Here's what's happening in DA Austria in October —
Message from the Chair
Upcoming Events:
Wienerwald Wine Walk & Tasting
Young Democrats Board Game Night
EMEA Regional Retreat
Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus Meetup
No Tyrants Protest
Solidarity Sundays: Power-Mapping for Change
Young Democrats Phonebanking Party
Salzburg Monthly Meetup
Thanksgiving Celebration
Event Highlights:
Veterans and Military Families Caucus Inaugural Meetup
No Tyrants Protest
Annual Thanksgiving Dinner
Inside Democrats Abroad:
Join us in championing democracy by getting out the vote!
Inside DA Austria:
Going Where the Voters Are
Volunteer Today and Be The Change!
Issues and Actions:
Share Your American Abroad Tax Horror Story with Congress
California’s Fight Is Democracy’s Fight
Review:
Solidarity Sundays: “Beyond Viral Videos” Workshop
Young Dems: Board Game Night
Our next Executive Committee meeting will be on Thursday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Lisa Savitt at [email protected] for the address and/or meeting link.
DAA is committed to keeping you up to date while respecting your inbox. Our monthly newsletter brings together all the important information you need in one place, so you can stay informed without the extra emails. We appreciate you reading and staying connected!
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Message from the Chair:
Despite the onslaught of difficult news from the U.S., Democrats Abroad is planning some fun and interesting events in the coming months. Please continue to check the DA-Austria events page and come celebrate our community. It is in times like these that we need to get together and appreciate our community and to provide support. Democrats Abroad also keeps up with what is happening that may affect U.S. citizens living abroad. Check out the Democrats Abroad website for information and action items.
— Lisa Savitt, DA-Austria Chair
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Events:
Fun-raiser! Wienerwald Wine Walk & Tasting
When: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Information on where we’ll start the hike will be shared with your RSVP.
Buschenschank in Residence
There are only two spots left for the wine tasting this Saturday!
Young Democrats Board Game Night
When: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: SpielBar, Lederergasse 26, 1080 Vienna
This is our monthly fun get-together for any American in Austria who considers themselves young! Every first Sunday of the month we hang out and play board games.
EMEA (Europe Middle East and Africa) Regional Retreat
When: October 11–12, 2025
Time: all day
Where: ONLINE
A chance to learn about mobilizing the vote at this training weekend for DA leaders and volunteers. All are welcome to join!
Veterans and Military Caucus Inaugural Meetup
When: Thursday, October 16, 2025
Time: 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Where: Karl Lentner Heuriger & Weingut Amtsstraße 44, 1210 Vienna
Read more under Event Highlights below.
No Tyrants Protest
When: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Where: Karlsplatz–in front of Karlskirche
Read more under Event Highlights below.
Solidarity Sundays Workshop: Power-Mapping for Change
When: Sunday, October 19, 2025
Time: 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Where: Amerlinghaus, Stiftgasse 8, 1070 Vienna
We’ll learn power-mapping and use it on a real political fight—one where Americans abroad can play a strategic role in supporting organizers who are building coalitions.
Young Democrats Phonebanking Party
When: Sunday, October 19, 2025
Time: 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Where: Impact Hub, Lindengasse 56, 1070 Vienna
At this Young Democrats event, we’ll be taking action on the November elections with a phonebanking party. Everyone who considers themselves young is welcome.
Salzburg Monthly Meetup
When: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 5:30–8:00 p.m.
Where: Krimplestätter Restaurant, Müllner Hauptstrasse 31, Salzburg 5020
Meet other members in Salzburg.
Thanksgiving Celebration
When: Thursday, November 27, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Zoku Vienna. Perspectivstrasse 6, 1020 Vienna
Tickets now available! Read more under Event Highlights below.
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Event Highlights:
Veterans and Military Families Caucus (VMF) Inaugural Meetup
Are you aware of the effect banning vote-by-mail would have on Americans serving abroad?
Would you like to push back on attempts by the Trump administration to severely cut benefits that veterans and their families seriously need?
My name is George Bottorff. I am starting a Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus Austria as part of Democrats Abroad Austria (DAAT). We are getting together on the 16th of October 2025. We’ll see you at Karl Lentner Heuriger & Weingut on Thursday, 16 October!
Please contact George at [email protected] if you would like to get involved.
No Tyrants Protest
On Saturday, October 18, voices across the U.S. and around the world will unite in a global day of protest against authoritarianism and corruption. Here in Vienna, we will stand together with allies everywhere to demand a government of, by, and for the people—not for tyrants, not for oligarchs.
The current administration has escalated its assaults on the foundations of American democracy:
- Undermining free and fair elections
- Attacking an independent press and silencing dissent
- Eroding civil rights and protections
- Consolidating power in the hands of the few while ordinary families struggle
This is not normal politics—it is a dangerous slide into authoritarianism. And we refuse to be silent.
On October 18, join us as we send a clear, undeniable message: Democracy will not be stolen. America has no kings, no tyrants, no oligarchs.
When people rise together, change becomes inevitable. History proves it: with only 3.5% of a population united in sustained, nonviolent resistance, regimes fall, and freedom prevails.
Join us on October 18 at Karlsplatz from 2–4 pm. And if you want to be involved in organizing, please contact [email protected].
DA Austria's Annual Thanksgiving Dinner!
We'll meet again this year on the rooftop of the Zoku Hotel for a delicious meal and good company to celebrate community in 2025.
Please join us for our annual Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and bring your family and friends.
This year, we will celebrate on Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 27.
The restaurant manager, Jared, and the chef preparing our traditional dinner, Liz, are fellow Americans—both from California! We love Zoku for its modern and homey atmosphere, a delicious spread and, of course, Liz's experience hosting Thanksgiving dinners for large groups. And even post-dinner live football in an adjacent room.
Price: 57 euros per adult, 22 euros for children 12 and under, plus a minimum donation of $5 per adult to reserve your spot and receive raffle tickets.
🦃 Thanksgiving Dinner Directions 🦃
Why this is different this year:
We’re using a new payment process to avoid high exchange rate costs. Dinner last year was $63; this year it is €57 plus a raffle ticket purchase. With this process, you pay less and we cover our costs.
Only U.S. citizens may make a donation
for dinner and raffle tickets!
— - — - — - —
Menu: locally sourced turkey, wild mushroom stuffing, mashed potatoes with herbs, gravy, brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, and a special main dish for vegetarians.
Potluck desserts: Like in past years, please bake or bring a favorite dessert or pie. Send an email in advance so we know what you are bringing. ([email protected])
Drinks: Everyone pays for their own drinks.
When: 6:00 p.m., Thursday, November 27, 2025
Where: Zoku Vienna rooftop, Perspektivestrasse 6, 1020 Vienna (U2 to Messe-Prater).
As with all DA events, only US citizens may make a donation, although they can invite anyone to join the fun. We ask our Austrian friends not to purchase tickets, but let your American partner/friend pay the tab.
This event sells out every year. Don't wait to get your tickets.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Inside Democrats Abroad:
Get Trained to Phonebank
Join member-volunteers around the world in championing democracy by getting out the vote! You can make a tangible difference in this November’s elections by doing the short training and joining the phone-banking team as we make calls to urge New Jersey and California DA members to request a ballot and vote in their November 4 election.
Here's how to get started phonebanking and/or join the Young Dems Phonebanking Training Party on October 19.
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Inside DA Austria:
Going Where the Voters Are
You may have spotted some of DA Austria’s Vote From Abroad volunteers out on Mariahilferstrasse on a Saturday in September. The busy shopping street is a great place to grab the attention of Americans and dual citizens and help them request their ballot for the upcoming elections in a few weeks.
We’ll be there again this Saturday for our last registration table, so be sure to stop by and say hello and send anyone you know who still hasn’t received their ballot.
Volunteer Today and Be The Change!
Democrats Abroad Austria is actively connecting with our current members and reaching out to all US citizens across Austria to Get Out The Vote (GOTV) in 2025 and 2026. With more Americans in Austria every day, we need your help reaching them—it’s a big job, and together we can make it happen. We want to bring U.S. citizens together, build connections, and make sure every vote counts.
This fall and moving into the crucial 2026 mid-terms, we urgently need volunteers to help:
o Phonebank: You can get started here: https://www.democratsabroad.org/phonebanking.
o Organize community events to attract more US citizens and help them connect with us. We need volunteers to help plan events and run voter registration tables at each event.
- A comedy/music/open mic night, a political talk or guest speaker, a community outing, movie night?
- Got your own ideas? We’d love to hear them! Let’s collaborate to make these events fun, meaningful, and impactful.
Please reach out to me directly ([email protected]) if you have the time and interest. Even just one hour a week can build community and make a real difference! We are looking forward to having you join us!
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Issues and Actions:
Share Your American Abroad Tax Horror Story with Congress
The Democrats Abroad Taxation Task Force will once again be in Washington, DC, from October 20 to 24, meeting face-to-face with members of Congress to fight for the interests of US citizens living abroad. As part of this advocacy, we want to hand-deliver your personal tax and financial access horror stories directly to congressional staff and lawmakers.
Click here to share your horror story
California’s Fight Is Democracy’s Fight
California is on the frontlines of protecting democracy in the U.S. this year. With Proposition 50, California Democrats are standing up for fair maps, independent redistricting, and the right of voters to decide the balance of power in Congress. This is a model of leadership for the entire country!
Take Action Today!
Reach out to every California voter you know abroad: family, friends, colleagues—and make sure they’re ready to vote. Please ask that they go to votefromabroad.org and request their ballot. That way they can receive their ballot by email and send it back by e-fax rather than postal mail.
Why does this matter? Republicans are plotting a hostile takeover of Congress, not by earning votes, but by changing the rules. Proposition 50 stops their power grab and protects fair elections in California. The outcome will shape the balance of power nationwide.
READ MORE
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Review:
Solidarity Sundays: “Beyond Viral Videos” Workshop
September 21, 2025
Zohran Mamdani's subway videos went viral, but his real success came from a different approach to politics. He beat a 30-year incumbent by directly addressing voters' concerns and treating them as allies with real problems. This marks a big shift in the Democratic Party since the 1970s. Data-driven experts – think tanks, pollsters, political consultants – replaced precinct captains, who were well-acquainted with local folks and their issues.
Our discussion highlighted the urgency for Democrats to adopt Mamdani’s alliance-building approach. We need to build coalitions that treat working-class voters as partners, not just demographics. Consultant-centered politics might get you through November, but alliance-building will get you through the next decade.
Watch a Zohran Mamadani subway video Here.
Young Dems: Board Game Night
September 3, 2025
Young Democrats are back from our summer break with a super fun board game night. We had such a good time chatting with one another that we barely had any time for games, squeezing in a few rounds of Cards Against Humanity at the end.
Moving forward, we’ll be doing a board game night every first Sunday of the month, so be prepared for more fun and games! The events will be at the same time and place, 6–9 p.m. at SpielBar in Vienna.
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November is NOW!
Have you received your ballot? Have you voted in your State's elections this year?
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