Lee County ACLU "Greatest Hits" of 2003

• Your Lee County ACLU, after three months of effort, convinced the conservative, all-Republican Lee County Commission to send a letter to President George W. Bush, Attorney General John Ashcroft and the U.S Congressional leadership, stating that the people of Lee County DO NOT want our Constitution trampled on by the un-American USA Patriot Act.
• We helped young people give free food and drink to the poor and homeless. An international aid organization called "Food-Not-Bombs," had been told by police to stop their once-a-week giving in Centennial Park. We assured that all parties involved knew that a peaceful, law abiding gathering in any public park was not just legal, but a part of our American tradition.
• During President Bush's fundraising visit to Fort Myers, we helped protesters and supporters alike exercise their Constitutional right to speak out publicly by forming and training a Legal Observer Team to monitor the event. Several hundred people protested without harassment
• We put on a day-long workshop helping ex-felons through the application process to restore their voting and other civil rights. We are at the lead of a statewide coalition in this effort.
• We helped convince our Lee County Commissioners to stop allowing thousands of paid clergy from getting a "free ride" on our toll roads. That practice had been ruled unconstitutional at the state and national level, and we made sure that fairness was also the rule in Lee County.
• We co-sponsored a public debate on the Patriot Act and Homeland Security between the US District Attorney for Central Florida and Florida ACLU executive Director Howard Simon.
• We also co-sponsored a public discussion on USA Patriot focusing on the government now monitoring what people read at libraries and book stores.
• Your Lee Co. ACLU Board Members and Officers on numerous occasions spoke on television and radio about many issues including school vouchers, USA Patriot Act, and voting rights. Your Board also manned informational booths at events, and marched in a parade with decorations and our new 7-foot high replica of the statue of Liberty. We have given ACLU presentations to local college classes.
• We helped convince the News Press to take a stand on the USA Patriot Act, and they did so by writing a lengthy, 2-day editorial opinion critical of the Act.
• We helped assure handicap access to the downtown Fort Myers Post Office during public events which closed off access to that facility.
  

Other accomplishments were achieved that are not listed here.

A DESCRIPTION OF ACLU CHAPTERS AND BOARD MEMBER RESPONSIBLITIES

The following is an explanation of how your Lee County ACLU Chapter operates. It is important for prospective Lee Co. Board members to understand this information

Being an ACLU Board Member or Officer of that Board is an extremely rewarding experience. By getting involved, you will be helping yourself, your neighbors, your community, state and country. At no time before has the protection of your United States Constitution and Bill of Rights been so vitally important. The people of the United States of America need the American Civil Liberties Union more than ever, and the ACLU needs you more than ever.

ACLU Organization:

The American Civil Liberties Union was formed in 1919. Every state in the union has an affiliate of the national ACLU. In most states there are several local Chapters of the ACLU. Here in Lee County, our Chapter is named The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, Lee County Chapter. We were recognized and given chapter status by the ACLU of Florida two years ago. There are currently 15 ACLU Chapters operating in Florida.

Chapter organization:

Your Lee CO. ACLU Chapter has approximately 500 paid members. They are represented locally by a maximum 21-member Board of Directors, elected by the full membership. Each
newly elected Board chooses its Officers: President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President,

Secretary and Treasurer. The Board meets once each month, currently the third Tuesday of the month, at 6:30 p.m. The Board of Directors decides the Chapter goals and actions to take. Attendance at these meetings is expected. (We understand that absences will occur)

Each Chapter has committees to take care of specific business. There is a Legal Committee, Issues committee, Financial Committee, Membership/PR/Outreach Committee, and others as necessary. You need not be a Board member to take part in committee work.

Board Member Responsibilities:

It is understood that every Board and Committee member will contribute in different ways and in different amounts. What IS expected, is that every Board member contribute in some way. The following are guidelines for Board Member responsibilities

• Board Members cannot miss three meetings in a row. There may be exceptions.
• Each Board Member should sit on one committee. With several people on each committee, work is spread out and not burdensome. Committees usually meet only once to organize each year after Board election. Communication and work is by e-mail or telephone.
• Write a letter to the newspaper if an issue interests you.
• There is no mandatory financial obligations. Much of our Chapter funding comes from "new memberships" and each Board member is expected to try to sign up new members. The Lee Co. Board has committed to personally funding each year's picnic for the public at Lakes Park. This averages out to approximately $10 per person

Florida State ACLU Affiliate Board of Directors:

Each ACLU Chapter in Florida has representatives on the State Board of Directors. Lee County has two state Board representatives. Any Chapter Board member may be elected to represent Lee County at the state level. State Board meetings take place four times each year. The Florida State ACLU Board elects Florida representatives to the National ACLU Board of Directors.

A Personal Observation From Your Chapter President:

Whether you think it is your duty or just a great thing to do, getting involved in your ACLU Chapter can be an extremely rewarding experience. It certainly has been for me. When my wife Michele and I started helping organize our Lee County Chapter, we had no Constitutional or civil rights experience. We just knew we supported the ACLU and what it stands for, and we knew that we should speak out on these matters whenever possible. I expect many of you feel that same way.

I have only been a member of the ACLU for five or six years. Being a Board member is a learning experience, and we all learn and participate at different levels. You don't have to dedicate your life or countless hours of work to be a Board member. You simply have to care and make an effort. You will learn about the issues just by participating. And don't think you won't get elected to the Board because nobody else knows you. That is not the case.