Name: Janet Day-Strehlow
Gender: Female
Office: Secretary
Member since: Not sure
Residence: Germany
Biography:
I have lived and worked in Germany for the past 30 years, have a B.A. in International Politics and Philosophy and an MsC in Corporate Real Estate. I am now in early retirement. I was a Senior Manager in Workplace Resources at Cisco Systems for 20 years, responsible for construction projects in Europe, mid-East, Africa and Russia. What made me successful was my ability to organize, set clear expectations and to get people engaged towards achieving a common goal and to enjoy the journey. When Overseas Vote Foundation in Munich was starting out, I was responsible cleaning up the database of all county clerks and election officials (e-mail, phone, addresses) in all 50 states. I have also been involved with the Episcopal Church in Europe, first as Vestry Chair of our local church, then as Secretary and eventually President of the Bishop's Board of Advisors (Council of Advice).
Links to MYC video.
Describe your volunteer work with DA and cite your greatest DA accomplishment.
I am just starting out in my volunteer work for DA.
Why are you running for this office?
I am running because I feel impelled to use my skills to help the Democratic Party and the US get back on their feet. I am scared with each new report coming out of the US and the blatant disregard of hard fought-for rights. Every person deserves respect and I am not seeing the with the current administration. If I were in the US I would be looking at running for local office, but since I am not, I want to do what I can through Democrats Abroad.
How will your skill sets and experience contribute to DA’s success?
I started out as an admin and moved into management, so the basic organisational skills of taking notes and making sure that there is clarity in them, is something I do very well. I often will "play back" what I have heard to make sure that I understand and anyone reading the minutes can understand. Working on the database of county clerks, I was astounded at the vast differences in each state. But by contacting (often by telephone), was able to get good and reliable information, as well as establish relationships. As a manager, I am used to working with and leading virtual teams.
If elected what are the three top issues within DA you will work to affect and how?
Visibility of DA for those of us living abroad -- it is not just important at election time but throughout the year.
What three planks/issues are you most passionate about to include in the DA 2020 Platform and why?
1) Protecting the health and safety -- part of the current platform, but really important to me. I have been lucky to live in Germany and have health care so that if something catastrophic happens, I will not bankrupt my family. This should be a given and right of everyone. Gun control -- with each new shooting in the US, I fear for my friends and family, but also the country which allows itself to be controlled by a lobby and by emotion, as opposed to putting the safety of its citizens at the forefront.
2) Climate and environmental concerns as our fiduciary responsibility. I want my son and his children and children's children to have a world with clean water, clean air and a vision like the UN Millennium Development goals.
3) Affordable education for all. I have been shocked and saddened by recent reports of young people not able to either afford college or because they haven't been, sliding into poor jobs, depression, & lower life expectancy.
What can Democrats Abroad do to increase its profile among voters globally and better work to elect Democrats?
There is new impetus after the last election and we need to take advantage of it. I would like to see not only the reach-out to younger voters (pub nights etc.) but to older voters like myself who in the past may have spent most of their time working and not enough volunteering.
How can DA work best with the Democratic Party and the Democratic Democratic National Committee to represent the issues of Americans living abroad? What can be enhanced or improved in this relationship?
I am not sure, as I am new to this, but I would like to see a focus on those of us living abroad who are "penalised" with double taxation and with issues of banking because we may not have a US address. I feel we are looked on often as second-class citizens and would like to see this changed.
What will you do to grow DA and ensure greater overall participation by Chapter Members?
I want to approach my network of American friends and ask that same question. Biggest thing will be communication, communication, communication. Develop databases of people who are interested in helping out, finding out what their skills are and keeping them in the loop.