Hi All,
Here’s a report from our Edinburgh, November 13–15, EMEA Meeting. Lots to read, but it was an informative meeting and is well worth the time and 3-page read to get updated on preparations for the 2016 election season.
Officers and members of most of our 16 EMEA countries were present, some on WebEx, in Edinburgh for a weekend of hard work, good fun and great socializing (including a whiskey tasting and elegant Saturday night dinner). The meeting was held in the impressive “Dynamic Earth” structure on the grounds of the new Scottish Parliament building, which we visited with tour guide.
From France there were four of us present: Connie Borde, Bob Vallier, Salli Swartz and Rhone-Alps Robin Meyers. Anna-Marie Mattson was on WebEx. (Have I missed anyone?)
Here, in chronological order, is what we did and what we saw and heard.
Friday, November 13 – Women’s Tea (with men present)
ON THE BACK BURNER: GLOBAL WOMEN’S CAUCUS DEVELOPMENT
On the Friday before the Saturday meeting officially started, a high tea was held at the very chic Howard Hotel to announce plans to develop our Global Women’s Caucus. A brief word about this important initiative:
Two years ago, France’s Women’s Caucus was used as the model for setting up a Democrats Abroad Germany Women’s Caucus, spearheaded by Germany Chair Christine Moritz. Since then, several other countries have shown interest in launching Women’s Caucuses of their own. With the participation of Sheila Malovany-Chevallier, Connie Borde and Salli Swartz, EMEA countries have been actively preparing mission statements, essential strategies, outreach around the world and even projects for going global. Meeting in Edinburgh gave us the chance to hammer out and fine-tune what we want from A Global Women’s Caucus (and caucuses in general).
The formation of a bona-fide Global Women’s Caucus (GWC) with chapters in different countries will enable us to engage in projects at a higher political level and have a more effective voice within the Democratic Party. We will keep you posted on the development and the projects.
One project already completed is the creation of a Women’s Caucus calendar for 2016, a beautiful tribute to 12 women, one for each month. You can order them at bulk prices and sell them for double! This is a great fundraising initiative for Democrats Abroad.
Here is the link for ordering:
https://secure.democratsabroad.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=35
The second and more long-term project: the GWC could revisit the Equal Rights Amendment of 1972, an amendment that disappointingly lost in Congress by 3 votes back then. A new ERA introduced by Representative Carolyn Maloney in 2013 (H.J. Res. 56) sits in Congress now. There has recently been a renewal of interest in reviving that Amendment, and it can be done! More to come…
Saturday, November 14 – the meeting
2016 PRIORITIES AND ELECTIONS (PRIMARIES, CONGRESSIONAL AND PRESIDENTIAL)
Pressing issues lie ahead over the next months, all of which were discussed in great detail. After warm Welcomes from our Scotland/UK host and Chair Annie Kowalewski, Regional Vice Chair Merrill Oates and Chair Katie Solon outlined the meeting agenda and Objectives and our DA Priorities for 2016.
Our own Bob Vallier presented on the screen the most helpful Voter Registration Calendar attached here on this email. Bob was thanked profusely for this precious easy-to-use aid tool for keeping our needs and priorities straight. Print it out and use it!
Julia Bryan delivered a talk on Webex on Building Our Voter Registration Strategy by creating a clear, urgent message, something simple that requires a response, with everyone on our team carrying the same message (ie: you must register in 2016 to vote in 2016; are you sure you’re registered? You might be registered, but have you requested a ballot? Etc…) Also discussed was the importance of establishing a brand: Vote From Abroad (votefromabroad.org). That’s the reason we have VFA banners, tablecloths, buttons, etc. Julia gave a brief study of our market and where to go to find voters (study abroad, entrepreneurs, caucuses and policy groups etc). And of course: Social media, social media, social media. This message was reinforced by Bob Vallier who explained that investing money into social media would bring us untold rewards.
Shari Temple, Will Bakker and Quaide Williams addressed: Preparing Global Presidential Primary Strategy, and this included the selection of the Candidates who will carry the vote to the Convention. And from the point of view of the voter, this also explains one of the reasons we vote in primaries from abroad.
Building your country’s Women’s Caucus: discussed above, but presented to the entire audience in a trio-discussion with France’s Connie Borde and Salli Swartz and Germany’s Christine Mortitz. Following was Martha McDevitt-Pugh, leader and organizer of the LGBT Caucus discussing Opportunities to get out the vote with LGBT. Then Annie Kowalewski and Quaide Williams took up the issue of Diversity and Inclusion: the DA Affirmative Action Committee (AAC). Adrienne George, formerly of Sweden and now member of the UK, gave us the very positive numbers of volunteers who responded to her Volunteer Recruitment call (over 300) in her global member outreach, and she is in the process of assigning jobs to those volunteers.
Christine Mortiz and Quaide Williams (Germany) gave us information on the Global Convention and Regional Caucus in Berlin. These two events are on your DSP Calendar and they are culmination of our work leading up to the July Democratic National Convention. They will both take place – back to back – at the Willy Brandt House in in Berlin beginning on May 14 and last for 4 ½ days. The final Convention delegates will be elected at these meetings, as well as the new DNC reps from abroad.
From the Chair of Greece, we had a case study of how a failed chapter (Greece) can be brought back to life again, which is exactly what Karen Lee managed to do with her Vice-Chair Steve Madiros.
Bob Vallier gave tips for Supporting Local Chapters, and Byron Cann gave us a much-appreciated talk on Improving communications in DA with Webex.
FROM THE CAMPAIGN OFFICES – via WebEx:
We were addressed about the candidates by the following DC pros:
Doug Wilson, Gov. Martin O’Malley Campaign Representative
Marlon Marshall, Sen. Hillary Clinton Campaign Representative
Laila Mohib, Democratic Women’s Action director and chief DNC staffer to the DNC Women’s Caucus.
Reno Domenico, Chair of the Ukraine chapter presented a DSP Process Planning for Local Committees.
Sunday Morning, November 15
Opening discussions centered around: Press Review and Highlights of the 2nd Debate; Improving our County or Chapter Press Coverage by Press Secretary Mike Heffron.
Shari Temple and Alex Montgomery introduced us to the New DA Website and Membership Database, which Bob Vallier has played an active role in developing.
Carmelan Polce, Chair of the FATCA/Issues Advocacy group, along with Deedee Gierow of Sweden talked about Expanding DA Issues Advocacy and Efforts to Reform FATCA.
DA Counsel, Orlando Vidal, re-iterated what is described in the DSP about Delegate Selection, Electing DNC Members and Voting at the Global Convention.
And last but not least, Treasurer Art Schankler talked about fundraising. We are long on initiatives but short on funds; much more can be done to make us effective with more money. Pay attention to the Global Auction. The bidding has begun!
The Fundraising Team - with most of the effort coming from DA Mexico, generally, and Larry Pihl, specifically - has worked SO hard on the Global Auction. Every CC leader should be sending emails to their members, reinforcing the emails coming globally, to get our members (and even family members back home) to go online, donate and buy something.
https://www.biddingforgood.com/demsabroad
This money goes to the DPCA, with some going back to CCs and their GOTV efforts in 2016.
We thank the Scotland Chapter for organizing such a grand weekend and the EMEA team for putting together this coherent and informative meeting, not only intelligent and helpful but inspirational as well.
Democratically yours,
Connie Borde
VC DAF
For Chair Joe Smallhoover (who had a last-minute client conflict)
PS Don’t forget to print out Bob’s Voter Registration Calendar here attached!
PPS Please circulate this information among your Excoms to keep them abreast of our international commitment and the important role we all play in the upcoming elections.