Here's what's happening in DA Austria in March —
- Message from the Chair
Events:
- Women’s Day Business Walk in Graz
- Young Americans Board Game Night
- Salzburg Meet-up
- Annual General Meeting & Elections
- Post-AGM Dinner
- Solidarity Sundays in Vienna
Inside Democrats Abroad:
- Annual General Meeting & Elections
Issues and Actions:
- Solidarity Sundays Vienna 2.3: Defining What We‘re For
- DA Global’s Resistance Advocacy
- Stop the SAVE Act
Review:
- Solidarity Sundays Vienna 2.2: Breaking Through the Noise
Our next Executive Committee meeting will be on Thursday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Rich at [email protected] for the address and meeting link.
DA Austria is making a concerted effort to include in our monthly newsletter all the information you need to stay up to date. By sending you fewer emails, we hope you will read those you receive. Thanks for reading!
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Message from the Chair –
As I end my second term as chair of Democrats Abroad Austria, I want to express my profound thanks to all the members of the Executive Committee, as well as all other volunteers, for their hard work and support through the years. It’s been a great honor serving as chair of DA Austria for the past four years, and we have many achievements to be proud of. Of course, a lot of work lies ahead as the resistance, notably to win back Congress in 2026! I am especially thankful for those of you who have stepped up to take the reins of DA Austria and lead us in this new phase. Please read their bios below and cast your vote in our DA Austria elections. (Having run unopposed twice for chair, it still is appreciated to see that people vote to affirm their support). And please consider participating in our Annual General Meeting on Sunday, March 16 – either in-person or online – to learn what actions you can take to support Democrats Abroad Austria.
— Richard Miller
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Events Coming Up –
Women’s Day Business Walk in Graz
When: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Time: 10:00-12:00 p.m., followed by optional lunch
Where: Graz Innenstadt. Meeting location and lunch location TBA!
Young Americans Board Game Night
When: Sunday, March 9, 2025
Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Where: SpielBar
Salzburg Meet-up
When: Friday, March 14, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Where: Krimplestätter Restaurant, Müllner Hauptstrasse 31, Salzburg 5020
Annual General Meeting & Austria ExCom Elections
When: Sunday, March 16, 2025
Time: 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Where: SPÖ Neubau, Lindengasse 64, 1070
Post-AGM Dinner
When: Sunday, March 16, 2025
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: Le Burger, Mariahilfer Straße 114, 1070
Solidarity Sundays II
When: Sunday, March 23, 2025
Time: 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Where: Amerlinghaus, Raum 4, Stiftgasse 8, 1070 Vienna
For more information see Issues and Actions below
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Inside Democrats Abroad –
Annual General Meeting & Elections
DA Austria’s Annual General Meeting will be held in person and online on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 2 p.m. All DAA members are welcome to participate in the elections and join the meeting. We especially hope to see many of our members who live outside of Vienna and may not normally attend the AGM! Any American 18 or older by the next federal election and residing in Austria may also join the meeting and vote.
At the meeting we'll present brief reports on 2024 and discuss plans for the upcoming year. Most importantly, there will also be an Elections Meeting to elect an Executive Committee for the 2025–2027 term.
DA Austria is required by our By-Laws to hold an Annual General Meeting prior to March 31 of each year. We also have a quorum requirement to make the meeting valid. Please help us meet these challenges by joining the AGM in person or online!
Your participation, activism, and donations have made Democrats Abroad Austria a strong and vital organization for more than twenty years. In 2025, we’ll continue working to strengthen the voice and vote of all our members.
Please RSVP for the meeting here and you will receive meeting details closer to the date.
Post-AGM Dinner
There is nothing like community in times of trouble. Please join DA Austria's newly elected executive committee, friends, and families for a casual meet-up after our Annual General Meeting. Everyone is welcome! Please RSVP so we can make a reservation.
Executive Committee Elections
The 2025 Election of Officers & DPCA Voting Representatives is here! This is your chance to help shape the future of Democrats Abroad Austria by electing the next Executive Committee for the 2025–2027 term.
You can vote online via the digital ballot here: https://forms.gle/1h2ertD6wmcVdBQ97. If you prefer to vote in person, you can do so at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 16th.
🔹 How to Vote
✅ Online Voting: Cast your ballot in advance or during the AGM until the voting period closes on March 15 at midnight. Make sure to include your full name and email address.
✅ In-Person Voting: Join us at the AGM to meet fellow members, hear about upcoming initiatives, and have your say in shaping DAA’s future.
This is an exciting opportunity to connect with our community, share your ideas, and get involved as we prepare for the 2026 midterm elections. We encourage all members to participate and make their voices heard!
📌 View Candidate Statements & Vote Here:
Candidate Statements Vote Online
Thank you for being an active part of Democrats Abroad Austria. Your vote matters!
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]
Best regards,
— 2025 Nominations and Elections Committee, Democrats Abroad Austria
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Issues and Actions –
Solidarity Sundays Vienna 2.3: Defining What We‘re For
Democrats are clear about what we oppose—but what are we telling Americans we‘re fighting for? Resistance is crucial, but so is a vision for the future. At our next meet-up, we‘ll move beyond resistance to vision. We‘ll decide which key issues we want to champion in the months ahead and direct our efforts where we can make the biggest impact from abroad.
Join us for a focused discussion and strategic planning session. Let’s set our priorities and get to work. Sunday, March 23, from 4 to 6 pm. We meet at Amerlinghaus, Stiftgasse 8, 1070 Vienna. RSVP
Come ready to help shape our next steps!
— Tanya Lolonis, SolSun Vienna
DA Global’s Resistance Advocacy
Resistance happens in legislative chambers and courthouses, at the ballot box, and on the phone. It can take minutes, or years. Our Resistance Advocacy program equips members and leaders to defend democracy and drive change at every level—from quick actions to long-term campaigns. With a focus on coordinated strategies and actionable priorities, we provide tools to amplify our impact.
Key initiatives in the program:
- Defending Democracy Initiative: advocating for overseas voter rights in legislation. Join the team!
- Take Action Team: No time for legislation but want to be active? Get our rapid response materials for activist outreach - sign up to be notified!
- Community Engagement: support for our Country Committees, Task Forces and Global Caucuses to help them grow through our advocacy work, and to help empower their membership to advocate for the issues that matter to them.
You get to roll up your sleeves locally, in person, virtually, or at the global level - we need all hands on deck! Sign up as a volunteer with any of these teams.
Got Questions? Write to [email protected].
Stop the SAVE Act
The SAVE Act, introduced by Republican Representative Chip Roy (R-TX), is a voter disenfranchisement bill, pure and simple. It would impact millions of Americans and effectively end voting from abroad, due to the new voter registration requirements it would impose.
The SAVE Act amends the National Voter Registration Act to require voters registering or changing their registration information to provide ID that hundreds of millions of Americans do not have, and forcing that ID to be presented in person. These requirements severely restrict access to voting.
Actions to take
1) Call your Representative to let them know that this bill would undermine your right to vote, cost them votes, and to vote NO when the time comes.
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Review –
Solidarity Sundays Vienna 2.2: Breaking Through the Noise
At our February 16 meet-up, we tackled a pressing question: How do we cut through the media chaos created by Trump and Musk, who threaten democracy? With misinformation rampant and sensational headlines dominating the news, we focused on how to communicate what’s really at stake for U.S. expats.
Looking at history, we explored how movements like the Yippies at the 1968 DNC and Serbia‘s Otpor! used humour, spectacle, and defiance to expose corruption and mobilize change. Tanya Lolonis led us through their strategies, sparking ideas for creative tactics we could use today.
But attention isn’t enough: it must lead to action. To mobilize American expats, we researched practical ways to pressure legislators. A few days later, we gathered again, phones and laptops in hand, to craft messages and make calls. Our goal: to cut through the noise and apply pressure where it matters.
Politics today is exhausting, but coming together gives us energy, purpose, and the power to make a difference.
*Interested in contacting your own elected officials? You can easily email, fax, or send them physical letters with Resistbot — check it out here.
— Tanya Lolonis, SolSun Vienna
Thank you for reading the March newsletter, providing you all the information you need to stay up to date!