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VOTER SERVICES NEEDS YOU!
The Naples City Council election on February 3, 2026 will not have Early Voting days – voters can only vote on election day or using a Vote-by-mail ballot. We are reaching out through Naples’ neighborhood/civic organizations to have Voter Services tabling events where we can help voters check their registration online and request a Vote-by-Mail ballot. These is our December tabling event:
| 12/11 |
RedBlue4Green Candidate Forum
Norris Center 755 8th St S, Naples |
3:45-6:15pm |
What do we do at these events? Wear your name badge, and we’ll have the Voter Services iPad with cell service. We ask that you bring a personal iPad, if you have one you are comfortable with, as a backup. We chat with everyone who stops by, asking if they would like to check their voter registration and re-request a Vote-by-Mail ballot (prior requests deleted at 12/31/2024 per FL Election law). We help them click the SOE website to check voter registration, then the VBM request. There will also be a small flyer to do-it-yourself at home, if they want to take that. It’s fun to chat with voters and tell them all about our local League!
We’re going to try a new way for volunteers to sign up using the SignUpGenius web-based app. All you’ll need is your calendar to see which events you are free to volunteer for, and your name, email address, and phone number.
When you click, you’ll see all the VS tabling events and available slots. Just click the blue “Sign up” rectangle next to the slots you’d like to volunteer for, then scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click the blue, centered “Save & Continue” button. Next, the Sign Me Up page lists your choices. Enter your email and phone number, then click the red “Sign Up Now” button. You’ll get an acknowledgement email, and I’ll get a list of volunteers with contact info. Easy-Peasy! Questions? Call Laura Hansen Reynolds at 202-714-0249 or email laura9hansen@gmail.com
| PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
As you are reading this on December 4, LWV members from across the State of Florida, are flocking to Tallahassee for the Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting meeting. LWVFL’s goal is 1,000 members. I’ll report on how close we came next week. My special thanks to all those who will be making the trip, and to those who have placed phone calls and emails to the committee. It’s not too late for you to say NO to Redistricting. Here is a LIST of all members and their contact information. Send your message now. Their second meeting is scheduled for December 10.
Wishing you Happy Holidays,
Teresa | DUES RENEWAL REMINDER:
NOW ONLINE @ LWVUS
Our season here in Collier is in full swing! And this time of the year is membership renewal time for over 50% of our members.
As a reminder, the League of Women Voters US is now collecting all dues payments at the National level and then remitting a portion down to the State leagues and the local leagues. You will receive an email notice of your renewal from the LWVUS which will include a link to instructions for online payments.
We encourage you, if at all possible, to use the LWVUS’s new membership renewal system instead of writing paper checks and mailing them to our P.O. Box. It is both safer as well as faster. Any member of the Membership or Finance teams is happy to help you renew online.
The LWVUS’ new system requires us to endorse any checks we receive and the put then back in the mail to their collection lockbox which causes delays in having your check clear as well as additional administrative expenses for the LWVCC.
Speaking of expenses… did you know that we here in Collier now retain only 20% of any dues paid to National? Thus, if you renew at the suggested rate of $75.00, we receive $15.00. If you renew at the base rate of $20, we receive $4.00.
The new dues structure significantly reduces our revenues from dues. This increases our need for donations to maintain our operations which fund both education and advocacy work to inform and empower the voting public here in Collier County. Our work is needed more now than ever!
The good news? What happens in Collier, stays in Collier, as 100% of your donations to the Collier County League (made separately on lwvcolliercounty.org) stay in the Collier County League!
As a reminder, the League of Women Voters of Collier County Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and, as such, donations to our organization are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law in your personal circumstances.
|  Beginning in January, LWVCC will be hosting a Zoom series called Hot Topics—things that are currently of interest. We will be starting off with Voters Services 101. This program was offered live in November, but not everyone was able to attend. The training will help us prepare to staff numerous tabling events in January/February and beyond. Tabling events provide participants the opportunity to check their registration and request Vote by Mail ballots. Presentations will be taped and available on demand. Stay tuned for more information. | 
DECEMBER 11 @ 5:30-6:30
ZOOM
This one-hour workshop, in conjunction with Families for Strong Public Schools, will be presented to League members across Florida, offering a powerful virtual training on Florida’s rapidly expanding Schools of Hope co-location and takeover scheme—and what communities can do to fight back.
| DECEMBER’S BOOK CLUB PICK:
THE DEVIL'S ELEMENT
December 8 @ 3:00-4:30
Protecting Florida's Waterways and so much more! Join the LWVCC discussion on Dan Egan's important book, The Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance.
This enlightening and thought-provoking book, written for the layperson, sheds light on the serious phosphorus crisis impacting Florida's Bone Valley and creating "dead zones." Everyone is welcome (even if you didn’t read the book)!
Lively discussion led by Ida Margolis and Linda Denning.
Need a copy? 🛒 The new independent store, Books on Third (above Ridgeway restaurant), is fully stocked and promoting it as our book club pick!
Space is limited, so register now to secure your spot. | SOCIAL POLICY COMMITTEE PRESENTS
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY
December 8 @ 10:00
Moorings Park Building O
Following LWVFL’s Civil Discourse Initiative, the Social Policy Committee is hosting a presentation and discussion aimed at improving our abilities in constructive dialogue. Democracy is sustained by people who are willing to engage in meaningful dialogue with others. Come and learn about communication practices that build relationships, encourage open dialogue and support our democracy. This will not be a workshop and covers new material. Let’s build a more connected Community! Janet Hoffman, Co-chair of Social Policy, will present and lead the discussion on civil discourse. Through participation with The Dialogue Company, Empowering Communication, and classes in conflict management, Janet became excited about increasing the awareness of tools for healthy dialogue and wants to share them.
| WELCOMING THE NEWEST
LEAGUE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
The League of Women Voters of Collier County (LWVCC) developed and pioneered a League Leadership Program (LLP) in 2018. The program is designed to recruit and develop future League leaders to ensure the organization’s continued success and vibrancy. It is modeled on the Greater Naples Leadership program with a two-year commitment. The course, consisting of five three-hour sessions, covers the core mission, protocols, policies and internal functioning of the LWVCC, as well as the LWVCC’s role in the community and its relationship with the Florida and National LWV.
The program developed here has been embraced and adopted by the State League as well as numerous local leagues in Florida. Prior graduates have or currently serve in leadership roles as Board members, Committee Chairs or other leadership positions within the LWVCC. Participants are selected based on their interest and leadership potential.
Our LLP kicked off its seventh year and we welcomed LLP7 class members Carolyn Alden, Ronna Hoffberg, Jennifer Lapham, Wendy Wagner-Michaelson, Jean Waller and Dana Ragiel. The kick-off event, expertly planned and catered by Susan Sonnenschein with the assistance of her fellow LLP6 graduates Pallas Diaz, Pat Aiken-O’Neill, Debra Harper, Liz Smith Mao, Amy Perwien and Paula Federman, was held on November 4th at the Collier County Museum cottage. Teresa Stohs, LWVCC President, welcomed the group and Amanda Townsend, Director of the Collier County Museum, provided a brief and interesting history of the cottage. Also, in attendance was Crystal Kinzel, Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller, and a LWVCC member. It was a wonderful, informal evening that promoted getting to know each other better prior to the start of the sessions on November 14 pictured below.
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The Communications Team recently began a video series titled “Civics Unplugged” posted on all of LWVCC’s social media sites. The goal of these short reels is to educate viewers on the basics of national and local civics, such as Branches of Government, Voting Rights, Constitutional Amendments, City Council, and more.
We will be posting these 1-minute videos approximately once a week on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube. As always, the more “clicks” on the postings we get, the more engagement we will see in our community! So please make sure you check-in to our social media to view, like, comment, and share our reels.
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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| December 8 @ 3:00-4:30 |
Book Club
Devil's Element |
| December 11 @ 5:30-6:30 |
Schools of Nope |
| January 12 @ 11:30-1:30 |
Luncheon & General Meeting |
| January 13 @ 5:00-8:00 |
Naples City Council
Candidate Forum |
December 11 @ 5:30-6:00
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How Are Our Schools Funded? |
| January 16 @ 9:00-10:30 |
New Member Coffee Social |
| January 19 @ 9:30-1:00 |
MLK Day Parade |
Visit the LWVCC Calendar for event details
| ONLINE REIMBURSEMENT FORM IS NOW AVAILABLE
Board members, committee chairs, and others who need to submit reimbursement requests can now do so via our Submit Online Forms page. | UPCOMING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Check our Event Calendar for meeting locations and more information. LWVCC committee meetings are for members and their invited guests unless stated otherwise, members should log in to the website to register to get the Zoom links for committee meetings and other events. | Board Meeting
December 3 @ 9:30-12:00
Moorings Park Board Room | Plastics Task Force Meeting
December 4 @ 3:30-5:00
Zoom
| Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting
December 11 @ 10:00-11:30
Collier Community Foundation
The speaker will be Shane Duff, President of Cypress Cove Land Keepers, who will discuss the sale of the Gore Nature Center to Conservation Collier and the future for the Center.
| Gun Violence Prevention Subcommittee Meeting
January 21 @10:00-11:00
Zoom
Linda Coffin, co-chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Committee for the Orange County League of Women Voters and former Legislative State Co-Lead and Central Florida Legislative Lead for Moms Demand Action will provide an update on all the pending legislation of importance to LWVCC.
| Juvenile Justice Committee Meeting
January 23 @10:00-12:00
Finemark Bank | Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in Government. We influence public policy through education and advocacy. Our goal is to empower citizens to take an active role in shaping better communities worldwide. The League of Women Voters of Collier County does not support or endorse any candidate or political party.
| League of Women Voters of Collier County
P.O. Box 9883Naples, FL 34101
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