed an internship in their favorite representative’s office, and the recent retiree now spending time hand-writing letters to inform people of upcoming election dates. From those on corporate payrolls to volunteers, activism exists in so many forms. Being able to experience this firsthand showed me that activism exists on infinite levels. Whether it was watching a legislative session, speaking to senators, or even doing research before Lobby Days, the opportunity to represent the League of Women Voters was unlike any other. As a student at the University of Florida, I have seen my peers engage in activism for most of my academic life. Social and racial justice efforts, environmental reform, and economic changes have grown increasingly important for lobbyists, and witnessing advocacy efforts firsthand only strengthened my understanding of this importance; the importance to be there and be aware. I was able to see the importance of using privilege to build the right kind of power, one that works for the people and not over them. Yet, the largest takeaway I can confidently say shaped my Lobby Days experience was finding out for myself the real definition of activism. True activism is as simple as showing up — for the voiceless, the silenced and the dead.

Gleda Kronen, LWVUF member

I’ve learned a lot from the 2024 Florida Lobby Days session with the Alachua County League of Women Voters. I think the knowledge I’ve gained from this experience can be summarized into two parts.

First, I learned about the general legislative process. Of course, as a politically interested student, I was aware of the general path of a bill, congressional rules, etc. However, this experience intensified that knowledge. I learned about rules like Florida House members only being allowed to deliver seven bills, and about the logistics of advocacy days in Tallahassee.

Second, I learned how to work professional spaces within advocacy settings. Sitting through the various presentations from each committee made it clear which bills I needed to address when talking to representatives. The presentations were clear, well-organized, and nicely accessible through the links and drives post-presentation. I learned how to articulate the League’s points of emphasis into conversation with other lobbyists and professionals around me.

There are a few points I think could be improved to make the League a more effective advocacy group, and to also make the experience more engaging for younger members. I believe the League should work to create a pre-emptive, comprehensive list of bills, per each committee, in one document. This document could also include the various senators and representatives to emphasize which members lobbyists should prioritize meeting with depending on their committee goals.

I also think the League could benefit from building a larger team to plan lobbying appointments with representatives. I observed a slight problem where there were three or four lobbyists for one representative meeting in a fifteen-minute span. This makes it harder to effectively advocate for the League, as well as give the representative time to speak and respond. Perhaps making more appointments, or restricting the number of people per appointment, would improve that logistical aspect.

I learned a lot and I’m grateful for the experience of attending Lobby Days with the Alachua County League!

Baylee Van Doren, LWVSF President

Lobby Days was an experience that I am so grateful for. It was extremely eye-opening to the world of politics on a state level, and even after sitting through so many in-depth informational lectures that were to prepare us for what was to come, I feel like nothing compares to actually being in the room with a senator or representative.

The biggest thing that I can think of to advise any activist is quite literally one of the first things we think of: patience. The amount of patience and willpower that went into some of these wonderful ladies’ efforts is incredibly admirable, but instead of coddling a senator or representative, they still held strong in their efforts to share the League’s priorities. I feel like I am a very patient person, but they provided so much more, and I will use that as an example throughout my life.

I also came to the realization that young people need to be way more involved in politics. Since these things can take a while to go into effect, it affects their lives in the long run. It was noticeable to me before, but it’s even more so now.

I’d encourage anyone to at least do one Lobby Days trip in the future. I know for sure through the collegiate chapters that we will be bringing more students every year.

Nour Alissa, LWVSF Student Senator

Participating in the League of Women Voters of Florida's Lobby Days in Tallahassee was an eye-opening experience that left me with profound insights into the multifaceted advocacy efforts of the organization. Engaging with speakers and attending meetings focused on critical
issues such as gun protection, voter rights and reproductive rights highlighted the League's commitment to securing equal rights and equal opportunity for all. The push for regulations on handguns, licensing procedures and a commitment to clean energy showcased a holistic approach toward promoting social and economic justice. Witnessing the League’s endeavors to build a comprehensive health care system and ensure high-quality education underscored their dedication to the health, safety and well-being of all Americans.

Exploring the League's initiatives during the Lobby Days venture revealed the intricate challenges surrounding issues like education. The League's stance on adequate funding for public education, opposition to voucher programs and support for common standards and increased oversight in charter schools demonstrated a comprehensive approach to addressing educational disparities. The League's emphasis on the impact of testing and school grade policies, school choice and the constitutionality of funding for private schools revealed a commitment to ensuring an equitable and high-quality education system.

One of the most impactful takeaways from this trip was the League's unwavering commitment to reproductive rights as a fundamental aspect of democracy. The League's advocacy for every woman's right to access affordable, high-quality reproductive health care, including abortion services and birth control, struck a chord. Understanding reproductive rights as a democracy issue highlighted the League's dedication to ensuring equal participation in our democratic system. The collaboration with Floridians for Reproductive Freedom and active opposition to restrictions on birth control and abortion underscored the League's role in amplifying their voice to protect these fundamental rights. Overall, this experience has deepened my appreciation for the League of Women Voters of Florida's impactful work across a spectrum of vital issues, emphasizing the interconnectedness of health care, education and reproductive rights in building a more just and equitable society.