January 15, 2023

Dear Members,

Happy New Year to each of you! I hope you enjoyed a joyous holiday season with those you love.

We’ve entered 2023 and exited The Year of the Huge Elections. As such, your hard-working Board has already pivoted our attention to important local issues and preparing voters for the 2024 elections. This month the Board will have an in-person (yipppeee!) planning session.

Also this month, we’ll be welcoming two interns. Leah, from Santa Fe College, and Bella, from UF, will be with us all semester. Of note, Bella used league voter information (produced by our Voter Services team) to make her ballot choices and was so impressed with the material that she decided to do her senior-year internship with us. Both have an interest in water, so they will be working on the Right to Clean Water (RTCW) petition drive with the Natural Resources Committee.

Speaking of which, if you have not yet caught the wave to help gather RTCW petitions, the momentum is building. Author Maya van Rossum, who wrote The Green Amendment, spoke in Gainesville recently. She is leading a nationwide effort to pass state constitutional amendments to give people the fundamental right to clean air, water, and a healthy environment.

In Florida, we’re focusing on water. Each of you can help. Start by info [at] lwv-alachua.org (contacting me). Then sign a petition. Get copies for friends and family.

Want to stop reading about 1,000 manatees dying? Sign a petition.
Want to stop reading about fecal material in springs too toxic for swimming? Sign a petition.
Want to stop corporations from overdrawing water from springs that threatens the quality and quantity of drinking water? Sign a petition.

Finally, in 2023 we would like to form a committee on health care. To do that, we need leadership. If you’re interested, info [at] lwv-alachua.org (contact me).

Scroll down for more news-worthy information from your League of Women Voters!

info [at] lwv-alachua.org