Note: I am posting this report on behalf of Rose Anne Hamilton, who represented Denmark at the DA Global Meeting in Istanbul in November 2008.

 Best,

Suchi

Dear all,

Sorry I cannot be with you, I am presently travelling in Canada.

Suchi asked me for a brief summary of the DADK participation at the DA Global Meeting in Istanbul, held 2 weeks after the election in November.

This Global Meeting was a turning point for many issues.  The increased numbers of country committees, and a resulting change in the balance of power with the older and larger committees, created some tensions and opportunities during the meeting and beyond.

A number of important milestones have been reached in Democrats Abroad this past year.  Membership has increased enormously and the number of country committees as well.  At this meeting we approved the membership of Afghanistan, Nigeria, and United Arab Emirates. 
The story of absentee voting and organising the membership in Afghanistan really was a lesson in what democracy means.  With no working phone system, no internet, no postal service, and unimaginable security issues, Afghanistan built a country committee with a membership as large as Denmark!  Absentee ballots had to be sent to US representation in Iran, travel out to Kabul, be distributed, voted, gathered up, and then travel the long way round once again for the return journey home. After hearing this story, the participants spontaneously rose and gave a long ovation to the three board members attending from this inspiring new country committee.

The meeting passed a resolution urging the Congress and the President-elect to respect the constitution and once again take up the legislative powers entrusted to our elected officials. 
The ad hoc group of "small countries" which emerged as a voting bloc during the Brussels Regional meeting has now matured into a well networked action committee or caucus called the Emerging Countries Committee, or ECC.  The purpose of the group is to provide support to the newer members, network the particular interests of the smaller countries, and create initiatives beneficial to DA as a whole.  Following the tactical successes in the Brussels caucuses,  The ECC has cooperated to put up several candidates for the DA ExCom, in ordr to ensure that countries of all sizes and "ages" are well represented.

There have been complaints expressed in the past couple of years concerning a lack of transparency of the DA board and DCPA.  These issues were also addressed by Toby Condliffe of Canada, outgoing DA Vice Chair. It is hoped that some of these issues will begin to be resolved with a change of faces after the May meeting in Washington. Other issues include the fact DA does not reimburse travel for the ExCom members who travel quite a lot to attend regional and global meetings. Most country commitees have committed to at least partial travel funding, and some to total travel funding, in order to ensure that ExCom membership is not only for the "rich and air-miled." Such funding also helps increase a committee's participation in meetings. Participants felt that it was a good use of DA funds to do the same at international level.

At the Istanbul meeting there was an afternoon with breakaway sessions on various practical issues, such as website, fundraising & events, issues agenda, and how to maintain and increase membership between elections. I participated in the fundraising session, which was innovative to say the least.  We can learn a lot!

There was a presentation with Q & A about the DA website, which nobody is very happy with, although all appreciate the work which has been done. The day also included a workshop on events planning, which gave everyone the chance to exchange best practices and ideas.

It was very inspiring to work with members from places like Singapore, China, Nigeria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Hong Kong, for example.  They all have knowledge to share, as well as solidarity and encouragement.  It gives a better idea of just how big Democrats Abroad really is. It also is instructive to see how others build their membership.

The next meeting is the Global meeting in Washington DC in May. This will include a "doorknocker", with paticipants meeting with legislators about issues facing ex-pats, such as childrens' and grandchildren's voting rights, social security, eventual military service, dual citizenship, taxation, and more.

Thank you for your attention!

Rose Anne Hamilton