Call for Candidates for the Executive Committee

Elections for 2015–2017 Executive Committee

Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the Annual General Meeting in Geneva

The Executive Committee is the leadership of DA Switzerland, made up of eleven members like you who volunteer their time and skills to represent and organize Democrats across Switzerland. Nine are elected and two sit ex-officio. Per our by-laws, we’ve appointed a Nominations Committee to run this election process and seek out candidates to stand for office.



All nine DACH Executive Committee elected positions are to be filled, See descriptions below...

1. Chair
2. Vice-Chair
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Counsel
6. Member-At-Large, Voter Outreach Coordinator (GOTV)
7. Member-At-Large, Social Media and online promotion
8. Member-At-Large, International Policy Issues
9. Member-At-Large, non-designated

We seek members excited to be part of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Elections, and help Democrats win races at all levels of our political process. In Spring 2016 we will hold Democrats Abroad’s Global Primary, where our members can vote for their preferred Democratic presidential candidate. There will be fundraisers, Get-Out-The-Vote campaigns around Switzerland, debate watches, and more! Now is the time to heed the call for candidates, and get involved. Terms are for two years, from March 2015 until March 2017.

DA Switzerland has set 3 important goals for the 2015-2017 term and calls on all our members to help reach them:
 ①  Membership Outreach to attract new members
 ②  Voter Registration
 ③  Fundraising

The growth and sustainability of Democrats Abroad Switzerland are a top priority. Joining the leadership of Democrats Abroad is a great opportunity to build up experience, broaden your network, have fun and meet great people. And mainly, you get to play a critical role in helping ELECT DEMOCRATS!!

Please Consider Running for an Office!

Declare Your Candidacy or Nominate Another Member for a Position
by Midnight Friday, February 6, 2015

All registered members living in Switzerland are eligible (and encouraged!) to run for one of these these positions and to vote at the Annual Meeting.

✔︎ February 6 – Send an email to Nominations Committee Chair Maya Samara. Each nominee is asked to submit their name, contact info and a brief statement of intent (max. 500 words)

✔︎ February 17 – We will distribute information about the candidates, their statements, voting procedures, meeting agenda and venue to all members by email

✔︎ Saturday, March 14 – Elections will be held during the Annual General Meeting. Save the date!

Democrats Abroad Switzerland Officers

Job Descriptions & Duties

✯ Chair ✯
Chief executive officer of DA Switzerland – as such, Chair must

• Organize and conduct meetings of the Executive Committee and the membership, and set the agenda of such meetings
• Establish all committees necessary for the proper functioning of the organization
• Represent DACH in interviews with the press
• Attend all DA international meetings in person or online
• Represent DACH at meetings of the DPCA (Dems Abroad International) in accordance with the DPCA Charter, and report to the DACH ExCom on DPCA activities, issues, votes, etc.
• Choose a fair and impartial head of the “Nominations and Elections Committee” to run DACH elections in odd numbered years

✯ Vice-Chair ✯

• Must be opposite gender to Chair
• Assist Chair in all DACH ExCom activities
• Substitute for Chair when needed
• Attend all DA Switzerland ExCom and international meetings in person or online
• Assist in representing DACH at meetings of the DPCA
• Take on other responsibilities as agreed upon with the ExCom

✯ Secretary ✯

• Take minutes of all meetings and after approval of the Chair distribute to the ExCom in a timely fashion
• Distribute meeting agendas to the ExCom
• Maintain all files and administrative records of the organization (Google Docs)
• Maintain a current list of members of the organization

✯ Treasurer ✯

• Manage the finances of DA Switzerland and its Chapter
• Maintain clear and accurate financial records and make financial reports as required on a timely basis
• Ensure all financial matters conform to local rules and regulations as well as those of the Federal Election Commission and campaign finance laws of the United States

✯ Counsel ✯

• Preferably a qualified lawyer
• Consult with the Executive Committee and/or its officers on legal and procedural questions relating to Democrats Abroad Switzerland and its activities

✯ Chair of Zurich Chapter ✯ (ex officio, elected at Zurich Chapter meeting)

• Lead and mobilize members to join his or her team
• Appoint Chapter positions such as vice-chair, secretary, media contact, event organizer, GOTV coordinator, Young Dems chair, or any other position deemed necessary
• Direct the activities of DACH in the German-speaking part of Switzerland
• Be a dedicated team player who will work with the DACH Executive Committee

✯ Immediate-past Chair ✯ (ex officio)

• Advise and assist DACH Executive Committee in its activities

DACH Member-At-Large Positions (4) Pursuant to our bylaws updated March 2014, the DACH ExCom now includes 4 Member-At-Large positions. The ExCom has decided to designate specific duties to 3 of those 4. Candidates for those 3 positions must be willing to fill the specific duties. The main function of each designated-duty Member-At-Large position is to coordinate efforts on the national level in this general area. For some specific projects, such as getting out the 2016 vote, the Member-At-Large coordinator may create work groups under his/her leadership.

✯ Member-At-Large, Voter Outreach Coordinator (GOTV) ✯

• Coordinate all aspects of GOTV Team’s work in run-up to the 2016 presidential elections
• Plan & coordinate phone banking in election years
• Support the members across the country, including our chapter, in their efforts to set-up info-stands and voter registration tables
• Produce and organize mass mailings to membership encouraging registration, voting, and donations

✯ Member-At-Large, Social Media and online promotion ✯

• Responsible for posting bi-weekly or monthly newsletters in coordination with Chair and Vice-Chair
• Maintain regular updates on DACH blog and website
• Create DACH event postings on Facebook and local online news websites where DACH has an account
• Maintain news posting traffic feed level as agreed with the ExCom on all social media where DACH has accounts: Facebook, Twitter, etc.

✯ Member-At-Large, International Policy Issues ✯

• Responsible for policy issues of international relations, particularly between the U.S. and other nations, as they may impact or be of interest to the members of Democrats Abroad
• Propose occasional communications and events on such issues

✯ Member-At-Large, non-designated ✯

• Per our bylaws: “Responsibilities of those Members-at-Large not elected to a position with designated duties may be suggested by the Chair and in agreement with the Member-At-Large...”
• The current Executive Committee has identified several roles that they hope a candidate for the fourth Member-At-Large position would fill. These include: Media Contact, Events and Fundraising Coordinator, Young Democrats Abroad Coordinator, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator

For more information on these offices, contact mayasamara@gmail.com

Nominations Committee

• Maya Samara (Chair), Past Chair of DACH (2009-2013)
• Emily Blitz, Treasurer DACH (2013-2015), Secretary DACH (2007-2009)
• Judy Brown, DACH member, Zurich Chapter