Use this link to view the letter sent by members. Feel free to print the letter, sign and send to Speaker Perez, or write your own letter regarding this issue. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vG3XLvXDs7RwjGGd0TzDln7ODGKb3vlekwM4TER1dT4/edit?usp=sharing

Weil Lives in Orlando where he is a single Dad to two sons and works as a teacher in the Florida Public Schools.  On his website  Josh Weil  states that he “is committed to solving real problems for hardworking families, seniors, and small businesses in Florida’s 6th District.”

On issues he states “We need to protect our environment, fix healthcare, lower drug prices, keep up with inflation for seniors living on a fixed income, and reset our economy—so that it works for everyone…”

Click here to view his website https://www.joshweil.us/

Third Act Florida endorses Josh Weil in part due to his commitment to environmental issues. His election will bring the margins in the House of Representatives one step closer and send a strong message that many Americans oppose the unraveling of environmental protections from our Federal Government.  But he will need support to win in the District. If you choose to help you can use the links below. 

Postcarding ttps://www.mobilize.us/joshweilforcongressionaldistrict6/event/754034/

Phonebanks https://www.mobilize.us/joshweilforcongressionaldistrict6/event/753800/

In 2017, David became the youngest city commissioner elected in the history of Gainesville. During two terms on the commission, he was selected by fellow commissioners twice as Mayor Pro Tempore to lead an effort to develop gun safety policies; affordable living for working families, and ways to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

​Outside of holding public office, he has been employed by small businesses He currently works for a homegrown company which provides rural internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program. In his free time, he led the founding of the Alachua County Young Democrats and Hispanic Caucus. He volunteered with Alachua County Emerging Leaders, for the Gainesville Sun Reader’s Advisory Board, and served as a Board Member of Family Promise, a nonprofit organization committed to ending childhood homelessness in our community.  In addition to those roles, he served as part of numerous local boards and committees:

• Chair of the  Alachua County Education Compact Vocational-Technical Training Committee
• Chair of the Rental Housing Subcommittee
• Chair of the Alachua County Water & Climate Policy Board
• Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization
• Member of the Zero Waste Subcommittee
• Member of the  Digital Connectivity Subcommittee
• Member of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council.

Third Act Florida supports David in his focus on protection of abortion rights, gun reform, and adaptation to climate change.

Best wishes,

Third Act Steering Committee

Kamala Harris has actively supported the new climate initiatives of the Biden administration, including the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) and BIIL (Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment Law) that are leading to a broad spectrum of clean energy infrastructure investments, that will pay dividends by creating in industries and jobs in decades to come.

At the same time, Third Act Florida is committed to protecting our small-d democracy from threats that are looming as the election nears.  Already, Republicans up and down the ticket are raising questions about the integrity of our elections, after throwing up new barriers to voter participation in many states.  Neither party would like to see a repeat of the Jan. 6 takeover of the Capitol.  We will need a broad and convincing coalition to make the results of the election beyond question, and ensure a smooth transfer of power to the new administration.  We learned as young people that democracy is not a spectator sport.

On these and so many other issues, we believe that a new Harris-Walz administration will serve to unify our country and continue the progress that we have made on these and other fronts.  Another Trump term would be disastrous.  Make your vote count!

1. Start by checking your voter registration and ensure that you are registered for Vote by Mail. Recent acts by the Florida legislature have knocked some qualified voters off of the rolls. Voters are also now required to request Vote by Mail ballots for each election. Older voters are one of the largest groups using Vote by Mail as some retired folks have difficulties with transportation, or standing in long lines. Make sure that you, your friends and your family are registered for Vote by Mail.
2. Write postcards to voters who care about our environment. The Environmental Voter Project has identified over 500,000 registered voters in Florida that are members of environmental groups, yet rarely voted. We will partner with EVP to reach out to those voters. Watch our Facebook page and read our newsletter, to learn how to join us.
3. Follow us at – https://www.facebook.com/ThirdActFlorida/ . Our page features our work, and efforts by other affiliated groups across the nation.
4. If you are a member, don’t miss news, or invites due to our mailings being identified as spam. Check your junk file and mark our emails as not junk so that you keep notified of important and fun activities.

Lastly, we have an ask. We would love to have your home address. This will allow us to use snail mail to send you items like brochures and flyers for you to use or share. Email your home address to us at ThirdActFl@gmail.com and we will send you a brochure and a fun Third Act pin.

The time is NOW to get involved as we approach a crucial election and prepare for a storm season intensified by climate changes. Together we can be the force for positive change. We are glad you are with us.

Mara V., Communications Lead

My name is A. Russell Smith, and I am a co-facilitator of Th!rd Act Florida and team lead for our Uplifting Democracy and Voter Empowerment working group. I hope you can give me just a few moments of your time.

First, I want to welcome those of you who have recently joined Th!rd Act and Th!rd Act Florida and to thank all of you for showing a commitment to working together to preserve a cleaner and more free and democratic world for our children and grandchildren. Senior Americans comprise the single largest demographic of people who regularly vote, and we control over 90% of the individually held financial assets in the US. If we work together to promote a progressive agenda, we can move the needle quite a lot. You can be as big a part of that as you want.

Th!rd Act Florida picked a heck of a time to launch! 2024 will be a pivotal year for both democracy and climate sustainability. Because we’re still growing and developing, we plan to partner with other organizations to maximize our impact, in addition to doing a few things on our own.  I’d like to invite you to become an active part of what we plan to do, and we think we have something for everyone.

What follows is a brief summary of our plans. In the next few days, I’ll send detailed information about each, with easy-to-follow links to register. Just pick whatever interests you and jump right in. You will make a difference!

MAIL-IN VOTER REGISTRATION

In the last presidential and mid-term elections, mail-in voters voted Democratic by a substantial majority. The Florida Governor and Legislature responded by changing the law to terminate all mail-in voter registrations. Th!rd Act Florida is mounting a major email campaign to alert people that they need to re-register for a mail-in ballot.

MOTIVATING ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS TO VOTE

 Surprisingly, a significant number of voters who self-identify as very concerned about the environment simply do not vote. Th!rd Act Florida is helping The Environmental Voter Project reach out to these already-registered and concerned voters, to persuade them that we need them to go to the polls. You can help by becoming part of our post card campaign or by helping us make telephone calls to these voters.

GRADUATION REGISTRATION

 Th!rd Act Florida is reaching out to every high school in Florida, to encourage them to put a QR Code in Commencement and Baccalaureate programs, that will link high school seniors directly to the Florida Elections Voter Registration application. If you are connected in some way to a Florida high school or have family or friends who are, you can be instrumental in making this effort a success.

 NEW VOTER REGISTRATION

 Th!rd Act Florida is partnering with People Power for Florida to staff booths on college campuses and at community events, registering new voters. It’s fun and easy, and working with these motivated, enthusiastic young people will make you feel young again!

 RECRUITING POLL WORKERS

 Many veteran poll workers have retired or resigned. As a result, elections offices all over Florida do not have enough workers to staff polling places. Too few poll workers mean fewer polling places and longer lines. Th!rd Act Florida is partnering with Power the Polls, to recruit poll workers for the primary and general elections. You can help save democracy and make some holiday money at the same time, because most of these are paid positions.

ELECTION MONITORING

 Th!rd Act Florida plans to join with the Florida Election Protection Coalition to recruit and train election monitors to visit polling places on election days, and make sure that poll workers are not improperly denying voters the opportunity to cast a regular ballot and to ensure that nobody is trying to bully or intimidate voters not to vote.

If you are interested in helping save Democracy in Florida contact me directly at TAFRussellSmith@gmail.com and I’ll get you connected with the right opportunity for you.

On behalf of everyone at Th!rd Act and Th!rd Act Florida, thank you for your interest!

I’m a retired economist who lives in Gainesville and I serve as co-facilitator for the organization. This is my story of why I joined and what I hope to accomplish by being a member.

Third Act Florida is a place for Florida residents aged 60 and over to advocate for the protection of Florida’s climate and democracy for our children and our grandchildren. I was motivated to join Third Act Florida because:

• I witnessed the effects of climate change on Florida living and saw that our fragile democracy was being damaged from within our borders.
• I became energized to do something now, after the 2022 Florida legislative session in which “culture wars” dominated the agenda, doing further damage to our environment and our democratic ideals.
• I got inspired by the people I have met, both locally and nationwide, associated with Third Act who have similar concerns and the will to try to do something about it, so my grandkids have a better place to live.

I also like the idea that the substance of the organization is built on a foundation of principles that foster a strong and healthy culture right from the start, one that makes Third Act productive and joyful for those involved. Those principles include inclusivity, respect for diversity of thought, kindness, humility and accountability. It is also understood that more gets accomplished when people are allowed to be creative and having fun is intentional.

However, the leaders in Florida understand there is plenty to do here after the latest, and next, Florida legislative sessions and they have plans to accomplish a lot. We will be protesting at financial institutions and Public Service Commission meetings, registering young people to vote, petitioning for voter protections, making our voices heard to legislators, educating our colleagues and persuading others to speak out.

Third Act Florida has a place for everyone. If you want to join me and share your voice to protect Florida’s climate and democracy, please go to the Join in page of this website and sign up.