FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 9, 2009

CONTACT:
Brandon Hensler, Director of Communications, (786) 363-2737 or media@aclufl.org

NAPLES, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida’s Collier County Chapter, encompassing Naples and the surrounding areas, announced today that the chapter voted on a new board of directors at its annual meeting on Wednesday, April 1. The newly elected leaders include: Doug Wilson, Chapter President; Kim Slote, Vice-President; Jim Flagler, Secretary; and Jim Lancaster, Treasurer.

"We want to reach out to everyone in Collier County who supports the Bill of Rights, and invite them to help with one of our projects," Wilson said. "It's all about confining the reach of government to legitimate ends, and that's something liberals and conservatives can agree on. And there are always new challenges to our liberties."

At its annual meeting, the Collier County Chapter identified key areas that members will be working on, including youth civics education, religious freedom and church/state issues, racial/ethnic profiling targeting the immigrant community, and medical conditions in the county jails, among other issues as they arise.

Howard Simon, ACLU of Florida Executive Director, was on hand at the meeting to provide encouraging remarks to the members and give an overview of the current priorities of the ACLU in Florida and across the country. “This is an exciting time to be in the business of defending civil liberties. We have a lot of work to do, but we have an extraordinary opportunity to restore respect for the constitution and an America we can be proud of because we have someone listening in Washington; but the fight here in Florida is as contentious as ever, and we rely on the strength of our membership to carry out our mission,” remarked Simon.

Persons interested in the work of ACLU, or if you are seeking the ACLU’s assistance, may call the chapter at (239) 774-9111.

Officers elected to lead the Collier County Chapter of the ACLU of Florida are:

Doug Wilson Chapter President
Kim Slote Vice-President
Jim Flagler Secretary
Jim Lancaster Treasurer
Doug Ball Board Member
David Goldstein Board Member
Paul Parshall Board Member
Molly Reed Board Member
Don Shelton Board Member
Rob Winslow Board Member

EDITORS’ NOTE: You can download a JPEG photo of the new board at: http://www.aclufl.org/news_events/gallery/index.cfm?action=viewGallery&entryID=42

Follow the Collier Chapter on their Blog: http://www.aclucollier.blogspot.com/

About the ACLU of Florida
The ACLU of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our web site at: www.aclufl.org.

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2009 Press Releases