Happy New Year Members!

We’re coming out of a historic year of change for our League and jumping headfirst into a new one. In 2026 you’ll see new member events, new ways of engaging our community, and more real civic action. Please take a few minutes to read the updates below—and if something sparks your interest, reach out. I would love to get you connected to the right effort.

In League,
Theodore G. Blackwell, President
president@fredericksburglwv.org

Because of our other in-person events, we will be meeting online via Microsoft Teams. The Teams link will be included with the agenda and meeting reminder.

Meeting: January 12th, 2026 at 6:00 pm (Teams)

It’s important that all members who can attend do so—we’ll have a candid conversation about what we’ll be doing as a League in the coming months and throughout this year.

We have special elections coming up this month and next. In our LWVFRA region, House District 23 includes northern Stafford County. Not sure if you’re in District 23? You can check your district and election information at VOTE411.org.

Our next Community Conversations will be a public, neighbor-to-neighbor discussion focused on civil rights—what history can teach us, and what constructive action can look like today in our region.

Event: January 19th at 6:00pm
Location: Curitiba Art Cafe (919 Caroline St., Downtown Fredericksburg)

In our first Civic Conversations Book Club meeting, we’ll use One Person, No Vote to examine how access to the ballot has expanded—and been restricted—over time in the United States. Together we’ll explore how election rules, administrative practices, and public policies can shape who is able to participate in democracy, and why voting rights remain a cornerstone of a healthy civic life. As the League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area, we’ll connect these lessons to our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy through voter education, voter access, and informed civic engagement.

Meeting: Saturday, January 24, 2026⋅1:00 – 3:00pm
Location: Salem Church Library – 2607 Salem Church Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Rooms 7 & 8 Combined

Interested? Contact me or Debbie Combest at bookclub@fredericksburglwv.org.

Our League has received a grant to host a Democracy Block Party & Community Art Fair this spring. This is a big, exciting effort—focused on meeting people where they are, building lasting relationships beyond election cycles, and creating a welcoming civic space through art, culture, and community connection.

We’ll be partnering with community organizations and working to uplift historically underrepresented voices in our region. Planning is starting now.

Interested in joining the committee or helping in a limited way? Email: president@fredericksburglwv.org

We’re planning a Valentine’s Card-Making event in early February—purely focused on family, community, and connection (no civic programming). We’re hoping to source most materials through member donations. If you have extra craft supplies, we can put them to great use.

Event leadership: Edith Min (Chair). If you’d like to help organize, or donate materials, please reach out to me. I can pick up donations at any time.

We now have an Education Fund through the League of Women Voters of Virginia, which allows us to accept tax-deductible donations to support education-focused events in our region.

Donate to the Education Fund

Questions about giving or other ways to support our programs? Email president@fredericksburglwv.org.

If your mailing address has changed, please update it in the LWV Member Portal: portal.lwv.org (or email me and I’ll help).