Dear Friends,

We trust you are doing well.

Wondering what the new “normal” might look like? No one knows yet. Meanwhile, we can take advantage of the many virtual get-togethers available within DA. Please scroll down to find the ones you like. And do indulge in apple pie. 

In this issue:

• 15 May to 30 May: Fundraiser – Homemade Apple Pie
• 16 May: DA Europe Middle East Africa Regional Convention
• 22 May: New - Social meetups - Culture and Community in America
• 28 May: Frankfurt Chapter Meeting
• 26 July: New – Frankfurt & Wiesbaden-Mainz Book Club

You are cordially invited to get to know the folks at the many fun and interesting online events hosted by other Germany chapters. Check these pages often for updates of discussions, book clubs, and social gatherings. Attend a Caucus presentation and then join a caucus to support your passion and stay informed.

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What’s as American as Apple Pie?... Democracy!

From May 15 to May 30, every donation (US citizens only) of at least 35€ to DAFrankfurt Treasurer’s account  will be thanked with a homemade apple pie (delivery within Frankfurt 60xxx post code. Outside Frankfurt, arrange with Wendy). Please send your donation to Katherine Ann Sawyer, IBAN no. DE02 5019 0000 7700 0184 95. After you’ve made your generous donation, contact our baker and fellow DA member, Wendy, to schedule delivery. Pies an be ordered as gifts for non-US citizens, too!

Hmmmmm. Delicious.

Your support is critical to finance ongoing activities such as:

•  WebEx fees for Chapter meetings online, DA Webinars
•  DA Germany Vote-from-Abroad postcard campaign
•  Phone banking – Germany made over 3600 calls

Thank you for supporting the Frankfurt Chapter.

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More info including required registration. Drop in for the first ever online EMEA Regional Convention. Take advantage of the unique opportunity to listen in on some of the workings of DA without leaving home: Electing important representatives to the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic National Convention. The afternoon session will include a discussion of the EMEA suggestions for the global DA Platform, which will be finalized at the DA Global Convention on June 6. We hope that you can join for all or part of it.

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Culture and Community in America: Friday, May 22, 8 pm to 9 pm.

Frankfurt Chapter member Paul Abbott will host virtual get-togethers one Friday a month till the end of 2020. We’ll put political campaigns aside and together take a broad look at the United States of America. First in the series: RIP Hollywood – Long Live Streaming? Is the movie theater experience a thing of the past? Has the Corona virus made 5-dollar popcorn obsolete? Will we miss sitting in a theater, experiencing a newly released movie with others? Let's talk about how American culture is evolving to a new normal. RSVP: Call or message Paul 0170 7789473 for a Zoom invitation.

Next in the series Culture and Community: June 19, Food in America; July 10, Music today in the USA.

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Frankfurt Chapter Meeting: Thursday, May 28 from 7:00 pm to 8:30, WebEx.

Join us for our virtual monthly chapter meeting. Talking points this month:

Will Joe Biden have finally chosen a VP? If so, there will be lots of comments and viewpoints. If not, present your viewpoint on who his VP nominee should be. How can we create a Blue Tsunami in November 2020? Get to know key races and how we can help. This time we’ll focus on Jaime Harrison, former SC Democratic Party Chair and Associate DNC Chair, running ahead right now of Lindsey Graham. What happened at the EMEA Convention? Short report. How are we doing in Get Out The Vote campaigns? Do you have other topics? These are your meetings and a chance to discuss with other Americans.

https://democratsabroad.webex.com/democratsabroad/e.php?MTID=m9fe2810687d6dc0bedc038045b2b16f3

To join: On your computer, simply click the link and follow instructions below. If you have never joined a WebEx meeting before, get set up 10 minutes before the official start. With a tablet or phone, down load the app. Here's how. Then follow the directions below.

1. Enter your first name and preferably your last name, too, and then put the German city/town where you live in parentheses next to your name. Example: Mary Member (Marburg)
2. Enter your email address.
3. Enter the meeting password: dems
4. Click "Join".

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Frankfurt & Wiesbaden-Mainz Book Club: Sunday, July 26 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Stacey Abrams' new book, “Our Time is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America”

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Frankfurt & Wiesbaden-Mainz Book Club with “…a story about how and why we fight for our democracy and win." Please, RSVP for more information and the Zoom link. Join us or join the other book-discussion groups found at the DAGermany event page.  More about the book and Image Source

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GET INVOLVED

Democrats Abroad helps keep our democracy strong by mobilizing the overseas vote. Shockingly, over 90% of Americans living abroad do not vote.

Five ways you can help.

1. Have you requested your ballot yet? Now would be a great time to visit www.votefromabroad.org and get that in order. Since COVID-19 has affected mail service to the US, you can’t do this too early.

2. Color postcards to send to American voters in Germany in “battleground” states of AZ, CO, FL, GA, MI, MN, MT, NC, OH, PA, and postcards were recently sent to WI voters. If you need postcards, please click here to fill out the new "GoogleForm".

Thank you to members Michael D. (100+), Pam D. (100), Tobe vG., Diana A., Kate S. and our friends Götz (100+) and Tilly (100).

3. Phone banking is the most effective way of reminding our members to request an absentee ballot. Sixty-one phone bankers in Germany made over 3500 calls that helped us achieve the second highest turnout in DA. Join a live phone-banking training hosted by the Munich Chapter and see how easy it is. Just click to RSVP: On May 14 at 3pm, on May 20 at 7pm, on May 27 at 3pm.

4. We are also supporting down-ballot campaigns directly in the US. If you are interested, contact Kate for more information on how you can work specifically - but remotely - in a critical state. We've already supported successful Wisconsin elections.

Thank you to the Frankfurt April phone bankers: Joe M. and Susan C. Welcome to new-comers Carolyn S., Gudrun R-C. and Tyler C.

5. Short on time? Please think about contributing. DA is run totally on donations and with volunteering members. Your donation goes directly to the activities that support Get Out The Vote.

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The take-away from the April chapter meeting focusing on the CARES Act is don’t assume you don’t qualify or have a situation that can’t be overcome. Check out Americans Abroad Guide To CARES Act Aid For Individuals.

Thank you for scrolling through, and we hope that you will be able to participate in some of the many events available.  If you have questions, suggestions, or comments, contact Chapter Chair Barb Chap.

Stay healthy and happy,

The Frankfurt Chapter Team

Welcome to new and returning members. We hope you are well. And thank you for opening the chapter newsletter. In this edition, you will find:

Three on-line chapter get-togethers and six concrete things you can do to make a difference. Scroll through and find what appeals to you.

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Message from the Frankfurt Team:

In the current situation of restricted face-to-face contact and remote socializing, we recognize that everyone has been affected in different ways - some quite dramatically and uncomfortably - and we are dealing with changes that we never thought we’d have to make.

What has not changed is our determination to win the 2020 elections. The Republicans have openly admitted what we’ve known for decades: If more people voted, the Republicans would “never be elected.” And since we know that most expats don’t vote, the main work of Democrats Abroad to get out the vote gives us a lot to do - even now.

With member input, we are suggesting several activities, and we welcome your individual input on other ideas.

Stay healthy,

Barb Chap, Chair; Dhaval Kapadia, Vice; Stacey Kruckel, Secretary; Kate Sawyer, Treasurer

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Three different get-togethers at three different times – online, easy to join, and free with your computer. Kate Sawyer will give us the status of the CARES act, which may provide some monetary relief to Americans living abroad. And, we’ll get to know one another better by hearing from you. The Frankfurt Chapter covers basically all of Hessen and parts of Bavaria, and now we will reach people who couldn’t reach a physical meeting place.

Saturday afternoon, 18 April at 1:00 pm. Bring your own sandwich and a beverage and Join the group at https://democratsabroad.webex.com/democratsabroad/e.php?MTID=me3be6cdc31a9f197d56085d17910992b 

No working computer? Call-in toll number (US): +1-650-479-3208. Meeting call-in access code: 477389933

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Tuesday morning, 21 April at 10:30 am for a coffee, tea, and cake break. The group meets at https://democratsabroad.webex.com/democratsabroad/e.php?MTID=m52176e0d326ed5a8b63609b09f73666c

No working computer? Call-in toll number (US): +1-650-479-3208. Meeting call-in access code: 478579705

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Thursday evening, 23 April at 7 pm. Just bring your beverage and your smiling face. The meeting takes place at https://democratsabroad.webex.com/democratsabroad/e.php?MTID=m14a07b2b2fde31cfd1738b0f72ab8022

No working computer? Call-in toll number (US): +1-650-479-3208.  Meeting call-in access code: 475175097

For all meetings:

1. Enter your name and then put your town in parentheses. Enter your email address.
2. Enter the meeting password: dems
3. Click "Join".
4.  When the WebEx Meeting Center opens, please select "Use Computer for Audio" (in the Audio Conference pop-up box, under "Audio Connection"), and you will be able to hear the call conversation.

We’re looking forward to seeing you.

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Six different actions – Almost everyone wants and can do “something” to get Democrats elected. The important thing is to find the “something” that will give you a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment. No matter how small, everything counts.

		1. Amazingly, not all of DA members vote. Join an experienced team and be a phone banker. Remind our members to request their ballots NOW. You can start here to sign up and here to watch a training video. (Ignore the initial message and click on the play arrow. It takes a bit before it starts.) Let Barb Chap, Chair, know if you want more information.
2. Write postcards. This is the best way we have now to reach ex-pats in Germany to register and request an absentee ballot. Every single postcard you personally color and write will reach a real person. DA has secured the voting rolls in the battleground states of AZ, CO, FL, GA, MI, MN, MT, NC, OH, PA. Wisconsin voters were the first to get cards. Just email Barb Chap, Chair with the number of cards you would like, and she’ll give you the details and mail them to you.
3. Call or write your member of Congress to request that they guarantee safe, secure elections during the coronavirus outbreak: https://indivisible.org/resource/ensuring-safe-secure-elections-during-covid-19-outbreak
4. Use your network here and in the States to remind in-country Americans to vote. Vote Save America - https://www.votesaveamerica.com		Remote volunteering possibilities with USA organizations, for example: Fairfight  Swing Left (Contact Kate for details) Supermajority  Justice Democrats  Sister District Higher Heights
5. Stay informed and stay in touch. You do not have to be a member of any Caucus to join: Joint presentation of Global Black Caucus, Global Women’s Caucus, and Global Hispanic Caucus. This is an important discussion with Dr. Ramona Huston on how Democrats can build powerful, multi-racial / multi-cultural coalitions and a stronger Democratic Party:  Black/Brown Power, Whiteness and Women: The 2020 Election Challenge—Democrats, Be the Light! Save America!: https://youtu.be/UrumuJJiAd8 Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 7 pm CET Global Women's Caucus: Earth Day Panel  event RSVP Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 7pm CET Global Black Caucus: GBC Cafe - III RSVP		More ways to be informed and active:   DAGermany Get Out The Vote - a comprehensive resource page Dem List – a source site for democratic activists, leaders, party committees, supporters and allies Ballotpedia - a digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections
6. Contribute The expenses at Democrats Abroad Germany continue for the websites, the database, the platforms for meetings, webinars, and trainings. No amount is too little. Thank you. You can set up a one-time or recurring donations with a bank transfer to the following account: Account name: Democrats Abroad Germany IBAN: DE04 5405 0220 0140 2702 99   BIC: MALADE51KLK		Both Washington Post and New York Times have suggestions and links to corona-virus related charities.

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We appreciate your reading the newsletter and look forward to your feedback.

Be well,

The Frankfurt Chapter Team