Lyon

photo by Laurent Hutinet

We are Americans located in the Auvergne-Rhône Alpes region of France by job, by marriage, by birth, by love of things French and for many other reasons.  We all share a tug back to the USA and for that reason we organize political and social events around current trends in American life. 

Our chapter is the 2nd largest in France, covering as far as Dijon to the north, Valence to the south, Clermont-Ferrand to the west and the Alps to the east.

We regularly hold events such as marches to protect the earth from climate change and to support LGBTQ rights and culture.  Among our events in previous years was a tribute to the young lives cut short by the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas high school shooting as well as seminars on American ex-pat tax requirements.  

We were particularly active in the primary and presidential election season, with events to educate our membership on the candidates and the issues.  

Democrats Abroad Lyon does all we can to help every American in the Auvergne-Rhône Alpes area participate in the vote from abroad process.  Perhaps, most important, we provide a forum for liberal and progressive Americans to voice their opinions and support each other in today's fraught political climate.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily halted our in-person meetings, we continue our events via Zoom.

First Thursdays

First Thursdays are opportunities for DA members to get to know each other, as well as exchanging banter about current events and politics.  Habitually, we meet at a pub in Lyon but due to COVID-19, these days our evenings are virtual get-togethers on Zoom.  A recent evening paid homage to Black History Month with a Harvard quiz accompanied by a discussion on racial bias.  So, pour yourself your favorite drink and come join us for a couple of hours of informative diversion every month!  À votre santé!

Cheers !

DA Book Club Discussions

Our DA members, voracious readers all, held multiple sessions throughout 2020 and 2021 to read, question and discuss books covering diverse topical issues. These included :

A 2018 book written by Andrew Yang, an American entrepreneur and Venture for America founder, who would later run as a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. The book discusses technological change, automation, job displacement, the U.S. economy, and what Yang describes as the need for a universal basic income.
A 2018 non-fiction book by Michael Lewis that examines the transition and political appointments of the Donald Trump presidency, especially with respect to three government agencies: the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce.

Works about Racial Bias and Racial Intolerance. In honor of Black Lives Matter, a thought-provoking Powerpoint helped to explore several media such as :

 

White Fragility

Robin DiAngelo

 

Between Me and the World

Ta-Nehisi Coates

 

Thirteenth (film)

Ava DuVernay/Netflix

 

Stamped from the Beginning

Ibram X Kendi

Citizenship is invaluable, yet our status as citizens is always at risk—even for those born on US soil. Amanda Frost, an American University law professor temporarily living in Lyon on a fellowship, exposes a hidden history of discrimination and xenophobia that continues to this day in her 2021 book.

You can find our Events and News here on the Democrats Abroad website as well as on our Facebook page.  

We would be interested in hearing your ideas. Please feel free to contact us!

[email protected]

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DA Lyon Leadership:

Diane Sklar
| DAF-Lyon Chair
catherine coolidge
| DAF-Lyon Vice Chair
John Matthews
| DAF-Lyon Treasurer
Camille Canter
| Member-at-Large, Voting Representative
See all Leaders


  • News

    Candidate Statements for the 2023 DA France Lyon Leadership Election

    The nomination period for the DA France Lyon Chapter elections is now closed. Members of the Lyon Chapter will receive a ballot by email, and electronic voting will end on March 14 at midnight.

    The Election Board is pleased to announce the candidates!

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    read more

    American Show and Tell in Lyon

    Members of Democrats Abroad came out of confinement to celebrate Spring in Lyon, gathering at the Damn Fine Bookstore to share books, films and podcasts that have kept us going through the pandemic.

    read more
    See all posts

    Upcoming Events

    Saturday, April 01, 2023 at 02:00 PM Paris Time · 83 rsvps

    2023 DA France National Elections and Annual General Meeting

    Democrats Abroad France 2023 Annual General Meeting

    Our 2023 AGM will take place on Saturday, April 1 from 2 - 5 PM, both online via Zoom and in person in Paris at the American Church. The AGM is a time to come together with other Democrats from around France, to hear about our achievements of the past year, elect our new national leadership team, and gather our forces for the future.

    Please RSVP by March 30, 2023 to be registered to vote at this meeting. 

    Join us for the biennial election of the National Democrats Abroad France (DA France) Officers and Voting Representatives. The national elections and meeting will be held on April 1, 2023 online via zoom and in person beginning at 2 PM. We will hear candidate speeches and elect a new Leadership team for Democrats Abroad France, hear about how DA France will continue its important work on US elections and political engagement heading into the 2024 election. For those who wish to participate online, the zoom information will be provided upon rsvp. 

    More information on the roles and responsibilities can be viewed here.

    Candidate statements can be viewed here.

    2023 NATIONAL OFFICER AND VOTING REPRESENTATIVE ELECTIONS

    All members of Democrats Abroad France are welcome to attend and vote in the DA France National Officer and Voting Representative Elections on April 1. You will have an opportunity to hear from the candidates themselves prior to the close of voting and final tabulation of results. All members wanting to vote at the meeting are asked to register to vote by virtue of RSVP for this meeting, below, on or before March 30th -- this allows the DA France Election Board to prepare the voter rolls on the day of the meeting.

    EARLY / ABSENTEE VOTING OPTION

    All DA France members also have the option to vote early via an online absentee ballot made available to them via email, from 7 to 10 days prior to the election until 5PM on March 30th. This is to encourage member participation from all across France even if they cannot attend the meeting on Election Day. As a result, no nominations from the floor will be allowed. 

    If you elect to vote via the Early Vote/Absentee Ballot, you will not be able to vote in the same election a second time even if you attend the Election Meeting. However, in the event of ties, the DA France Election Board may elect to conduct snap Run-off Elections to break ties, time and other conditions permitting, at their discretion. In such a case, all members of DA France who have RSVP'd for the meeting by March 30th and in attendance at the Election Meeting, will be allowed to vote in any Run-off Elections. Absentee voting will not be an option for snap Run-off Elections since they will be conducted at the Election Meeting. RSVP below to register to vote on Election Day, April 1.

    To join Democrats Abroad, please go to www.democratsabroad.org/join. You must be a US citizen 18 years of age or older by Nov. 7, 2023 and reside in France.

    Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 07:00 PM Paris Time
    Zoom in Paris, France

    Political Forum

    Join Political Forum host Jean-Pierre LaRochelle and leaders of Democrats Abroad France in a free-wheeling discussion of current events and news of the month, and share your views with other attendees. Send your questions to [email protected]