Message from DA Spain Chair

My spouse and I recently put our aging adrenal glands to the test by spending six hours riding seven different roller coasters and various other rides at the nearest amusement park. I'm pleased to report that they performed well, and we had a blast conquering loops, falls, and twists together. After all, screaming is more fun when you’re doing it with someone.

If you feel like screaming because of the political roller coaster the United States is currently riding on, I encourage you to join us at the Democrats Abroad Spain Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Alicante on May 20. (The fun actually starts on the evening of the 19th and doesn't stop until the 21st). Democrats from around Spain will gather to celebrate, commiserate, strategize, build community, elect new national officers, and vote on proposed changes to our bylaws. Trust me,  there will be plenty of fun activities in the mix.

Details about the AGM and how to register for it appear below, but here’s a piece of information you won’t see anywhere else: the credit for making this meeting happen goes to Alicante Chapter Chair/National Communications Coordinator Daniel Garcia and National Vice-Chair Carlos Colao. Shoutouts to both of them are definitely in order. So, I hope to see you in Alicante in May. We'll be dreaming, scheming, and screaming — all in the name of democracy!

Kathy Tullos, DA Spain Chair

Message from DA Spain Chair

I’m writing to you this month from the great state of Ohio. My husband and I are here to celebrate our granddaughter’s second birthday. Don’t worry, Harriet’s being raised right: she received a “Future President” onesie soon after she was born, and she wore it to a couple of DA Spain Zoom meetings as a newborn. 

I do wonder what the future holds for Harriet and other girls in the USA, though. It’s a good time to do this. March is Women’s History Month, and we celebrate the often-forgotten accomplishments of women in our nation. At the same time, though, women’s rights are under attack in unprecedented ways. One example makes the point: my two daughters have less ability to receive reproductive health care than I did. 

DA Spain is doing its bit to ensure that all American women - including Harriet - enjoy equal rights under the law. Are you interested in joining this work? If so, consider joining the DA Spain Women’s Caucus. The Caucus is participating in several events to mark Women’s History Month and to advance the cause of American women. Please read on in this newsletter for more details.

As Harriet would say when she’s ready to get in the car: “Let’s go!”

Kathy Tullos (Chair)

Message from DA Spain Chair

February is the month for Valentine’s Day, of course, and it’s a big deal around our house. My husband and I had our first date on February 14, 1985.

Full disclosure: this fact is not something to be proud of. We scheduled our date for that night because neither of us had plans. In fact, we didn’t realize that it was Valentine’s Day until we got to the restaurant we’d selected and found happy couples with red roses and chocolate boxes in the waiting area. FYI, we ended up at Chili’s that night. 

But that’s us many years ago, not America now. Our country has gotten its own Valentine early. Want to know what the Biden administration has done for the USA? Here’s a quick summary: 

• Two strongest years of job growth in history
• Manufacturing rebounded at the fastest rate in nearly 40 years
• Two strongest years of small business applications in history
• Lowest unemployment rate in more than 50 years
• Near record low Black and Hispanic unemployment
• Record decrease in deficit
• Fastest gas price decline in eight years
• Annual inflation down for six months

I think that’s a pretty spectacular list. And it has fewer thorns than roses and fewer calories than chocolate. It’s definitely something to be proud of! 

Kathy Tullos (Chair)

PS:  We hope you'll join us for the DAS Meet & Greet on February 28th at 7 PM.  RSVP here

Message from DA Spain Chair

It’s January, so I’ve made the same two resolutions I do every year — I will do something outside my comfort zone, and I’ll make a new friend. Make a coffee date with me some time, and I’ll tell you some funny stories about how these have turned out over the years. Generally, though, my experiences with my annual goals have been very positive.

If either or both of these appeal to you, then please think about becoming more active with Democrats Abroad Spain in 2023. We have elections for various positions coming up at the national and chapter levels. We also have short- and long-term volunteer opportunities for those who might want to dip a toe in the DAS waters. For example, we can always use help on the newsletter, social media, and phone banking – or a job that you’d like to do that’s not listed here. Whatever you choose to do, I predict a fun ride. You’ll pick up or sharpen some skills, go to new places, and meet new people.

It’s not always easy to start a new endeavor, but you won’t regret getting more involved with DA Spain. So if you’re interested, please just email [email protected]. And Happy New Year!

Kathy Tullos (Chair, DA Spain) 

P.S. All members of Democrats Abroad Spain are welcome to attend the monthly Executive Committee meetings! If you’d like to receive the Zoom link for these meetings, please email [email protected] to RSVP for the next meeting. These meetings are typically held at 19:30 on the second Thursday of the month.

Message from DA Spain Chair

It’s November, the month Americans dedicate to giving thanks. This year, among other things, I’m grateful that the midterms are over. 

What a mixed bag we’re left with! There was no red wave, but there wasn’t a blue one, either. We held the Senate but narrowly lost the House. In some states, Democrats made gains; in others, like my home state of Texas, terrific Democratic candidates lost to corrupt and inept Republicans. 

Scholars, strategists, and pundits are already busy dissecting the results. Everyone seems to have a different take on what happened and why. What startled me was how close so many of the races were. We may well be in for more cycles of narrow margins of victory — elections in which every vote will be decisive. 

For Georgia voters, that urgency begins NOW. Your state will hold its Senatorial runoff election on December 6th. Incumbent Democrat Ralphael Warnock faces Republican Herschel Walker in this crucial race, and deadlines are tight this time around. Please rush to get your ballot in the mail! If you need help voting, please go to www.democratsabroad.org/georgia for information and assistance. 

So the question for us is this: How can Democrats Abroad Spain use the next two years to help push those narrow wins fully and firmly into the blue column? One big part of our answer has to be to organize more Democratic voters here in Spain. We need to identify them before the election cycle heats up in 2024 and be ready to focus on helping these folks navigate the increasingly complex rules governing voting from abroad.

Our path is clear and our resolve is strong. And in this month dedicated to gratitude, I’m grateful for all of us Democrats Abroad. We’re working together for democracy and decency, and that’s great work to do with great people.

Kathy Tullos (Chair)