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See all posts2021 Candidates for Avignon Chapter Elections
read moreThe Avignon Election Board is pleased to announce the candidates for Avignon Chapter Chair and Vice Chair. All members of DA France living in the the Avignon Chapter area will receive a ballot by email -- voting will end on March 6 at 2PM. For questions please contact the Avignon Election Board Catherine Tate (Chair), Elaine Garcin, Ellen Pumo, and Charles Jarworski at [email protected]
Candidate for Avignon Chapter Chair
JACK MC DERMOTT
I have been Chair of the DA-Avignon chapter for two momentous years, and would like to go on for another term. Why? I want to continue the push for a ‘Blue Wave’...to ´discover’ and enroll Americans abroad, ensure they are informed, and to encourage them to vote.
In so many contests absentee ballots, many from DA members, make the difference. During these last two years Democrats secured the WH and slim majorities in Congress. And while results are mixed at State & Local levels, we made progress. But we need to do more. As a former HR Executive with international experience, I believe I have the insight and experience to get things done. I’ve lived nearly 40 years in Europe: Holland, Switzerland, and now retired in France. I’ve learned much and I want to contribute.
So, while safety concerns have constrained our ability to gather (nearly all activities are online) it has not eliminated the need to connect. We will meet again. I ask for your support to continue as DA Chair of the Avignon Chapter.
Candidate for Avignon Chapter Secretary
DENNIS SHIBUT
I have eight years of chapter leadership experience: two consecutive terms (2012-16) as chair and two terms (2016-20) as vice-chair. I first became a member of the Avignon chapter when it first started in 2004. I’ve resided in Avignon for more than 30 years, enjoying the cuisine, sun, and cycling.
Professionally I’m a physicist for the environment and worked for NASA (Skylab Mission) and taught physics at the university level. Here in France, I continue to give presentations at universities and schools
on green living and renewable energy. I am also an Ambassador for Enercoop, France’s best-rated renewable energy utility.
During my tenures, our membership tripled through monthly events, and during the presidential and congressional campaigns our ballot arrivals scored an 80 percent success rate, a high point for DAF. Our 4-step process for this success is now standard practice for DA chapters worldwide. Another first was getting a local cinema to advertise our chapter on-screen at low cost. Two years ago, I helped start a new DA chapter in Montpellier, where there are now 154 members and growing. I ask for your vote.
Avignon
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photo by Elliott Brown
Welcome to Democrats Abroad Avignon!
DA Avignon is a chapter of DA France, the official country committee for US Democrats living in France. Watch this space for upcoming announcements of meetings and events - we have events planned throughout the year, and encourage anyone interested in participating to get in touch.
If you have questions or would like to help with Democrats Abroad in Avignon, please contact us at [email protected]
Jack McDermott, Chapter Chair
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Upcoming Events
Political Forum
Join Political Forum host Jean-Pierre LaRochelle and leaders of Democrats Abroad France in a free-wheeling discussion of current events and news of the month, and share your views with other attendees. Send your questions to [email protected]
Wednesday, August 04, 2021 at 07:00 PM Paris Time
via Zoom in Paris, FrancePolitical Power Hour
Politics is not a spectator sport! Join us every Wednesday as we join together to take political action to help pass the Biden agenda.
Our current project is making calls with Common Cause to constituents of key US Senators and patching them through to their Senators' voicemail to urge them to publicly commit to ENDING THE FILIBUSTER and PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY by passing the For the People Act now.
The For The People Act (HR1/S1) will only pass if people like you and me are willing to take action. Join us to make calls to activists in key states and help pass this groundbreaking democracy bill, which would
- Expand the right to vote. The For the People Act would abolish outdated voter registration deadlines and enact online voter registration and automatic voter registration to make voting easier and our voter rolls more accurate and secure. The bill would stop some voter suppression tactics like voter purges and interference with voter registration.
- End partisan gerrymandering. Voters should select their politicians and not the other way around. That's why the For the People Act institutes independent redistricting commissions.
- Stop Big Money from calling the shots in our politics. Congresspeople spend some 60% of their time dialing big donors asking for money. By enacting a system of small dollar elections, whereby a $27 contribution would be matched to become $189, politicians can get off the dialer and talk to constituents, and more women, people of color, and new candidates without connections to donors would be empowered to run for office.
- Hold elected officials (including the executive branch and president) to high ethical standards. Stop regulators from profiting from the very industries they regulate. Require tax return disclosure.
We'll give you all the tools and training you need to call voters in our target states -- asking them to contact their lawmakers who will make the difference between success and failure.
Can't make it but still want to be engaged? First, call Congress. You can call Congress for free from France at 07 555 3 6446 ("Bark at Congress: 07 555 DOGGO") — this connects callers automatically to the US Capitol Switchboard, where you follow the prompts to be connected to your House Rep or Senators. Need a script? Check out 5 Calls, where you can find topical scripts with concrete demands for your legislators on any issue you care about.
Second, reach out to Max Dunitz to get connected with activities from past Power Hour actions, or other volunteer activities like postcarding, phonebanking, textbanking, data work, etc.
Have an action to suggest? Contact Max Dunitz [email protected]