Here's what's happening in DA in May —
Events:
- Annual July 4 Celebration
- Welt Museum Tour TBA
Inside Democrats Abroad Austria:
- Privileges of Membership in Democrats Abroad
- Meet DA Austria’s New Vice Chair
- Apply for a Caucus Position
Inside Democrats Abroad:
- EMEA Regional and Global Conventions
- The Global Black Caucus Get out the Vote Team
Issues and Actions:
- In Your Neighborhood – Voter Registration Tables
- Why Use the Federal Postcard Application on Vote from Abroad?
Review:
- DAA Talks with Andreas Beckmann for Earth Day
Our Executive Committee meetings are usually held on the second Thursday of the month. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, June 13, at 7:30 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Richard at [email protected] for the address and meeting link.
DAA is making a strong 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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Events:
SAVE THE DATE: Fourth of July Party
When: Saturday, July 6
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Where: Die Schankwirtschaft im Augarten
Tour of the Welt Museum for DA Members
When: Tuesday, TBD
Time: Evening Opening Hours. TBD
Where: Welt Museum Wien
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Inside Democrats Abroad Austria:
Privileges of Membership in Democrats Abroad
Did you miss the online webinar with Kris Mayes Arizona Attorney General on May 7? The latest of the popular tax webinars run by the Taxation Task Force on April 15? Congressman Jaime Raskin on January 6? (Insider Tip — save the date because Heather Cox Richardson is scheduled to speak to DA on July 10.)
Invitations to these types of interesting and informative webinars for members of Democrats Abroad are one of the many perks of DA membership. Of course membership is free, and we don’t share your data with anyone. DA also provides invaluable and updated voter information for how to vote in your state on the Vote from Abroad website as well as 1:1 live voter help in our ZOOM rooms for voters who need more help or have questions. But it doesn’t stop there, stateside, DA advocates and lobbies in both Washington DC and state legislatures for the rights of US citizens living abroad and the specific issues we face.
Kris Mayes knows the value of the overseas vote — she’s currently the Attorney General of Arizona thanks to just 280 votes. Imagine if those Arizona voters from overseas hadn’t requested their FPCA ballot to ensure their vote was counted. Watch her webinar on the DA YouTube channel.
Membership has privileges. Help us grow our numbers abroad and remain the difference in elections and policy at home. Tell three friends, colleagues, or family about the benefits of being a member of Democrats Abroad!
Friends make sure friends get the perks. Send them to democratsabroad.org to join today.
Meet DA Austria’s New Vice Chair
At our March 2024 annual general meeting (AGM), we welcomed Hilary Monihan as our newly appointed Vice Chair. We took the opportunity to pose a few questions to introduce her:
What is your background?
My training is as a sinologist, specializing in sociology and the art world. Previously, I worked for several years at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard setting up a China program for high-level government exchanges. After many years in the unpaid workforce, I transitioned into academic editing, focusing on East Asian texts.
How long have you been overseas and when did you get involved with DA?
During the 1990s, I lived in several Asian countries—Taiwan, Japan, and Kazakhstan— before settling in Boston, where I spent 17 years. In 2011, my family (my husband and three sons) relocated to Vienna, Austria.
My involvement with DA intensified in 2017 following the presidential election, largely through participation in the Solidarity Sundays program. In 2019, I briefly assumed leadership of the DA Austria Women’s Caucus until activities were suspended due to the onset of COVID
What do you plan to focus on as Vice Chair?
In this pivotal year, I aim to assist the Chair and the entire executive committee in boosting our membership through events and outreach, with the goal of mobilizing voters for the 2024 election.
Open Caucus Positions
The pandemic shutdown brought about an end to many of DA Austria’s vibrant caucus and social groups. Let us know if you’d be interested to help revive one. These groups can both tie into the global caucuses or work independently to organize and advocate locally. To find out more contact [email protected].
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Inside Democrats Abroad Global:
EMEA Regional and Global Conventions
Many DA members appreciate the voter assistance help we provide but don’t realize DA’s greater role within the Democratic Party itself. The Democratic National Committee (i.e. the organization which oversees the party) includes DA as one of the 57 official state parties, and DA’s International Chair and Vice Chair regularly attend state party organizing meetings
Our state party status is why we held a Global Presidential Primary with votes cast from Antarctica to Vietnam this past March. It’s also why, at the end of the month, DA elected leaders (electors) around the world will gather online and in-person to elect Democratic National Committee (DNC) members to represent DA in the DNC and delegates to attend and cast DA’s vote for the Democratic candidate for president at the Democratic National Convention being held from Aug. 19–23 in Chicago.
You may remember when Bernie Sanders’s brother Larry, cast his vote as a DA delegate at the 2016 convention. PIC (photo credit: Tannen Maury / EPA) (watch the video on you tube. It’s Katie Solon, DA Austria member, former DAAT Chair, and former International Chair, who casts DA’s votes during Roll Call.
Observers are welcome to join our Regional Convention for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) online on May 26 at 10 a.m. Vienna time and the Global Convention, which will take place online and in-person in Costa Rica, from May 31 to June 2.
This process began on Super Tuesday when many of you voted for the presidential candidate at Webster University. It will conclude when delegates cast their votes for President Biden to be the official Democratic candidate and in the months ahead as we work to make sure he’s reelected. Thank you for being a part of this process!
Join an online Meet the Candidates Forum for the DNC Candidates from EMEA and for the Delegate Candidates from EMEA. RSVP to attend the EMEA Convention and the Global Convention. You can also see who is running for delegate to the convention and to be a member of the DNC.
– Jen Rakow-Stepper, Regional Vice Chair for EMEA, DAAT Member-at-Large
Invitation from the Global Black Caucus
Are you ready to do the work to reach African & Black Americans living outside of the US to bring home the votes we need to win?
I'm reaching out to invite you to become a member of our Democrats Abroad Global Black Caucus Get Out The Vote Team. We'd love to have our constituents and our allies join in. If you're interested, complete the short team intake form here:join
Once completed you will receive an email with a link to let us know your general availability to meet. I'm keen to schedule our 2nd kickoff meeting ASAP.
Do you know another Democrats Abroad member who would be keen to get in and do the work? Forward this invitation to them without delay.
Let's get this done and may our votes save US democracy.
— Adrianne George, DNC Member 2016–2024
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Issues and Actions:
Take Action!
In Your Neighborhood – Voter Registration Tables
Summer is on its way and election season is heating up. Look for DA’s volunteers at a voter registration table at a market or street corner in your neighborhood. It’s more important than ever to make sure EVERY eligible voter in Austria requests and returns their ballot this year.
According to the Federal Voter Assistance Program, Austria has 12,730 eligible voters but in 2022 only 7.41% of them returned their ballot! That means we all know someone who did not vote in the last cycle. This November, important races are happening up and down the ballot which will control seats of power from your local school board to the White House. We must do better.
Stop by and say hello if you see us and be sure to tell your friends, family, and colleagues to come and request their ballot — it’s required each and every year.
Do you want to help? Now is the time to get trained and get involved to make a difference in the 2024 elections. Join the team. Find out how you can support our efforts — from graphics to tech support, voter registration to voter protection — your skills are needed! Find out more here https://www.democratsabroad.org/volunteer or contact Rich Miller at [email protected].
Why Use the Federal Postcard Application on Vote from Abroad?
Overseas voters should request their ballot in each calendar year to ensure their vote will be counted. Requesting your ballot with a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) via Vote from Abroad provides you with state voting information that has been checked to be accurate and up to date.
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Review:
DAATalks with Andreas Beckmann for Earth Day
Thanks to Andreas Beckmann, Regional CEO of the World Wild Fund, representing Central and Eastern Europe, for his talk last month. He gave us an overview of environmental initiatives in the CEE region and linked it to the importance of requesting our ballot and voting in the US election, as it will have major implications for environmental policy. Thanks to all who attended the event!
Thank you for reading the May Newsletter!