Deirdre Macnab

Macnab was raised in Manhattan and moved to Florida in 2004.{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2013/01/20/central-floridian-of-the-year-deirdre-macnab-leagues-leader-inspired-by-history-fights-for-voters/|title=Central Floridian of the Year Deirdre Macnab: League's Leader, Inspired by History, Fights for Votes|last=Owens|first=Paul|date=20 January 2013|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=15 August 2016}} She graduated with an M.B.A. from Columbia University in marketing and finance and a bachelor's degree from New York University in history and political science. After moving to the greater Orlando, Florida area, Macnab joined the board of MyRegion,{{cite web|title=Connecting Our Communities: MyRegion.Org|url=http://www.myregion.org/index.php?submenu=Home&src=|website=MyRegion.Org|publisher=Central Florida Partnership|access-date=10 April 2018|archive-date=31 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531101730/http://www.myregion.org/index.php?submenu=Home&src=|url-status=dead}} a seven-county visioning coalition in Central Florida and WMFE's Community Advisory Board,{{cite web|title=Community Advisory Board|url=http://www.wmfe.org/about/community-advisory-board|website=WMFE.org|publisher=90.7 WMFE|access-date=10 April 2018}} in addition to joining the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL).{{cite web|url=http://www.lwv.org/local-league/lwv-florida|title=LWV Of Florida|publisher=League of Women Voters|access-date=2014-05-09}}

Macnab became president of the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL){{cite news|title=Commission honors outstanding women for volunteer work in their communities|url=http://advantagebizmag.com/blog/2012/11/09/commission-honors-outstanding-women-for-volunteer-work-in-their-communities/|access-date=4 April 2018|agency=Florida Commission on the Status of Women|date=9 November 2012|archive-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404134953/http://advantagebizmag.com/blog/2012/11/09/commission-honors-outstanding-women-for-volunteer-work-in-their-communities/|url-status=dead}} in 2009, where she spearheaded petitions for fair voting districts in Florida, tax reform and voter protection,{{Cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2009/10/12/story15.html?page=all|title=Executive Profile: Deirdre Macnab|last=Rew|first=Jenna|date=12 October 2009|work=Orlando Business Journal|url-access=registration |access-date=15 August 2016}} and worked towards opening a dialogue with Cuba by organizing several delegations to the country.{{cite web|url=http://www.minrex.gob.cu/en/delegation-uss-league-women-voters-visit-cuba|title=Delegation from US's League of Women Voters Visit Cuba - CubaMINREX|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba|access-date=2016-09-06|archive-date=2016-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914053122/http://www.minrex.gob.cu/en/delegation-uss-league-women-voters-visit-cuba|url-status=dead}} During her tenure as LWVFL president, two state constitutional amendments ending gerrymandering were finally accomplished, after 60 years of work by the Florida League.{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/florida-house-maps-draw-near-to-spirit-of-fair-district-amendments/1205479|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114150429/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/florida-house-maps-draw-near-to-spirit-of-fair-district-amendments/1205479|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 14, 2012|title=Florida House maps draw near to spirit of Fair District amendments|date=2011-12-08|publisher=Tampa Bay Times|author=Klas, Mary Ellen|access-date=2014-05-09}}

Under her presidency, the LWVFL announced a lawsuit in April 2014, protecting Florida voters from being purged from voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/03/us/in-florida-bid-to-cut-voter-rolls-is-set-back.html?_r=0|title=In Florida, Bid to Cut Voter Rolls Is Set Back|last=Alvarez|first=Lizette|date=April 2, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times}} and she was asked to talk about it on The Daily Show.{{cite episode|title=PURGE OVERKILL - FLORIDA'S VOTER REGISTRATION LAW|series= The Daily Show|url=http://www.cc.com/video-clips/dvbp3s/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-purge-overkill---florida-s-voter-registration-law|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109200003/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/dvbp3s/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-purge-overkill---florida-s-voter-registration-law|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 9, 2016}} The state eventually decided not to purge the voter rolls.{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/sfl-rick-scott-purge-voter-rolls-20140327-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827160046/http://www.latimes.com/sfl-rick-scott-purge-voter-rolls-20140327-story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 August 2016|title=Gov. Rick Scott's Administration Retreats From Latest Plan to Purge Voter Rolls|last=Man|first=Anthony|date=27 March 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=15 August 2016}} During her leadership, serious restrictions on voter registration drives were imposed{{cite news|last1=Allen|first1=Greg|title=Florida Law Tightens Voting Rules, Angers Advocates|url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/163782-florida-law-tightens-voting-rules-angers-advocates/|access-date=4 April 2018|publisher=WNYC News|date=10 October 2011}} and eventually removed because of the League's work.{{cite news|last1=Gray|first1=Kevin|title=Judge to lift restrictions on Florida voter registration|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-voting-florida/judge-to-lift-restrictions-on-florida-voter-registration-idUSBRE87S1AK20120830|access-date=4 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=29 August 2012}} It eliminated roadblocks to voting by demanding the Florida Legislature re-institute early voting days, and the Sunday before election day,{{cite web|title=GOP's "Block the Vote - 2012" - Politics Nation w/ Al Sharpton|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoXFvfiGs90|website=YouTube|publisher=MSNBC Politics Nation|access-date=4 April 2018}} following long delays, including eight-hour lines in Miami, that voters faced during the 2012 Presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://staugustine.com/state/2013-01-08/bills-would-reinstate-early-voting-sunday-election-day|title=Bills would reinstate early voting Sundays before elections|date=2013-01-08|publisher=The St. Augustine Record|access-date=2014-05-09}} The LWVFL also pushed for fairly-drawn congressional districts and saw fair districting upheld and implemented in 2014.{{cite web|last1=Ross|first1=Melissa|title=League Of Women Voters Of Florida On The Implications Of Their Redistricting Suit Victory|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/article1978005.html|website=news.wjct.org|access-date=4 April 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Klas|first1=Mary Ellen|title=Fla. judge orders new congressional map|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/article1978005.html|access-date=4 April 2018|publisher=Miami Herald|date=1 August 2014}}

Deirdre Macnab was nominated for the National Slate of the League of Women Voters of the United States in 2014, and was then nominated to be their National President in 2015. Although her bid for the presidency was unsuccessful,{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2014/06/16/national-women-voters-league-not-ready-for-florida-brand-advocacy/|title=National Women Voters League Not Ready for Florida Brand Advocacy|last=Kassab|first=Beth|date=16 June 2014|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=15 August 2016}} she is generally credited with having [http://www.floridatrend.com/article/23133/deirdre-macnab-transformed-the-florida-league-of-women-voters transformed the Florida League of Women Voters], as well as many state policies, during her long tenure as president.

Her initiatives include; lobbying for the implementation of civil citations{{cite web|url=http://www.djj.state.fl.us/partners/our-approach/florida-civil-citation|title=Florida Civil Citation|publisher=Florida Department of Juvenile Justice}} as a way to [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-juvenile-prison-031616-20160315-story.html curb the school to prison pipeline] and reduce youth arrests;{{cite news|last1=Welch|first1=Catherine|title=CIVIL CITATIONS BRING JUVENILE ARRESTS DOWN IN ORANGE, OSCEOLA|url=http://www.wmfe.org/civil-citations-bring-juvenile-arrests-down-in-orange-osceola/81104|access-date=4 April 2018|agency=90.7 WMFE|date=6 December 2017}} heading the campaign to take Florida to the number one position in rooftop solar and{{Cite web |last=Macnab |first=Deirdre |date=5 August 2016 |title=Column: Vote for Amendment 4 and turn the lights on for solar in Florida |url=https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/column-vote-for-amendment-4-and-turn-the-lights-on-for-solar-in-florida/2288373/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=www.tampabay.com |language=en}} harness the sun[http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-harness-solar-energy-myword-071916-20160719-story.html harness the sun] to truly make Florida the [https://www.reference.com/geography/florida-called-sunshine-state-a5ba51a0b3535313 "Sunshine State"]; educating the voting public about two 2016 ballot amendments, successfully helping defeat one and pass the other;{{cite news|last1=Pamela|first1=Goodman|title=Amendment 1: Don't let utilities stunt sun power's growth in Florida|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-solar-amendment-con-front-burner-20160915-story.html|access-date=4 April 2018|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=15 September 2016}} creating [https://www.nextcarpledge.org "The Next Car Pledge"]and advocating for the benefits of zero emission electric cars or "EVs".[https://energy.gov/eere/electricvehicles/electric-vehicle-basics "EVs"]

In 2020 Macnab left Florida to start a [https://rockies.audubon.org/ranching/articles/experimenting-today-save-tomorrows-soils regenerative cattle ranch] in Colorado, becoming one of the first [https://www.audubon.org/conservation/ranching Audubon Certified ranches] in Northwest Colorado. She co-founded the [https://www.meekermustangmakeover.org/our-board Meeker Mustang Makeover], an event designed to find homes for wild horses in BLM holding areas, the [https://whiteriveralliance.net White River Alliance], a stakeholder group working to promote citizen engagement for the protection and conservation of the White River basin, and continues her alternative energy work with [https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/colorado/ Solar United Neighbors of Colorado].

In 2012, Macnab was awarded the 2012 Florida Achievement Award by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcsw.net/FloridaAchivement.htm |title=Florida Achievement Award |publisher=Florida Commission on the Status of Women |access-date=2014-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424124252/http://www.fcsw.net/FloridaAchivement.htm |archive-date=2014-04-24 }} The Orlando Sentinel named her the Most Influential Central Floridian of the Year the same year.{{cite web|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-01-20/news/os-ed-deirdre-macnab-winner-20130118_1_league-of-women-voters-legislative-leaders-florida-s-league |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525034349/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-01-20/news/os-ed-deirdre-macnab-winner-20130118_1_league-of-women-voters-legislative-leaders-florida-s-league |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2013 |title=Orlando Sentinel's 2012 Central Floridian of the Year is Deirdre Macnab |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |date=2013-01-20 |access-date=2014-05-09}}

In 2013, she was recognized by La Prensa Florida as a Community Champion during their annual Mujeres Destacadas Awards.{{cite news|last1=FERNÁNDEZ|first1=MIGDALIA|title=La Prensa honra a mujeres hispanas|url=https://laprensafl.com/2013/03/12/la-prensa-honra-a-mujeres-hispanas/|access-date=10 April 2018|publisher=La Prensa|date=12 March 2013|archive-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410201708/https://laprensafl.com/2013/03/12/la-prensa-honra-a-mujeres-hispanas/|url-status=dead}} She was recognized for her leadership and placed in the Congressional Record in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2014-02-25/html/CREC-2014-02-25-pt1-PgE245.htm |title=Congressional Record, Volume 160 Issue 31 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014) |publisher=Government Printing Office |date=2014-02-25 |access-date=2014-05-09}} In 2015, Audubon Florida honored her with the Women in Conservation award.http://audubonoffloridanews.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Audubon_AssemblyProgram_2015.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916165727/http://audubonoffloridanews.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Audubon_AssemblyProgram_2015.pdf |date=2016-09-16 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}

In 2021 Winter Park Magazine honored Macnab as an [https://winterparkmag.com/2021/07/14/the-influentials-2021/ "Influential"] due, in part, to her legacy of inspiring other strong women to follow her lead.

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Category:Living people

Category:People from Florida

Category:American women's rights activists

Category:American political activists

Category:1955 births