Events 

• Presidential Primary Debate Watch Party
• Salzburg Meet-Up
• Experienced Dems 
• Solidarity Sundays 
• Black Caucus Book Club
• DA EMEA Regional Meeting

Issues & Actions

• Upcoming Elections 
• Volunteer Opportunities

Reviews

• Black Caucus Book Club
• Presidential Primary Debate Watch Parties Round Two 

Around Town

• American Diplomacy in a Disordered World
• Vienna Humanities Festival 

ExComm Dates for September and October

DA Austria’s Executive Committee meetings are normally at 7pm on the second Wednesday of the month. However, due to travels the September meeting will be moved. Our next meetings will be held on: 

• September ExComm: Thursday, September 5
• October ExComm: Wednesday, October 9

Please contact Jennifer at chair@democratsabroad.at for the location, if you’d like to come. 

Events:

Are We There Yet? Presidential Primary Debate Watch Party

What top issues do you want to see addressed in the next #DemDebate? Here's your chance to let the Democratic Party know. All questions you submit will be shared by debate media partners here.

The 10 candidates who have already qualified are: former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.; Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey; Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind.; the former housing secretary Julián Castro; Senator Kamala Harris of California; Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota; former Representative Beto O’Rourke of Texas; Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont; Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts; and the entrepreneur Andrew Yang.

When:  Friday, September 13, from 7pm

Where:  Beaver Brewing Company, Liechtensteinstraße 69, 1090 Vienna

Contact:  Faith Hall-Herbold, f.hall-herbold@democratsabroad.at

RSVP: Debate Watch Party

Salzburg Meet-Up

DA Members and others are warmly invited to join us for a meet-up in Salzburg on the day after the third presidential primary debate. There will certainly be a lot to discuss!

The location is not yet fixed, but it will be in the vicinity of the Salzburg main train station. Please email me at m.kollert@democratsabroad.at if you are interested and then I can give you the location. It does not have to be a firm RSVP, but that is how you'll know where to join us!

When:  Friday, September 13, from 5:30pm

Where:  TBD, Near the main train station, 5020 Salzburg

Contact:  Mary Beth Kollert, m.kollert@democratsabroad.at for location

RSVP: Salzburg Meet-Up

Experienced Dems Meet-Up

First meeting of the 2019-2020 year!

The Experienced Dems look forward to seeing democrats and interested folks at our monthly meet-up to discuss the latest in politics and current affairs. We start at six, but you're welcome to join at any time.

Remember, you don't have to be grey to be experienced! 

When:  Tuesday, September 17, from 6pm

Where:  Cafe Museum, Operngasse 7, 1010 Vienna

Contact:  John Cahill, j.cahill@democratsabroad.at

RSVP: Experienced Dems

Solidarity Sundays 26:  The Amazing Disappearing Voter

Voter Suppression undermines democracy and the legitimacy of elected officials. It also changes legislative outcomes:  gun restrictions, child-care subsidies, prescription drug price reduction, and green energy bills are widely popular with voters. Each time one of these bills passes in the House, the Republican majority in the Senate blocks it. Let’s be clear:  there wouldn’t be a Republican majority in the Senate if the electorate looked more like America. And the electorate keeps shrinking, becoming whiter and more Republican, due to voter suppression.

Solidarity Sundays believes democracy isn’t a fight, it’s a practice. For our September meet-up we’ll discuss voter suppression, and the organizations pushing back. Bring ideas to share on how Americans living abroad might contribute to the battle for Voting Rights back home.

What:  Coffee, Cookies, and Civics

When:  Sunday, September 29, from 4-6pm

Where:  Amerlinghaus, Stiftgasse 8, 1070 Vienna

Contact:  Tanya Lolonis, solidaritysundays@democratsabroad.at

RSVP: Solidarity Sundays

Black Caucus Book Club

At October's book club we will discuss the New York Times bestseller Becoming by Harvard educated lawyer, university administrator and former First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Come join us!

When:  Friday, October 4, from 7pm

Where:  TBD Vienna

Contact:  Faith Hall-Herbold, f.hall-herbold@democratsabroad.at

RSVP: Black Caucus Book Club

DA EMEA Regional Meeting

Do you want to dump Crazy Trump and ditch Moscow Mitch? Do you want to be one of the thousands of DA members around the globe to get out the vote and make that happen? 

If so, you’ll want to join Democrats Abroad as we get together for a series of workshops, training sessions, and presentations to prepare for the 2020 election. There will also be a welcome reception by DA Greece, caucus events, a cocktail reception, and a gala dinner. 

This is a fantastic way to experience the breadth and depth of DA’s leadership talent, exchange ideas, and keep up with 2020 get out the vote plans. I’ll be there with some other Excomm members – we hope you’ll join us! 

Please feel free to contact me at chair@democratsabroad.at with any questions you may have. For more detailed information about the DA EMEA Regional Meeting and to RSVP, click on the link. 

– Jennifer Rakow-Stepper, Chair DA Austria

What:  Democrats Abroad Regional Meeting for Europe, Middle East, and Africa

When:  October 12-14, 2019

Where:  Athens, Greece

RSVP: EMEA Regional Meeting 

Issues & Actions:

How to Make A Difference at Home

Sleepy special and state elections may seem minor, but we should all be aware by now just how important state governors and legislatures can be as a push-back to Trump and his devastating policies. That’s why if you vote in any of the following six states please make sure to spread the word to your family, friends, and social media contacts to vote in the 2019 elections! 

This autumn will see special elections in North Carolina Districts 3 and 9. NC-9 is having a special election because of ballot tampering. Read More 

There are also five states — Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia — that will hold General Elections in November 2019 for state executive offices, state legislative offices or both. 

Don’t forget overseas voters need to submit the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA)to request a ballot each calendar year to be guaranteed to receive ballots for elections in that year. Absentee ballots will be sent out on September 21.

First-time voters may simultaneously register to vote and request a ballot using the FPCA if the form is submitted according to the voter registration deadline. All other voters must submit the FPCA by the ballot request deadline. 

For more information about what’s on the ballots in the State elections and how to register to vote, go to What is on the Ballot in 2019? 

We Can’t Win Without You!

DA Austria is looking for people to fill the following positions so together we can dump Trump and elect Democrats up and down the ballot in 2020!

It will take a village to do all the things we need to do. Here are some opportunities to help:

1. Take our Volunteer Survey. We are looking for volunteers in all areas.
2. DA Austria is looking for members interested in heading our Youth Caucus and Hispanic Caucus and other vital positions. Find out more information about how to join our team. 
3. Do you have an idea? We're looking for suggestions on how we can connect with more Americans in Austria, find places to advertise, events to have, and any suggestions you have to get more people to vote.  Bookmark this link and submit your ideas at any time.

Reviews:

GBC Book Club 

The group met up at a private location to discuss We were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Each chapter represented a year in the presidency of Barack Obama. The presidency of Barack Obama was monumental and was nearly scandal free, a far cry from the current administration. Coates, as well as the rest of the nation, are still analyzing the factors that lead to individuals voting first for Obama and then for Trump, including what racially motivated factors that were at play beyond the standard “economic anxiety” that was put forward as a main cause. Coates uses the historical precedence of the Reconstruction era that saw the successful integration of African Americans into the political and socioeconomic systems of the US only to be driven back during the backlash of Jim Crow era that followed. The chapters were so packed with beautifully written commentary, personal storytelling, and information that the group did not have enough time to discuss them all.

Even so, we will move on with the next book club where we will discuss the New York Times best seller Becoming by Harvard educated lawyer, university administrator and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Come join us on Friday, October 4th at 7pm. Location TBD.

– Faith Hall-Herbold, Black Caucus Coordinator and Member at Large

How to Meet Your Next US President

June and July had great turnouts at our double-header Presidential Primary Debate Watch Parties. We had the chance to meet and discuss with lots of members, new members and concerned non-Americans who hope we’ll dump Trump – it was wonderful to meet all of you!

As we go into the fall, the field of candidates will narrow down and the debates themselves will certainly heat up. It may feel like a long time until November 3, 2020, but the first primary caucus is in Iowa on February 3 – just six months away. And DA’s Global Presidential Primary, where you can vote for DA’s delegates to the convention, will take place March 3, on Super Tuesday. 

We hope to see you at an upcoming debate night watch party where you’ll be able to “meet” the future President – all the candidates have been joining in!

– Jennifer Rakow-Stepper, Chair DA Austria

Around Town:

American Diplomacy in a Disordered World

On Thursday, September 19, IWM Permanent Fellow Ivan Krastev will talk with Ambassador William J. Burns, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, about America's changing role in the world and the purpose of American diplomacy. Registration is required. Find the registration form and more information at IWM Geopolitical Talks.

Vienna Humanities Festival

The fourth Vienna Humanities Festival will take place from September 26-29 with the theme Hope and Despair. As always, the IWM and Wien Museum have lined up interesting speakers to discuss “the burning issues of our time.” Most of the events are free. Find the program and more information at: Vienna Humanities Festival.

DA Austria is looking for people to fill the following positions so together we can dump Trump and elect Democrats up and down the ballot in 2020!

Caucus Coordinators

Hispanic Caucus

Youth Caucus

General description for Caucus Chair positions:

• Disseminate information to members
• Coordinate caucus-related events in Austria
• Periodically report to the global caucus steering committee
• Find ways to add diversity to non-caucus events

Caucus Chair specific job descriptions:

Hispanic Caucus Chair: The caucus Chair coordinates and plans events and activities aimed at the Hispanic American community, works to raise awareness of issues concerning Hispanic Americans, and promotes National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15-October 15.

Youth Caucus Chair: The caucus Chair coordinates and plans events and activities with members and American collegiate groups at Austrian universities to better reach, engage, and mobilize younger DA members in Austria.

Please be sure you are an official member of the caucus you are interested in leading. Go to their website, linked above and click the join button.

Communications Coordinator

• Work with Chair & ExComm to set communication goals 
• Build up and oversee a Communications Team (Comms Team)
• Work with Chair & ExComm to draft internal membership communications: Monthly newsletters, regular national emails, occasional voting notification emails, occasional invitations to events, etc.
• Ensure that information on DAAT is updated regularly (Excom and chapter contacts, events, activities, etc) on the DAAT website
• Communicate and coordinate with the international Communications Director on a regular basis

Get Out The Vote Coordinator

• Form an “Elections Team” of various officers, at large members and others to coordinate all aspects of GOTV work in the runup to the 2020 elections
• Plan and coordinate phone banking
• Coordinate and organize info-stands and voter registration tables
• Organize mass mailings to DAAT’s membership encouraging registration, voting, and donations (working in some cases with the Communication Coordinator)
• Distribute information, templates, and know-how from DA International to the DAAT Excomm

Media Contact

• Demonstrate verifiable experience and/or training in the fields of Media, Press and/or PR
• Work with Chair & ExComm to set media goals 
• Act as liaison between DAAT and international press officer
• Write and organize translations (by one of our volunteer translators) of relevant press releases  (those not provided by international press officer)
• Maintain national contact database for journalists / press contacts (googledoc)
• Record and archive all press activities, articles, interviews (googledoc)
• Create press kits for Global Primary and 2020 election

Social Media Coordinator (Part of Comms Team) 

• Work with Chair & Comms Coordinator to set social media goals 
• Develop a schedule of posts and web content
• Create timely posts to DAAT social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
• Monitor all posts and comments on DAAT social media sites
• Communicate and coordinate with the international Communications Director on a regular basis

All positions will be appointed by the DAAT Chair with the consultation of the Executive Committee for a term of two years. Coordinators and Caucus Chairs may be removed by the DAAT Executive Committee at any time for conduct contrary to the interests of DAAT.