Happy New Year! We hope that you had a great start to 2018. Democrats Abroad Germany (DAG) is hitting the ground running as we kick off the new year with our first big Get Out The Vote (GOTV) push. Many sources are predicting a “Blue Wave” in the 2018 midterm elections, but there will be no wave unless you and as many people as possible vote this year. What better way to start the new year than by submitting your request for your absentee ballot for the midterms! All you need to do is to go VoteFromAbroad.org. It just takes a few minutes and then you can already cross something off of your new year’s to-do list! You’ll also save our dedicated phone banking volunteers from making unnecessary calls — so thank you!

Currently the Republicans control our government. The U.S. Senate has 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats (including two Independents that caucus with the Democrats). The 2018 midterm elections are just 10 months away: November 6, 2018. There are 34 seats up for grabs in 2018, of which 26 are held by Democrats. We will need to gain 2 seats to take control.  All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election as are 39 state and territorial governorships. Special Elections show a positive pattern for Dems, regardless of the election. The Democratic voting margin has been 16% higher than the average partisan lean in each seat, and 12% overall in both federal and state legislative special elections. We must keep up the momentum from the 2017 Special Elections into 2018!

Our global campaign to remind people to request your ballot will start this month. It’s not too late to sign up as a phone bank volunteer. Join other members in phone banking today. Stay tuned for more information regarding training sessions and contact DAG’s GOTV coordinator Beverly for training material or should you have any questions about phone banking and volunteering for GOTV efforts.

January Events — Anniversary of the Women’s March, March to the Ballot Box Events

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to become more politically active, then you’re in luck! The Democrats Abroad Global Women’s Caucus and DA-Germany have organized celebrations and voter registration/membership drives and meetings throughout the month of January and over the anniversary weekend of January 20-21. Join us as we participate in commemorative events around Germany and set the tone for resistance in this all important election year! Please RSVP today for an event near you.

Annual Meetings

2018 Germany Annual General Meeting in Hamburg — Friday, February 23-Sunday, February 25, 2018, Stiftung Kultur Palast Hamburg. Every year Democrats Abroad Germany gathers to discuss issues and plan our activities for the coming year. With midterm elections quickly approaching, join us in Hamburg to learn more about how you can be an active part of getting out the vote and meet other Democrats living in Germany. This year we will also discuss amendments to our bylaws to help improve DAG and make sure our country adapts to the changes of our organization.

If you would like to reserve a room at the hotel near the venue for a reduced rate, you can do so until Friday, January 5. Please see the event page for more information.

We will be discussing proposed bylaws changes prior to the AGM in an open web conference on Wednesday, January 16 at 7 pm. Please RSVP on the event page to receive the login information for the discussion.

Madrid EMEA Regional Meeting 2018 in Madrid, hosted by the Madrid Chapter of DA-Spain, February 9-11, 2018. All members of Democrats Abroad are welcome to join this meeting.

Save the Date: 2018 Democrats Abroad Global Meeting in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, May 25- Sunday, May 27, 2018.

News and Noteworthy

The Executive Committee adopted revisions to the Code of Conduct and Ethics on December 28, 2017. This updated policy will help us ensure that Democrats Abroad is an environment free of all forms of sexual or other harassment. The new provisions of the Code contain four key elements. Learn more about the revised Code of Conduct and Ethics.

Looking for a good book? Check these 18 Books To Prepare You For 2018. These books can help you understand what’s going on with our country. The more knowledge all of us have, the more able we will be to aid in the #Resistance and help plan a better future together.

Listen to an interview with our Berlin chapter chair Diego Rivas on the Indivisible Yolo Podcast.

Global Black Caucus (GBC): Check out the GBC Facebook page from January 13-15, 2018, for a retrospective on MLK. We’ll be posting a number of lesser- as well better-known speeches from and information about MLK. Also, if you are seeking resources and information for MLK day, check out the GBC’s new resource page.  RVSP today for the Inaugural GBC General Membership Meeting on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at 2:30 pm.

2018 is shaping up to be a really important year in the history of American democracy. DAG needs to find as many Americans as possible and persuade them to vote. Advertising, making calls, paying local registration fees, and buying postage all require money. Please consider becoming a DAG Sustaining Member. DAG is a member-funded, 100% volunteer organization. With the 2018 midterms approaching, we are appreciative of all the financial support we receive. In 2016, we calculated that each euro spent resulted in 3 new members/voters, and in this year's midterms, every vote counts! Please consider making a donation to us, whether one time, monthly, or quarterly.

Account name: Democrats Abroad Germany

IBAN: DE04 5405 0220 0140 2702 99

BIC: MALADE51KLK

To make it a recurring donation, you can set up a Dauerauftrag. Let us know if you need assistance with this process — we’re glad to help! Thank you in advance for your support.

America: The Cookbook: Democrats Abroad Germany was offered a special deal that we can pass on to our members on the new book America: The Cookbook. This book includes 600 recipes from chefs and writers from each of the 50 states. DAG members can now order this book for €27.95 (originally €39.95), which includes free shipping, by sending an email to [email protected].

Check out our merchandise! We have a variety of politically-themed t-shirts, buttons, tote bags, and now new Vote from Abroad umbrellas. All proceeds support our efforts for Get Out The Vote in 2018. Contact your nearest chapter chair to find out what’s available in your area. It’s still not too late to pick up DA’s 2018 Global Women’s Caucus calendar, which features information about and photos of the Democratic Congresswomen making the US a better place for everyone. Inspire the next generation and make a special gift to the girls and boys in your life.  

Democrats Abroad Germany needs you! We’re looking for members to fill the following national leadership roles:

• A media contact/press officer: This position must also speak fluent German.
• Hispanic caucus chair
• Women’s caucus chair
• Black caucus chair
• Interested members to help form our fledgling Veterans and Military Families Council

If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact: [email protected].

We’re active on social media. Are you? Follow Democrats Abroad Germany on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Thanks for reading. Keep resisting and vote!