Kalyani Etheart, Joanne Rowley and I painted a room in the Bostället på Högbergsgatan last week. We donated our time as part of the ‘Days of Service’ honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose birthday is celebrated the 3rd week of January in the US.

When the call for volunteers went out from DASweden for a ‘Day of Service’ honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I thought, ‘What better 60th Birthday gift can I give to my adopted city than a couple of mornings painting a
room in the Stadsmission Bostället, brightening up the lives of the formerly homeless residents?’ Kalyani, Joanne and I stretched our muscles and braved the ever present threat of spotted skin and clothes as we rolled over the Grey and Yellow walls of the TV room with brighter off-white. Residents were scheduled to apply the third coat when we discovered that the two coats didn’t quite mask the stronger underlying colors. There just may be another room waiting for you!

Other volunteer projects were discussed including one that would pair native English speakers with children from immigrant families who want to improve their verbal and written English skills. This is tremendously important to 7th-9th graders who need to do well in English to enter a gymnasium (High School), especially those which emphasize English.

Bruce Morris

Hey Skåne members!

Well tonight is the big night, Obama’s State of The Union Address! Critics have been harsh saying the victory in Massachusetts touched off a domino effect of political setbacks ….and the elephant in the room is the fate of the health care agenda. Many Americans are looking for someone to blame for The White Houses short comings but I don’t want our group to spend time looking for someone to blame, Our president needs our support more than ever and we can not forget what state America was in when he took over! It takes more than one year to see the change that Obama has promised we knew it wouldn’t be easy!

The State of the Union Address will give Obama the floor to restate the goals of his administration and a chance to get the American people back on track . To make the changes that America needs we need the excitement and enthusiasm that was seen during 2008! So….

On Wednesday Feburary 17th, I would like to encourage all of our memember to join us for our social meet up at Southern Kitchen Café. You can start arriving at 17:30 but we will be there until 20:00 so stop by any time. Even if it is just for a few minutes it is a great opportunity to meet with fellow Americans and discuss the events that have been going on since we last met. Also, on the agenda will be discussing some fundraising events for our group as well as beginning to organizing voter registration for the midterm elections. There is a lot going on so I really hope to see you all there. This is not an RSVP event, however if you can send me over an email letting me know if you plan on making it I can let the nice guys over at Southern Kitchen Café know how many to expect!

Where: Southern Kitchen Café

When: 17:30-20:00

Address: Östra Förstadsgatan 24 Malmö

Emergency Collection for the People in Haiti

Dear DASweden member,

Here is an opportunity for you to help the people of Haiti, sent to our Outreach Chair, Adrianne George, from Viken Wetlesen from the Swedish Red Cross:

“On Saturday, January 16th, we will have an emergency collection for the people in Haiti. We will meet at Hornsgatan 56, Stockholm (Café Blooms) at 11 am. Everybody will get a collection box and then we will collect money for Haiti for two hours. We should be done around 1-2 pm.
Please send this message to everybody you know in Stockholm. The more people we can gather here – the more we can help there.

Thank you for your support.

Best regards,

Viken Wetlesen
Swedish Red Cross”

And here is a letter from President Obama urging us to help the victims of this catastrophe:

“On Tuesday, a catastrophic earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the death toll — already in the thousands — is climbing fast.

This is the worst earthquake to hit the area in more than 200 years. Entire communities have been ripped apart and as many as 3 million people have been directly affected, including tens of thousands of American citizens who are in Haiti.

Our neighbors in Haiti are racing to confront the enormous devastation — and the OFA community can help.

Footage is pouring in of homes collapsing, Haitians carrying injured family members, and hospitals being overrun in what was already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

I have directed my administration to respond with a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort to save lives. Personnel from the United States and our partners in the international community are on the ground in damaged areas right now, working side by side with the Haitian people. They’re providing much-needed food, water, and sanitation supplies, saving lives and helping local communities start to rebuild.

Despite the fact that we are experiencing tough times here at home, I encourage those who can to reach out and help. It’s in times like these that we must show the kind of compassion and humanity that has defined the best of our national character for generations.”

I hope to see you tomorrow, January 16, 2010, 11 am, at Hornsgatan 56, Stockholm (Café Blooms).

Best wishes,
Sandy Mansson

Voter Registration Kick-off and Mingle on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at Scandic Anglais Upstairs Bar, 6-9 pm

Democrats Abroad Sweden will be having it’s Voter Registration Kickoff and Mingle on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 6-9 pm, at the Scandic Anglais Upstairs Bar, Humlegårdsgatan 23, Stockholm. There is no cover charge or pre-signups for the event. Just drop in after work, register to vote with the help of our Voter Registration Committee, and mingle with your friends.

Our first Voter Registration Assistance Session at Tully’s will be on Saturday, January 30, 2010, 11 am to 1 pm, Götgatan 42, Stockholm, T-Medborgarplatsen.

At that time we will also be collecting items for care packages for our Wounded Warriors at Landstuhl Hospital, as well as for the Swedish Battalion in Afghanistan. Please bring such things as warm t-shirts and sweatshirts, socks, hygiene articles, books, magazines, games, and candy. You can also mail packages to Landstuhl Hospital: Rafael Hernandez, 10th Mountain Wounded Warriors, Haupstrasse 120, 66882 Heytschenhausen, Germany. Packes or letters to the Swedish Battalion may be sent to Mats Blom, SC ATS HKV, 107 85 Stockholm.

We will also have another Service Project in honor of Martin Luther King Day on January 20-21, 2010, at Bostället, Högbergsgatan 51, Stockholm, in an arrangement with Stadsmissionen.

We still need volunteers to help renovate a room on the 6th floor. If you would like to help out, please contact our Outreach Chair on dashalland@gmail.com. Lunch will be provided for volunteers.

You can also go online to register to vote in the 2010 mid-term elections at www.votefromabroad.org . Get your state-specific information at www.fvap.gov .

Those who are registered in Illinois and Texas have early primaries in on February 2, 2010 respective March 2, 2010. Florida also has a Special Primary on February 2, 2010.

Here is the Democrats Abroad Sweden Voter Registration Plan for 2010:

January 30, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm, Götgatan 42, T-Medborgarplatsen

February 27, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

March 27, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

April 24, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

May 29, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

June 19, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

June 28-July 7 Overseas Citizen Voter Week ( House Party, TBA )

July 4, 2010 DASweden 4th of July Picnic

July 31, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

August 28, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

September 4, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

September 4, 2010 Phone-banking at English School North, 3-6 pm

September 5, 2010 Phone-banking at English School North, 3-6 pm

September 11, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

September 18, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

September 25, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

October 2, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

October 9, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

October 14, 2010 FWAB Evening at English School North, 6-9 pm

October 16, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

October 23, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, 11 am -1 pm

November 2, 2010 Mid-term Elections

There will be Voter Registration at all Democrats Abroad events, starting in January, 2010.