Home » About » Newsletters » May 1997
ACLU 1996 Annual Report
One of the most defining moments of 1996 for the ACLU of Florida was the opening of our North Florida Legislative office. The increasingly conservative bent of the Legislature, combined with the increasing need to protect civil liberties yearround in North Florida, led us to make the commitment to have a fulltime presence in North Florida. Larry Spalding, longterm activist and civil liberties attorney, led this new horizon in advancing the defense of civil liberties throughout the state.
North Florida is notorious for its conservative, religious bent; it's often referred to as Florida's "Bible Belt." The threat of prayer in schools and the concept of issuing vouchers to charter schools were on the top of the list in the Legislature in 1996, and the North Florida office immediately set out to fight this threat. Spalding and a coalition of organizations worked hard to urge Governor Chiles to veto the school prayer bill, and the effort culminated in Chiles' veto of the bill.
Today, the need to combat a legislative assault on civil liberties is even more apparent, witnessed by the recent actions of the current Legislature. More specifically, the ACLU of Florida fought against legislative initiatives such as the quest to introduce school vouchers, which would enable parents to use public school funding to enroll their children in private, religious schools; the Same Sex Marriage Act, designed to outlaw gay and lesbian marriage in Florida; the Women's Right to Know Act, which, before it was amended out, required a oneday waiting period after women receive information on abortion before allowing the abortion to proceed; and the American Heritage Act, parts of which threaten to introduce religious texts into public schools.
Strong financial backing is essential to our presnce before the Legislature, as well as to ensure ongoing civil liberties litigation throughout the state. Your help is needed now more than ever. Here's how to help:
The ACLU and ACLU Foundation are separately incorporated nonprofit organizations operating in Florida. The ACLU Foundation conducts litigation and public education in support of civil liberties. The Foundation is a 501 ( C ) 3 nonprofit corporations, taxdeductible to the extent allowed by law.
The ACLU conducts membership outreach and organizing, legislative advocacy and lobbying. It is supported primarily by membership dues. It is a 501 ( C ) 4 organization, which is taxexempt, but contributions are not taxdeductible.
Fundraising Campaigns and Volunteers
The ACLU Foundation of Florida operates Annual fundraising campaigns in the Spring and Fall. These campaigns seek support from individual donors to underwrite the work of the organization. ACLU fundraising is founded in the firm belief that personal outreach and oneonone conversations with members and potential supporters are the most costeffective and friendly way to raise funds. As a result, the ACLU maintains strong ties with its members and is always informed as to current civil liberties issues of broad concern.
Lawyers Council
In Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach Counties, the ACLU of Florida has established Lawyers Councils to promote stronger support from the legal community. Steering Committee members meet with members of the local Bar to talk about and ask for support for the ACLU. Members of the Lawyers Councils receive free registration to the ACLU's CLEapproved Lawyers Conference, updated summaries of important civil liberties decisions from around the country, and may satisfy the Florida Bar requirement for probono work.
Sharing
All gifts and memberships are shared between the national ACLU and the ACLU of Florida according to a financial formula. A portion of the contributions are allocated to other, smaller affiliate ACLU offices around the country.
Ways of giving
The ACLU is as strong as the contributions of volunteer effort and financial donations provided by our supporters. Every lawsuit and civil liberties activity is the direct result of the participation and gifts of people who care about protecting the Bill of Rights. You can make a contribution to the ACLU or ACLU Foundation in any of these ways:
Cash, check, or credit card: The organization is pleased to accept your donation at any time. Monthly, quarterly or annual pledges are welcome. Contributions may also be made on Visa or MasterCard.
United Way or Combined Federal Campaign Donor Option Gifts.
The DeSilver Society
Supporters wishing to leave a lasting gift to the ACLU may do so by becoming members of the DeSilver Society. By providing for the ACLU in their estate planning, they help to insure that our work in support of the Bill of Rights will continue to the next generation. Gifts to the ACLU Foundation can provide major tax benefits and can include:
Gifts of Stock or Securities
Insurance: You may choose to name the ACLU or ACLU Foundation as a primary or secondary beneficiary of your life insurance.
Bequests: In your will, you can designate the ACLU or ACLU Foundation as a beneficiary.
Pooled Income Gifts: A gift of $5,000 or more can be invested in the ACLU Foundation's pooled income fund, producing annual income for you as well as an ultimate gift for the organization.
Gift Annuities: By donating cash or securities, you can receive income on the gift for your lifetime, while still providing support for the ACLU Foundation in the future. Tax advantages can be substantial, depending on your individual situation.
Charitable Trusts: Charitable trusts can be arranged to benefit the ACLU Foundation while providing tax advantages and a variety of financial planning options to you and your family.
With your help, we can make the future work of the ACLU of Florida every bit as successful as the accomplishments of 1996. Our legal program is expanding, encompassing a wide variety of Bill of Rights concerns. 1996 saw the intiation of cases like McIver v. Krischer, examining a patient's right to physicianassisted suicide; Gaiter v. Warren, challenging a denial of Janice Gaiter's custody of her children, based solely on the fact that she had AIDS; Antolak v. Broward County School Board, involving the censorship of a high school student's male nude sculpture; Adler v. Duval County School Board, addressing the constitutionality of "student initiated" school prayers; and Amer v. Children's Home Society, challenging a Florida Statute forbidding homosexuals to adopt children.
Recent victories in the McIver and Antolak cases are proof of our daily strives to combat ongoing violations of the Bill of Rights in Florida. With your help, we can accomplish much more.
We urge you to join hands with us!! For more information on ways to support the ACLU, contact our Development Director CJ Fragola at (305) 576-2337.
