In This Issue —
Events:
- Experienced Dems Get Together
- Bratislava Meet & Greet – In person
- Solidarity Sundays: Democracy State of Mind
- Save the Date! EMEA Regional Meeting Oct 1-3
- DAA Black Caucus Book Club in October
Issues & Actions:
- Introducing the All-New Phonebanking Training!
- Introducing the 2021-2023 Global Caucus and Team Leadership
-
ProDA GOTV Initiative
Reviews:
- Democratic Party Committee Abroad (DPCA) Global Meeting
- July 4 Party in Vienna
- July 4 Party in Vorarlberg
Our Executive Committee meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month. Our next meeting will be held online on: Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at 7 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Richard at [email protected] to join.
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!
Events:
Experienced Dems Get Together
When: September 14, 2021
Time: 6 pm
Where: In-person. Cafe Museum, Operngasse 7, 1010 Vienna
RSVP to attend.
Photograph by Martin Katler
Bratislava Meet & Greet – In person
When: September 25, 2021
Time: 6:00pm - 9pm
Where: Los Mexikas, Františkánske námestie 8, Bratislava
RSVP to attend.
Solidarity Sundays: Democracy State of Mind
When: Sunday, September 26, 2021
Time: 4:00-6:00 p.m. CET
RSVP for link.
EMEA Regional Meeting — All Leaders & Volunteers Are Welcome to Join!
When: Friday-Sunday, October 1-3, 2021
Time: Saturday: 10:00-6:00 p.m. CET
RSVP for link.
DAA Black Caucus Book Club
When: Sunday, October 17
Time: 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Where: Cafe Phil. Gumpendorferstr 10-12, Vienna 1060
RSVP to attend.
Issues & Actions:
Introducing the All-New Phonebanking Training!
The November 2 elections are coming up quickly! We’ll begin our 2021 calls to Virginia and New Jersey members for their gubernatorial and state legislature and to our Ohio voters in two congressional districts on September 6th.
New Training Features:
- optional PRACTICE CALLS available 24/7 to friendly practice volunteers, helping trainees feel more comfortable before attempting a first call
- demonstration VIDEOS are now incorporated into the training presentation, showing a call, revising data, adding a new mobile number, etc.
- expanded explanation of the CONFIDENTIALITY agreement you signed
- an open-book QUIZ on the calling essentials to better prepare new callers
- expanded resources for caller SUPPORT, caller groups, and engagement
Introducing the 2021-2023 Global Caucus and Team Leadership
International Chair Candice Kerestan and the DPCA ExCom ran on a commitment to make Democrats Abroad a more understandable and accessible organization.
Over the last few weeks, the International ExCom conducted a call for applications for global committee and caucus leadership positions. In total, they received over 70 extremely impressive applications. They were truly inspired not only by the amount of skills, passion, and creativity within our membership but also by the fact that so many people are willing to share these with us.
DA Austria would also like to congratulate Bruce Murray, our former Counsel and DPCA Voting Representative, on his appointment as Chair of the Progressive Caucus. Congratulations Bruce!
proDA GOTV Initiative
Our road to success in 2021, 2022, and beyond will be paved by all of us working harder than ever. We worked so hard to win the opportunity to build back better. Now we must do exactly that by:
- implementing bold legislation to strengthen our physical and human infrastructure
- addressing our climate change crisis effectively in the process
- highlighting our accomplishments to get out the vote.
While laying the legislative groundwork for our success, it is time to take the next steps to get out the vote. In addition to heeding our Democrats Abroad calls to action, please consider participating in initiatives like the Vote Forward letter-writing campaign.
Its current campaign focuses on Virginia: send letters to encourage Democratic-leaning registered voters in Virginia to request their absentee ballots in advance of the election in November. We can help protect Virginia's Democratic trifecta this year by encouraging Democratic-leaning voters in Virginia to request their absentee ballots.
- Please use this Vote Forward link to sign up and adopt 20 letters now.
- Place your completed letters in one large envelope and send it to me by September 7th
- Bruce Murray, Neuwaldeggerstr. 16/2/6, A-1170 Wien
I will stamp and carry the letters to the United States where I will mail them on September 17. Please let me know if you have questions/suggestions at [email protected]
Let's build back better and get out the vote!
– Bruce Murray, proDA Austria liaison, proDA Global Chair
DA work to get Tax Relief into the Budget Reconciliation Bill - you can help!
GREAT THINGS are happening in our work to get tax relief into the Budget Reconciliation Bill. These are things you should know about DA's tax advocacy work.
- On September 2,2021 Democrats Abroad published research on the experience of Americans abroad who own small businesses dealing with GILTI Tax. You can download it here. For many the tax and the enormous tax compliance complexity and cost have been devastating. We are working hard to get a GILTI Tax exemption into the Budget Reconciliation Bill.
- The research was completed just in time to be used in a statement we submitted in response to the Senate International Tax Framework discussion draft. They strengthen our arguments in support of a GILTI tax exemption for American business owners abroad. Download our Senate submission here. We are scheduling meetings with House Small Business Committee members this month and this work will feature prominently in those discussions.
Reviews:
Democratic Party Committee Abroad (DPCA) Global Meeting
Democrats Abroad approved two important amendments to its charter that will give more overseas Americans a greater say in DA. At our August online Global Meeting, DPCA voters (Austria has three voting members) approved an amendment that allows for the creation of DPCA representation for non-country-committee members. We also approved an amendment that creates transnational committees, meaning regions such as the Caribbean or parts of Africa can unite to form a committee (up to now, DA has only allowed country committees, not regional ones). Both of these amendments will give more DA members representation and a vote in DA Global matters. Speaking of greater representation, at the global meeting DA Kenya received approval as a new country committee – the second in Africa!
A number of resolutions were taken up as well at the meeting. Two controversial resolutions addressed U.S. foreign aid to Israel and the human rights of the Palestinian people. Although many people agreed with the sentiment behind these resolutions, they noted that the DA charter does not allow us to speak out as a body on foreign policy matters. DPCA voting members voted to postpone those two resolutions indefinitely. If you have questions about the meeting, please email: [email protected].
– Richard Miller, Chair DA Austria
July 4 Party in Vienna
Thanks to everyone who came out for our ‘Feel the Freedom’ Fourth of July party in Vienna! Some people traveled quite a distance, like from Amstetten, Graz, and even Slovakia! We had live music from Jacki and the Bidenettes led by DAA’s own Jacki Hafellner. Congrats to our raffle winners (the Notorious R.B.G. bobblehead found a good home) and thanks to those who participated in the name-the-band contest. The winner by audience applause: ‘Rage Against the Voting Machines’ with the runner up ‘Get out the Note.’ We sent a group cheer to Democrats Abroad Kenya which officially became a country committee. Thanks to all for the fun and good spirit!
– Richard Miller, Chair DA Austria
July 4 Party in Vorarlberg
Democrats Abroad in Vorarlberg celebrated the 4th of July with a delicious potluck in beautiful Bregenz. Despite a last-minute location change due to unruly weather, our members enjoyed a lovely evening discussing everything from politics and religion, to food, traveling, and cults of personality. We welcomed some new guests from other local expat groups and talked about how we could reach out to more Americans. Now, after a summer of traveling, trips back home, and meet-ups with old and new friends, we’re looking forward to starting up again in the fall and making plans for the upcoming midterm elections!
Find out about upcoming events in Vorarlberg on the DA website or DA Vorarlberg’s Facebook Group!
– Stephanie Don, DA Vorarlberg