Our efforts to get Democrats in the White House, the Senate, and Congress are heating up. Here are some upcoming activities:

Barcelona Chapter

The Barcelona Chapter will screen "Through Thick and Thin," a documentary by Sebastian Cordoba. This important work, not yet formally released in the US, tells the real life stories of gay and lesbian couples who are unable to be together or are forced to leave the country due to inequitable US immigration laws.

Coinciding with Gay Pride Week in Barcelona, the film will be shown in the auditorium of the Ateneu Barcelonès, calle Canuda 6, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 28. Admission is free. A cocktail will follow in the beautiful Ateneu garden, and we expect to have a call-in with Director Sebastian Cordoba from California.

Don't miss this compelling film; invite your friends to attend with you!
Independence Day will be celebrated on the beach in Barcelona on July 4. This will be an informal get together among like-minded citizens and their families and is a "bring your own picnic and blanket" affair. Details will soon be forthcoming on the beach location and directions to it.

The Barcelona Chapter is now initiating our Voter Registration Drive in the city and throughout Cataluyna. We need volunteers to distribute leaflets and join telephone call campaigns (we use Skype for these). Please contact Voter Registration Chair Elizabeth Breedlove at bcndems@gmail.com if you can volunteer your services for this crucial activity. Our votes are our voices -- help them be strong!

Madrid Chapter

The Madrid Chapter will hold its annual Independence Day Party at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at Ribs Arturo Soria, calle Gregorio Benítez 4 (next to Arturo Soria Plaza, metro Arturo Soria). Free admission. Live music on the terrace will feature Red House with Jeff Espinoza and Francisco Simon. Children welcome. Silent Auction. Sparklers. Voter Registration. Download the flyer attached to this post.

Talk politics every week at the Democrats Abroad tertulia with fellow Dems. Our first session will be about "achieving party unity" and bringing the Clinton and Obama sides of the party together to win the elections in November. Can Barack win without Hillary? We look at the issues, the money and the personalities. Date, time and place to be announced.

And don't miss our conference call live from the Democratic National Convention in Denver on August 27th. Join in all the excitement as Democrats Abroad Spain delegate Gil Carbajal gives us the inside story direct from the convention floor! Time and place to be announced.

No chapter in your area?

Democrats Abroad Spain has active chapters in Baleares, Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, but there are US citizens all over Spain. If there's no chapter in your area, please consider starting one or a voter registration committee. Contact New Chapter Development Chair, Herb Chersonsky, at hchersonsky@hotmail.com.

Democrats Abroad Spain Membership Drive

Our goal is to increase our membership by 25% between our annual meeting on April 26 and September -- that means finding 554 US citizens living in Spain, 554 MORE Democratic votes in November! We've reached nearly 25% of this goal and have only 421 to more new members to recruit -- surely you know at least one US citizen living in Spain who wants to vote. Ask them to become a member today. They can sign up at http://www.democratsabroad.org

Register to vote NOW -- and send your friends to VoteFromAbroad.org

This is the easiest step you can take towards electing Barack Obama in November! Just go to http://www.VotefromAbroad.org and follow the instructions. Do it today! Pass it on to your American friends living abroad!

Remember, being a member of Democrats Abroad does not register you with your local election board. You must do that yourself.

When should you register? Doing it now will avoid problems with slow turnaround at your Registrar's office, and slow mail. Each state has its own absentee ballot deadlines, and you can consult a list of deadlines here: http://www.democratsabroad.org...

More from Elizabeth Breedlove about Voter Registration Spain

"Democrats Abroad Spain is meeting with program directors of US Study Abroad college programs across Spain, to ensure that students who land in Spain late August and early September register to vote. Remember, for many of these young adults, this is the first time ever they will vote in a presidential election!

"We are being included in student orientation days at programs in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla and possibly others. We plan to register thousands of students within a week or two, giving them the opportunity to receive their absentee ballot at the school and be able to vote.

"If you know anyone associated within such an organization -- at any level -- please give us their contact info and we will explain our process to them, and get them on the schedule.

"Also, very important, we will need teams of voter registration volunteers to help us at these orientation events. We will provide training in advance. Just imagine the fun it will be to enable these students to vote for President, and other key offices, from Abroad! Please be prepared to say "YES!" when we come seeking volunteers."

Passionately,
Elizabeth Breedlove, Voter Registration Chair

Web-based marketing

National MarketingChair Sean Ansett is seeking volunteers to help out with the Democrats Abroad Spain web based marketing launch. We are seeking someone who can create banners, logos and images to recruit new members to the organization via the web. Most importantly we seek someone who wants to turn the tables in 2008! May be based anywhere in Spain. Approximately 3-5 hours maximum a week. Please contact scansett@yahoo.com if interested.