The DAG Frankfurt Chapter now has meetings in three locations (info is below). Primary season starts soon with the Iowa Caucuses, so now is the time to make your voice heard, to vote and help get out the vote, and to do whatever we can to bring about a blue wave in November.

Please read our newsletter and get active. Your support, energy and activism this year are vital. 

Announcements from the Chair

1. With nearly 1,000 members among over 15,000 Americans, the Frankfurt Chapter goes from Marburg to Bensheim, from the Rhine to Würzburg. If you missed the Frankfurt Chapter AGM on January 19th, you can read an overview of the Chapter’s 2019 activities and 2020 goals here.
2. Please welcome Dhaval Kapadia as our new Vice Chair and Phone Banking Coordinator. Dhaval, new to us from the Singapore Chapter, is outgoing and friendly, and has with extensive experience in Getting Out The Vote.
    
3. Help promote democracy. You, too, can find Americans who don’t know they can vote. A simple way is to carry Vote From Abroad cards with you. Need some? Let us know.

Thanks for being active,

Barb

What’s Next? Bring an American with you…

Darmstadt Area Meet & Plan: Saturday, February 8^th, 1 pm - 3 pm

Hotel Restaurant Bockshaut, Kirchstraße 7-9, 64283 Darmstadt

The Darmstadt Area has a Global Presidential Primary Voting Center on March 7th. What is it? How can you vote locally in the presidential primary? How can you help get Americans to vote? Join this dedicated group to find out. More info

Frankfurt Chapter Meeting: Thursday, February 13^th, 7 to 9pm

SPD Haus, Fischerfeldstraße 7-11, 60311 Frankfurt

With the Global Presidential Primary just ahead of us, please join us to learn more about local voting in the Democratic presidential primary, and how you can help support the two local Voting Centers that we plan to have in Frankfurt on March 3^rd and 7^th.

Then let’s discuss: Do you vote for your favorite candidate or the one that can best defeat Trump? It’s a difficult decision, so come and share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to get social! Meet us at 5:30pm for dinner before the meeting and/or for drinks after the meeting. Getting there at 6:00pm still gives you time to order a delicious meal before heading to the SPD Haus, just a 5-minute walk away.

Moloko. Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 1, 60311 Frankfurt

Corner of Schöne Aussicht and Alte Brücke

Vote From Abroad Info Stand, Saturday, February 15^th (set up at 12) 1pm to 5pm.

Hauptwache, on Ziel between Kaufhof and My Zeil

We had a lot of fun at the January stand. Sign up using this doodle poll to take an hour long (or more) shift. Meet lots of nice people, provide information, and help them request an absentee ballot. Would you prefer to be in the background? You can still join in. T-shirts and hoodie jackets are available for us to raise donations. Or you could bake some Cookies for Cash.

Global Presidential Primary Voting Centers:

Frankfurt - March 3^rd and 7^th
Linguarama Spracheninstitut GmbH,
Große Eschenheimer Straße 39, 60313 Frankfurt
Tuesday, March 3, 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Saturday, March 7, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Vote in person during the Democratic Presidential Primary!

We need your help! Be a greeter, check folks in, count ballots, etc. We have lots to do, and your help is needed. Work with us for a few hours or be part of the team all day. We aim to sign up a lot of new voters – for Super Tuesday (Stacey, Manager) or Saturday (Carl, Manager). Contact us to join in the fun be an active part of this event. 

Darmstadt – March 7^th
Hotel Restaurant Bockshaut, Kirchstraße 7-9, 64283 Darmstadt
Saturday, March 7, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Vote in person in Darmstadt during the Democratic Presidential Primary!

We need your help! Be a greeter, check folks in, count ballots, etc. We have lots to do, and your help is needed. Work with us for a few hours or be part of the team all day. We aim to sign up a lot of new voters –Saturday (Brian, Manager). Contact us to join in the fun be an active part of this event.

Planned Meet and Greet Events in other Chapter cities:

If you live outside of Frankfurt proper and would like an event near you, you can help us to find the right location, and we can plan the meeting and contact the people around you. We need everyone’s vote in 2020 to put Democrats in office! Contact Barb, Chapter Chair. frankfurt@democratsabroad.de

Other News:

DA Germany Annual Meeting: January 24-26^th 

DA Germany recently held its Annual General Meeting in Munich. Over 180 Americans from across Germany attended the event, where we planned activities for 2020, and where we heard inspirational and informative presentations on issues ranging from immigration reform to feminism in the age of Trump. David Schor, a renowned data scientist who was the the guest speaker at the event, gave us statistics and ideas on how to get our 2020 message right: Focus on issues, particularly health care. Don’t bash Trump, the Republicans or that supporters -- that backfires.

After the amazing AGM, DA Germany members are more determined than ever to give the extra effort to get Americans to vote.

Celebrating Black History Month

The Frankfurt chapter is proud to join with other Americans in celebrating Black History Month. Below are links to lists of books, music and more that to educate, inform, and inspire you for Black History Month:

25 Amazing Books by African-American Writers You Need to Read

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/532058/books-by-african-american-writers-you-need-to-read

The New York Times: 1619 Project

A series of podcasts and a special issue of the NY Times magazine devoted to African-American history and life, published to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of the landing of the first slaves in the US.

Read the magazine here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html?searchResultPosition=4

Listed to the podcasts here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/podcasts/1619-trailer.html?searchResultPosition=3

National Museum of African-American History and Culture

Digitally explore the collection at the National Museum of African-American History and Culture: https://nmaahc.si.edu/

Code Switch: Race and Identity Remixed

is a great podcast on race produced by National Public Radio (NPR). They have assembled some of their most fascinating podcasts into a playlist for Black History Month

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/02/01/401948607/a-code-switch-playlist-for-black-history-month?t=1580579823243

Get Involved with DAG Frankfurt!

Come to a meeting and/or become a volunteer. Short on time? Please think about contributing. DA is run totally on donations and with active members.

Or contact Barb Chap, Chapter Chair, directly if you have an idea, want to learn more about the Frankfurt Chapter, or be part of the organizational team (Press, for example).

Thank you for reading, and we hope to see you soon.

DA Germany-Frankfurt Chapter

The new year is upon us, and since this is an important election year, now is the time to meet up, mobilize, and work with other Americans to help attain a blue wave during this year’s elections.

The DAG Frankfurt Chapter provides a space for you to meet to all of this, and more!  You can meet your compatriots, discuss and debate the issues of the day, and to volunteer to help elect Democrats to change our country for the better.

Join us!

Upcoming Events:

Frankfurt Chapter Meetings:

  - Vote from Abroad Info Stand, January 18th

  - Gießen - Meet and Greet, beginning February, Date TBA

  - DA Germany Annual General Meeting, January 24-26^th in Munich

A Message from the Frankfurt Chapter Chair

2020 is the year of “The Power of One Vote.” (Thank you, Derek Bembry for our motto.)

If each of us helped another American to vote, and each of them encouraged another American to apply for their absentee ballot (and so on), you can imagine the impact. So, keep those Vote from Abroad cards handy, take a shift at a Vote from Abroad stand, phone our members to remind them to vote--  the list of how you can make an impact goes on.

The Frankfurt Chapter team wishes you all a happy New Year. It will be even happier when we restore the White House and Congress to a more workable democracy.

Thanks for being part of the Power,
Barb Chap

* * *

Upcoming Events: Bring an American With You…

Vote From Abroad Info Stand, Saturday, January 18^th 12pm to 4pm
Hauptwache, Zeil corner of Liebfrauenstraße

Take an hour shift, meet lots of nice people, provide information and help them request an absentee ballot.

Would you prefer to be in the background? You can still join in the fun. T-shirts and hoodie jackets are available for us to raise donations. And you could bake some Cookies for Cash.

An info stand a month? Certainly, at bigger events. At the markets? In other cities? It’s just a matter of how many active members can initiate and participate.

Gießen Meet and Greet: Saturday, February 1^st or 8^th TBA

700+ Americans live in the Gießen/Marburg area, and the enthusiastic members there are forming a group to get to know one another and to take an active part in encouraging Americans to vote. Exact details will come soon. Thanks for your patience.

Planned Meet and Greet Events in other Chapter cities:

We want our DAG Frankfurt members – no matter where they live - to have the opportunity to meet one another, discuss, and make a difference in 2020. Plans are also underway for get-togethers around Epstein, Bad Homburg and Aschaffenburg.

If you live outside of Frankfurt proper, you can help us to find the right location, and we will contact the people around you. We need everyone’s vote in 2020 to put Democrats in office! Email: frankfurt@democratsabroad.de

Future Frankfurt Activities and Meetings:

• February 13^th - Chapter Meeting
• March 3^rd and 7^th - Global President Primary polling. Please, consider being part of the teams led by Stacey and Carl.
• March 12^th - Chapter meeting. How does the candidate field look now?
• March, date TBA: Potluck, fun social with serious discussion. 

Other Democrats Abroad Events:

DA Germany Annual Meeting: January 24-26^th 

In Munich. This will be a critical time for our Get out the Vote effort, and we need all hands on deck!  More information and registration here.

 Get Involved with DAG Frankfurt!

Our Vote from Abroad public activities are limited only by the number of volunteers we have. You can make a difference in many ways – large or small – to help Democrats win the Presidential, Congressional, and state elections in 2020. Come to a meeting and/or become a volunteer. Short on time? Please think about contributing. DA runs totally on donations.

Or contact Barb Chap, Chapter Chair, directly if you have an idea, want to learn more about the Frankfurt Chapter, or be part of the Frankfurt organizational team: frankfurt@democratsabroad.de

Thank you for reading, and we hope to see you soon.