MARCH LUNCHEON & GENERAL MEETING
APRIL 13 @ 11:30-1:30
TIBURON GOLF CLUB
Special Guest
Jennifer Lowe-Minor
President
League of Women Voters of Florida
REGISTRATION & MORE INFORMATION
MEMBERS MUST LOG IN FIRST TO RECEIVE MEMBER PRICE
If you are bringing one or more guests, please be sure to register them when you register yourself.
Registration and payment must be made online by
Tuesday, April 7 @ 12:00 PM
Walk-ins will be seated in order of arrival on a space available basis
Late registration/walk in price will be strictly enforced
Let's Grow Together! Bring a Friend to Our General Meetings | HOT TOPIC
MARCH 19 @ 2:00-3:30
ZOOM
Bridget Washburn, Executive Director, and Brad Cornell, Policy Director, will make a presentation highlighting Audubon Western Everglades’ work and impact. Habitat and natural resource preservation especially appropriate land development, wetland preservation and biodiversity have been important cornerstones of their activities. Current projects include the new biodiversity initiative with a focus on restoring natural habitats with native plants, and protecting threatened species.
The presentation will reflect on where the organization has come after 65 years of conservation in the region and outline current priorities. During the discussion, Bridget and Brad will answer questions about Conservation Collier and the environmental impact of other developments. They will also share meaningful opportunities for engagement and advocacy with the League.
| TALLAHASSEE TALLY:
FINAL NEWS 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The final day for the Florida legislative session was March 13th, and several important bills were passed; most that we were following did not pass. They may be picked up again next session unless the special session called by the Governor to discuss mid-cycle redistricting breaks with tradition and other issues are considered. The bills that were approved will go on for signing by the Governor.
One voting related bill that the LWVFL strongly opposed was HB991, which requires proof of citizenship for new registrants in Florida or for those whose citizenship has not already been verified on their drivers’ license effective January 1, 2027. The bill has also made student ID’s unacceptable for voter identification. Voter Services will discuss how to help voters find the resources to obtain their required documents. Unfortunately, the bills to assist returning citizens did not pass (SB123 and 748), and the proposal to straighten out the school voucher process (SB318) did not pass either. Two environmental bills we were following, on water and plastics, also stalled.
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VOTER SERVICES "LUNCH AND LEARN"
March 26 @ 12:30-2:00
Altavilla Pizza & Trattoria
We would like to invite you to our next session on Thursday, March 26, to discuss the work ahead of us as we prepare for the August primary and November general elections. We will be discussing our efforts on Vote By Mail and other initiatives such as redistricting, voter outreach, forums, returning citizens, as well as volunteer opportunities for tabling and as election workers. We will also discuss the impact of organizations such as VoteRiders and FRRC. A light lunch will be served, registration is appreciated! Any questions please feel free to contact Tina Palmese.
REGISTER
(login required)
VOTER SERVICES TRANSPARENCY TOUR
March 23 @ 2:00-3:30
Supervisor of Elections Office
Please join us for a full tour of the SOE Election Operation Center. Experience first hand the depth of the election process for both in-person Voting and Vote-By-Mail tabulation. See why Collier County has one of the top SOE operations in Florida! Registration is required, please see our Event Calendar to register. Any questions, please contact Tina Palmese or Laura Hansen Reynolds.
The LWVCC has a long tradition of volunteering as election workers for our Adopt-a-Precinct program. We work with the Office of the Collier County Supervisor of Elections who train our League members. For many years we have staffed the Moorings Presbyterian Precinct and in more recent years the Immokalee Precinct. It is a long 12 to 14 hour day! Should you wish to become part of this rewarding experience, please contact Tina Palmese and we will forward your information to the SOE to schedule the initial one to two hour orientation. Later training will be required for assigned positions as we approach the August 18th Primary and November 3rd General elections.
| HOT TOPIC
MARCH 26 @3:00-4:30
ZOOM
Eric Foht, Director of Natural Resources, Naples Botanical Garden, will speak about urban interface prescribed burns.
Fire is vital to Florida ecosystems and prescribed fire is a powerful land management tool that conserves plant diversity, prevents dangerous wildfires, and safeguards human lives. A prescribed fire or burn is a carefully planned and intentionally set fire used to manage land and ecosystems. It reduces the buildup of combustible vegetation, which can help prevent larger, uncontrolled wildfires and decrease risks to humans and human-dominated landscapes. A burn helps maintain the health of an ecosystem by promoting the growth of fire-adapted plants and recycling nutrients back into the soil.
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VOTE411 ISSUE QUESTIONS FOR AUGUST PRIMARY
Vote411.org, the League of Women Voters on-line voter guide will be updated for the Collier County races in the August Primary election and candidate profiles will move forward to the November General election for races with opposing candidates. The races include:
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County Commissioner District 2
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County Commissioner District 4
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County Judge (Group 3, 4, 5)
- School Board District 1
- School Board District 3 (currently no opposition to Kelly Mason, who is running for re-election)
- School Board District 5
- Collier Mosquito Control District (Seats 1, 2, 3)
- Greater Naples Fire District (E Naples Division) Seat 1
- Greater Naples Fire District Seat 3
- Greater Naples Fire District (Golden Gate Division) Seat 4
- Immokalee Fire District Seat 1 and Seat 5
- Pelican Marsh CDD Seat 3
After the candidate qualification closing date, qualified candidates are invited to post a Vote411 profile with a photo and answers to issue questions posed by our local league. When the Vote411.org online guide is published, anyone can obtain a sample ballot and candidate information.
We need your input, especially on the issues you would like to hear candidates' views on, for Collier Board of Commissioners and School Board candidates. Please take some time to reflect on which current issues are most important to you as a voter, and draft one or two questions for Vote411. Submit your draft candidate questions to Laura Hansen Reynolds. If you would like to volunteer to join the Vote411 team and help update the Collier County section of the national online voter guide, please include that information in your draft candidate questions.
|  BRINGING FLORIDIANS TOGETHE:
LIVING ROOM CONVERSATIONS
March 31 @ 1:00-30
Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Naples
6340 Napa Woods Way, Naples, FL
Bringing Floridians Together: Living Room Conversations is a way to have meaningful conversations while getting to know each other better. Each gathering focuses on a theme. Guidelines and questions are included. Our first theme will be “Building the Future We Want.” We will be gathering on Tuesday, March 31 from 1:00-2:30 PM at 6340 Napa Woods Way in Thomas Hall of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greater Naples (UUCGN). This will be a time for coffee and conversation, with some structure included. Registration required. For questions, contact Janet Hoffman.
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TIME TO GET UNPLUGGED ABOUT CIVICS
In 2025, our Communications Director, Jen Lapham, began creating a series of bite-sized videos, called Civics Unplugged. The goal was to introduce Civics education to our members and share with others. Today we have an entire library introducing you to a broad range of information on the United States Government, the Constitution, Voter Rights and more. So now, I thought we might start at the beginning by highlighting our first few videos. Most videos are around a minute or less in length. Take a few moments to refresh yourself on Civics by watching Amending the Constitution, 1st Amendment, Voting Rights and Due Process. You will be impressed and want more.
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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| March 19 @ 2:00-3:00 |
Hot Topic:
Environmental Conservation and Biodiversity |
| March 23 @ 2:00-3:30 |
SoE Transparency Tour |
| March 26 @ 8:00-3:30 |
Know Your County Government
Day 2 |
| March 26 @ 3:00-4:30 |
Hot Topic:
Prescribed Burns |
| March 31 @ 1:00-2:30 |
Bringing Floridians Together
Living Room Conversations |
| April 13 @ 10:00-11:30 |
Annual Meeting |
| April 13 @ 11:30-1:30 |
Luncheon & General Meeting |
| April 14 @ 8:00-3:00 |
Know Your County Government
Day 3 |
| April 18 @ 8:30-3:30 |
Naples Pride Fest |
| April 18 @ 10:00-3:00 |
Earth Day |
Visit the LWVCC Calendar for event details
| 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
April 1 @ 9:30-12:00
Moorings Park Board Room | Plastics Task Force Meeting
April 2 @ 3:30-5:00
Zoom
| Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting
April 9 @ 10:00-11:30
Collier Community Foundation
| Gun Violence Prevention Subcommittee Meeting
April 15 @10:00-11:00
ZOOM | 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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