September 2023 Newsletter

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New date for Energy Ball

The 2023 Energy Ball has a new date: November 9, 2023.

Although the change was made due to unforeseen family illness, the later date will also allow us to enjoy Tallahassee’s beautiful fall weather. Only the date is new. Clever Girl will still perform and Leon County Commissioner for District 3 Rick Minor will still host. Note: This is Thursday, but it is the Thursday before we observe Veteran’s Day. We are hopeful most will be able to attend.

Get your tickets below:

400 volunteers, 3000 hours

Friends, we are coming to the end of our one-year grant from Volunteer Florida to increase our volunteerism towards the environment. In the grant, we pledged 400 volunteers giving 3000 hours.

Help us meet the goal and end this period with a bang! To let us know you’re ready to volunteer, please sign:

Volunteer

Energy Ball Volunteerism

The Energy Ball is coming on November 9! We need volunteers leading up to the event and volunteers on the big day.

Join our next Energy Ball meeting on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. EDT. Show up at this zoom link below or let us know you can volunteer one of these committees:

1. Sponsors and Major Donors
2. Silent Auction
3. Publicity
4. Decorations
5. Food

EB Volunteer

Climate Action Now Party

In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created the largest funding for solutions to the climate crisis in history. Even though Floridians helped fund the IRA, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed over $350 million, which would have funded solutions. This refusal to take federal dollars negatively impacts all people in Florida, but particularly low-wealth, underserved communities in the state.

Join an extraordinary panel on Sept. 13, 7 p.m. EDT by Zoom,  and then TAKE ACTION on the free Climate Action Now App to address the Governor’s egregious blockading of federal dollars.

Climate Action Now

The Sound of Success

On Aug. 23, the City of Tallahassee adopted a 100% Clean Energy Plan.

The plan will outline how the city will transition to 100% renewable energy for all municipal operations by 2035 and communitywide by 2050, with the goal being to improve air quality, have healthier
residents, and create green jobs.

“Part of our mission is to educate, engage, and empower Floridians to take action and achieve a just transition to clean energy,” said ReThink Energy Florida Campaigns Director Brian Lee. “We just celebrated our 13th year and to have the support of the City of Tallahassee lets us know we are not fighting alone, we are in this together. It’s reassuring and comforting.”

International Coastal Cleanup

ReThink is dedicated to cleaning up our beautiful planet after Hurricane Idalia. On Sept. 16, you can volunteer at one of the events we are sponsoring. Let us know if you can attend one of the events we are officially supporting (listed below) or can represent us at another Coastal Cleanup in the “Coast Cleanup list” link below:

Tallahassee: Lake Ella, 9:30 a.m. – 11a.m. – partnering with St. Paul’s Creation Care, Point of contact: Jacquelynn Hairston: jacquelynn@rethinkenergyflorida.org

Franklin County: Bald Point State Park, 9 a.m. – Noon Point of contact: Kim Ross,  kim@rethinkenergyflorida.org Meeting at the Publix on Capital Circle SW and Crawfordville Hwy at 8 a.m. to carpool.

Wakulla County: Headquarters at Wooley Park in Panacea, 8 a.m.- Noon, joining Keep Wakulla County Beautiful

Broward County: Deerfield Beach, 9 a.m. – Noon, Point of Contact: Susan Steinhauser: Susan@rethinkenergyflorida.org 

Brevard County: Point of Contact: Anya Johnson, Anya@rethinkenergyflorida.org

Pinellas County: Point of Contact: Lauren Chrisien: lauren@rethinkenergyflorida.org

Miami-Dade County: Supporting the event by Clean Miami Beach, Julia Tuttle Causeway, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Point of Contact: Susie Garcia

Register for these exciting events below:

Reclaiming Florida’s Future Year-Round: Opportunities for Engagement

Reclaiming Florida’s Future Year-Round: Opportunities for Engagement

Legislative Delegation meetings are a great way to get our message to all of the legislators serving a county.  If you live in one of the following counties and can attend their legislative delegation meeting this month, please let us know. We will help you craft a public comment that will have impact!

Here’s a list of Counties holding upcoming meetings:

• Sept. 11, 2023: Collier County 9 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 3299 Tamiami Trail East Naples, FL 34112
• Sept. 12, 2023: Levy County 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 310 School St. Bronson, FL
• Sept. 13, 2023: Marion County 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Board of County Commission Chamber, 601 SE 25th Ave Ocala, FL 34471
• Sept. 27, 2023: Duval County 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Jacksonville City Council Chamber, City Hall – First Floor, located at 117 W. Duval Street Jacksonville, FL 32202

Please email our Campaigns Director Brian Lee:

Support our work through Energy Ball

Volunteers are the backbone and the boots on the ground. However, funding and resources make everything we do – even volunteering – possible. Whether through a one time, recurring or event donation, your contribution is valuable to our shared mission.

Please make a gift to support the good work that fills this newsletter.

If you have in the past, or wish to contribute to our Energy Ball Silent Auction as a portion of your support, please email Ben directly.