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AUGUST NEWSLETTER

Fredericksburg Area League of Women Voters

FINANCE MEETING AUG 11 | FOUR UPCOMING FORUMS | WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY

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Dear Members,

As we move through August, I’m excited to share the incredible opportunities ahead for voter education and civic engagement in our community. This month brings us closer to several important candidate forums where we’ll be partnering with both the NAACP Fredericksburg Branch and NAACP Stafford Branch to provide voters with essential information about their local candidates.

We’re also celebrating Women’s Equality Day this month, a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come and the work that still lies ahead in our fight for equal representation and rights. From finance committee discussions to voter registration initiatives, this newsletter highlights the many ways our League continues to strengthen democracy in the Fredericksburg area.

In League, 

Theodore Blackwell 
Vice President and Director of Communications

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August Meeting Update: Finance Committee Focus

There will be no regularly scheduled monthly meeting in August. Instead of our usual general meeting on the second Monday (August 11th at 6pm), we’ll be holding a finance committee meeting to explore grant opportunities and fundraising ideas for the League. All members are welcome to attend, especially if you have fundraising experience, grant-writing background, or connections with community leaders you’d like to share. Your ideas and expertise could help strengthen our organization’s ability to serve our community.

September Meeting Rescheduled

Please note that our September monthly meeting has been moved from Monday, September 15th to Tuesday, September 16th due to a scheduling conflict. Mark your calendars for this important change.

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Upcoming Community Forums: Your Voice Matters

We have four exciting candidate forums coming up, and we need your help to make them successful! These events represent crucial opportunities for voter education and community engagement.

Fredericksburg City Council Candidates Forum

Stafford County Candidates Forum

Fredericksburg School Board Candidates Forum

65th District House of Delegates Debate

We need volunteers for setup, timekeeping, voter registration tables, and more.

Please consider sharing these events with community boards, newsletters, and anyone interested in local government. For all forum-related questions or to volunteer, contact Theodore Blackwell at vicepresident@fredericksburglwv.org. More details to come!

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Statement from League of Women Voters of Virginia

The League of Women Voters of Virginia has issued a press release condemning Governor Glenn Youngkin’s plan to deploy the Virginia National Guard to support Federal ICE actions. As stated by Joan Porte, President of LWV Virginia: “Deploying the National Guard on Virginia communities further erodes our democracy. These people have received no due process, which is one of the basic tenants of our freedom.”

The League emphasizes that any support for such actions undermines the due process rights that form the foundation of our democratic freedoms. We stand with our state organization in urging the Governor to reverse this decision and calling on all Virginians to respect and honor our immigrant communities.

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Celebrating Women’s Equality Day: Progress and Persistence

August 26th marks Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the certification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 that granted women the right to vote after more than 70 years of relentless activism. This year marks the 105th anniversary of this historic achievement, won through the courage of suffragists like Alice Paul who organized hunger strikes, marches, and acts of civil disobedience.

While we celebrate this milestone, Women’s Equality Day also reminds us that the fight for gender equity continues. The 19th Amendment was just the beginning, particularly for women of color, immigrant women, and LGBTQ+ communities who faced additional barriers to full participation in democracy. As the League of Women Voters, born from the suffrage movement in 1920, we carry forward this legacy of advocacy and action.

This day allows us to honor the progress made while acknowledging the work still ahead. From pay equity to reproductive rights, from political representation to workplace equality, the vision of true equality remains our ongoing mission. As we commemorate this important day, we recommit ourselves to the path forward, ensuring that democracy works for all.

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National Voter Registration Day: September 16th

Mark your calendars for National Voter Registration Day on September 16th. This nationwide effort to register voters is more important than ever as we approach local elections. We encourage all members interested in conducting voter registration to get trained in third-party registration procedures. Having more trained volunteers allows us to participate in additional registration events throughout our community, expanding our impact on civic engagement.

Registration drives are fundamental to our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy. Every newly registered voter represents a strengthened democracy and a more engaged community. After participating in registration events, please use the new form available on our website under “Voter Services” to log your events and provide feedback to help us improve our outreach efforts.

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For more information about any of these items or to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Members interested in contributing to our League blog on our website should also contact me directly. Together, we continue building a stronger, more participatory democracy in the Fredericksburg area.