Welcome to the DAUK Newsletter for November 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. Message from the Chair
2. One Year to Go: Campaign Organization Meeting & Training
3. Database Volunteers Urgently Needed
4. Young Professionals Network
5. Speakeasies

1) Message from the Chair

Dear Members,

It's been an eventful month for DAUK. I want to share with you a bit more about what your fellow members of DAUK accomplished in October, and what you can expect in the near future.

Welcoming Ed Rekosh and DNC Secretary Alice Germond

Along with the many high-quality political events that take place every month, in October we welcomed two special guest speakers in London. Ed Rekosh of PILnet spoke to us about the role of public interest law in countries around the world. This was an encouraging talk about lawyers who are prepared to take up unpopular causes in their home countries, and how the rule of law is helping to strengthen the cause of democracy around the world.

We were also privileged to welcome Democratic National Committee Secretary Alice Germond who addressed the preparations at Democratic Party Headquarters for the 2012 campaign. We are grateful that Alice was able to take time out of her travel schedule to talk to us, and to answer so many of our questions.

DPCA Meetings in Washington

There was an international meeting of Democrats Abroad in Washington, DC during the week of October 12. Six members of DAUK attended these meetings (at their personal expense - thank you!).

In Washington, we joined 25 other members of Democrats Abroad from around the world to lobby on issues important to us. For 2 days we held more than 30 meetings with members of Congress, their staff, Committee staff, and Executive Branch agencies. Our primary brief was to discuss the tax reporting issues known as FATCA and FBAR, the recent change to US immigration rules concerning the I-130 form, and to encourage adoption of the Uniting American Families Act.

I was impressed by the reception we received from the many offices on Capitol Hill. While it was distressing to see how some people have a limited understanding of U.S. regulatory challenges faced by non-resident Americans, I am convinced that we made a tremendous difference in raising our profile and helping to promote the interests of our members.

We also held meetings of the Democratic Party Committee Abroad on the weekend, attended by more than 60 members with 20 more online from abroad. This was an opportunity for leadership groups from each of our 51 country committees to participate in briefings about the upcoming primary schedule, fundraising rules, and other important issues to the Party.

Coming up . . .

There will be a lot for us to do next year.  We will be convening our own Presidential Preference Primary election in the first quarter of 2012. As members of DAUK, you will have the option of voting in your home state primary election or voting in the Democrats Abroad Primary Election. I want to encourage as many of you as possible to participate in the Democrats Abroad Primary next year.

DAUK Executive Committee meeting

The DAUK Executive Committee will meet on Monday, November 14 at 7.00 p.m. in central London. All DAUK members are welcome to attend, subject to space. It will also be possible to listen to the meeting by telephone conference call. If you wish to attend the meeting in person, or by conference call, please advise the Secretary by email at:  secretary@democratsabroad.org.uk

DAUK Council meeting - Save the Date!

The DAUK Council will meet on Sunday, December 11. Save the date!

DAUK Bylaws Committee

It has been two years since the last revision of DAUK Bylaws. In that time, the Democratic Party Committee Abroad has made major changes to the international Charter that governs Democrats Abroad globally.  We will need to appoint a committee of members of DAUK to identity and propose such changes to the DAUK Bylaws as may be necessary and proper at this time. The report from this committee will then be considered by the DAUK Council, which has authority to amend the Bylaws.

If you want to volunteer to serve on this important committee, please send your details (including a brief statement explaining why you are interested and how you wish to help) to: bylaws@democratsabroad.org.uk

Conclusion

We're now only one year away from the 2012 general election. My sincere thanks to all of you who already help to make Democrats Abroad UK one of the greatest parts of the Democratic Party. There will many opportunities to come to the aid of your Party, so everyone please stay tuned and be in touch.

Rob Carolina
Chair, Democrats Abroad UK
chair@democratsabroad.org.uk

2)  One Year to Go: Campaign Organization Meeting and Training

With almost exactly one year to go until the 2012 elections, Democrats Abroad is urgently seeking keen campaigners who can help us secure thousands of critical votes from Americans right here in the UK. One of our must important roles here is to find and register US voters - if you can help, or if you'd like to meet your fellow activists and volunteer to help the campaign in other ways, please join us for a voter registration and volunteer training. If you can join us - or even if you can't join us on the night but you'd still like to get involved - please RSVP to:  daukvote@democratsabroad.org.uk

What: Voter Registration Training and Campaign Organizing Meeting
Date: Wednesday, November 9th
Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Central London Location, Near London Bridge Station

3) Database Volunteers Urgently Needed

Each year, all country committees of Democrats Abroad go through a considerable effort to clean up and correct our member database as part of our annual membership count. This effort to ensure our member information is accurate and up to date not only a requirement of the DNC, but also a critical way that we can ensure we are reaching our members with timely and vital voter information.

This year's membership count will be finalized in January of 2012, and we are urgently in need of help to facilitate the process between then and now.

If you are a careful, detail oriented person who is comfortable with computers (though not necessarily an expert) and you can regularly provide a couple of hours per week of volunteer time from the comfort of your own home, we would love to hear from you. Please write to:  membership@democratsabroad.org.uk

Our database manager will follow up with you to discuss what we might need.

Thanks in advance for your help with this important and often overlooked part of DAUK's work.

4) DAUK Young Professionals

The Young Professionals Network (YPN) hosts a lively get-together every third Thursday of the month. Young (and young-at-heart) Democrats are welcome. 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 YPN
Date:  Thursday, November 17
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. We also work closely with other parts of DAUK. Over the past year we have met hundreds of American ex-pats at our monthly gathering. We have hosted special events such as a State of the Union viewing party and informative evenings such as our immigration workshop. As we enter into an election year 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. Young or old, 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)

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

When: First Wednesday of the month
Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Location: The Castle Inn Pub, 38 Castle Street, CB3 0AJ
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
Nearest Tubes: Temple, Chancery Lane, St Paul's
Email: vice-chair@democratsabroad.org.uk

Oxford

When:  First Wednesday of the month
Time:   8:00 p.m.
Location:  Royal Oak, 42-44 Woodstock Road, Oxford
Discussion will include Occupy Wall Street and its relationship with the Democratic Party.

Find DAUK contacts here:  http://www.democratsabroad.org/node/927