CANDIDATE(S) FOR CHAIR:
Victoria (Tory) Mallett
Originally from Texas, Tory Mallett is a lifelong Democrat. After University, she worked on campaigns and as a policy staffer for five years all over the United States. During that time she did everything from fieldwork to fundraising to Chief of Staff to coalition organizing to campaign management. In 2013, she left campaign life to pursue her Masters in Political Sociology in London. Now, she is in the final stages of her PhD in the same field.
Tory is a newcomer to Basel, but is excited to get involved and hopefully bring what she has learned in her years of experience to Democrats Abroad and use her skills to help contribute to the strength of the Basel chapter and continue the important work we do with voter registration, expanding membership outreach and growth and facilitating interesting and varied events for Americans in the Basel area.
- I think that the strength of the Basel Chapter is something that could be put to great use in the expansion efforts we’d like. We could perhaps develop a brief training that could be taken on the road. It could include simple organising techniques and voter registration rules. That way local Dems in other cities won't need to organise anything initially and could just come to our event as trainees, hopefully make connections, and be inspired to take it forward. A training session could be run by as few as two members.
- The neighbor-2-neighbor program in the US was possibly the most successful grassroots outreach effort ever run by the Democratic Party. The problem was that it took too much time and investment by individuals. I think, however, that Democrats Abroad could be a better home for it. This would mean that each members is responsible for a list of Democrats on their own. They send personalised postcards or make phone calls to their list over the course of the election season. The idea is that voters start to see them as more than a faceless representative, but as a neighbor. It also gives active members a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.
- Lastly, I had a hard time finding DA when I arrived. When you Google Democrats Abroad Basel, the DA Basel page is the first thing to come up. It has the leadership on it, but the last news posting was from 2015, and when I clicked on events, it said "No Upcoming Events". My assumption was that the group was no longer active. I think that a couple of quick updates could make sure that doesn't happen again and could potentially grow membership among those not active on social media.
- Finally, I know that a lot of Americans, no matter how engaged they are, have a hard time keeping up with legislation currently churning in Congress. Having regular policy discussions might attract people who less interested in campaign efforts, but are still Democrats may need to get registered. Everyone who is politically active was activated at some point. If we can find the issues that matter to them, we can expand our outreach. If successful, these policy session could become a fundraising opportunity.
CANDIDATE(S) FOR VICE CHAIR:
Kristen Gray Jafflin (current Vice Chair)
It has been great working with the engaged, active team we have here in Basel, and I am hoping to continue that work with another term as Vice Chair! Over the last 2 years, I’ve assisted the chair by helping organize the Voter Assistance and Get out the Vote teams for the 2018 mid-term elections and spearheading internal communications, posting events on the Democrats Abroad website and Facebook pages and sending email blasts. I’ve also enjoyed helping organize and being involved in many of the exciting events we’ve held here in Basel, from community events like the Rhine Swim and 4th of July picnics to activism events, like attending marches, writing postcards, and contacting our representatives about various issues of interest to us as Democrats and Americans living abroad. I hope that you will give me a chance to continue that work for the next 2 years as we go into the 2020 general election. (cont.)
I need not tell any of you how important the 2020 election is. I know you all share my passion for taking back the White House and reversing many of the horrible policies and practices instituted by the Trump administration. Here in Basel, we must do our part, educating our fellow Americans on how to vote from Abroad and helping them register and request their ballots and making our voices heard on issues that are important to us. We also have a voice in the upcoming Democratic primary, so a key goal in the next two years will also be helping Democrats Abroad choose between the many candidates in the election by organizing debate watches, participating in call ins, and other events that help us better choose between them and better understand their positions on issues of particular concern to us as Democrats living abroad in the run up to DA’s global primary.
Towards that end, I have four top priorities for 2019-2020:
- Outreach to Americans living in the region, to make them aware of our activities and to recruit more people interested in helping with and shaping our efforts.
- Activism to make our voices heard on issues of concern to us.
- GOTV and Voter Assistance efforts.
- Voter information events (debate watches, call-ins with candidates, mock debates, etc.) in the run-up to the Global primary and the general election to help Americans living in the Basel-area make an informed choice and make their concerns heard.
CANDIDATE(S) FOR TREASURER:
Vivian Beetle (current Treasurer)
I have served in this position of Basel Treasurer since 2017 As part of the Basel leadership team, I am eager to help engage members in our area in the important work of registering and getting out the Democratic vote in 2020. A successful Democratic campaign in 2020 is requisite to restoring the heart of U.S. democracy and all that it means.
Over the past few years, I have valued being part of the corps of volunteers who propel our efforts in Basel. At all stages, it takes the sustained, dedicated and creative work of many players to achieve our goals. In the specific role of Treasurer, I remain committed to assuring we maintain the strong fiscal procedures, processes and practices in accordance with all relevant guidelines and policies. Recognizing the responsibility that comes with stewardship of collective funds, I respect the importance of diligent financial management of the organization.
Thirteen years ago I relocated from New Jersey to Switzerland for my work with Hoffmann-La Roche from which I retired in 2013. During a thirty-plus year career at Roche, I developed a broad expertise in corporate engagement with particular skills in community collaboration, business strategic alignment, employee volunteerism, program development and budget oversight. Before joining Roche, I worked with the YWCA in Paterson, New Jersey, where I was involved in every aspect of their urban-based program and administration with a focus on women’s leadership development.
I have been involved in a wide range of civic and non-profit organizations in advisory, governance and operational roles. My non-profit board experience has been varied, including such groups as Funders Concerned About AIDS, The Partnership for New Jersey, Diamond Terrace Condominium Association, and the Roche Employee and Action Trust. More recently I also volunteer as an English Conversation Group Leader for adult non-mother language speakers (Centrepoint, Basel)
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Douglass College of Rutgers University and a Masters in Business Administration from Rutgers Graduate School of Management
CANDIDATE(S) FOR SECRETARY:
None presented. Position duties:
- Distribute meeting agendas to the Chapter Committee
- Take and distribute minutes of all meetings and distribute to the Chapter Committee and DACH ExCom
- Participate in key discussions and decisions as part of the Leadership Team and with the volunteer corps
- Maintain files and administrative records of the Chapter (Google Drive)
- Manage and maintain the Basel Chapter membership and volunteer lists in coordination with the DACH Secretary. This may require training on the DA database
- Ensure event advertising, internet and social media presence in collaboration with event organizers and committee members
Candidates may be nominated from the floor. Please let us know if you would like to run. [email protected]
For further information about elections or the officer roles, contact any committee member (or email [email protected])
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Kelli Brouillet, Outgoing Basel Chapter Chair and Nominations Committee Chair, [email protected]
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Jamie Donahoe, Active Member, [email protected]
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RJ Chaplin, Active Member, [email protected]