LWVOC Blow By Blow Blog

Membership Committee meets Monday

Hi, Everyone,

I am back from my three-week trip and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Membership Committee meeting on Monday, December 5, at 11:00 a.m., at (Rollins Philanthropy Center, New England AVe., Winter Park). The usual place.

I know that we have been successful this past year in renewing members and adding new members.  Sarah knows these numbers and will bring us up to date next week.

 In the meantime, a letter has been sent to remind everyone of renewals for the upcoming year. Thanks, Sarah and Ann!

(Hope you are all renewing!!!  Couldn't do this without you.)

 By the way, did you see the recent "Voter" article about our October membership orientation?  We had a wonderful turnout and met a lot of new members with great potential.  Again, thanks to you all.

 Because we have new members, I would like to focus on how to keep these members engaged and interested in the League.  I recognize that some members are busy and only want to attend Hot Topics, but there are others who probably want and need  some direction and suggestions about being active with the League.  Put on your thinking caps and let's see how we can obtain new members as well as engage our new members.

 Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.

 See you Monday!

Sandra (Powers, membership chair)

Remembering a friend

By Ann Hellmuth

Back in the 1980s I worked for the Kansas City Star running the Johnson County bureau. At the time the Star was an evening paper, which meant we got to work early and left by mid-afternoon when the paper was published. My staff were all young and eager. The early cops reporter was a 25-year-old named Sean Holton, who from the day he stepped into that Overland Park office overshadowed everyone else with his drive, talent and unique way of viewing the world. He was the sort of guy that could make a wry remark that left you laughing until your ribs hurt.

In 1986 I moved back to Orlando and persuaded Sean to take a job at the Orlando Sentinel. For the next 20-plus years we worked together on stories ranging from the Pope's visit to the United States, which Sean covered, writing original pieces such as the story about "How far does the Pope's blessing go?" He moved on to Washington, viewing the goings on in the nation's capital with a unique eye. After the tornadoes that tore through Central Florida in the late '90s, Sean returned to Florida to head up the investigative team, eventually becoming associate managing editor for metro news.

He left the Sentinel in 2007 -- a year before I did. We would meet frequently for lunch and update each other on life's developments. Then in 2009 Sean collapsed one day while working out at the downtown Y. The diagnosis -- brain cancer. The same type that U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy was fighting.

Sean launched his blog -- Same Time Tomorrow -- and with his investigative skills, sense of life's ironies and humor, began chronicling his illness as only he could. Oncologists began recommending it to their patients and soon he had followers throughout the world. When my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010, Sean was with me at M.D. Anderson to break the news. He and my husband often shared chemo dates and spoke daily by phone, comparing notes on their treatments and life in general.

Sean died at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29. I had visited him the day before to say  goodbye. I did what I knew he would of expected. I went to the BCC meeting, as planned, with Andrea Kobrin and Sarah Goodwin and observed the commissioners as they voted on new political boundaries. I took notes and hopefully will be able to write up an Observer Corps report although I admit that nothing much made sense in my scrambled brain.

Today I'll meet with a member who is interested in heading up the Education Committee and on Thursday Voters Services Chair Carol Davis and I will attend State Rep. Geraldine Thompson's Town Hall meeting on voting. As 2011 winds down there is much for the League to do as we plan for a busy election year in 2012 and all the demands that will be made on member-skills and talents. The next board meeting is on Dec. 12 at 4.30 at State Voter Services Chair Charley Williams's Baldwin Park office.

 

 

Senate Redistricting Statement

Today the Senate Committee on Reapportionment published the initial proposals for redrawing congressional and state legislative district boundaries at www.flsenate.gov/redistricting. Plans S000C9002 and S000S9004 are based on testimony heard at the 26 public redistricting hearings held across the state, and reflect the unanimous bipartisan decisions made by committee members who directed staff to draw plans after reviewing publicly submitted maps during our last four interim committee meetings.

Because we want to hear what you have to say about our maps, the Senate has opened numerous lines of communication. We looked hard to find a way to host another round of public hearings at locations all across the state, but it was not possible without pushing back the timeline we were repeatedly asked to speed up. Instead, professional staff, in consultation the Florida Channel, came up with what I think is an even easier, more accessible, and more efficient way for Floridians to comment on the new maps.

 Beginning today, citizens are able to participate by submitting testimony in a number of different ways:

• · By calling 855-FLA-MAPS (toll free) and leaving a message;
• · By emailing comments to RedistrictFlorida@flsenate.gov;
• · By sending comments via Twitter to @Redistrict2012;
• · By posting video feedback on the Reapportionment Committee’s YouTube page;
• · By visiting the Committee’s Facebook page; or

 These methods for collecting public input were chosen to provide convenient ways for the public to continue to be fully engaged in the redistricting process. In partnership with the Florida Channel, the feedback received will be broadcast at the next committee meeting on December 6, when the committee formally introduces the legislation. If we get more public comments than we have time to hear during the meeting, we will listen to what we can, and post the entire collection on the Senate Redistricting website.

 Of course, public input and testimony will also be welcomed at the committee’s next meeting on December 6 in room 412 of the W.V. Knott Building at the Capitol Complex. If you would just like to watch the committee meeting, you can view it online on the Senate’s Media Page or The Florida Channel’s Redistricting Video Library.

 Your interest and input are appreciated. Please continue to stay involved in whatever way you can.

 

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League to meet with Orange County Mayor

By Ann Hellmuth

Trying to get back in the swing of things after the holiday break. First thing I did this morning was to book my room at the Governor's Inn in Tallahassee for the Legislative Seminar on Feb. 21 and 22. We get a special LWVF rate and I was determined to be early this year. Last year I left it until the last moment and couldn't stay at the same hotel as most of the League members. The hotel I had was way out of a town. Hope you are planning to join us in Tallahassee. It is a fun and informative experience. To book at the Governor's Inn call 850-681-6855, and say you are from the League to get the discount.

Having got that done, I concentrated on our talking points for the LWVOC meeting this afternoon with Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.  VP Michele Levy, Voter Services Chair Carol Davis, Advocacy Chair Caroline Emmons-Schramm and I will represent the League. We will be letting the mayor know about the League's recommendations for the Charter Review Commission. These deal will filling vacancies on the commission, setting up a management and efficiency committee to review the Charter document and adding elements to the Ethics Reform Amendments covering conflicts of interest and implementing a Code of Conduct. We will also let the Mayor know that the League supports keeping the makeup of the Orange County Commission at six-single-member district county commissioners and one countywide mayor.

Will report back tomorrow on how the meeting goes. Also putting together agenda for the Dec. 12 board meeting -- can't believe it is the last of the year. Where did 2011 go to?

 

 

 

Strolling down Memory Lane

By Ann Hellmuth

Know few of you will have time today to check out blogs, facebook and twitter, but wanted to wish all 337 members (and counting) of the LWVOC a wonderful holiday with family and friends. My husband and I are having Thanksgiving dinner with friends in Winter Park. I always enjoy sharing the holiday.

I remember our first Thanksgiving back in Cleveland in 1967. We had just come to America and were living in an almost empty apartment in Euclid. We had two beds, a couch, an old TV and for some reason an ironing board. I always started off furnishing a new place with an ironing board although never sure why. Ironing has always been something I avoid. But the board did come in useful as an extra table. 

We spent the day with two other recent immigrants. Can't remember now whether we had a turkey but we did spend time chatting about the holiday and envying the families who were getting together. I think that was the first year I heard about crossing the fields to grandmother's house. We never did get to spend the holiday with grandma, but over the years as we assimilated, Thanksgiving gathered more meaning. We cooked our own turkeys, made stuffing and some of the other trimmings. Although we never developed a taste for sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.

One year while living on Key Biscayne, we had people from the office who couldn't get home for the holidays and shared thoughts on the day. Big memory of that day is one of our friends tripping and spilling the cranberry sauce all over our white shag carpet.

By the time our daughter left home, my husband was traveling overseas and Thanksgiving once again became a holiday others celebrated. I usually volunteered to work the day and there were some splendiferous newsroom feasts as nearly everyone brought something special to share.

I kicked off this holiday by taking the Thanksgiving test that LWVF President Deirdre Macnab linked to from her members' letter. Don't ask me how I scored. Sufficient to say I plan to retake it shortly. Meanwhile, my fellow Leaguers, let's raise our glasses to those early immigrants who decided to give thanks all those centuries ago and led the way for millions like me to follow.

 

 

 

 

 

MACNAB TO APPEAR ON CNN

Exciting news! LWVF President Deirdre Macnab will be featured in CNN's new documentary, "Gerry-Rigged." During the segment, CNN's Drew Griffin investigates how "gerrymandering" minimizes voters' impact by locking in super-safe seats for many elected officials.

The one-hour program is set to air this Sunday night, November 20th, at 8 pm EST on CNN Presents, and will be re-aired at 11 pm and 2 am EST. The program also re-runs the following Saturday night, November 26th, at the same times.  Deirdre is set to appear twice, somewhat briefly. The segment covering Florida will begin approximately 42 minutes into the hour-long program.

We hope that you will take this opportunity to learn more about redistricting and gerrymandering in Florida, and to support our state's League President! Enjoy!

 

President's ramblings: Brace for 2012

By Ann Hellmuth

Can't get over how quickly the weeks fly by. It is almost the end of the year and we all know that 2012 will keep us Leaguers hopping. In addition to the U.S. Senate, congressional, legislative and local races there are as of now seven amendments on the ballot.

Lobbyist Ben Wilcox predicts the main action will be on redistricting. The House and Senate are already holding meetings and we may see the first version of their maps on Dec. 5. This would allow time for public comment before they pass out of committee and go to the full House and Senate in January. The Legislature ends on March 9 but there could be a special session if they have to reconsider the redistricting maps.

If you have a health-care background and would like to join the League's Speakers' Bureau, please contact me at abhellmuth@gmail.com.

I'll be putting out a constant contact but we are in need of a treasurer. The treasurer is a member of the board and acts as the LWVOC chief financial officer. Got some free time, know something about bookkeeping, send me an email.

Saddened this week to learn that the Orlando Sentinel had cut its newsroom staff again. I'm amazed they cover as much as they do with only about 100 on the staff. In the paper's heyday there were nearly 400 reporters, editors, photographers, designers.

Meanwhile, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. My husband, who just got the good news that his heart conditioned has not worsened and he may be able to have needed surgery, and I will be spending the day with friends. Our daughter and her husband are visiting his family in Ohio. I always used to work Thanksgiving, so its odd to have the day off.

 

Nelson says election hearings coming to Florida

Letter from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson

Dear Friends,

 Late yesterday, I received word that a congressional panel has agreed to my request to investigate new voting restrictions passed earlierthis year by Florida's Legislature. Florida's law cut early voting daysand limited voter registration drives, among other changes. Some believe its passage was part of a broader voter-suppression effort in more than a dozen states that passed voting limits this year.

Sen. Dick Durbin, the Illinois lawmaker in charge of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee, said in a letter to me yesterday he’ll hold an investigative field hearing in Florida, in part, because Florida’s new law "will almost certainly disenfranchise a wide swath of the state's young, minority, senior, disabled, rural, and low income voters."

“In a democracy as vibrant as ours,” Sen. Durbin wrote, “there is perhaps no right that is so sacred or fundamental than the right to vote. I am deeply troubled by the disenfranchising impact of these recently passed state voting laws."

I’ll be sure to let you know when and where the hearing will be. Thanks for your interest in this issue.

Paxson new secretary, other board decisions

Susan Paxson was elected secretary and former President Christine Donovan agreed to head the environmental committee Monday when the LWVOC board met for its monthly meeting.

It was also agreed that the board would send out a Constant Contact asking members if they would be interested in becoming LWVOC tresurer. Current Treasurer Nancy Peed said she will be out of the country in the early part of 2012 and the League will need to find a back-up replacement.

Voter Chair Carol Davis said that it would be good for the LWVOC to have two treasurers so they could share the responsibilities.

Adopt-A-Precinct Chair Laurie Wack said she needed about 12 people to serve as her team and was still contacting people willing to work at the TWO precincts the League will staff for the Jan. 31 Presidential Preference Primary.

 

 

 

 

Reflections on bravery, friendship and the League

By Ann Hellmuth

I'm an early riser, not by choice. I just can't sleep. Never have been able to. It comes in useful for exercising as I'm usually out before daylight and can clock a good few miles listening to WMFE Radio. Then I grab breakfast and start my day.

This morning I am taking lunch to the bravest man I've ever known. He is 52, a brilliant writer and journalist, who is fighting the final stages of brain cancer but never complains. We first worked together back in 1986 in Kansas City and then for some 20 years at the Orlando Sentinel. Now, we sit together in these twilight hours and recall old memories and discuss the things he wants me to say at his memorial service. I take notes like the good reporter I once was and vow to myself that I won't let him down.

Later today we have the LWVOC Board Meeting. Sorry to announce that Sara Au, our talented publicist and a driving force behind the League's BE READY - 2012 ELECTIONS! phone app, has resigned from the board because of other commitments. Nancy Rudner Lugo, who headed up Fair Districts locally, has has to relinquish her post as secretary but will stay on the board. We'll also be discussing the League's position on the Charter Review Commission's proposals for reshaping (or not) the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Caroline Emmmons-Schramm will lead that discussion.

Vera Rushmer, who has saved my bacon by putting together The Voter (which you should get within the next week or so) has offered to continue laying out the newsletter. She has also stepped forward to take the minutes of today's meeting.

See President Bill Clinton is signing books at Barnes & Noble on East Colonial this evening. Hope that doesn't cause a traffic job when I'm driving home.

I'll be sending another message before the holiday, but want to wish you the most wonderful Thanksgiving. Being part of your lives in even a minor way is such an honor.