Guate_Dems

FOR CHRISTMAS -DEMOCRATS ABOARD GUATEMALA 2012 T-Shirts

2011-08-17T09:15:00.001-07:00

The Christmas season is here. Our 2012 Barack Obama.com T-shirts make excellent gifts. The 2012 Tees are specially made for Democrats Abroad Guatemala and carry our logo on the back. They come in small, medium, large and extra large sizes, and they cost Q80/. Buy several, while supplies last. Those you gift with one of our Tees will hug you.

To make arrangements for your purchase call one of these Democrats Abroad Guatemala officers:

John Chudy at 7832-4581 or email at mayadems@yahoo.com
Rae Leeth, at 7882-4282 or email at raeleeth@hotmail.com

Democrats Abroad Guatemala Agenda for Executive Committee Meeting

2011-05-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Agenda
The Executive Committee of Democrats Abroad Guatemala meeting at El Sitio in Antigua, on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 12:00 noon.
Per our bylaws (paragraph 19.3), all meetings are open to all members.

1. Treasurer’s Report, current balance only, Tom Totino.

2. DA Guatemala 2011 film series schedule, discuss changes of title and/or dates.

Monday, 23 May – Inside Job

Monday, 20 June – Gasland

Monday, 22 August - Uncovered: The War on Iraq (a film by Robert Greenwald)

Monday, 17 October - Rethink Afghanistan or Inside Brave New Films

Monday, 14 November - Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

3. July 4th picnic. If we hold one, planning assignments.

4. Labor Day picnic. Saturday, September 3, 2011. If we hold one, planning assignments.

5. Other Items:
a) Americas Regional Meeting – San Jose, Costa Rica October 14-15, 2011 (on hold).
b) DPCA Global meeting – Sept or Oct in Washington DC (being considered).
c) Updates on Executive Committee travel through September.
6. Adjournment

GASLAND: Does Your Drinking Water Catch Fire?

2011-05-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

California? Texas ? Oklahoma ? Ohio ? New York ? Colorado ? Alabama ?

Do you live there? Do you visit there? Do you have family there? Then you must read up on FRACKING!!

Tanks and drills in your back yard or farmland. Gurgling wells. Murky water. Tap water that catches fire. Untreated water contaminating ground waters. Contaminated rivers, destroyed landscape.

It seemed worth $100,000 just to give oil/gas companies drilling rights on your 19 acre farm. That is until the effects of using 657 (?) chemicals in the process of drilling into rocks and fracturing them with hydrolic pressure began causing problems.

Headaches, neurological problems, pains, asthma, gastrointestinal problems, animals who lose their hair, murky tap water full of chemicals, water that burns, distress, and no one who will listen. After all, the companies who drill for gas as of 2005 are exempt, that is EXEMPT from: The Clean Air Act;
The Clean Water Act;
The Safe Drinking Water Act

Democrats Abroad Guatemala will present the film Gasland, which details the process known as fracking and what its affects are, on June 20th at 5:30 PM at Casa Convento Concepción on 4a Calle No. 41.

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as "fracking," is a process that results in the creation of fractures in rocks. The fracturing is done from a wellbore drilled into rock formations to increase the rate and ultimate recovery of oil and natural gas.
Hydraulic fractures may be natural or man-made and are extended by internal fluid pressure which opens the fracture and causes it to extend through the rock. Natural hydraulic fractures include volcanic dikes, sills and fracturing by ice as in frost weathering. Man-made fluid-driven fractures are formed at depth in a borehole and extend into targeted formations.

Considerable controversy surrounds the current implementation of fracking technology in the United States. Environmental safety and health concerns have emerged and are being debated at the state and national levels. For example, did you know that the New York Times reports that companies like Halliburton illegally injected over 32 million gallons of diesel fuel underground last year in fracking for natural gas?

Halliburton and other fracking companies spend millions of dollars every year on fake studies and public relations campaigns to cover up facts like this. But thanks to an amazing new documentary, the truth is starting to come out about fracking.

Thanks to Dick Cheney’s secret energy task force in 2005, the EPA is prohibited from regulating natural gas drilling under the Clean Water Act. Since then, natural gas drilling has increased exponentially -- leaving millions of people at risk for contamination.

The good news is that Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced the FRAC Act which would close the so-called "Halliburton Loophole" and give the EPA the power to regulate these poison toxins and protect America's drinking water.

Democrats across the country and related groups such as Democracy for America, have been gathering signatures in support of the bill both online and offline to deliver early this summer. The oil and gas industry will be fighting us every step of the way to protect their record profits, but the facts are on our side. If we can get the truth about the dangers of fracking out then we will win. You too can help by calling your congressperson in the House of Representatives and US Senators.

You can get a taste of what this surprising film will teach you by clicking this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8

Democrats Abroad Guatemala will show this film on Monday, June 20th at 5:30 PM at Casa Convento Concepción on 4a Calle No. 41. Contribution: Q30.

Democrats Abroad Guatemala Film Series: Inside Job

2011-05-06T15:14:00.000-07:00

Inside Job
A film by Charles Ferguson

Democrats Abroad Guatemala will present the film Inside Job, which attempts to provide a comprehensive portrayal of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, on May 23rd at 5:30 PM at Casa Convento Concepción on 4a Calle No 41.

SYNOPSIS
From Academy Award® nominated filmmaker, Charles Ferguson (“No End In Sight”), comes INSIDE JOB, the first film to expose the shocking truth behind the economic crisis of 2008. The global financial meltdown, at a cost of over $20 trillion, resulted in millions of people losing their homes and jobs. Through extensive research and interviews with major financial insiders, politicians and journalists, INSIDE JOB traces the rise of a rogue industry and unveils the corrosive relationships which have corrupted politics, regulation and academia.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
This crisis, which continues to haunt us via Europe’s debt problems and global financial instability, was completely avoidable. Noteworthy is that for 40 years after the reforms following the Great Depression, the United States did not have a single financial crisis. However, the progressive deregulation of the financial sector that began in the 1980s gave rise to an increasingly criminal industry, whose “innovations” have produced a succession of financial crises.

Each crisis has been worse than the last; and yet, due to the industry’s increasing wealth and power, each crisis has seen few people go to prison. In the case of this crisis, nobody has gone to prison, despite fraud that caused trillions of dollars in losses. This film, in less than two hours, will enable everyone to understand the fundamental nature and causes of this problem. Regardless of your individual political opinion, after seeing this film we will probably all agree on the importance of restoring honesty and stability to our financial system, and of holding accountable those to destroyed it.

Democrats Abroad Guatemala will show this film on Monday, May 23rd at 5:30 PM at Casa Convento Concepción on 4a Calle No. 41.

Contribution: Q30.

Democrats Abroad Guatemala Annual General Meeting

2011-02-12T15:03:00.000-08:00

DEMOCRATS ABROAD GUATEMALA ANNUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Saturday, March 5, 2011, at 11:00 AM, La Peña del Sol Latino Restaurant, 5a Calle Poniente 15-C, La Antigua, Guatemala. Election of new officers for the 2011-2013 period and other business. DA members and US Citizens invited. Information: John Chudy at: 7832-4581, or mayadems@yahoo.com

Democrats Abroad Guatemala Annual General Meeting

2010-02-23T07:58:00.001-08:00

DEMOCRATS ABROAD GUATEMALA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Saturday, March 5, 2011, at 11:00 AM, La Peña del Sol Latino Restaurant, 5a Calle Poniente 15-C, La Antigua, Guatemala. Voter Registration Kickoff party follows meeting. DA members and US Citizens invited. Information: John Chudy at: 7832-4581, or democratsabroad_guate@yahoo.com

The 2009 Democrats Abroad Americas Region Annual Meeting

2009-10-31T16:06:00.000-07:00

October 31, 2009

Overview:
La Antigua Guatemala was home for the 2009 Democrats Abroad Americas Region annual meeting over October 23 and 24. The gathering came and went very quickly, but all who attended deemed the meeting a success and the chance to visit Antigua an enchanting plus to the experience. Some of the visitors stayed on a few days for some tourism and were happy for it. The last visitor departed on October 28th.

As these meetings go, attendance at the 2009 version in Antigua Guatemala was a bit exiguous. Typically, these meetings attract from 40 to 100 Democrats, with the enthusiasm being greatest in presidential election cycle years. This year in Antigua, only 20 people attended the two-day meeting, with 12 coming from outside of Guatemala. In addition to Lindsey Reynolds, our Executive Director, international officers attending the meeting included Christine Marques, International Chair of Democrats Abroad, and Patricia Ferrari, Regional Vice Chair for the Americas, who comes from Democrats Abroad Brazil. Mexico had the largest contingent with four members attending. Canada, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Brazil each sent one representative. Absent were Argentina, Colombia and Panama.

The modest attendance can be attributed to post-presidential election exhaustion and maybe some apathy as well. Then there are the fair weather Democrats, who may feel a little let down by Obama’s inability in ten short months to have totally transformed the world (see Tom Fina’s Letter from Washington, dated October 26, 2009). The hardcore group that did attend, however, felt that a lot was achieved during the two days, and left the gathering energized about our working toward Democratic victories in the 2010 mid-terms, and continuing to support President Obama’s agenda. Everyone left with a lot of material to take back to their respective country committees.

Meeting Summary:

Country committees: Brazil, Patricia Ferrari, Chair; Canada, Allena Leonard, Vice Chair; Costa Rica, Nelleke Bruyn, Acting Chair; Dominican Republic, Francisco Diaz, Chair; Guatemala, John Chudy, Chair, Gail Terzuola, Secretary, Tom Totino, Treasurer, Norma Gifford, Counsel, Judy Sadlier, Communications and Fund Raising Standing Committees Chair, Paul Munsell, Issues Standing Committee Chair; Mexico, Sandra Loridans, Acting Chair, Henri Loridans, member-at-large, Dee Dee Camhi, Chapter Chair of Puerto Vallarta, Kathie Coull, Chapter Chair of Lake Chapala.

1. The meeting was called to order by Patricia Ferrari, and welcome remarks were made by Christine, Patricia and John Chudy, host country chair.

2. Argentina: Before entering the agenda, Kathie Coull raised a question about the elections within DA Argentina that involved assistance from former Regional Vice Chair, Joe Green. The elections took place in early 2009. Argentina is a new country committee. The procedures that resulted from the regional vice chair’s visit are being constituted as general election procedures for Democrats Abroad and will be published soon.

3. Kay Anske, Consúl General from the US Embassy in Guatemala City addressed the group. The presentation described the services offered to US citizens living in Guatemala (or anywhere overseas) by the American Citizens Services section of Consular office. The consular office will “consularize” absentee ballots by stamping them with an Embassy post stamp, and will mail them in the APO mail, and will provide postage. Kay said that in Guatemala mailing time for ballots via the APO would be about one week maximum to their destinations. Larger country posts may take longer.

4. Country Committee Reports: Regional Vice Chair, Patricia Ferrari, made some general comments before each committee reported out. Her goals by the end of 2010 is to have established full committees in Peru and Chile, and to strengthen Panama and Colombia. International Chair Christine Marques commented that membership numbers are confidential.

• Brazil: The country committee is around 500 members, based mostly in Sao Paolo, which has an American population of about 30,000 (it is a city of about 18 million inhabitants). Rio de Janeiro has fewer Americans.
• Dominican Republic: About 900 members. An active committee that is an effective fund raiser for the DPCA and for their own internal needs.
• Guatemala: Has about 350 members. Needs to replace MeetUp Group leaders for Guatemala City and Quetzaltenango, from where leaders have moved away during 2009. Because of its small size, Guatemala does not have chapters.
• Mexico: Has around 5,000 members spread out in five chapters including a new chapter in Mexico City and a Young Democrats chapter.
• Canada: The big kid on the block, with about 12,000 members nation-wide under about 20 chapters.

5. Uniform Laws and Voting: Lindsey Reynolds made a slide show presentation on the Uniform Law Commission (ULC), touching on how the 118 year-old commission is now looking at some of the varying state laws that govern military and overseas citizens. Major issues for Democrats Abroad for the ULC are:
• Uniform deadlines for voter registration, receiving the ballot and returning the ballot.
• Uniform standards for hard copy registration documents
• Uniform access to federal voting by children born abroad disenfranchised by state law.
Lindsey then commented on Senator Schumer’s Move Act, which was tagged on as an amendment to the recently approved Defense Authorization bill. The Move Act covers most of DA’s concerns regarding overseas voting. DA will publish details of the Move Act once the president signs the Defense Authorization bill. This message will be part of a “what DA does for you” approach to our membership.

6. Health Care Update: Lindsey summarized progress on this historic legislation. Efforts for national health care first started with Teddy Roosevelt at the turn of the 20th century. Now, almost a hundred years later, the goal is finally likely to be realized. It is expected to be passed by the end of November. But Congress needs our support. Everyone should call their representatives and senators. Country committees should resend the 5- Easy Steps to help assure passage of health insurance reform.
a. Allenna Leonard from Canada introduced a draft resolution from DA Canada that argued that DA take a strong stance in favor of health insurance reform with a public option. The resolution included a clause that spoke to the misrepresentation of the Canadian health care system in some circles in the US. Patricia Ferrari, argued that the draft resolution was redundant in that DA has already acted strongly in favor in number of ways including the promotion of its 5-Easy Steps (what can I do to get health insurance reform passed) message to its full membership. After some discussion, Allena agreed to withdraw the draft resolution and agree to lead a regional effort to integrate a push for health insurance reform among DA country committees.

7. Reciprocal Social Security Benefits: Francisco Diaz from the Dominican Republic brought up the subject of reciprocal social security benefits. The US already has reciprocal treaties with a number of countries and in Latin America only with Chile. Because this item was not on the agenda, and people are not fully informed on the topic, it was suggested that Francisco do more research and write a position paper that explores the issue more deeply.

8. Timeline for DA 2009 to 2011: Christine and Patricia distributed a draft timeline that will be posted on the website. We discussed some of the highlights of the timeline.

a. Jan - Feb:
- Database cleanup through phone calls.
- Draft Field Plans – these create a strong profile for DA within the DNC
- Each committee should assign someone to set dates for voter registration events.
- Promote a “Register every January” effort among country membership
- Field Plan internal calendar, keep footnotes as events unfold
- Field Plans due in Febraury
b. Voter Registration:
- Double up with other events
- Consider buying a laptop and wireless printer for remote registration
- Help people create email addresses if they don’t have one.
c. Membership phonebanking:
- Plan on one call to each member every year
- Link to Field Plan
- There is a phone banking script on the website; adapt for your country.
- Membership certification is due by January 31, 2010.
d. Service Events:
- Add to our Afghanistan event – a letter writing campaign to soldiers in Afghanistan.
- Check with Lindsey as to how and where to mail, etc.
e. Election of Officers:
- Guidelines for elections forthcoming
- Hold them first quarter of the year
- DA trying to get all countries on the same cycle, odd years.
- October 2010, form the nominations/election committee made up of three members who are not Excom members.

9. Gearing Up for 2010 Mid-Term Elections:
a. How to reach out to old and new members
b. Events built around well known guest speakers
c. Urge all current members to vote
d. Posters in restaurants and hotels
e. Movie Night – at homes by invitation (also use for fundraising)
f. Need to do a survey of our members to find out why they joined and what they expect to get out of being a member of DA.
g. Phone banking as an important way to get people to vote.
h. 45th Anniversary Video Link: http://public.me.com/rcheckoway
i. “Event in the Box” for ideas on how to organize an event.
j. There are 83 frontline Democratic House Incumbents – check with DCCC to see who they are.

10. Fund Raising for Democrats Abroad:
a. Lindsey handed out notes for a slide show on the International Fund Raising Committee (IFC).
b. The IFC has three parts: Sustaining Donor Committee, Event Liaison Program, and Major Donor Committee.
c. Country committees should be responding to all three areas.
d. Phonebanking to ask members for a one time contribution or a sustaining donor contribution.
e. Events positioned around well known guest speakers or similar attractions are effective. If there are members with deep pockets, asking for a set amount may work, i.e., a one time $500 contribution perhaps.
f. When phonebanking, let the respondent comment first after you have floated an amount for a contribution – first one to speak after that loses.
g. Country committees should ask their Excoms to be Sustaining Donors – all members – it could be as little as $10/quarter, i.e., $40 a year.

11. Code of Conduct: Christine Marques introduced the Code of Conduct which has been posted on the Leadership listserve. The Democrats Abroad Code of Conduct is meant to spell out what is expected of leaders and members of DA, as well emphasize the good will and responsible behavior by which DA committees and their leaders should carry out their actions and duties. In addition, it addresses communications and public relations behavior, and privacy and conflict of interest concerns.

12. Global Meeting: Christine Marques reported that the next global meeting of the DPCA will take place in Florence, Italy, March 5 to 7, 2010. People should make their travel plans now, and plan to fly into Pisa airport, and then take the one-hour train to Florence.

a. The next subsequent global meeting will be voted on in Florence, to take place after the 2010 mid-term elections in November. Asia/Pacific is due for a meeting, but the Americas could also vie for a venue.

13. Service Project: President Obama has asked citizens to perform service in their community. In keeping with this spirit, Democrats Abroad members attending the regional meeting decided that as a group it should do something in response to Guatemala’s current acute malnutrition crisis. Gail Terzuola, Secretary for Democrats Abroad Guatemala, who has been working with school children in the nearby town of San Miguel Dueñas, to collect food and to raise money to buy food for families suffering in the eastern part of Guatemala where the crisis is most severe, organized a fund raiser among the DA members present at the meeting. The effort netted just under $200. Gail will provide an end-use report on the resources collected at the meeting and it will be shared with all who attended the meeting. The DA Guatemala Excom thanks everyone for their generosity, and Gail for leading the effort.

14. Goals and Action Steps:
Just before the meeting adjourned, Patricia Ferrari, presented a list of goals and action steps she wanted the region to undertake. These include:
a. Sustaining Donor Program – We should reach 30% (of the global total – we are currently about 18% of the global total) and each Excom in the region’s country committees reach 100%.
b. Each country committee should establish a good relationship with the consulate.
c. Each country committee should prepare their Field Plans over the next 45 days (by December 2009).
d. The Dominican Republic (Francisco Diaz) will prepare a position paper on reciprocal Social Security programs.
e. Guatemala (John Chudy) will work with Panama to reactivate that country committee.
f. Mexico will launch a Movie Night, then create a template for the region.
g. Canada will work to integrate the region into a DA push for health care reform. Push the 5-Easy Steps, and then tell Lindsey when a country committee has done something (which she can then use in reports to the DNC).

Democrats Abroad Guatemala, Second Annual Labor Day Picnic

2009-09-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

Democrats living in Guatemala got together on September 5, 2009, to celebrate Labor Day, and to rejoice in being Democrats when the world really needs them. The event took place at Casa Convento Concepción, on Calle La Concepción #41, La Antigua Guatemala.

Our Executive Committee had planned on about 50 people, and just over that number actually attended. The good planning meant there was enough food and drink for everyone, and ample amounts of good conversation.

Live entertainment was provided by Bill Harriss, and his musical mates from the El Sol Latino group. Lots of compliments were made about the music – it was pleasant in the background for the conversationalists and more enjoyable close up. If you didn’t get enough of their fine sounds, you can catch them in the evenings Wednesday through Saturday at La Peña del Sol Latino, on 5a Calle Poniente No.15, in Antigua.

Even Barack Obama showed up, and made time to let picnic goers have their picture taken with him.

In addition to celebrating our good fortune to be Democrats and to honor the advances made by organized labor in the United States, Democrats Abroad Guatemala also had as a goal fund raising for the Democratic Party Committee Abroad (DPCA), our international body to which we belong. The DPCA is the entity responsible for maintaining our website which keeps all of us Democrats living in over 40 countries worldwide linked together. The website, which is costly to maintain, also is the tool that facilitates our absentee ballot requests through its VoteFromAbroad.org component. Funding to maintain the website and related voter outreach activities of the DPCA, all comes from member donations. As she did in 2008, Judy Sadlier, our fund raising standing committee chair, again organized a raffle. In this year’s version, Judy featured a variety of great prizes. The lucky winners went home very happy. One winner, having bought only three tickets, won on all three! We hope she returns next year. Congratulations to all the lucky winners, and thank you everyone who participated by buying tickets for Judy’s raffle. In all, Judy took in $305.45. She will make a contribution to the DPCA for that amount.

All of us need to thank Judy, for her efforts to organize this successful part of the 2009 Labor Day picnic.

Our treasurer, Tom Totino, reported that the 2009 Labor Day picnic ended in the black. The picnic expenses for food, beverages, rental items, and hired help, totaled Q3,632.00, while total receipts from the door, photos with Barack, and from extra food and drink, was Q3700.00. We ended up Q68 to the good.

Congratulations and heart felt thanks to all who participated by attending, helping with the details of the picnic, and in supporting Democrats Abroad. As we look toward the important 2010 mid-term elections, your continued support is not only needed, but very much appreciated.

Democrats Abroad Guatemala Annual Meeting Minutes 2009

2009-04-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

Democrats Abroad Guatemala held its 2009 Annual Meeting on March14th, at La Peña del Sol Latino, on 5th Street (#15-C) in Antigua, Guatemala. Twenty-seven members were present to help carry on business. This year's annual meeting also included elections of a new executive committee.

See full details at: www.democratsabroad.org/guatemala

Change Celebrated: The Inaugural Ball

2009-01-21T13:44:00.000-08:00

Though they may have been many hundreds of miles from official inaugural balls in Washington, DC, for the over 200 attendees at Democrats Abroad Guatemala’s Inaugural Ball, the enthusiasm and exuberance were close in spirit and in kind. This was no ordinary inauguration, and people wanted to be with kindred spirits to celebrate the change they voted for. Change in public policy, and change in who we are and who we have become. Planners expected 100 attendees, and got twice the number. And though it called for patience while waiting for service, no one grumbled. Like those celebrants in DC, ours too, handled the crowding graciously and happily. And like their DC counterparts, what was being celebrated mattered more than food or beverage.

The inauguration of Barack Obama embodies the change Americans want in the direction of the country - less militaristic, holding to cherished national ideals, more fiscally responsible, more focused on the immediate problems of jobs, health care, education, progress on social issues, while being less ideological and more unified. The challenges will be met, President Obama said, and sacrifice from everyone will be called upon to overcome them. There has been a hunger for that kind of leadership, and people wanted to celebrate the new day and the new president.

The change in who we are and who we have become is huge. Small children growing up today will see a First Family through a new prism. Their realm of judgment will be nudged toward the content of one’s character and away from color -- without even thinking about it. That is really huge. Many older Americans, even long-time Democrats, found themselves amazed that they would live to see a black man as their party’s nominee, much less actually vote for a black man. It has happened, and it is no small thing.

So we dined, we danced, we toasted and celebrated into the night with everyone else everywhere else on this planet.

Election Night Parties in Guatemala

2008-11-07T13:50:00.000-08:00

Democrats throughout Guatemala had several choices to celebrate the end of the 2008 presidential election. There were parties in Guatemala City at Shakespeare's Pub, in Xela at the Centro Cultural Los Chocoyos, and in Antigua, at the home of DA member Dave Evans. Here are a few photos from El Centro Cultural Los Chocoyos, Shakespeare's Pub and Dave Evans' home:

Labor Day Picnic -- Success

2008-09-02T15:39:00.001-07:00

Democrats Abroad Guatemala held a successful Labor Day Picnic in La Antigua, Guatemala on Saturday, August 30, 2008. It was a marvelous day for an outdoor event with sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. A perfect day made even more spectacular by the beautiful grounds of Casa Convento Concepción, which were opened to Democrats Abroad Guatemala by Jay and Mary Lou Ridinger, who currently administer the property. The spacious colonial ruin was ideal for an event honoring those who labor for our benefit, and to honor our party’s inspiring presidential ticket.

Our membership will be happy to know that Jay and Mary Lou rent out office space in the Casa Convento Concepción, and have a couple of units vacant. If you are in need of office space in Antigua, or know of someone who does, then Casa Convento Concepción is the ideal place. Contact Jay and Mary Lou at 7882-4553 or 7832-0356 for details.

Just over 100 members and visitors attended the picnic, which featured all-American hot dogs and hamburgers, garnished with potato salad, baked beans, pickles, a choice of beverages and other picnic fare. There were games and activities for the kids, and for the adults there were Obama T-shirts for sale by a committee member, and another committee member organized a fabulous raffle. Both sellers had committed to making personal contributions to Democrats Abroad for all earnings beyond cost.

And there was political talk, lots of it. An upbeat and optimistic feeling was shared by all following the DNC’s successful four-day national convention which had wound up just two days before. The other item of political interest, of course, was the McCain campaign’s efforts to steal some of the Democratic thunder by revealing as a running mate, a little known governor from Alaska with no national level profile, and a thin résumé to boot. Was McCain’s emotional and impulsive move to select the youngish woman from Alaska a real game changer that will earn him the keys to the White House, or an act of electoral vote desperation? The latter seemed to be the consensus, in that as we learn more about the Alaskan governor, the more drastic and more impulsive the selection will appear. Given that McCain is actuarially challenged for such a grueling job, he turned 72 on August 29^th, the idea that Governor Palin and her rolling soap opera may be called upon to run the country on conceivably any day after assuming office, is a disquieting and sobering thought. Others have suggested that the absurdity of the selection will hit a Harriet Miers-like head wind, and McCain will be forced to find a way to replace the novice governor with someone less ludicrous. All in all, McCain has done the Democrats a favor. Even if his first choice is replaced by a more seasoned individual, the Tom Eagleton affect will be in play, and McCain’s image as a serious and thoughtful decision-maker will be more damaged than it already is.

The successful picnic gives momentum and resources to continue our Get Out the Vote efforts in support of the Obama/Biden ticket, and to encourage our membership to pay attention to House races in their districts, and where relevant, important Senate races as well. Members and friends should be sending their absentee ballot requests to their voting authorities back in the states as early into September as possible. We have said all along that it should have been done by September 1^st. A few more days won’t hurt, but once past the 10^th or so of the month, mail snags could impede the arrival of absentee requests on time at voting precincts.

A long list of acknowledgements and appreciation is in order. Again, we cannot thank Jay and Mary Lou enough for making Casa Convento Concepción available as the venue for the Labor Day Picnic. Others who contributed time, effort, money, goods and services include Judy Sadlier, who in addition to tending to picnic details, organized on her own behalf a very successful raffle. In her role as Democrats Abroad Guatemala fundraising contact, Judy decided that a raffle based initially on some of her own possessions would be one way of leveraging her personal contribution to Democrats Abroad. Other friends then chipped in including Jades, S.A. (Jay and Mary Lou Ridinger), Orestes Sanchez (sculpture), Century 21/Casa Nova (Brian Wilson, gift certificate to DeCameron resort in El Salvador), Jan Ramirez, (clothing designs), and art work from Len Clark. The Obama T-shirt sale was organized by Gail Terzuola, with support from Diana Diaz Granados and Paul Graddon. We also must thank our Democrats Abroad Guatemala treasurer, Rae Leeth, who made sure all the bills were paid, and the accounts kept in order. And finally to Norma Gifford, for assistance not only as counselor with the legal issues, but also for helping with food preparation, and to Vera Richardson, who helped voter registrants during the picnic. And we must give thanks to Deet Lewis, who labored from early in the day until the end of the event without a break, selling entrance tickets and greeting all comers.

Tracking Important Legislation

2008-07-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

When issues like FISA, War Funding measures, or important environmental actions are winding their way through congress, there is a way to track them and note who is doing what to amend them, hold them up, get them passed, or deep six them. Beverly Bandler of DA Mexico put the following list of very useful websites together. Use the list to help stay informed and engaged.

A list of basic legislative tracking websites:

- Tracking Legislation on the Web
http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/legislation.html
A good place to start.

- The Library of Congress Thomas
http://thomas.loc.gov/

- GovTrack.us
http://www.govtrack.us/
GovTrack tracks the United States Congress. Follow the status of federal legislation or learn about your members of Congress.

- Roll Call
http://www.rollcall.com/
The newspaper of Capitol Hill since 1955

- CQ.com
http://corporate.cq.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=12#tracking_network
Congressional Quarterly’s Legislative Tracking: "the only service that covers every legislative action in Congress. From introduction through committee, to conference negotiations and the president's desk...”

DA Guatemala Annual Meeting Minutes

2007-12-24T10:59:00.000-08:00

Annual Membership Celebration Minutes
Date: March 29, 2008
Place: La Peña del Sol Latino
5a Calle poniente #15-C
La Antigua, Guatemala

- Chair called the meeting to order at: 11:00 AM
- Secretary reported twenty-seven members in attendance at the opening of the meeting.

1. Treasurer’s Report of preceding year

Income: Election Series ’08 Q4,388.75
Events 3,345.00
Donations 2,058.00
Q9,791.75

Expenditures: Rent Q2,936.00
General expenses 2,116.87
Advertising 3,750.00
Q7,802.87
Total income: Q9,791.00
Total expenses: -7,802.87
Balance Q1,988.88
Balance from ‘07 + 740.00

Current Balance Q2,728.88 (US$1.00=Q7.50)

2. Secretary’s Report – state of membership growth during preceding year
- June 2006, start-up committee of six people meets
- March 2007, full committee status achieved having reached 50 members.
- Current membership: 260

3. Chairperson’s Report of preceding year
A start from scratch in 2005-2006
- Formal recognition by DPCA in March 2007
- Dramatic membership growth in 2007 and early 2008
- Promotional events in 2007
§ An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore
§ Bioneers videos (2005 and 2006) series
§ 4th of July Picnic
§ Election Series ’08
► August 2007, Health Care, Sicko
► September 2007, War on Terror, The Oil Factor
► October 2007 , Saving Social Security, Slide show presentation
► November 2007, Veterans Affairs, Slide Show with Dave Evans
► January 2008, Democratic Candidate Positions Overview, Slide show summary
§ February 5-12, 2008 Democrats Abroad Global Primary
- The Results of the Democratic Global Primary
§ Senator Barack Obama, first with 65.6% of the vote and Senator Hillary Clinton second with 32.7%. Worldwide, Democrats cast 23,105 votes.
§ The results give Obama six full delegates and Hillary three, with two more as super delegates. Democrats Abroad will send 11 full delegates (22 people each with a half vote) to the National Democratic Convention which will be held in Denver, Colorado, August 25-28th, 2008.
§ In Guatemala, 68% voted for Obama, and 29% for Hillary. A total of 189 ballots were cast: 110 from in-person voting, and 79 from voting by Internet.

4. Activities planned for 2008:
- Americas Regional Caucus and Global Convention, Vancouver April 11-13
- Democratic National Convention Denver, August 25-28,
- Fourth of July picnic
- GOTV activities for November 4, 2008 general election; Hold a Labor Day party built around voter registration/absentee ballot request theme.
- Requesting your absentee ballot with http://www.votefromabroad.org/ with live on-line demonstration.
- Democratic Nominee vs. Republican Nominee Election debate events:
Sep 26, Univ. of Miss. Domestic Policy Focus
Oct 12, Hofstra Univ., Foreign Policy Focus
Big-screen venue(s) need to be identified.
- Formation of informal DA meeting groups in Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango, others; Diana Diaz-Granados and Ed Mann will take the lead in Guatemala City; Paul Graddon will attempt to convene members in Quetzaltenango.

5. December 2008: Chair will form Nominations Committee to receive candidate nominations for Guatemala Executive Committee elections in March 2009.

6. Adjournment: At 12:30 PM, a motion was made to adjourn, seconded and carried.