May 2025
Letter from the Chair
America doesn’t have a king.
We have a government of, by, and for the people—and that means we all have the right and responsibility to hold our leaders accountable. In these uncertain times, your voice is more important than ever.
Some in Congress are afraid to speak out, while others gaslight us about what’s happening. We need to strengthen our voices to counter the MAGA agenda and challenge those who manipulate us to doubt our reality by being “intellectually honest”.
Summer may bring a slower pace, but democracy doesn’t take a vacation.
Call your representatives. Share the truth. Challenge the lies. Bring others with you. Democracy is not a spectator sport—and your voice, your courage, and your action are exactly what this moment demands. Let’s rise together and be the force that keeps America free and fair.
Not sure how to reach your members of Congress? Visit www.congress.gov/members and enter your ZIP code. Make five calls a day using the 5 Calls app. Every call, every message, every conversation matters. Continue protesting and boycotting. Keep up the pressure. These efforts ripple outward, helping to shape a future that reflects the will of the people.
Our forebears fought tirelessly to secure the freedoms we enjoy today; now it is our turn to safeguard those liberties for future generations.
So, let’s stay vigilant, stay active, and most importantly, stay hopeful. Together, we can safeguard the democratic ideals that form the bedrock of our nation. We can ensure that the future we build is one where liberty and justice truly prevail for all.
The Collier County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) will meet
MAY 2, 2025 – 5:30 PM Meet & Greet, 6:30 PM Meeting
We’re taking our show on the road in 2025!
The May location will be at the
Collier County Education Association
6710 Lone Oak Blvd, Naples, 34109
The DEC is the local official arm of the Florida Democratic Party and is comprised of elected Committeemen and Women. Official meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM. We will hold a public Meet & Greet beginning at 5:30 PM. Please join us! ALL DEMOCRATS WELCOME!
We want to hear from you!
All registered Democrats may attend and observe as guests, and all attendees must register ahead of time. Only DEC members may vote and participate in the meeting. Attendees are encouraged to join 10 minutes early to get settled before the meeting begins.
The Collier County Democratic Club (CCDC) will meet
MAY 12, 2025 – 6:00-7:30 PM
at Collier County Education Association
6710 Lone Oak Blvd, Naples, FL 34109
“Over 100 Years of Empowering Voters: Why the League of Women Voters Still Matters”
We’re excited to welcome Diane Preston Moore, Past President of the League of Women Voters of Collier County.
She will review the history of LWV and discuss the actions the League has taken in the more recent past, including legal action by the Florida and US Leagues.
Ms. Moore has been a member of the League of Women Voters of Collier County for over 10 years. She has been on the Board of LWVCC since 2020, served as Vice President of LWVCC from 2021-22, and as President of LWVCC from 2022-25. She currently chairs both the Governance Committee and the Speakers Bureau. In addition, Preston Moore served as a past Chairs of the Education Committee and of the Canvassing Board Subcommittee of Voter Services.
Diane received her Bachelor of Science in 1987 and her J.D. in 1996, both from the College of William & Mary. She practiced in the Washington, D.C. office of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston for 5 years. Diane relocated to Naples to be closer to her husband’s family, and practiced law with Bond, Schoeneck & King, then with Fowler White before “retiring” to work part-time in the family’s hospitality businesses, the Vanderbilt Beach Resort and Turtle Club Restaurant.
REFRESHMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
All Democrats Welcome. Please Join us!
The Democratic Women‘s Club of Marco (DWC Marco) will meet
MAY 13, 2025 – 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Mackle Park Community Center
1361 Andalusia Terrace
Our featured speaker will be Mary Domack, Community Education Advocate for the Shelter for Abused Women & Children.
The Shelter’s mission is to lead and collaborate with the community to prevent, protect, and prevail over domestic violence and human trafficking through advocacy, empowerment, and social change.
In our efforts to help the Shelter, we are asking attendees to please bring one or more items from the following list:
- Bath towels and hand towels (urgent need)
- Girls’ and boys’ clothes, sizes 3 & 4 years
- Items for babies at the shelter:
- Baby Bibs
- Pacifiers in all sizes
- Baby wipes
- Diaper rash cream
- Teethers (the kind you put in the freezer) and oral gel
- Sippy cups
- Case of small bottles of water to mix formula when moms are outside the shelter
- Individual plastic containers for pre-measured formula portions
Please Join Us! Doors open for sign in at 4:45pm, and the meeting will begin promptly at 5:00pm. Please be on time.
On April 26, the Collier County Environmental Caucus of Florida joined with Republican environmentalists to hold the second of a series of Environmental Roundtables. This was a bipartisan event discussing a nonpartisan issue: The Environmental Consequences of Unregulated Development. Attendees offered to help put on future roundtable discussions and work together to support candidates in our local elections who will govern using good environmental policy.
- Judy Freiberg, currently VP of the State DECF, is running for President
- Joan Benz, currently the Science Officer of the Collier County DECF chapter, is running for Vice President
- Gloria Hogarty, currently secretary of the Collier County DECF chapter, is running for Secretary
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HELP ELECT LEADERS WHO WILL ADDRESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE CRISIS WE FACE!
Click here to join the State Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida for $10 per year. Then follow the prompts to join the Collier County Chapter of the DECF for $15 per year.
Islas Fundraiser
We enjoyed good food and wine – and great company – last Sunday at our fundraiser at Islas restaurant!
Our speaker was past Collier Dems Chair Annisa Karim. She’s moving away from the area soon, so she shared some of her wisdom with us in her talk.
Chair Jane Schlechtweg presented Annisa with a recognition award as a memento of her time here with us.
Net proceeds from the event were $3,000, which will greatly help us with our focus on community engagement this year.
Engage In Your Community!
Collier County Board of County Commissioners hold public meetings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 9:00am in the BCC Chambers on the 3rd floor of the Government Center. Agendas and minutes are available here. Other Collier County committee meetings are listed on their calendar.
The Collier County School Board normally holds public meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 9:00am at the Dr Martin Luther King Administrative Center (5775 Osceola Trail, Naples), unless noted otherwise. Here are links to view agendas and minutes. School Board seats for Districts 1, 3, and 5 will be open in the November 2026 election. If you are interested in running to serve the children of Collier County, now is the time to begin preparing. Please contact Carrie Stewart for information.
Naples City Council normally holds its regular public meetings on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 8:30am in the City Hall Council Chambers at 735 8th Street South. You can view agendas and minutes, and watch the meetings live online using the foregoing link.
The Marco Island City Council normally holds public meetings on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 5:30pm in the Dr. Fay and Bedford Biles Community Room, 51 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island. Agendas and minutes are available here.
If you know of other local government meetings and events we should list here, please email Sandy Ussia at sandy.ussia303@gmail.com
Trusted News Sources
Have you had enough of watching the news on TV, or reading national newspapers? If so, we can recommend some alternative news sources!
We’ve just added a new website page listing local and national progressive information sources, as well as trusted blogs and social media commentary.
You’re sure to find some that speak to you!
The Collier County Democratic Executive Committee (CCDEC) is the official, local county arm of the Florida Democratic Party. The CCDEC has oversight over all Democratic Party activities within Collier County. LEARN MORE
The Collier County Democratic Party is an all-volunteer, entirely donor-funded organization. Our local party can not exist without volunteers and donors like you.