In November's Newsletter —
Events:
- Monthly Executive Committee Meeting
- Thanksgiving at Zoku Vienna – SOLD OUT!
- Punsching for Democracy
- Black History Month – N
- Global Presidential Primary
Message from the Chair
Inside DA Austria:
- Youth Outreach Person Needed!
- Help DA Austria Plan for 2024 – Sustaining Donor Drive
- Countdown to the DA’s Global Presidential Primary
Issues & Actions:
- Invested and Accomplished – Critical 2023 Races
Review:
- EMEA Regional Retreat in Alicante, Spain
Our Executive Committee meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month. Our next meeting will be held in-person and online at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 14. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Richard at [email protected] for the address.
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:
The DA Austria Executive Committee would like to thank John Cahill for the many years he led the Experienced Democrats monthly meet-ups. His dedication and good cheer provided many wonderful discussions and lively company.
Monthly Executive Committee Meeting
When: Thursday, December 14, 2023
Time: 19:30–21:00 p.m. CET
Where: In person and online. Write [email protected] if you care to attend or need a link to participate online
Salzburg Meet-Up
Stay tuned for our next meet-up!
Thanksgiving dinner at Zoku Vienna — SOLD OUT
When: Thursday, November 23, 2023
Time: 18:00-22:00 p.m.
Where: 1020 Vienna
Punsching for Democracy
When: Friday, December 15, 2023
Time: 6:00-8:00pm at the punschstand. 8:00-10:00pm at Wine and Kunst
Where: Karlsplatz Adventmarkt and Wine and Kunst, Argentinierstraße 18, 1040 Vienna
RSVP: Annual Punsching for Democracy
Black History Month – N
Show and artist talk to benefit DA Austria’s 2024 get out the vote effort
Play by Adrienne Earle Pender and a production of vienna theatre project
When: TBD (week of Feb 20, 2024)
Time: 20:00
Where: Drachengasse Theater, 1010 Vienna
RSVP: N
DA’s Global Presidential Primary
When: March 5 to March 12, 2024
Time: TBD
Where: TBD
RSVP: Stay tuned! Link to be added on website: https://www.democratsabroad.org/at_events
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Message from the Chair
Election Day 2023 was a good day for Democrats, winning key races and securing abortion access in Ohio. 2024 is nearly upon us, and DA Austria is getting in gear to ensure all Democrats living in Austria request their ballot and vote. Young people will be key to winning the election next year and we are searching for a youth coordinator to help us reach more young people (see more below). We also need more callers for our phonebanking team as we plan a country-wide calling campaign in January. Phonebanking is one of the most impactful ways you can help us get out of the vote. Training is going on now. Please send me an email at [email protected]. Let’s give More in ‘24 to ensure we are celebrating next November.
Richard
Chair, DA Austria
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Inside DA Austria:
Youth Outreach Person Needed!
Voters under 35 will be critical to electing Democrats up and down the ballot in 2024. Hundreds of young Americans either live or study in Austria and we want to ensure their voices, concerns, and passions are heard. Help us engage the youth vote in Austria! Find out what you can do as DAAT’s Youth Coordinator. Write Richard at [email protected] to find out more.
Sustaining Donor Drive
Help DA Austria Plan for 2024
The 2024 elections are again set to be among the most important in our lifetimes. We know from 2020 and 2022, that US citizens living abroad can actually make the difference in close races. Democrats Abroad Austria has a lot of big plans to help turn out the vote from every Bundesland to every state next year:
- Voter registration drive in January because we have to request our ballots every single year
- Global Presidential Primary so that our members can cast a ballot in person
- Advertise and voter registration tables in public places to drive up our membership in the spring and summer
- Contact our members directly through calling and postcard writing campaigns to turn them out to vote in November
In order to properly plan for these activities, we need to guarantee our funding. For that we need your help! That's why today, we are launching the 24 for ‘24 Sustaining Donors campaign.
Sustaining Donors who sign up now will allow us to strategize early on in 2024 and ultimately reach more US citizens living in Austria. Even a few dollars a month helps us to know where to invest and what we can count on in the months ahead. As you know, we are an all volunteer organization, so your contribution will go straight to resources to get out the vote in 2024! Among other things, your contributions help us run social media campaigns, advertise Vote from Abroad in public spaces, secure desirable event venues, and provide voter registration in person.
Show us your support and commit to a donation each month. Your donation of $5, $10, $24 or more will help us bring Americans to the polls in Austria and globally. A cup of coffee a month can make a world of difference!
Take a moment and support our work for the cost of a cup of coffee. Go to the 24 for ‘24 page and help Democrats Abroad win more in ‘24!
– Jen Rakow-Stepper, AT Member-at-Large
Countdown to the Super Tuesday Global Presidential Primary
Do you ever find yourself nostalgic for your home state’s caucus primary process, where you and your neighbors crammed into a fragrant school gym or a local library to select your candidate for president? Perhaps you've longed to be a delegate at the National Democratic Convention?
Well, don’t worry; just because you live in Austria doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun. The Global Presidential Primary (GPP) is our party-run primary that allows members of Democrats Abroad living outside of the United States to participate in the presidential candidate nomination process.
How does the GPP work? There are several ways for you to participate, partly depending on your location. Areas with a chapter, such as Vienna, will host at least one GPP event at a voting center between March 5 (Super Tuesday) and March 12. Join in-person to gather with fellow Democrats and vote for your choice for the Democratic presidential candidate.
In areas without a chapter, but with volunteer support, there may be ballot assistance events during the same period, providing further opportunities to build community and enthusiasm among Democrats. Additionally, all members of DA Austria will receive a presidential ballot via email in January, which you can return electronically.
Watch this space as we describe more about the process over the next few months.
Volunteers are organizing in cities outside of Vienna to host ballot assistance events. Would you like to be part of a GPP team and contribute to building positive momentum for 2024 in your area? We would love to have you! Just send an email to [email protected], and we will connect you with the leadership in your area.
– Jen Rakow-Stepper, AT Member-at-Large
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Issues & Actions:
Invested and Accomplished – Critical 2023 Races
Tuesday, Nov 7 was a good day for Democrats and for the right to choose!
If you voted in one of the critical states where democracy and personal freedoms were on the line – thank you for voting! Here are a few places the Democratic party won and Democrats Abroad invested to help bring home the vote:
- Kentucky’s Democratic Governor, Andy Beshears
- Virginia’s democratic control of the statehouse
- Ohio’s ballot to protect abortion access
- Pennsylvania’s open seat for the State Supreme Court
There’s no time to sit back and rest though. 2024 will be a tough race and we’re starting now. What will you do to help?
- Become a sustaining donor to DA Austria or DA Global. Either way, with our 100% volunteer effort, your donation has a greater impact.
- Set your calendar for Jan 15, International Ballot Request Day, and help us reach our 24% early request goal
- Spread the word with friends, family, and colleagues and remind them that their vote counts! Send them to votefromabroad.org
Remember you’ll need to re-request your ballot for the 2024 elections. Help us reach our goal of 24% VFA requests in January. Mark your calendar today!
– Jen Rakow-Stepper, AT Member-at-Large
Thanks for reading the November Newsletter!
We wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.