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See all postsA Cross-Border Journey
posted by Julie Buchanan | Canada IT Manager / Toronto Chapter Chair / DPCA Voting Rep
June 18, 2018read moreA cross-border journey
By Beverly Fay
I personally did not know anyone who went to Vietnam, but my husband and I and our three children did host a number of American draft dodgers who arrived in Toronto during the Vietnam War. The Toronto Anti-Draft Program (TADP – I used to call it “Tadpole”) came into being in the late 1960s. Since we had been protesting the Vietnam War in the Boston MA area, we gravitated to that group when we immigrated to Toronto on November 8, 1969.
During our first trip to Toronto in August, 1969, to visit my husband’s brother, who was attending the University of Toronto, we investigated the possibility of transferring within my husband’s company from Boston to Toronto. With our three children, at that time in grades one, two, and three, we drove a U-haul filled with our belongings, including a bowl of goldfish, to the Canadian border. Since we had arranged for the transfer, rented out our home, and said our “goodbyes,” it seemed like the thing to DO. Determined as we were, we did not even take the exit on the NY Thruway that day in 1969, when we could have gone to Woodstock instead of to Toronto. In August, we visited our sites and, after our stay with my husband’s brother’s family, we rushed back home to plan our return by November 8, the date of my birthday. At the border, the Canadian agent proclaimed: “We have a landing! We have a landing!” They also gave us little slips of paper; mine is still in my wallet.
As we settled into our rented home in Mississauga, we continued to support efforts against the war, especially by accepting the draft dodgers who were more and more arriving from the U.S. I remember one couple who arrived on our doorstep in the middle of a winter storm with only a black garbage bag filled with their belongings. I’m pretty sure that they said that they were from Georgia. They stayed with us for a couple of weeks until more permanent arrangements could be made. Years later, I met a lawyer who had been one of the thousands who came across the border during those times. He then went to school at Dalhousie in Nova Scotia. He said that coming to Canada had been the best thing that he had ever done. As a family, we did what we could to end the war. I’ve read that approximately 50,000 Americans came to Canada during the Vietnam War. “If everyone would light just one little candle…”
I met Ken Sherman when there were only about five of us on the Democrats Abroad Toronto board of directors group. At that time, he had already spearheaded efforts that today have so magnificently evolved. When we handed out literature outside a Bill Maher show at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, he was costumed as Uncle Sam, and I was the Statue of Liberty. Bill used the “f” word in his show many times, but he was still hilarious. I went on to become a Canadian in 1986, and I hold two current passports. I and my three children are citizens of both countries, as are my two grandchildren. I am able to vote in both countries, and I DO!
In the 1990s, I got involved in demonstrations in Maine, specifically, at Bath Iron Works in Brunswick where Aegis destroyers are built – they launch nuclear warheads. Philip Berrigan spent time in jail because of those activities and was put on trial. I remember that a high-profile lawyer came from the Hague to defend him, but the lawyer was not allowed into the courthouse. I became motivated to engage again in anti-war work because of a friend of mine who knew Mr. Berrigan. My later anti-war work was against the Iraq War. As a New Englander born in New Hampshire, I still believe in this motto: “Live free or die.” As Ken Sherman recently told an interviewer: “It is still true that social change comes through grassroots and political organizing.”
In the biography I wrote for the 50th anniversary of my graduation from Laconia High School, I said: “In other locations (such as Boston in the 1960s, Portland and Bath, Maine, in the 1990s, and Orangeville, Toronto, and Hamilton, Ontario, in the 2000s, she might have been seen demonstrating for peace. That work includes promoting absentee voter registration of Americans worldwide.”
+Notice of 2018 Democrats Abroad Canada Annual General Meeting
posted by Canada |
May 17, 2018read moreNotice of 2018 Annual General Meeting & Election & Bylaws Amendments
The Board of Democrats Abroad Canada invites you to attend your Annual General Meeting
WHAT?
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018
PURPOSE?
To inform you about 2017 activities and the accomplishments of your country committee + amendments to the bylaws + to elect the following Board Members to complete a one-year term due to vacancies: Secretary & IT Manager.
The AGM agenda and registration link will follow at a later date.
WHEN?
Saturday
16 June 2018
2:00 – 4:00 pm Eastern Time
WHERE?
Via WebEx and possibly in-person at some chapters. Look for announcements from your chapter or contact your local chapter chair. Address all other enquiries to Chair, Democrats Abroad Canada: chair@democratsabroad.ca
WHO?
All Members of Democrats Abroad Canada
HOW?
For Members not yet signed up to WebEx, the video conferencing system used by Democrats Abroad, you will receive information at a later date for a WebEx tutorial and for downloading the necessary software. WebEx has a total capacity of 200 participants so space online is limited.
MORE ELECTION INFORMATION
The electronic ballots will be emailed to members on 01 June. Submit your completed ballot by 11:59PM EDT 15 June. To vote you must have joined Democrats Abroad by 11:59PM EDT 31 May 2018, you must be a member of DACA, a US citizen of voting age and a resident of Canada. A list of nominees and candidate statements can be found on the Democrats Abroad Canada website by clicking here.
PROPOSED BYLAWS AMENDMENTS
Current ARTICLE 4 Officers
4.1 The Officers of the Organization shall be the Country Chair, Executive Vice Chair, two (2) additional Vice Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, and Counsel. The Executive Vice Chair shall be opposite in gender to the Country Chair. These Officers constitute the Executive Committee of DACA, which shall meet at least quarterly.
The Officers offer an opportunity to broaden representation of the regions of the country. In addition, experience working with the Board or at the national level is an important qualification. Officers are voting members of the Board.
Proposed ARTICLE 4 Officers
4.1 The Officers of the Organization shall be the Country Chair, Executive Vice Chair, two (2) additional Vice Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Counsel and IT Manager. The Executive Vice Chair shall be opposite in gender to the Country Chair. These Officers constitute the Executive Committee of DACA, which shall meet at least quarterly.
The Officers offer an opportunity to broaden representation of the regions of the country. In addition, experience working with the Board or at the national level is an important qualification. Officers are voting members of the Board.
Current Article 13 Chapter Representatives
13.1 Each chapter that has a Chapter Chair elected biennially in odd numbered years by the chapter membership and which has one hundred (100) or more verified members may be entitled to one Chapter Representative (“CR”) on the Board. A chapter, which exceeds any of the following thresholds of verified members, shall be entitled to one or more additional CR’s:
400 verified members = 1 additional CR
1,200 verified members = 2 additional CR’s
2,400 verified members = 3 additional CR’s
3,600 verified members = 4 additional CR’s
13.2 If a chapter is entitled to one CR, it shall be the Chapter Chair. If a chapter is entitled to two or more CR’s, the additional CR’s shall be elected at the biennial chapter AGM at which chapter officers are elected. Chapter Representatives so chosen shall take office at the next Board meeting following the DACA AGM and shall serve a two-year term.
Proposed Article 13 Chapter Representatives
13.1 Each chapter that has a Chapter Chair elected biennially in odd numbered years by the chapter membership and which has one hundred (100) or more verified members is entitled to one Chapter Representative (“CR”) on the Board, who shall be the Chapter Chair. A chapter which exceeds the following thresholds of verified members shall be entitled to additional CR’s:
2,000 verified members = 1 additional CR (Total of 2)
4,000+ verified members = 2 additional CR’s (Total of 3)
Proposed 13.2 If a chapter is entitled to two (2) or more CR’s, the additional CR’s shall be the Chapter Vice-Chair(s), elected at the biennial chapter AGM at which chapter officers are elected.
Chapter Representatives so chosen shall take office at the next Board meeting following the DACA AGM and shall serve a two-year term.
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Upcoming Events
Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Spadina Cres under the University Bridge (Marshaling Area) in Saskatoon, SK, CanadaJoin Us in the 2018 Saskatoon Pride Parade
We will be marching in the 2018 Saskatoon Pride Parade with our Democrats Abroad banner. Please join us!
From the Pride committee:
"Please arrive by 11:00am to be checked in and to make finishing touches to your parade entry. We will have volunteers on site to direct you to your place in the marshaling area. Please remember that traffic will be severely limited on account of the University Bridge construction works that are taking place this year – please plan accordingly.This year’s route has changed once again, and will end at the Farmer’s Market, not back at the original marshaling area. Please check out the route map and plan accordingly."
Wednesday, July 04, 2018 at 04:00 PM · 6 rsvps
Sticky Wicket Pub in Victoria, BC, CanadaFOURTH OF JULY IN VICTORIA!
Come join us and other US citizens in Victoria and the Islands to celebrate the best of the US. Come eat, drink and chat with fellow Democrats--and learn what you can do to turn out the vote for the 2018 Elections!
DATE: Wednesday, July 4th
TIME: 4:00-7:00 PM
PLACE: Sticky Wicket Pub, 919 Douglas St (at Courtney St)
PARKING: Broughton St Parkade and on-street--both free after 6:00pm
No admission or donation--Food or drink will be "buy your own"
Hope you can join us!
Democratically yours,
DA Victoria and the Islands
Pat Kostek, Chair