Welcome to the DAUK Newsletter for June 2011

DAUK members receive an eNewsletter each month with fun and useful information for Democrats in the UK. Please forward to other Americans living abroad, and encourage them to join Democrats Abroad.

Table of Contents

1) Film: Gasland, June 3

2) A Night of Comedy against Evil with Jeff Kreisler, June 28

3) Independence Day Celebration, July 3

4) Young Professionals Network

5) Speakeasies

6) Executive Committee meeting

Please do not reply directly to this email – find DAUK Contacts here: http://www.democratsabroad.org...

1)  Film: A Spring Evening with Democrats Abroad - Gasland, June 3

Come watch and discuss this Oscar-nominated documentary on the booming business of ‘fracking’ for natural gas in the USA.  As ‘fracking’ has now begun in the UK as well, it is doubly relevant to DAUK. ‘Fracking’ is heavily promoted by the industry as a major step forward in reducing our dependence on unreliable energy supplies and suppliers. The industry’s ferocious attacks on this film's Oscar nomination produced its own blowback: creating a wider audience for the film and wider discussion of the crucial issues involved. Join in!

From the film website: http://www.gaslandthemovie.com

Afterwards join us for a discussion led by Peter Durante from the DAUK Policy Action Network Environment and Energy Security team.  Peter is well known to many of us because of his vast knowledge of energy and energy security issues, his experience with the oil business, and his passion for promoting alternative strategies for energy security.

Read the reviews in the Observer  

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film...

or the Sierra Club

http://sierraclub.typepad.com/...

Date:                Friday 3rd June

Time:               7:00 pm (Doors Open at 6:30 pm) 

Location: London School of Economics, Room S75, Ground Floor, St. Clement's

Cost:                £5 General, £3 Unwaged

Please RSVP to: films@democratsabroad.org.uk

RSVPs have been very strong and we are almost at capacity. Please book ASAP to avoid disappointment. In order to receive confirmation of your RSVP, please reply by 10:00AM on June 3. Seats may still be available at the door, but we will be unable to reply to you after 10:00AM.

2. A Night of Comedy against Evil with Jeff Kreisler, June 28

Join DAUK on June 28 for an evening of topical comedy and biting political satire featuring Jeff Kreisler, winner of the Bill Hicks Spirit Award for Thought-Provoking Comedy who comes to us fresh from a NYC Young Dems’ fund-raiser in aid of organizing New York State High School Democrats.

A graduate of Princeton and Virginia Law School, Jeff is the author of Harper Collins' bestselling Get Rich Cheating, a satiric yet, in these times, disturbingly believable wealth-building seminar. As a member of Gotham Jokewriters, he has helped politicians, corporate executives, and even economists (he likes a challenge) aspire to President Obama’s mastery of stand-up. Jeff has appeared on the BBC, BBC America, CBS, NPR, Air America, Current TV, and is a regular on MSNBC and was a writer for Comedy Central's 'Indecision ‘08' alternative election coverage.

Jeff goes onstage at 9:30 for a one-hour set. Seating is limited, so early booking is recommended. Please RSVP Today.

When:      Tuesday, June 28  9:30-10:30 pm

Where:     Hen and Chickens Theatre Bar, 109 St. Paul’s Street, London N1 2NA

RSVP to:    events@democratsabroad.org.uk

Admission: £10 Payment details provided with receipt of rsvp and email confirmation.

Map:     http://www.thehenandchickensth... The Hen and Chickens Theatre Bar is a five minute walk from the Highbury and Islington Tube Station. Cross at the traffic lights, head straight along St. Paul’s Road and it’s on the corner.  

3)  Independence Day Celebration, July 3

Democrats Abroad UK is thrilled to announce our third annual American Independence Day Celebration! We look forward to welcoming everyone again to join us for a fun-filled afternoon of food, games, live music and good old Americana at this year's annual Independence Day Picnic on Sunday the 3rd of July from 12 to 5 PM at Portman Square Garden in Central London. Last year we hosted over 1000 Americans and their families to celebrate and enjoy a truly American fete in the middle of London.

Date:         Sunday 3rd of July

Time:        12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Welcome remarks at 1:00 pm)

Location:  Portman Square, W1H 7BH

Mouth-watering barbecue, tantalizing Creole, sumptuous Mexican, sweet and savory crepes, old fashioned lemonade, milkshakes, cupcakes, brownies, whoopee pies and more will be available to purchase for prices from £1 to £7. There will be something for everyone! We have a terrific line-up of live music to entertain us while we celebrate Independence Day – everything from Jazz, Folk, Barbershop, to new up and coming artists.  The event will feature wonderful day-long activities for children, including games, arts and crafts, as well as many other fun activities. All this included in the admission fee!  Buy your tickets now

Admission Prices:

Adults - £10.00 (early discount - purchased online before June 26)

Adults - £12.50 (online purchase from June 26)

Students and Seniors - £5.00

Children (6-16) - £3.50 (under 6 are free)

All are welcome to attend – big and small, families and singles. Spouses and guests who are not US citizens are very welcome, but due to laws governing the operation of US political parties tickets may be purchased only by US citizens and US permanent residents ("Green Card" holders). Proceeds over and above the cost of the event will support the efforts of Democrats Abroad UK.

Book your tickets today! http://daukjulypicnic.eventbri... If you bring print-outs of your electronic tickets this should help to speed your entry to the site.

Directions to Portman Square: Portman Square Garden is by the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, just North of Oxford Street.  Enter at South Garden Gate, on Portman Square between Seymour and Wigmore Streets. Closest tube stations are Marble Arch and Bond Street.

Portman Estates requests that attendees bring their own blankets or picnic hampers. Please note, NO kites, fireworks or pets are allowed in the square.

4)  DAUK Young Professionals

The Young Professionals Network (YPN) hosts a lively monthly get-together. Young (and young-at-heart) Democrats are welcome.

What: DAUK Young Professionals Night

When: June 16th  from 7pm (till closing)

Where: The Marylebone - 93 Marylebone High Street W1U 4RE (you can find us in the back room of the pub)

Join us on the 16th of June where you can meet and mingle with fellow Americans, enjoy a drink or two, and find out how you can help keep Democrats in office and get involved with Democrats Abroad UK. We're gearing up for the Independence Day Party on the 3rd of July and we're always looking for people who want to help us plan it and help on the day! Please email youngdems@democratsabroad.org.uk if you'd like to get involved!

We are a fully inclusive group. We welcome those interested in politics and those who just want to make some new friends. We love to meet your non American friends as well as your non-Democrat friends. Young or old we hope to see you at our next evening!

We meet at the Marylebone Pub on the Third Thursday of every month.

If you have any questions or comments or just want to drop us a note you can reach us at youngdems@democratsabroad.org.uk  Have Twitter? Follow us @DALondonYPN (http://twitter.com/dalondonypn) or join us on our Facebook group DAUK Young Professionals Network (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=1156704151154780

5) Speakeasies

Our regularly scheduled Speakeasies are a chance to meet like-minded Americans, have a drink, talk politics, or just make new friends. Speakeasies are informal and held throughout the country, usually once a month.

Cambridge Speakeasy

When: First Wednesday of the month

Time: From 6:30pm

Location: The Castle Inn Pub, 38 Castle Street, CB3 0AJ

Email: camchair@democratsabroad.org.uk

London Speakeasy

When: First Wednesday of the month

Time: From 7:00pm

NEW VENUE - IN THE CITY

Location: The Harrow, 22 Whitefriars Street, London, EC4Y 8JJ

Nearest Tubes: Temple, Chancery Lane, St Paul's

Email: vice-chair@democratsabroad.org.uk

Oxford Speakeasy

When: First Wednesday of the month

Time: From 7:30pm

Location: Kings Arms, 40 Holywell Street, Oxford, OX1 3SP (intersection of Holywell and Broad Street)

Email: oxford@democratsabroad.org.uk

6)  Executive Committee meeting

The Executive Committee of Democrats Abroad UK will be meeting on Thursday June 2 between 7.00 and 8.30 pm in central London. Members of DAUK may attend the meeting in person (subject to venue constraints), or listen to the proceedings by conference call. If you wish to be there in person, or listen by conference call, please RSVP to secretary@democratsabroad.org.uk. Venue and dial-in details will be provided to those who RSVP.

7. Contact us

List of Contacts and Links: http://www.democratsabroad.org...