Following is an email that went out to our membership in India last week.  You might find it useful to R&D (rip off & duplicate),

Sarah

"Dear Dems in [Chapter City Name],

A hearty congratulations to President Obama on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html?_r=1&hp). Let's join him in his effort to reform healthcare in the US. We've formed a Dems Abroad Health Care Asia Pacific Reform Working Group on the subject. Join me now in taking 10 minutes to support the President and participate in the debate. Here’s how in 5 simple steps: (http://www.democratsabroad.org/article/2009/08/22/5-simple-ways-you-can-help-pass-health-insurance-reform)

1. write to your Representative and Senators using a template created by another DA member (http://www.nabejero.net/archives/371)
2. write a letter to your hometown U.S.A. newspaper’s Editor. Include a link to the President’s comprehensive web site: www.healthreform.gov (http://my.barackobama.com/page/speakout/HealthCareLetter)
3. sign the President’s petition (http://www.healthreform.gov/support.html)
4. forward the President’s comments on health care (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdrXh7wunMM)
5. let five friends know what they can do

Please let our Executive Director, Lindsey Reynolds, know when you’ve completed any of these five steps.  Lindsey (actionagenda@democratsabroad.org) is tracking activity by Dems Abroad members around the globe – let’s make our voice heard from Hyderabad!

If you want to get involved in the Asia Pac Working Group on the subject, email Vic Viswanath for more information (nsviswanath@gmail.com).  Now is the time to act.  Thanks in advance for joining me in this important initiative,

[Chapter Chair]

Chapter Chair, [Chapter City Name]

***

For those who want to get involved in the Dems Abroad debate, join DA's Health Insurance Reform Group. (http://www.democratsabroad.org/health_insurance_reform)

And for those who want still more info, check out the resources listed below:

1. Comparison of all present health insurance proposals, including Obama's principles for what meaningful health care reform should include: http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/healthreform_sbs_full.pdf
2. White House updates on health care reform: http://change.gov/agenda/health_care_agenda/
3. President Obama’s health care reform website: http://www.healthreform.gov/support.html
4. Democrats Abroad Japan series of “myth busters:” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-iyIzUT0_k
5. Nate Silver's blog analyzing polling and political data: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/search/label/health%20care
6. Kaiser Health News posts Op-Eds and collects news from around the web regarding HealthCare Reform (HCR): http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2009/October/08/Opeds.aspx
7. Health Care Blog, since 2003: http://www.thehealthcareblog.com/
8. Group blog by activists: http://healthcare.change.org/

9. Health care for America NOW (group blog with civic action tools and

   contributors e.g.; moveon.org and other civic organizations): http://www.healthcareforamericanow.org/

10.  A “fair and balanced” review of Europe’s public healthcare systems (video): http://www.foxbusiness.com/search-results/m/24091387/successful-health-care-reform-overseas.htm
11. An interesting summary of public health care schemes around the world: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09193/983100-84.stm

***

If you’re still reading, why not take another 5 minutes to donate to DA? (https://www.democratsabroad.org/contribute)  Our organization subsists because of valuable donors like you.  Need more reasons to donate?

1. DA is not-for-profit, with absolutely no membership fees.
2. DA is volunteer-run. ALL expenses associated with being an officer or active volunteer in DA come out of our own pockets.
3. DA has no overhead, all proceeds fund DA projects. Our only expenses are the set up, management, and improvement of the DA and voter registration websites, the membership database, high-impact advertising buys during election years, and organizing global and regional meetings open to all members.
4. We need a broad base -- us, the members -- to achieve our goal of reaching out to the nearly SIX MILLION Americans who live abroad.

If you’re feeling very ambitious, consider becoming a sustaining donor.  It’s easy – your credit card is debited on the regular basis that you indicate.  Our only request is that any donation amounts to >/=$10 to cover credit card processing expenses.  Thanks!"