The week of 3-7 May 2004, groups representing overseas Americans will jointly meet with members of Congress and the administration, media, and other key players on the Washington scene, bringing the needs and interests of this segment of the US population to the fore.

It is not too late to join in: background materials provided, previous experience not necessary, geographical diversity most welcomed, auto-financing imperative. Contact ACA for more information.

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A Worldwide Caution Public Announcement was updated on March 23, 2004 to alert US citizens of the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against US citizens and interests following the killing of Sheikh Yassin in Gaza. This update supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated March 19, 2004, and it expires on September 23, 2004. This announcement discusses possible terrorists' venues and methods and urges US citizens to remain vigilant at home and abroad. It ends with the following text: "As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to US citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its consular information program documents travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling (regular toll line) +1-317-4722328."

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As a follow-up to the above-mentioned Public Announcement, the American Embassy of France is circulating excerpts from the Department of State's publication "A Safe Trip Abroad". This excerpt discusses how to minimize the risk of being caught in a terrorist attack, what to do if you must travel to high-risk areas, how to act in a hijacking/hostage incident, and what to do if you are involved in a lengthy, drawn-out captive situation. The guidelines, while potentially frightening, provide knowledge designed to help one feel more secure in the modern-day world. Contact the above-mentioned website for more information, or the US Embassy of France directly at www.amb-usa.fr

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The US Census Bureau is conducting a "test census" in France, Kuwait and Mexico until July 2004 to gauge the feasibility of conducting an enumeration of all US citizens living overseas. All US citizens living in one of these three countries, regardless of shared citizenship, are eligible for the test census and are urged to participate. The results of this test will help the federal government make a determination of whether it is feasible to include all US citizens living abroad in the 2010 Census.

ACA and other organizations of Americans abroad believe that official enumeration of the overseas Americans is a critical step in establishing credibility of our geographically-dispersed community whose presence abroad is an under appreciated asset of the United States. Paris-based sister organization AARO (Association of Americans Residing Overseas) has recently issued a call for participation:

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TO: All AARO Members...help spread the word. If you have other American friends, news, publicity contacts, please let them know what's going on.
SO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A CONGRESSMAN?
Or...HOW TO BE COUNTED/REPRESENTED IN THE U.S.

The Census Bureau is now and continuing to 1st July 2004, conducting a test to determine the feasibility of counting Americans overseas (estimated at 7.5 million and up) in Kuwait, Mexico and France. Funded by Congress, they have produced some really bright materials to induce Americans overseas to respond. The problem lies in the nature of the Census Bureau, it must be pristine, not prejudiced by or suggesting any political leaning or support. Overseas Americans need to be counted in state-side apportionment since they actually have a Congressman at home. This is perceived in Washington DC as being a partisan issue. New York State lost two representatives last Census though overseas Americans from NY are the highest of this population, California and Florida next in line. Also in the offing, after a decade of effort, is the possibility for a Congressional Representative to address problems of US citizens worldwide. For Americans returning to the U.S. after a sojourn overseas, they need to be counted in such things as school allocations, highway needs, etc.

US Citizens here for a limited stay (not tourists), or long term, want to be represented. It is a myth that you are counted because you vote or own property in the U.S. The only method for determining apportionment is in a decennial census ... the next one is in 2010.

The Census Bureau really wants to count us. Printed, postage paid, 12-question forms for the 2004 test are available at the Consulate, (at the gate, no entry required), as well as all Consulate posts in France, the American Cathedral on George-V, the American Church, the American Library, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Association for Americans Resident Overseas, and many other American organizations all over France.

The Census Bureau Web Site includes instructive information and the laws governing the Bureau in keeping total privacy of a respondent's information. For those concerned about being in this database, any American with a Social Security number or a passport is already in a database, and this is, after all, a TEST. The Census Bureau representative in France, Constance Roberts, Tel: +33 (0)6 30990393, will help if clarification of any the twelve simple questions asked, should such be needed. An easy route is to fill in the Internet questionnaire offered at www.census.gov/overseas04. The Web Site is encrypted to protect your private information. Further, under U.S. law, the CB cannot divulge private information to any other agency, private or government. If you wish a Census Kit, forms, posters, etc., please contact Mary Adair Johnson.

This trial, if successful, is to be followed by a plan for additional testing in 2004, 2006, 2008 and inclusion of all overseas Americans in the 2010 Census. That is our GOAL. Only then can congressional representation be mandated. If the millions of Americans living overseas want to be properly represented, for now, the only avenue is the decennial census.

THIS IS A LONG TERM EFFORT. LET'S GET OFF TO A GOOD START. Let's be COUNTED! AARO is COUNTING on you! See you in 2010.

Sincerely,

Don Johnson
Vice President
Chairman AARO Census Committee

djohnson72@compuserve.com
Mary Adair Johnson
31 rue Claude-Bernard
FR-75005 PARIS
France

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Copies of the census questionnaire can be obtained at all American consular posts in the three countries, or can be filled out online. For more information on the US Census 2004 Overseas Enumeration Test, or to fill out a questionnaire, visit www.census.gov/overseas04. TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE: ACA is very interested in your views concerning the questionnaire and how the test is being conducted. Please send your comments to: acage@aca.ch.

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America's top learning expert, Dr. Mel Levine will be conducting his first conference in France on September 11 and 12, 2004. Dr. Levine, the author of such best-selling books as "A Mind at a Time", promotes the view that "We cannot construct a child's mind. We may not even be capable of reconstructing it-at least not very much. We can, however, try to understand a mind, seek to nurture it, learn to love it, and strive not to harm it." To learn more about Dr. Levine's approach to learning visit www.allkindsofminds.org, and to register for his conference in Paris, France go to www.isparis.edu

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The US Consulate in Milan, together with the University of Milan and the ISPI Institutor per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale is sponsoring a series of programs on the US Elections. The series began on 22 March 2004, and will continue on March 29, April 21, October 18 and in November. The inauguration of this series was to be by Marino Regini, Dean of the Political Science Department of the University of Milan, with the participation of speakers Jeff Israely, Rome Bureau Chief, TIME Magazine, and Vittorio Zucconi of La Repubblica newspaper. For more information and to rsvp for events: www.ispionline.it or ispi.eventi@ispionline.it.

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The Foreign Exchange, the weekly newsletter of ExpatExchange, has launched a cultural blunder contest. Prizes will be awarded for the best confessions of foot-in-mouth mess-ups. Laughter is the best form of medicine: self-medicate through contacting www.expatexchange.com.

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This News Update is, like ACA itself, of, by, and for Americans abroad. ACA is staffed through the efforts of volunteers, with its primary income source being membership fees and donations from private American citizens around the world.

WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE HANDS-ON TO ACA WORK:

1. NEWS UPDATE EDITORS. ACA is seeking to supplement its News Update staff. Work involves actually writing the News Update 2 - 3 times a year, under supervision of a Senior Editor, and monitoring raw material considered for the newsletter on a regular basis. Calls for e-mail access and an ability to write/edit succinctly and against a deadline. ACA takes pride in the global spread of its editors.
2. BOOK REVIEWS/REVIEWERS. ACA is interested in discovering books of particular interest to Americans abroad. It also seeks individuals willing to review such books. Reviewers get to keep the book, and to see their contribution in print. Click here for a list of books or contact the ACA office.

WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO ACA'S FINANCIAL SUCCESS:

1. Did you know that by accessing amazon.com (click on any Amazon link you find in the book review section, ACA web site) and then browsing and purchasing as normal, ACA receives—at no cost to you—a small percentage on the purchases you make? Check ACA's web site and make a painless contribution: it makes $&sense!
2. Join us for our annual auction. The FUNdraiser evening produces the single largest annual contribution to ACA's working budget. And the highest bids are for items ingenious and/or exotic. It's a good bet that someone in the attending crowd of internationals will be intrigued by even the most distant and/or unusual of objects or services.
3. And, of course, an outright contribution via check or charge card is the most obvious way to support the work of ACA and its worldwide volunteers working to help YOU. Membership is only $40 a year ($30 for seniors). Secure payment via this web site, or mail to: ACA, 5 rue Liotard, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland.

Disclaimer: "While ACA makes every effort to be accurate in the information it transmits, such information is not to be considered a substitute for specific and qualified professional advice."

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