Welcome to the DAUK Newsletter for October 2011
This Newsletter is sent to all Democrats Abroad members living in the UK. Please forward this information to other Americans living here and encourage them to join Democrats Abroad UK. Do not reply directly to this email. Find DAUK contacts here:
http://www.democratsabroad.org/node/927

Table of Contents

1.) Meet International Human Rights lawyer Ed Rekosh on Thursday October 6th

2.) Inside the Party: Meet DNC Secretary Alice Germond on Thursday October 20th
(Ticket sales must end Monday October 10th. No tickets available at the door.)

3.) Virtual Town Hall on U.S. tax issues on Monday October 10th

4.) DPCA meeting in Washington D.C., October 12th-16th

5.) DAUK Young Professionals Network

6.) YPN presents: Immigration Workshop

7.) Speakeasies

1.) Meet International Human Rights lawyer Ed Rekosh

Edwin Rekosh teaches Human Rights, Law and Development at Columbia Law School and has been a visiting professor at Central European University in Budapest. He has worked for the Ford Foundation and the Washington, D.C.-based International Human Rights Law Group (now Global Rights). A co-founder of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in 1988, he has written extensively about human rights and the rule of law. He was the recipient of the American Bar Association's International Human Rights Award in 2009. Since 1997, Edwin has been the executive director (and founder) of PILnet: The Global Network for Public Interest Law, an international NGO that is building a global network to activate, empower and connect those who use legal tools to work in the public interest.

Ed has kindly agreed to meet with us at two events on Thursday October 6th.

FIRST, "A Conversation with Ed Rekosh"

Date:                   Thursday, October 6th
Time:                   6:00 p.m.
Location:             Heythrop College
23 Kensington Square
London W8 5HN
Nearest Tube:  High Street Kensington
Price:                   £10 (£5 concession)

Hard Times, Difficult Places: The Challenge of U.S. Foreign Policy in China and Russia—American Values, Soft Power, and the Rule of Law
How does an autocratic country with a centrally controlled economy convert itself into a market-oriented economy with a free and open society? How does it create not only the institutions and the legal superstructure but also the civic space and the habits of mind that underlie a successful free society? Edwin Rekosh is intimately and directly involved in working out the answers to these crucial questions as they confront China and Russia.

Buy your tickets here: http://dauk-rekosh.eventbrite.com/

Friends of DAUK members who are not American citizens are welcome but an American citizen must pay their admission.

AND THEN, "An Evening with Ed Rekosh"

For those who would like to meet with Ed Rekosh in a more intimate setting, we invite you to join us for an evening with food and drink at 8:00 p.m. at a private home immediately following the event at Heythrop College. This second event, with limited availability, requires a minimum contribution of $100 - or can be attended by any Sterling Circle member with or without an additional contribution. If you'd like to find out more about the Sterling Circle, please contact chair@democratsabroad.org.uk

To express your interest in this second evening event, please write to: events@democratsabroad.org.uk
Subject line: Rekosh Evening

Full venue information will be sent to you upon confirmation of your RSVP.

Please note: these events are CLOSED to the press.

2.) Inside the Party: Meet DNC Secretary Alice Germond

We are delighted to invite Democrats Abroad members to join us for an evening with Alice Germond, the longstanding Secretary of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Working at the heart of Washington, Alice will give us the inside scoop on how the party is preparing for the next election and the lessons we've learned from the last one. Alice has worked with leading Democrats from Geraldine Ferraro to Bill Clinton, served with progressive organizations from the SEIO to NARAL, and has been present at every Democratic National Convention since 1974.

Don't miss this chance to hear her first-hand account of life in the Democratic Party. We hope you can join us.

FIRST, "A Conversation with Alice Germond"

Date:                 October 20th (but ticket sales end October 10th)
Time:                6:00-7:30 p.m.
Location:          The Royal Air Force Club
128 Piccadilly
London W1J 7PY
Nearest Tubes: Green Park and Hyde Park Corner
Price:                £10 (£5 Concessions)
Tickets at:         http://dauk-germond-oct20.eventbrite.com

Important note: Only U.S. citizens can pay for this event. Under DNC rules, all people attending this event - both purchasers and guests - MUST provide full details, including Social Security number, occupation, employer and address by October 10th. Those who are unable to supply this information, or who RSVP or provide their details later than this date cannot be admitted to the event. Please respond immediately by completing the online booking form with all the required information for yourself and any guests.

Your information will be used by the DNC in Washington to vet you for attendance at the event. The DNC reserves the right to refuse admission.

AND THEN, "An Evening With Alice Germond"

For those who would like to meet with Alice in a more intimate setting, we invite you to join us for an evening with food and drink at 8:00 p.m. at a private home immediately following the event at the RAF Club. This second event, with limited availability, requires a minimum contribution of $1,500 - or can be attended by any Sterling Circle member, with or without an additional contribution. If you'd like to find out more about the Sterling Circle, please contact: chair@democratsabroad.org.uk

Important note: Only US citizens can pay for this event. Under DNC rules, all people attending this event - both purchasers and guests – MUST provide full details, including Social Security number, occupation, employer and address by October 10. Those who are unable to supply this information, or who RSVP or provide their details later than this date unfortunately cannot be admitted to the event. Your information will be used by the DNC in Washington to vet you for attendance at the event. The DNC reserves the right to refuse admission.

To express your interest in this second evening event, please write to:
vice-chair@democratsabroad.org.uk
with subject line: Germond Evening

Full venue information will be sent to you upon confirmation of your RSVP.

No places can be reserved after October 10th. Secure your place now.
These events are CLOSED to the press.

3.) Virtual Town Hall to discuss US tax issues: FACTA and FBAR

As part of our effort to educate members about current topics in U.S. law and regulation, and to get a better understanding of your concerns about these issues, we are convening another in our series of virtual Town Hall meetings.

In this virtual meeting, we will brief you about recent controversial changes to US Tax law known as FACTA and FBAR. We will also explain to you some of the lobbying efforts being undertaken by Democrats Abroad about these laws. After the briefing, we will open the floor for your comments.

Any member of Democrats Abroad with a telephone can attend, no matter where you live in the UK.

Date:                 October 10th
Time:                7:00-8:00 p.m.
Location:          Conference Call
For dial-in
details:              chair@democratsabroad.org.uk
with "Town Hall FACTA" in the subject line

4.) DPCA meeting in Washington, D.C., October 12th-16th

The Democratic Party Committee Abroad (the international governance body of Democrats Abroad) is meeting in Washington, D.C., during the week of October 12th. Your DAUK Representatives will be participating in the business meetings of the DPCA, and any member of Democrats Abroad is free to observe the business meetings and participate in related workshops.

Are you planning to attend? Great! Please let us know by writing to: chair@democratsabroad.org.uk

5.) DAUK Young Professionals Network

The Young Professionals Network (YPN) hosts a lively get-together every month. Join us to meet and mingle with fellow Americans, enjoy a drink or two, and find out how you can help elect Democrats and get involved with DAUK.

What:                  DAUK Young Professionals Night
Date:                   Thursday, October 27th
Time:                   7:00 p.m. (until closing)
Location:             The Marylebone
93 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 4RE
(If you have trouble finding us, ask the bar staff where we are sitting)

YPN was set up to provide a space for ex-pats to meet, network, create community, and discuss politics on both sides of the Atlantic. YPN also works closely with other parts of DAUK. We are excited to provide opportunities to get involved with the 2012 election.

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

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)

6.) YPN presents: Immigration Workshop

The DAUK Young Professionals Network presents an Immigration Workshop evening. Significant changes have been made to UK immigration policy for non-EU migrants. Come find out what these changes are and how they affect you. Places are limited.
To RSVP, email: youngdems@democratsabroad.org.uk

Date:                        Wednesday, October 12th
Time:                       7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location:                 Blue Posts
6 Bennett Street, St James
London, SW1A 1RP (First Floor)
Further Details:   https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235515799831352

7.) 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
Following a summer break, Cambridge speakeasies will resume in November.
Email:                camchair@democratsabroad.org.uk

London
When:               First Wednesday of the month
Time:                7:00 p.m.
Location:          (new venue in The City)
The Harrow
22 Whitefriars Street
London, EC4Y 8JJ
Tube:                Temple, Chancery Lane, St Paul's
Email:               vice-chair@democratsabroad.org.uk

Oxford
When:               First Wednesday of the month
Time:                8 p.m.
Location:          The Royal Oak
42-44 Woodstock Road
Oxford, OX2 6HT
Email:               oxford@democratsabroad.org.uk