July Newsletter

July Newsletter
Fredericksburg Area League of Women Voters
JUNE EVENTS | MONTHLY MEETING | UPDATES
Published July 4th 2025

Dear Members and Friends,


As we celebrate Independence Day and the freedoms our nation was founded upon, we reflect on the vital work we do to protect and fight for our democracy. This Fourth of July reminds us that our commitment to empowering voters and defending democratic principles is more important than ever. We hope you’ll take a moment today to appreciate the progress we’ve made while recognizing the work that still lies ahead.


In League,

Theodore Blackwell 
Vice President and Director of Communications


LWV-VA Biennial Convention 

The League of Women Voters of Virginia 42nd Biennial Convention took place June 13-15 right here in Fredericksburg and was a tremendous success. Leagues from across Virginia gathered to share ideas, successful strategies, and ways to advance the mission of empowering voters and defending democracy. The convention’s first full day fell on Flag Day, June 14th, providing a meaningful opportunity to celebrate both the flag and our country.Fredericksburg President Cathie Braman welcomed Virginia leagues and state leadership to the region, with several local members participating in or volunteering for the convention. The Fredericksburg league introduced a resolution honoring the memory of member Deborah (Deb) Wilcox, recognizing her integral contributions to voter registration drives, Civic Labs, and passionate advocacy for women’s rights. The resolution ensures her legacy of education, engagement, and outreach will continue to inspire work throughout the Commonwealth.Convention delegates voted on important updates to state bylaws, approved the new fiscal year budget, established new committees to research new positions, and voted to codify our new state position, the Right to Vote.


NAACP Juneteenth Celebration

The league participated in the Stafford County NAACP’s Annual Juneteenth celebration this month. This meaningful event provided an opportunity to celebrate freedoms gained while acknowledging how much work remains to ensure equality and justice for all. The league will be partnering with NAACP Stafford on future community events—more details to come soon.


New Contact Information

The league has transitioned to new email addresses. Please update your records:

Additional specialized email addresses and individual officer contacts will be posted on the website soon.


Member Spotlight: Eyes on ICE

Member Edith Min has published a thoughtful blog post titled “Eyes on ICE” on the league website. The piece shares research on documenting immigration enforcement activities and protecting civil liberties in communities. Edith has created a practical postcard-sized guide detailing how citizens can responsibly document events while observing proper procedures.

Members are encouraged to visit the website to read the full post. Those interested in contributing content, sharing insights with our membership, or getting involved with the website should contact the league at communications@fredericksburglwv.org.


July Monthly Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 14th at 6:00 PM. The league is transitioning from Zoom to Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings. Members can still join directly through their web browser using the meeting link—no Teams account is necessary.

Link to meeting: 
Monthly General Meeting | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 241 879 640 649 5
Passcode: hk2YK9Bm


Voter Registration Training Renewal Required

Third-party voter registration training certifications expired at the end of June and must be renewed by members interested in helping with voter registration drives. The online training is available at: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/registration-drives/voter-registration-training/

The course takes approximately 60 minutes and includes updated information and procedures. Members who have completed the refresher training report changes from previous years, so careful review of all materials is recommended.