Posted by Terese Sarno · · 1 reaction

August Brain Zone Quiz
Posted by Terese Sarno · July 26, 2022 9:57 PM · 1 reaction

July Quiz
Posted by Terese Sarno · June 30, 2022 8:08 AM · 1 reaction

Ensuring Overseas Veterans Have Access To Mental Health Resources:

• The Real Warriors Campaign aims to break down the stigma associated with mental health care and encourages service members to reach out for help when they need it. Find articles with support resources, video profiles with service member and veteran stories, and materials to download or order. Here

• The Psychological Health Resource Center is available 24/7 for service members, veterans, and family members with questions about psychological health topics. Trained mental health consultants can help callers access mental health care and community support resources in their local area. Click on the link or call 1-866-966-1020 for assistance. Here

• The inTransition Program is a free confidential program that provides specialized coaching and assistance for service members, National Guard members, reservists, veterans, and retirees who need access to mental health care when relocating to another assignment, returning from deployment, transitioning between active duty and reserve component, preparing to leave military service, or any other time they need a new mental health provider, or need a provider for the first time. Click here or call 1-800-424-7877.

• The Military Crisis Line, text-messaging service, and online chat provide free VA support for all service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and all veterans, even if they are not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. Click here to chat, call: 1-800-273-8255and press 1, or text: 838255.

• TRICARE offers mental health care to all its enrollees. Click here to find out how and to find other links to mental health providers through the TRICARE network.

• Military Medical Treatment Facilities often provide mental health services, including integrated behavioral health clinics. Contact your primary care manager to see if this resource is available for you. If it is, you can schedule an appointment the same day. Click here.

• Military OneSource can provide access to confidential Military Family Life Counselors in your community. Call 1-800-342-9647 or click here.

• Military OneSource also provides resources so you can manage stress and access benefits and tools that will help you stay strong in body and mind. This page provides access to self-care mobile applications developed within the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and other partners.

• You can also visit mil and Tricare.mil Military Health System web pages for more information.

VETERANS CRISIS LINE: Do you need someone to talk to about a personal problem or about a friend experiencing difficulties? Veterans Crisis Line: Suicide Prevention Hotline, Text & Chat, CLICK HERE     There is a list of hotlines (int’l) at findahelpline.com and Opencounseling.com

For more information on Veterans Health Care, please check out our Veterans and Military Families pages HERE.

Global Women’s Caucus Turns 30

Event-in-the-Box for a Launch Party

​​

Welcome to our global community of Democrats who strive to promote the rights and equality of women everywhere by mobilizing the democratic vote overseas. By joining us, you are connecting with activists all over the world, and we are counting on your help to fight for gender equality. This year we celebrate 30 years of hard work and success, but realize our work is far from over. Join our celebration by hosting your very own launch party with materials and suggestions to help you recruit members and start making a difference.

If your time zone permits, we are inviting women’s caucuses to also tune in to our satellite celebration in Paris on June 18th at 2:00 pm CET.

Suggested Time-Line and Event Ideas for online and in person event:

1. Welcome and Introduction
   1. This is the time for you to introduce your new women’s country caucus and all its members. Depending on the size of your caucus, let people say something about themselves. This can be as simple as stating your name and the U.S. state you’re registered in.
2. EDUCATE: 5-30 minute video presentation
   1. Example 1: educate members about the Global Women’s Caucus and our purpose within Democrats Abroad and the DNC. Short videos can be found here:
      1. GWC Manifesto slideshow
      2. GWC YouTube channel
      3. Democrats Abroad YouTube channel
      4. DNC YouTube channel
   2. Example 2: Inspire members with an educational short documentary or interview. Resources can be found here or pick your own:
      1. She’s That Woman
      2. Short, themed interviews with GWC leaders
      3. Planned Parenthood
      4. Women and Climate
      5. Equal Rights Amendment
3. COMMUNITY. (~30 minutes) Build your caucus
   1. This is the point to get some interaction and engagement with your members. Some suggestions:
      1. Ask members to talk about and discuss the issues that are most important to them and perhaps find an issue that will form the basis for your caucus. Find a topic from our list of “kitchen table talks”
      2. Come up with ways that your caucus will meet regularly (e.g., coffee dates, movie nights, book clubs, activist discussion in the park, etc.)
      3. Hero show-and-tell:
         1. Have members present on their female heroes and discuss the importance and (if applicable) the controversies of their import.
4. ACTION. (~30 minutes) Brainstorm your action
   1. Brainstorm ways your caucus can reach out to your local community and build membership (e.g., host voter registration drives, postcard campaigns, etc.).
      1. The GWC has materials and resources for you if you decide to develop one of these ideas.
      2. You can also join one of our global action teams to find ways the GWC is acting
   2. Video recording
      1. Have everyone record a 10-20 second clip about the importance of voting from abroad. Everyone can help with the script.
   3. Make sure your members are registered to vote and are members of Democrats Abroad

Click the photo to download a PDF for printing, presenting, and distributing.

Global Women’s Caucus Communications

Tool Kit

Website: www.democratsabroad.org/wc

• Your events can be posted on our site
• Your stories can be shared on our page

Newsletter: Monthly cycle

• Make sure your members are registered to receive the newsletter
• Your events can be advertised here
• Important updates can be shared here

Facebook: Follow us @womenscaucusabroad!

• Get news and updates here
• Connect to your GWC community

Instagram: Follow us and engage @dawomenscaucus!

• Get news and updates here
• Encourage your members to engage with action to draw awareness to your caucus
• Connect to your GWC community

Twitter: Follow us and engage @dawomenscaucus!

• Get news and updates here
• Encourage member participation in action campaigns
• Connect to your GWC and greater DA community

YouTube: subscribe (Global Women’s Caucus)

• Let us post and share your recorded events here
• Highlights can be shared through our social media

Resources for your Action Team

• Women's History Month Social Media Toolkit
• Free Images: https://unsplash.com/
• Images for Social Media (Google login required)
• Women’s History Month Living Library
• Action/Issues Resources
• GWC resources
• Videos:
  • GWC YouTube Channel
  • "She’s That Woman”
  • "What is a Feminist" with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Films about Native Women for Women’s History Month

Merchandise

Postcards

Greetings Postcards (contact us for higher resolution)

Global Women’s Caucus logo postcards

Stickers

GWC Stickers

Democrats Abroad Global Women’s Caucus

LIVING LIBRARY

ABOUT WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982, as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.

Women’s History Month.org

International Women’s Day: March 8th, 2022 Theme: #BreaktheBias

National Women’s History Alliance: Theme: “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope”

Resources:

• Social Media Toolkit
• Women's History Event in a Box
• Notable Women
• Books to Read
• Films to Watch
• Factoids
• Women's History Trivia Quiz

WHM LINKS

• Women's History Month
• National Women's History Month
• Women's History Month 2021 - HISTORY
• Asian American Feminist Collective
• Suffrage 100 - The fight for the female vote
• National Endowment for the Humanities
• Women's History Month - National Archives
• Women's History - National Park Service
• Because of Her Story - Smithsonian American Women´s History
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Women's History Topics
• Timeline of women's legal rights in the United States (other than voting)
• National Women's Hall of Fame: Home

WOMEN &...

• Citizenship
• Climate Justice
• Credit
• Wage/Income Inequality
• Suffrage
• Education
• Slavery & Abolition
• Economic Power/Empowerment
• Class
• Affirmative Action
• Civil Rights
• Philanthropy
• Public Health
• Public Housing and Women's Property Rights
• Social Work
• Violence against Women (including Sex Trafficking and Sexual Assault)
• Consumer Culture/Consumer Protection
• Child Protection
• Childcare
• Poverty
• The Labor Movement and Pregnancy Discrimination
• Health and Mental Health
• Reproductive Justice

RESOURCES FOR MOTHERS & CHILDREN

• How Women Won The Vote: Books for Kids & Adults About the U.S. Suffrage Movement 

• Inspire students with the trials and tribulations of these Real-life Heroines. (K-12)

• Digital Classroom resources

• Virtual Field Trips

GLOBAL WOMEN'S CAUCUS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO CELEBRATE

Our Manifesto	30th Anniversary Toolkit	Global Women’s Caucus Communications Toolkit	Bans Off Our Bodies Toolkit
Living Library	Events in a Box	Earth Care Toolkit

Balloons Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash / Protest Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 

for Transitioning Military & Veterans:

A Complete Guide to Using Your GI Bill: Here

Transition Guide: From Military to College: Here

Military Scholarship Guide: Here

Veteran Scholarship Guide: Here

VMF Film-Book August 2022
Posted by Terese Sarno · July 26, 2022 9:58 PM · 1 reaction

VMF Film-Book July 2022
Posted by Terese Sarno · June 30, 2022 8:08 AM · 1 reaction

Posted by Bob Gould · May 29, 2022 12:00 AM · 1 reaction

Flag Day Sonnet

by Nancy Harb Almendras 
(DA Germany) 

Red is for valor while white is for truth, 
Blue signals justice, the marks of our flag. 
An idea grew in 1885  
Thanks to Bernard Cigrand, the father of this day, 
Who taught his pupils to honor our 
Old Glory that was commissioned 
By the Continental Congress. Then with 
Woodrow Wilson all came to fruition 
To observe Flag Day. Years later Congress 
Held sway, proclaiming June 14, a holiday. 
A herald for truth, liberty, Justice for all 
Let us fly her proudly and prove her a boon 
In hopes that the lofty vision for our country 
Is not mere words, but realized soon.

Memorial Day Commemorations Honored the Office 
of Strategic Services in the Tarn, France

In May, French special forces veterans supported by the American community, including Democrats Abroad Toulouse members, organized a special three day commemoration for the 80th anniversary of the founding of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) from which the CIA was created in 1947. Welcome receptions, various lunches with one hosted by the Mayor of Le Vintrou, dinners, and refreshments at the Chateau de Gaix where the OSS team stayed in 1944 rounded out the ambitious schedule.

The extensive commemorative program included tandem parachute jumps in Albi and a parachute drop that featured both American and French paratroopers landing on the actual drop zone where the 15-man OSS team dropped by moonlight in 1944, a wreath-laying ceremony by Democrats Abroad Toulouse at the stele in Le Rialet and at Betges that honored the two OSS men, S/Sgt Bernard Gautier and T/5 Robert Spaur, who died in combat. Official ceremonies included French veterans, local dignitaries, the local community and American relatives of OG PAT members. A new stele honoring Spaur and Gautier was unveiled at the Le Vintrou cemetery.

Take This PTSD Quiz: 

Here is the first question:

#1 Thinking about the past week, how often have you had trouble focusing on things like reading, TV shows, or conversations?

Zero? (Score 0 points) Once? (Score 1 pt.) A few? (Score 2) Several? (Score 3)

To learn your PTSD risk level, answer the 17 questions here.

Welcome to the Mainers Abroad State Team of Democrats Abroad! 

We’re so glad you’re here! Get in touch at [email protected].

Our votes from abroad can be the margin of victory in local, statewide and Federal elections. After the many challenges voters faced in 2021, the 2022 Midterm Elections are set to be the most crucial of our lifetimes. Read on to find out how you can make your vote count!

Get Involved

​​​There are many opportunities to have an impact! Even if you don’t have a lot of time to spare - every little bit helps. From voter outreach and assistance to event planning and support, it’s all hands on deck to ensure that every overseas voter can cast all the ballots for which they are eligible this midterm year.    

We’ll be organizing “Meet the Candidates” events, Action Hours, and phone banking throughout the 2022 election season. In addition, we are following developments in voting legislation and redistricting back home. As a team, we’ll be sharing our experiences, our knowledge of the process of voting from abroad, and other state-specific election information that has a real impact in the 2022 election. 

Please reach out to us today if you would like to get involved! Check our Events for upcoming planning meetings.

Here are some quick ways to stay up-to-date on the new developments and stay in contact with us:

• Join our Slack Channel
• Write to [email protected]

August Poem
Posted by Nancy Almendras · July 26, 2022 9:58 PM · 1 reaction

July Poem
Posted by Nancy Almendras · June 30, 2022 8:08 AM · 1 reaction

Flag Day Sonnet
Posted by Nancy Almendras · May 23, 2022 11:45 AM · 1 reaction