Hello to everybody - RE  next meetings (April, September and maybe more)
Local (Bordeaux) elections
National elections - Democrats Abroad France

The Bordeaux Chapter of Democrats Abroad was founded in September 2007 - we must hold elections at the latest  in September 2009.
We must elect a Vice Chair (a  function we have not yet included in the Bordeaux Democrats' Executive Committee)
The original executive committee (Chair-Trudy Bolter, Secretary-Elizabeth Eshom, Treasurer-Elizabeth Strouse) will be eligible for one more two-year term (The Democrat Party, of which we are a branch, only allows two consecutive terms in any given office). I shall be running and our  Elizabeths will  perhaps choose to do so, but anyone is eligible to run for any office. We are able to go two years from founding without holding elections - this will take us to late September. So whereas the other chapters are holding their elections round about now, synchronizing with the Paris elections, I think September is preferable.

As for the national elections, anyone who is a registered member of Democrats Abroad is eligible to vote - you will have received ballot sheets to print out and return (or you can go to the General Meeting and Elections, at the American Church in Paris, 18h30 on Friday 27 March 2009). It is not too late to register, should you be on the mailing list without official status as a Democrat Abroad. The only condition  besides registration- is to be a United States citizen (if you go to Paris, please don't forget your passport). The Candidate Statements have been e-mailed to members or you can find them on the Democrats Abroad France website.

We are between election years, so the urgency of joining and participating seems less, but the Republicans have started acting up and preparing to fight Obama and us-  they have absolutely no reason to pretend to be non partisan, since legislation can pass practically  without them and they will allow themselves any kind of critcism attack and insult. So in a sense a permanent campaign has begun. Intra-Democrats, we need to remind the President of his promises and fight against compromise on issues like health care and women's rights including the right to choose  (if Ruth Ginsburg, who is ill,  retires, a Supreme Court vacancy will occur). So we did it, we could....but there is still work to do, and we must.

Democrats Abroad France offers policy study groups based in Paris and Caucuses - it is just possible to participate in these with minimal attendance at Paris gatherings, please consult the web site.

I shall be organising a First Hundred Days meeting at the end of April and will of course send the usual invitations and post them on our web site (as I shall do with this report)

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me for any reason, with any questions - my number is 06.19.11.72.62.Amitiés démocrates to all, and I look forward to seeing old members and welcoming new ones
Trudy Bolter
Chair
Bordeaux chapter, Democrats Abroad France