Following severe spam problems, American Citizens Abroad has reinforced its protection system, including switching to a new email address. From now on, we look forward to hearing from you at . For technical reasons, mailings you receive will still come from our old email address.

Back to the top

Well, if you did, and if your story was chosen from the wide collection submitted, you will be hearing in the coming days from the review committee. Successful candidates will receive the final edit of their articles for approval.

And for both contributors and potential readers alike: details to be announced soon in the News Update and on the ACA website on when and how you can buy copies for yourself, friends and folks back in the States. Want to suggest ways to spread news of the book? Contact ACA

Back to the top

The American Booksellers Association (ABA), a not-for-profit organization of independently owned bookstores with retail storefront locations, claims "Under the USA PATRIOT Act, federal agents can gain access to your bookstore, library, and publisher records even if you are not suspected of involvement in terrorism or any criminal activity — and you will never hear a word about it."

Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (known as "FISA"), federal agents could seek an order from the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to review certain business records "for purposes of conducting foreign intelligence" if the target was "linked to foreign espionage" or an "agent of a foreign power." Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act amends and greatly expands the scope of FISA by granting the FBI the power to access and review "any tangible thing," including bookstore and library records. Those served with Section 215 orders are prohibited from disclosing the fact to anyone else and subjects of surveillance are never notified that their privacy has been compromised. There is no possibility of appeal or independent court review of Section 215 FISA orders.

In addition, investigators are no longer required to limit searches to individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism; instead, they simply need to state to a FISA court judge that the records requested are in connection with a terrorist investigation. This assertion alone is sufficient: The FISA judge has no authority to reject this application.

The ABA members are part of the Campaign for Reader Privacy. For full details, check their website at: www.BookSense.com

Back to the top

The Eight Annual Women’s International Networking (W.I.N.) conference will be held in Geneva 6-8 October 2005. The conference brings together outstanding professional women and an increasing number of men from all over the world to address issues related to international leadership and women working internationally.

For full details visit the conference website at: www.winconference.net

Back to the top

The New American Expat, Thriving and Surviving Overseas in the Post-9/11 World by William Russell Melton, has recently been published by Intercultural Press (www.interculturalpress.com). This book aims to be a comprehensive guide book for Americans considering an overseas assignment for the first time, but it is also most useful for Americans already overseas.

William Melton, who has a law background and 25 years of experience abroad, provides a practical, down-to-earth approach for evaluating the personal and professional challenges and opportunities in working overseas. The book discusses how to get a job abroad; negotiating your compensation package; moving your family and belongings abroad; adapting to the new environment in a foreign country as well as suggestions to increase personal security. The author also covers the challenges faced when returning home and re-entering the U.S. job market. Suggested reading is also included, as well as a comprehensive list of online key information sources.

**** ORDER YOUR PUBLICATIONS THROUGH THE ACA WEBSITE and we get paid for your business – at no cost to you. Enter our book section on this website and click on any link to amazon.com USA or amazon.com UK. Any purchases you make, whether of items reviewed on our website or not, will generate a small revenue for ACA; Please make this extra click-to-give gesture to help us continue to help you. ****

Back to the top

AARP (www.aarp.org) is among the many sites with extensive information on "phishing" – the sending of email messages falsely claiming to represent a legitimate enterprise. "Gone Phishing: The Internet and Identity Theft" explains terminology, describes fraudulent schemes and gives interesting analysis of the use of phishing.

While on the AARP site, check out the wealth of information and links.

Back to the top

Where on earth can you find anything as cool as earth.google.com ? Those equipped and willing to download and install free software and to use it while online can treat themselves to views ranging from outer space to identifying-your-car close of many locations round the world. Particularly good for North America. You can dip and swoop around the target address you provide.. Pretty amazing stuff.

Back to the top

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 thru PayPal^®, or send a check 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.

JOIN US!