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President's Message
I hope everyone is staying cool during this summer heat. We have many exciting activities planned this month.
August marks two important anniversaries in our nation's voting history: the signing of the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965, and the ratification of the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920. While the 19th Amendment granted women the constitutional right to vote, many women of color—particularly Black women in the South—continued to face discriminatory barriers such as poll taxes, literacy tests, intimidation, and violence that prevented them from fully exercising that right.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 helped remove many of these barriers and expanded access to the ballot for millions of Americans. The expansion of voting rights has strengthened our democracy by enabling more citizens to participate in the electoral process. As we commemorate these milestones, we honor the courage, perseverance, and "good trouble" of those in the suffrage and Civil Rights movements who worked tirelessly to ensure that every eligible voice could be heard. While key provisions of the Voting Rights Act have been limited by subsequent court decisions, we continue to recognize the significant progress made over the past 60 years.
Join us for our Day of Action, when League members across the country will write postcards to newly registered voters under the age of 30, encouraging them to participate in the upcoming midterm elections.
To commemorate the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, our Socializing and Civics program will feature a speaker who will share the history of the amendment and its lasting impact.
We also continue our fundraising campaign for our September–October Vote411 billboard initiative. With your support, we will place Vote411.org advertisements on two digital billboards along U.S. 75 and one digital display at a grocery store in McKinney. These advertisements will encourage voters to visit Vote411.org to learn about the candidates on their ballot while increasing awareness of the League of Women Voters in Collin County.
|  | Mid-term Fundraising Campaign
As Collin County continues to grow, the League of Women Voters is working to ensure every voter has access to accurate, nonpartisan election information. This fall, we're launching a special Get Out the Vote campaign featuring digital billboards that will remind residents about voter registration deadlines, early voting, and Election Day. We will promote Vote411.org on two digital billboards along U.S. 75 in Plano and McKinney, as well as on a digital display at a grocery store in McKinney. Through this campaign, we hope to encourage voter participation by ensuring everyone has access to trusted, nonpartisan candidate and election information.
The League of Women Voters never supports or opposes candidates or political parties—our mission is to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy. Your contribution will help us reach more voters with the information they need to participate in the electoral process. Will you consider making a gift today to support this important effort?
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Postcard Writing Event, Join the Effort
One of the key ways we're reaching voters this fall is through handwritten postcards—an effective, personal way to encourage civic participation. We invite you to be part of the impactful outreach by joining our Get Out the Vote Postcard Writing Event on Saturday, August 8, from 11:00 to 1:00 at TUPPS Brewery, located at 402 E. Louisiana Street, Bldg 2, in McKinney.
At this event, volunteers will help write postcards to Collin County residents, encouraging them to make a plan to vote and providing trusted election information. Whether you're a longtime League member or new to LWV, this is a fun, social way to make a real difference in voter turnout. Supplies will be provided—just bring your enthusiasm and a passion for empowering voters!
Register here. Members, please log into the website before registering.
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Member Orientation: Get Plugged In!
Are you new to the League or looking to get more involved? Join us on Zoom for a Member Orientation on Thursday, August 6, at 6:30 PM.
In just 30 minutes, we'll help you navigate how our League works so you can find the best way to make an impact.
You'll meet fellow members, learn about the history and mission of the League, and learn more about the committees and the specific projects each committee handles. There will be time for questions at the end.
The orientation ends at 7:00 PM, at which point we will transition directly into our June Board Meeting. You are encouraged to stay for the meeting to see our work in action. Register for the Zoom link. Members, please log in to the website before registering.
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Brewing Democracy
Join the League of Women Voters of Collin County for Brewing Democracy at Union Bear, located at 5880 Highway 121, Suite 101, Plano on Sunday, August 9, at 2:00. Connect with fellow League members and community neighbors for meaningful conversations in a relaxed setting. Whether you're a long-time member or just curious about what we do, we'd love to see you there.
We'll be discussing the issues that matter to our community—like voting rights and fair elections—all while upholding our bedrock principle of nonpartisanship. Let's empower voters and defend democracy together!
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Lunch with the League - McKinney and Plano
Enjoy great conversation and connection at one of our upcoming LWV-CC buy-your-own social lunches. These events are open to all and provide a chance to discuss important issues while upholding the League’s nonpartisan policy of not supporting or opposing any candidate or political party. Feel free to bring a friend!
Tuesday, August 11, 11:30 – 1:00
Location: Joe's Pasta-N-Pizza, 2011 W. Spring Creek Pkwy #1000, Plano
Friday, August 28, 11:30 – 1:00
Location: Olive Garden, 1700 North Central Expy, McKinney
Members, please log in to the website before registering.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Socializing & Civics
This August, we are celebrating Women’s Equality Day by honoring the past and actively shaping a more inclusive future for our democracy. While August 18 marks the historic certification of the 19th Amendment, we know that true equality requires an ongoing commitment to ensuring every community has a seat at the table. On Saturday, August 22, at Schimelpfenig Library (5024 Custer Road, Plano), the League will host a free public forum. Doors open at 10:30 and the presentation begins at 11:00.
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Denita Jones as our guest presenter. Denita serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Director for LWV-Texas and is a leader within LWV-Dallas. She brings an incredible wealth of experience in equity-centered organizing, civic engagement, and building sustainable, accessible pathways to participation for historically underserved communities.
Join us for an inspiring event centered around community connection, powerful dialogue, and actionable ways we can work together to make democracy work for everyone.
You can register for the presentation here. Members, please log in to the website before registering.
This event is not sponsored by the Plano Public Library System or the City of Plano.
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Book Club
All are invited to the League of Women Voters of Collin County Book Club on Wednesday, September 9, from 7:00-8:00. We will meet on Zoom to discuss Peace Like A River by Leif Enger.
We will share our nonpartisan thoughts on the book as well as various discussion questions. Register and receive the Zoom link. Members, please log in to the website before registering.
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Making Your Voice Heard Forum
Join us as our in-house experts offer tips on how to participate in a rally while remaining nonpartisan, how to write letters to the editor that will make an impact, and how to grab the attention of your elected officials through letters, emails, and phone calls.
A panel of LWV members will share their expertise in a public forum from 11:00 to 1:00 September 12 at Schimelpfenig Library, 5024 Custer Road in Plano. All are welcome, but registration is required. Members, please log into the website before registering.
This event is not sponsored by the Plano Public Library System or the City of Plano.
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Save the Date: LWV Collin County Candidate Forum on October 3
Mark your calendars! The League of Women Voters of Collin County, sponsored by Collin County Votes, is hosting a multi-session public candidate forum on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 10:00 to 4:00 at the Collin College Frisco Campus.
This event will feature candidates across key county, state, and federal races. Questions will come directly from the public, giving voters a unique opportunity to hear straight from potential representatives on the issues that matter most. For those unable to attend in person, the forum will be recorded and live-streamed.
We are currently recruiting volunteers for general planning, to develop questions for the candidates, and to work with the venue. Contact Aaron Rodriguez for more information and to volunteer for these positions. We will need additional volunteers for other positions such as greeters, moderators, question screeners/collectors, and timekeepers. More information on those positions to follow soon.
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Voter Registration
We have six voter registration events coming up in August and September at retirement and independent living facilities, multiple Collin College campuses, and the Allen Home and Garden Show. If you are new to voter registration or not yet a VDR, the Garden Show would be a great opportunity to see how the process works. Volunteers for the other events do need to be VDRs and members can register in the member portal on our website.
If you find the volunteering process on the member portal confusing, we've created a "How To" guide to help you register to volunteer at any of our events. If you have questions on how to become a Collin County VDR, please send an email to voterguide@lwvcollin.org and Cynthia Libby will contact you.
Girl Scout and LWV Partnership
LWV--CC is excited to partner with GSNETX (Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas) to inspire civic engagement and develop future community leaders. Our League is just getting started with this partnership and we’d love to find out who would like to volunteer with this effort. Multiple leagues have started working with the Girl Scouts across the US as discussed at the National Convention. Here are a few ways we can work together:
Complete the Promote the Vote Service Project
Partner with LWV volunteers to help Girl Scout troops complete the Promote the Vote service project, encourage civic participation, & help community members make a plan to vote.
Bring Civic Engagement to Girl Scout Troops
Invite LWV representatives to:
- Lead activities that support Civics & Citizen badge requirements
- Share expertise on elections, voting, and civic participation
- Help older Girl Scouts register to vote when eligible
Support Future Women Leaders
- Connect Gold Award candidates with civic-focused project opportunities
- Build a pathway from Girl Scouts to lifelong civic leadership
Let's work together to empower the next generation of voters and leaders. Contact Cynthia Libby for more information.
Voter Guides
Did the Voters Guide/VOTE411 bring you to the League of Women Voters? The Voters Guide committee needs help pulling together information from many sources to ensure that every candidate has the opportunity to be represented and our voters can be informed. You can volunteer in many ways—for one election cycle or on a continuous basis. Tasks usually take a few hours to complete per election cycle.
- Gathering Candidate information
- Developing Voter Guide Questions
- Entering Vote411 Data
- Entering and proofreading Voter Guide information
You don’t have to be politically savvy or a computer genius. We will train you! If interested, send an email to voterguide@lwvcollin.org and Cynthia Libby will contact you.
LWV-CC Youth Council
We've recently started a Youth Council and we are still looking for volunteer ambassadors to work with Srijan Singh at each of the 37 high schools in Collin County. The council will focus on voter registration at each school, as well as educating students about elections and civic engagement. If you know a student who may be interested in becoming an ambassador at their local high school, please contact Srijan Singh.
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League Merchandise
Many of our members have asked “How do I get a LWV T-Shirt?” You asked and we deliver!
Check out our new Redbubble. Don’t see the shirt you're dreaming about? Contact Emily Calderon and she can make your dreams a reality.
| Empowering voters. Defending democracy.
| The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan 501C3 organization. We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate. We encourage informed and active participation in government, and we influence public policy through education and advocacy.
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