This has been a busy year for Democrats Abroad, so we hope everyone can take a moment to relax and reflect on 2017. Many of our chapters will be celebrating the holidays with get-togethers at Weihnachtsmärkte, local restaurants, and community centers. We hope that you will be able to join a celebration near you and can recharge before we kick off our Get Out to Vote (GOTV) efforts in 2018.

Democrats Abroad Germany would like to wish everyone a wonderful winter holiday season. We look forward to seeing you in 2018!

Featured Events

Book Club - Strangers in Their Own Land in Hamburg - Sunday, December 3 · 3:00pm - The Hamburg Book Club is reading Strangers in Their Own Land by Arlie Russell Hochschild. Highly acclaimed, it promises to offer some insight into the growing political divide in the US. You can find more details here.

Find a holiday get-together near you:

• Braunschweig - Thursday, November 30 · 7:30 pm

• Freiburg - Thursday, November 30 · 9:00 pm

• Stuttgart - Friday, December 01 · 7:00 pm

• Hamburg - Saturday, December 02 · 3:00 pm

• Kassel - Saturday, December 02 · 5:00 pm

• Berlin - Tuesday, December 05 · 7:30 pm

• Bonn - Saturday, December 09 · 2:00 pm

• Ruhrgebiet - Saturday, December 09 · 2:00 pm

• Wiesbaden/Mainz - Sunday, December 10 · 3:00 pm

• Munich - Wednesday, December 13 · 7:00 pm

• Münster - Thursday, December 14 · 7:00 pm

• Cologne - Tuesday, December 15 · 7:00 pm

• Lübeck - Saturday, December 16 · 3 pm

• Berlin - Wednesday, December 20 · 6:45 pm

2018 Annual General Meeting in Hamburg - Friday, February 23—Sunday, February 25, 2018, Stiftung Kultur Palast Hamburg - Every year Democrats Abroad Germany gathers in person to discuss issues back home 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, get energized with other Democrats living in Germany, and make plans for increased political activism on the national and international level.

Save the date: EMEA Conference in Madrid, Spain: February 9-11, 2018. Registration details will follow.

Voting and Election Information

Democrats Win at All Levels in November 2017 Elections. Many thanks to everyone who worked on getting out the vote and everyone who voted. The fall elections were a great success. Election night brought historic wins for minority and LGBT candidates. Read more about the winners of the November elections here.

Special Elections in December

Pennsylvania — State House District 133, Special Election on December 5

Jeanne McNeill, widow of State Rep.Daniel McNeill, will be an outstanding State Representative, continuing her late husband’s work. The 133rd PA legislative district consists of Coplay, Catasauqua, Bethlehem (Lehigh county), Fountain Hill, Hanover township (Lehigh county), portions of Salisbury township, and most of Whitehall township.Ballots must be postmarked by December 5, 2017. If you haven’t yet received your ballot, vote and return a federal write-in absentee ballot (FWAB) today! Instructions here.

Alabama — U.S. Senate, Special Election on December 12

Doug Jones (D), a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, is running against controversial Roy Moore (R), a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama for the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions. This special election concerns all Alabama voters and December 7, 2017 is the last day to request a ballot by mail. Your ballots must be returned by mail and postmarked by December 12, 2017 and received by December 19. If you haven’t yet received your ballot, vote and return a FWAB today! Instructions here.

You can always register to vote and/or request your ballot at votefromabroad.org

Noteworthy News and Information

Republican Tax Bill: If you've been following Congressional tax reform efforts over the last few weeks you know that GOP leaders in the House, Senate, and White House have produced truly appalling tax reform packages. The House passed a bill that cuts taxes for the wealthy and large corporations, but not for working class Americans. The Senate Finance Committee has ratified a bill that also vastly favors the wealthy and large corporations at the expense of middle income Americans -- only it ALSO repeals the ACA’s health insurance mandate, ripping health insurance away from 13 million Americans. Messages to Congress from constituents are persuasive, so please reach out and send a message TODAY! You can use our easy to use tool. It includes everything you need to send a message of opposition to this "Trust us, it will trickle down" tax scam.

Net Neutrality: Our internet freedom is under attack again. While American families and friends around the world came together to celebrate Thanksgiving, the FCC made major moves to reverse net neutrality rules that preserving an open and fair internet -- and it’s looking even worse than we expected.The FCC is set to make ruling on December 14, 2017, so we need speak up immediately to defend net neutrality. More information about net neutrality and how to make your voice heard can be found here.

ICYMI: Watch our webinar with Stephanie Schriock, President of Emily’s List, from November 2, 2017. The event was sponsored by the Global Women’s Caucus.

Democrats Abroad Global Auction Going On Now

From November 24th through December 3rd, Democrats Abroad is auctioning off a number of fun and unique items to raise money for our organization's Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts in 2018. Take a look; there might be a great gift for yourself or someone on your holiday shopping list and you can support our work and get some great deals at the same time!

Join a Democrats Abroad Caucus

Democrats Abroad is pleased to announce that we now have 5 active caucuses: the Black Caucus, the Hispanic Caucus, the LGBT Caucus, the Women's Caucus, and the Youth Caucus. Three out of the five caucuses are chaired internationally by DA Germany members. All members are welcome to join any of these special interest groups. By joining, you’ll be informed about specific issues and special events that each caucus has scheduled. Find out more about caucuses here and join today!

New! DAG Veterans and Military Families Caucus (VFMC)

Germany has the largest population of U.S. military members and retirees in the world outside of the U.S., so we are proud to announce the formation of a new DAG Veterans and Military Families Caucus (VFMC) to represent the important interests of this group of DAG members. The VFMC is intended to be a clearinghouse for political concerns touching on veterans, military members, and their families that may be unique to American citizens residing overseas and/or in Germany. Membership is open to Democrats Abroad members who live in Germany and are veterans, current military members, or family members. To become a VFMC member and/or get help with a military related concern, please contact Michael Lee and Kirk Samson at [email protected].

GIVE TO WIN Needs Your Help!

Without you and all of our volunteers, DA would not be able to help thousands of Americans abroad vote, voter registration stands would go unstaffed, and issues affecting Americans abroad would remain unaddressed in Washington. In 2018 it's really important that we expand the overseas voter base. We all know what is at stake for our families and friends, our country, and the world if things remain as they are for next six years.

Democrats Abroad is a 100% volunteer organization where no one is paid a salary. All money donated goes to keeping our online tools functioning, advertising to find more Americans abroad, and promoting the issues you care about to our representatives. Please give today to help us keep the lights on because democracy dies in the dark. A donation today, large or small, will make a big difference in 2018. Please Give To Win.

Global Black Caucus (GBC)

RVSP today for the Inaugural GBC General Membership Meeting on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at 2:30 pm.

The GBC invites you to participate in our documentary "The Impact of Martin Luther King." We are putting together a documentation about what MLK means to the members of Democrats Abroad and how he has affected our lives. Get more information and participate here. Contact the GBC at [email protected]

More Democrats Abroad Gear!

The holidays are a great time to outfit your loved ones with our 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. Order today!

The Women's Caucus is selling 2018 calendars to raise money to help with our 2018 election work. They make great gifts for yourself or others while also helping DA. These calendars are going fast, so get yours today: Order one of these unique calendars here.These calendars can also be purchased from your local chapters and precincts. Contact your chapter chair to purchase a calendar today.

Hispanic Caucus: Update on DACA & Tax Reform in Congress

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