League Celebrates Women’s Vote, Sets Priorities
The Lower Keys League of Women Voters met recently to finalize plans for the balance of their 2015 calendar, including Women’s Equality Day Aug. 26, their popular and informative Fifth Tuesday social and their educational Civics Lesson, President Joan Wallin announced.
Women’s Equality Day this year marked the 95th anniversary of ratification of the Woman Suffrage Amendment on Aug. 26, 1920. A celebration co-hosted by the Key West chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) was held at the Pasta Garden in Duval Square.
The Rev. Steven Braddock, president of the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, will be guest of honor at next month’s social, set for Tuesday, Sept. 29; his topic will be the ethical, moral and theological perspectives of medical marijuana. The next Civics Lesson is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, with the speaker to be announced.
Also decided at the monthly board meeting, from a list running four pages of mostly single-spaced action opportunities, were the chapter’s top three action priorities for 2016. The Florida League of Women Voters required that choices be forwarded to the state no later than Aug 21.
From the scores of possibilities, LKLWV selected: 1) support for implementation and expansion of the federal Affordable Care Act; 2) support enforcement of the Water and Land Legacy Amendment, known as Amendment One, which was approved last year by 70 percent of the electorate; and 3) legislation to allow local jurisdictions to enact ordinances for all types of community gun safety.
Membership in the LWV is open to all concerned women and men. For additional information please phone Membership Chair Donna Windle at (305) 304-1863 or President Wallin at (305) 304-9530.