Minutes of Democrats Abroad Guatemala

Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 12:00 noon at Café  Teatro El Sitio and via Skype

Members in Attendance: John Chudy, Chair; Kee Adams Evans, Events Coordinator; Hyungjoon Jin, Member at Large; Sheryl Larson, Member; and via Skype, Scotney Young, Media Contact; and Juan Pablo Aris, Counsel.

Per our bylaws (paragraph 19.3), all meetings are open to all members. 

Called to order at 11:59

Approval of Agenda and Minutes: Minutes from September meeting and October agenda were approved with spelling corrections.

Treasurer’s report: Current balance is Q4538.

Chair’s Report: A new recruiting email for Treasurer and Secretary will go out in November. Also needed are MeetUp Group chair for Guatemala City and start-up leader for Huehuetenango. Scotney said she continues to talk to friends and acquaintances for interest in joining DAGT and their interest in one of the open positions especially MeetUp Chair for Guatemala City.

Amending DAGT bylaws to coincide with DPCA charter on officer elections and terms of office is under consideration and other amendments so that DAGT’s bylaws are consistent with the DPCA Charter. Proposed amendments would be voted on by the full membership at DAGT’s Annual General Meeting in 2020.

All DAGT members should join DA’s Hispanic Caucus chaired by Michael Ramos, DA Australia. Join the Hispanic Caucus at: https://www.democratsabroad.org/hc.  In addition to bringing issues of importance to light, Michael has launched a series of Podcasts of interest to caucus members and DA members alike. Podcasts can be heard at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/democrats-abroad-hispanic-caucus-podcast/id1476121999.

Events for 2019:Next Movie Night will be Thursday, October 24^th featuring Black Klansman at Casa Convento Concepciٕón at 6:30pm. Fahrenheit 11/9 will be featured November 19^th.

Voter registration events will begin again in January 2020, to be held monthly up to the general election in November.

Debate Watch Party- October 15^th.  Thanks to Kee and Dave for hosting the watch party. Despite heavy rain and 12 candidates over three hours of debate, eight hardy Democrats showed up to share the spectacle. Attendees were in agreement that this was the best debate so far with questions and answers more focused on substance than on show. The DNC will offer a debate in November, with the date, place and participating candidates to be determined. Dave and Kee will again host.

Americas Region News: Americas Regional Meeting to be held October 25 - 26, 2019 in San Jose, Costa Rica. The meeting, originally scheduled for in-person attendees only, is now available via Webex. Via Webex, John and Kee will participate both Friday and Saturday, and Scotney will participate on Saturday. Other members of the Excom and the general membership interested in getting involved in the 2020 election are encouraged to join in. Here is a link to sign-up. https://forms.gle/sa7MBrkwBtc7uvsw8. Webex participants are asked to contribute $10 for one day or $15 for both days to help cover digital transmission costs, donations accepted via Paypal to demoratsabroadcostarica@gmail.com.  Friday’s agenda, after introductions and opening remarks, features the Global Primary, Communications timeline and rules, and Ballot Request/Registration processes; Saturday’s agenda will stress phone banking, the Delegate Selection Plan and conventions to elect delegates from DA to the National Convention in Milwuakee, and Communications Outreach and Talking Points.

DAGT November Excom meeting: Thursday, November 14^th, 12:00 noon at Café Teatro El Sitio and via Skype.

Travel Notes: Mary Lou will be in and out. John will in the USA Nov 21 to December 29, 2019.

Adjourned: 1:01pm.

SEPTEMBER UPDATES FROM DEMOCRATS ABROAD!

We're in, we're out, we're in... Universal Postal Agreement

Good news for our voters this fall - after very intense negotiations in Geneva this week, the US did not pull out of the Universal Postal Union. The not so good news - postal rates for mail delivery to the US will go up, rate details still unknown. Here's the story  

From Tom’s Desk

Check out DNC Chair Tom Perez on The Electables podcast talking about impeachment and see what else he has been up to here

In case you missed it... DA conversation with Mayor Pete

Democrats Abroad is trying to schedule conversations with all the Democratic candidates. If you missed our first candidate call yesterday with Mayor Pete, we've got you covered. Here's the video link. 

Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary 

Still haven't had time to check out the Democrats Abroad ballot access petition process but have 5 minutes now? Democrats Abroad has just launched our petitions platform for Democratic presidential candidates who want to add their name to our primary ballot next year.

Here's your handy link to the petition platform. 

Update from the Taxation Task Force: 

The Federal Passport Revocation Policy that was enacted as part of the 2015 FAST Act has come into effect. The IRS is providing the State Department with the names of persons with outstanding and unresolved federal tax debts of $52,000 or more. Those being subjected to this provision should have been provided with notice and opportunities to cure under the policy's implementation rules.     The Tax Task Force  felt the rules had a good chance of protecting Americans abroad but ask that you keep an ear to the ground and let us know if you hear of Americans abroad who have had their passports revoked or have had their application for a passport denied as a result of this policy. Please send comments or questions to taxationtf@democratsabroad.org.