Click on any of the officer titles to find the official description from the DA Charter. It also has information from the current and prior officer about the time, travel and financial commitments.
All international officers are members of the DPCA Executive Committee.
DA Charter Section 4.11 (Responsibilities of the Executive Committee)
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of the affairs of Democrats Abroad in accordance with policies of the DNC and the DPCA. The Executive Committee shall establish its own rules and, when convened by the International Chair or one third (1/3rd) of its members, may act in a meeting, by telephone or electronic means. The Executive Committee shall adopt a budget for Democrats Abroad prior to the first meeting of the DPCA each year. Except as provided in the following sentence, decisions taken by the Executive Committee shall be by simple majority vote of those members present in person or by instructed proxy given to another member of the Executive Committee or, if such vote is taken in electronic or written form, by simple majority of the entire Executive Committee. By a two-thirds (2/3rds) majority of the entire Executive Committee, the Executive Committee may overrule any decision or action of any officer.
DA Charter Section 4.6 (Responsibilities of the International Chair)
The International Chair shall be responsible for the carrying out of the programs and policies of the Democratic Party and Democrats Abroad. The International Chair shall preside at all meetings of the DPCA, establishing meeting agenda, and implementing decisions taken during DPCA meetings. Following consultation with the Executive Committee, the International Chair may appoint deputies or assistant officers (such appointments shall be promptly notified to the DPCA) and conduct the day-to-day business of Democrats Abroad. The International Chair shall be the chief spokesperson for the organization. The International Chair may, after consultation with the Executive Committee, create or terminate committees, task forces and councils; and determine their composition and purpose; and appoint their chairs or cochairs. The International Chair shall ex officio be a non-voting member of all committees, task forces, caucus, and councils.
Commitment Information
Comments from Incumbent Chair Julia Bryan:
My time commitment has been full-time or more: Sometimes it can be as low as 40 hours but I very often need to work late and on the weekends as well. As Chair you are responsible for organizing and overseeing 20+ global committees and caucuses. You are also responsible for many aspects of fundraising (including grant writing and donor outreach), acting as the spokesperson for the org (speaking to the press, writing statements in response to issues as they arise, speaking at events, email and other comms outreach to members, running global webinars), setting the direction of the organization, acting as the liaison between the DNC and the DPCA, fire fighting issues as they arise, organizing and running weekly executive committee meetings (they run between 1.5 and 2 hours) organizing and running annual global meetings, and encouraging and growing our tremendous volunteer team around the world. In the next election cycle, the Chair is also responsible for the successful roll out of a global presidential primary, and managing the DA delegation at the DNC in July of 2020. The Chair is always responsible for ensuring that the organization maintains its focus on its two fold mission: working to expand the vote to US Democrats living abroad and to magnify the voices of Democrats abroad back in Washington, DC.
Travel: Each year, the Chair attends two DNC meetings (3 days) in the US, one in Washington and one elsewhere. There is an ASDC meeting (1.5 days) attached to each of these DNC meetings. The Chair or Vice Chair also attends two additional ASDC meetings in the US. These are generally spaced at quarterly intervals. The Chair should also travel to the annual DPCA Global Meeting, possibly to the 3 Regional Meetings, and occasional travel to DA country committee events. Annual total estimate: $10,000-$15,000.
In 2018, I traveled for DA to Washington DC, Tokyo, Malmo, Nice, Madrid, London, Chicago, and Munich. (The DPCA budget does include a line item for Chair/Vice Chair that covers the cost of airfare to DNC meetings.)
Comments from 2015-2017 Chair Katie Solon:
My time commitment has been full-time: on average, 40 hours per week. During our tenure, we have not had a full-time executive director, which has added hours/responsibilities to every ExCom member’s commitment. (New DNC leadership has pledged that DA will receive institutional and financial support equal to that provided other state parties. Yea!)
Travel: Each year the International Chair attends two DNC meetings (2-3 days) in the US -- the Winter Meeting usually is in Washington, DC and the Summer Meeting in a different city There is an ASDC (Association of State Democratic Chairs) meeting (of 1.5+ days) attached to each of these DNC meetings. And there are two additional 2-day ASDC meetings (usually in the late spring and early winter), held in two different cities in the US, for a total of 4 ASDC meetings per year. State party chairs, vice chairs, EDs and other state party staff attend the ASDC meetings. In conclusion: the DA Chair usually travels to the U.S. every 3 months.
From Germany, these 4 trips each cost $1500-$2500 (usually sharing hotel rooms or staying with friends). In addition, there is travel to the annual DPCA Global Meeting, to possibly 3 Regional Meetings, and some travel to DA country committee events. Annual total travel costs: $6,000-$12,000.
Since 2012, the DA Budget has included a line item for Chair/Vice Chair travel of $2000-3000 and I have been reimbursed $2000-3000 for travel expenses each of the past 3 years.
In 2014, I traveled for DA to Washington (DNC & ASDC meetings & 2014 DPCA Global Meeting, DA’s 50 year anniversary celebration & door knock-Feb/March), Los Angeles (to join the ASDC/DNC delegation to Taiwan-March), Taiwan (April), Annapolis (ASDC-May), Atlanta (DNC & ASDC-August), Toulouse (DAF fundraiser, panel & call-in with guest speaker-Sept?), Wiesbaden (DAG women’s caucus-Oct?) and Hollywood, FL (ASDC-Dec) and Washington, DC (WH holiday fest-Dec).
In 2015, I traveled for DA to all DNC and ASDC meetings, except for the spring ASDC meeting that was held in San Francisco the same weekend as our DPCA Global Meeting. I attended DNC listening sessions in Las Vegas (March or April) and Atlanta (April), and then traveled to the DR for our 2015 DPCA Global Meeting. I traveled to Edinburgh (EMEA regional meeting-Oct or Nov) and led mini-DA door knocks (on FATCA reform) in Washington in Feb and Dec.
In 2016, I traveled for DA to Cologne (DA Germany AGM-Jan), Berlin (2016 DPCA Global Meeting-May), Philadelphia (ASDC and DNC pre-Convention meeting-May), Brooklyn (Clinton HQ-May), Philadelphia (Democratic National Convention-July), Washington (meetings at the DNC-August), Vienna (DAA fundraiser for the DPCA-Sept), Denver (ASDC meeting-Dec), and again to Washington (meetings at DNC & WH holiday party-Dec). I also hosted 11 DA members at my home over one week to count GPP ballots (March).
DA Charter Section 4.7 (Responsibilities of the International Vice Chair)
The International Vice Chair shall replace the International Chair whenever the latter is absent or is incapacitated, and shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by the International Chair.
Commitment Information
Comments from Incumbent Vice-Chair Alex Montgomery
I have spent between 15 and 40 hours per week on my role as Vice Chair. The primary responsibilities are to work with and support the Chair with strategy, planning and implementation. I also have travelled to ASDC/ DNC meetings twice a year in addition to DA's meetings. Meetings cost between $1,000 - $3,000 including travel from Hong Kong and accommodations.
Comments from 2015-2017 Vice-Chair Art Schankler:
The job of the Vice Chair is to work with the Chair in managing the organization. This may involve an assignment of specific responsibilities to the Vice Chair. The Vice Chair may also substitute for the Chair in the Chair's absence in particular functions, such as leading meetings of the Executive Committee. In this regard, the Vice Chair is expected to attend meetings of the Executive Committee, the frequency of which is determined by the Executive Committee itself. Meetings, conducted via Webex, usually last from 1-3 hours.
The Vice Chair, as a voting member, is expected to attend meetings of the Democratic National Committee and the Association of State Democratic Chairs, which meet generally a total of four times per year in the United States. The Vice Chair is expected to attend the annual meeting of Democrats Abroad and where possible, regional meetings of the organization.
Total time commitment is approximately 15-25 hours per week and travel costs, depending on location of the individual, can be expected to be at least $5,000 per year, depending on the number of meetings attended. Some assistance for these travel costs may be provided by Democrats Abroad or the Democratic National Committee in the future.
International Treasurer
DA Charter Section 4.9 (Responsibilities of the International Treasurer)
The International Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the DPCA, establish a budget for approval of the Executive Committee, oversee its bank and other financial accounts, make an annual financial report to the DPCA, and ensure that any necessary reports or filings with the DNC or the governmental authorities of the United States of America and the several States, are timely made.
Commitment Information
Comments from Incumbent Treasurer Lissette Wright
Further to the above-mentioned responsibilities and comments from my predecessors, I strongly believe that the International Treasurer’s primary focus should be the oversight and financial management, budgeting and reporting of the DPCA’s finances.
The International Treasurer should be discreet, equanimous, impartial, methodical, comfortable with generally accepted accounting principles, willing to ask questions and to explain figures if asked. . . as well as have an eye for detail, an ability to ensure decisions are taken and followed-up upon, and have an ability to enforce internal controls and financial policies with a degree of flexibility.
Depending on the schedule and preference of the elected DPCA ExCom, the International Treasurer should be open to ExCom meetings on a weekly basis and providing weekly Treasurer’s Reports.
It is worth noting that the International Treasurer is legally responsible for the Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports; therefore, familiarity with FEC Compliance and Reporting* is an asset.
Travel and Financial Commitment: Each year the International Treasurer participates in the DPCA Global Meetings and Door-Knocking held in Washington, DC in odd-numbered years and other cities throughout the world in even-numbered years. Annual travel cost between $2,000 - $2,500 per trip.
Approximate time commitment is 20-35 hours a week.
[*] Help Complying with the Federal Campaign Finance Law (FECA) | https://transition.fec.gov/index.html
Comments from 2015-2017 Treasurer Tom Schmid:
I agree with what Art had provided for the International Treasurer's role.
Comments from 2013-2015 Treasurer Art Schankler:
The International Treasurer is responsible for the finances of Democrats Abroad. The Treasurer is, according to the Charter, specifically responsible for preparing, based on input from other members of the Executive Committee, a budget for the coming year and a financial report for the preceding years. Traditionally, the Treasurer has also been responsible for fundraising at the international level. Among his/her regular tasks are the following:
- Approving all disbursements in accordance with purchase guidelines approved by the Executive Committee.
- Reviewing and approving Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports, filed on a monthly basis. The Treasurer’s name appears on the reports and it is the Treasurer that is legally responsible for the report.
- Attendance at Executive Committee meetings and providing a Treasurer’s Report for such meetings, outlining the financial situation of the organization.
- Providing input and advice to ensure that all fundraising, disbursements and reporting are made in accordance with election laws and FEC regulations.
- Together with the IT and Communications Committees, ensuring that the Democrats Abroad contribution website is user-friendly, accurate and up to date.
- Working with Country Committees to ensure that CC fundraising events for the DPCA are executed correctly.
- Developing a Fundraising Plan and organizing a Fundraising Committee.
- Organizing or helping to organize International Fundraising Events at the international level, and ensuring that financing of Global and Regional meetings is handled correctly.
- Providing advice to CCs about FEC compliance procedures related to their own fundraising.
- Communicating with CCs to encourage fundraising for DPCA.
- Attendance at CC and regional events as needed/requested and if possible to discuss fund-raising for DPCA.
Approximate time commitment is 10-20 hours a week.
DA Charter Section 4.8 (Responsibilities of the International Secretary)
The International Secretary shall keep minutes of DPCA meetings (taking particular note of all Standing Resolutions) and Executive Committee meetings, circulate minutes and records of action to DPCA members, be responsible for maintaining all the administrative files and records and membership lists and databases of the DPCA and Democrats Abroad, and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the International Chair.
Commitment Information
Comments from 2015-2017 International Secretary Julia Bryan:
The basic duties of the International Secretary are spelled out in the DA Charter. These duties alone require a time commitment of around 8 hours per week. Taking the minutes of Executive Committee meetings includes understanding what needs to be recorded, making your minutes readable, submitting them back to the ExCom, adding in any changes, filing them and then making them available to DPCA members.
As Will Bakker mentions below, the duty to maintain "all the administrative files and records and membership lists and databases of the DPCA and Democrats Abroad” includes using several different online and offline systems to track information that changes frequently. Once one learns those systems, this amounts to a few hours per week. There are two annual periods of exceptional work. One is the membership certification period in January and February, which involves a great deal of communication with 50+ Country Committee leaders. The other is the approximately ten week period before a global meeting.
There are also many daily and weekly duties as Secretary. Because of your role as record keeper, you are turned to by everyone in the organization for information about who does what, where x can be found, and how to solve y and z problems. Be prepared to dive into the nitty gritty of the organization immediately so that you can answer these questions. Making sure you can answer email and chat messages several times a day is also an important part of this position.
Each Executive Committee develops its own style for assigning the general work of the global level to officers. As International Secretary I also moderated our listserve, co-managed our communications committee, managed several aspects of our GOTV, was heavily involved in membership work and helped to develop the new website. Besides the listserve (which falls under the Secretary’s responsibilities), these were projects and roles that I took on voluntarily, but they do provide an example of the expectations of the organization.
The financial commitment comes in time lost from more remunerative work and the two trips to in-person global meetings. You must be present for those meetings as you will be taking minutes. As International Secretary, my travel costs have been over $4000 (including the trip this May).
As Will mentions below, “any International Secretary should have a high-quality internet connection, a reliable and up-to-date computer, and either a backup computer or an extraordinary computer support service. This position does not allow for extended periods without access to one’s documents and the ability to communicate via WebEx and other internet services.”
Comments from 2013-2015 International Secretary Will Bakker:
The duties of the International Secretary are enumerated by the DA Charter and those duties alone constitute a time commitment of 5-8 hours per week. Taking the minutes of Executive Committee meetings is not trivial, as it involves making them readable, submitting them back to the ExCom, integrating the inevitable changes, and then making them available to DPCA members.
The duty to maintain "all the administrative files and records and membership lists and databases of the DPCA and Democrats Abroad” includes using several different online and offline systems to track information that changes frequently. Once one learns those systems, this amounts to a few hours per week. There are two annual periods of exceptional work. One is the membership certification period in February, which involves a great deal of communication with 50+ Country Committee leaders. The other is the approximately ten week period before a global meeting, which requires frequent communication with the organizers and careful word-smithing to turn complex descriptions into comprehensible notices.
Each Executive Committee develops its own style for assigning the general work of the global level to officers. The International Secretary must have the ability to decline tasks, and even pet projects, in order to fulfill Charter-mandated responsibilities.
A far as the financial commitment, the most significant are the two trips to the in-person global meetings. Taking minutes at those meetings absolutely requires one’s presence. I would say that the trips I took (and will take) as International Secretary cost a total of just over $4500.
I suggest that any International Secretary should have a high-quality internet connection, a reliable and up-to-date computer, and either a backup computer or an extraordinary computer support service. This position does not allow for extended periods without access to one’s documents and the ability to communicate via WebEx and other internet services.
DA Charter Section 4.10 (Responsibilities of the International Counsel)
The International Counsel shall be a qualified legal practitioner available for consultation on legal and procedural questions relating to Democrats Abroad and its activities, and the interpretation of and compliance with the Charter and Bylaws of the DNC, the Charter of Democrats Abroad and the bylaws of Country Committees, and serve as Parliamentarian at DPCA meetings. The International Chair may appoint a separate individual to serve as Parliamentarian.
Commitment Information
Comments from Incumbent Legal Counsel Tom Schmid:
The work of International Counsel fluctuates based on the needs of the organization; however the time commitment is most certainly expanding. During the lightest periods, the time commitment is routinely 2-3 hours peer week. During peak periods, workload can range between 10 to 20+ hours per week. Predictable periods of peak workload are in the months prior to the Global Meeting and in the months leading up to primaries and general elections. Leading up to 2020, there is no doubt that International Counsel will need to devote significant amounts of time to the interpretation and implementation of the Delegate Selection Plan, the administration of the Global Presidential Primary, and the administration of the 2020 Global Meeting and Global Convention. Meanwhile, data privacy, FEC compliance, DA Charter interpretation and managing a variety of member complaints and related investigations are some of the routine matters that International Counsel will be called on to handle and give advice.
The financial requirements of International Counsel will vary. Certainly, International Counsel should plan on attending the Global Meeting in person each year barring unforeseen or exceptional circumstances. In the coming term, International Counsel must commit to attending the 2020 Global Meeting and Global Convention in person. It is also possible (but not a foregone conclusion) that International Counsel may need, or may be encouraged to attend a DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting to defend the 2020 Delegate Selection Plan. However, the role of International Counsel can generally be performed remotely. Other than various out-of-pocket expenses that I've paid at my own discretion, my costs serving as International Counsel have not significantly exceeded the cost of being a DPCA member.
Comments from 2015-2017 Legal Counsel Orlando Vidal:
The time commitment varies, of course, but I would say an average of about 6-8 hours a week: participating in all Executive Committee meetings; providing legal advice to the ExCom; answering questions from Country Committees; mediating problems as they arise; drafting our Delegate Selection Plan (this is the major undertaking for any International Counsel and it will be intense and time-consuming for about two months of the two-year term); liaising with DNC staff; reviewing contracts; drafting agreements; etc. The costs have been significant for me as I have had to travel (plus hotels) to all Global and Regional meetings (plus the Convention and other meetings) from Dubai; I would say approximately $15,000.