Contributions have been received from all sides, including space and hors-d’œuvres courtesy of the Ramada Park Hotel and donation of advertising time or space by local and regional media.

At 7 pm on April 20th, an enthusiastic and bargain-hunting crowd assembled for an initial cocktail hour followed by a fast-paced auction of a never to be duplicated collection of items and services. Inuit art (thanks to Tikerak Galarie d’Art), tickets from Olympic Airways and Royal Jordanian Airlines, hotel stays and restaurant meals in diverse and interesting places and even … the right to turn on Geneva’s famous jet d’eau! The full list of donors is on this ACA website.

Proceeds from this auction form a significant portion of ACA’s annual working budget. Helping us at the auction helps YOU in the long run!

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The “Americans Abroad Caucus” in the US House of Representatives formed end-February by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) now has seven members. In addition to Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) new members are John Boozman (R-AZ) and Donna Christensen (D-VI).

Representatives Maloney and Wilson said in their letter to fellow members of the House of Representatives: "Their [overseas Americans] role in strengthening the U.S. economy, creating jobs in the United States, and extending American influence around the globe is vital to the well-being of our nation. Moreover, they are unofficial ambassadors, often the first contact many people around the world have with 'America' and are our very informed 'antennae' on the world."

As Brian Knowlton wrote in the International Herald Tribune: "The four million or more Americans working and living overseas have gained perhaps the most conspicuous political platform they have ever had in Washington: a congressional Americans Abroad Caucus."

Let’s all push to make this work.. Is your Representative on the list? If so, write a letter thanking him/her. If not, write her/him and suggest that s/he join. Tell them to contact Jennifer Keaton with Representative Maloney at 225-7944 or Paul Callahan with Representative Wilson at 225-2452. Write your Senators as well, pushing for a similar Americans Abroad Caucus in the Senate.

(You can quickly find who your Representative is by going to www.house.gov and typing in the zip code of your last place of residence in the US.)

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After several months in which Americans abroad could not file petitions for immediate relative immigrant classification at their local US consular post, the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Service – the former INS) and the State Department have worked out procedures which will once again permit this.

For US citizens living in countries which have an USCIS international office, the petition must be filed with that office. The list of locations can be found at egov.immigration.gov

For other locations, Americans who are “residing overseas” (defined as living outside the United States and in the given consular district for at least six months) can once again file at their local consular posts. All others must file at the USCIS Service Center having jurisdiction over their place of residence in the US. Exceptions can be made in case of family emergency or in the national interest. The related notices can be found at: www.uscis.gov and www.state.gov

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It’s a fact. American citizen men (even those living abroad) and non-citizen green-card holder men between the ages of 18 and 26 must be registered with the Selective Service System despite the fact there is no actual draft at present. Registration can be accomplished online (www.sss.gov), and the Selective Service System even suggests it be done several months before the individual’s 18th birthday.

Failure to register can result in a fine of up to $250,000 and disqualification from many federal programs, such as student aid.

A dual national whose other country of nationality has an agreement with the US which specifically provides for an exemption will be exempted if there ever is a draft. In such a situation, an alien who requests and is exempt under an agreement or bilateral treaty can never become a US citizen, and may have trouble reentering the US if he leaves.

Women are not required to register; full explanation available on the site.

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The site safetravel.dot.gov gives information about safe long-distance travel with spare batteries and battery-powered devices. The site also provides links to a number of other websites offering useful information: State Department travel advice, Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Security Administration, Air Lines Pilots Association and others.

(A tip of the hat to reader Lou Berman for this info)

And consider registering with your local embassy or consular post when traveling (or residing) abroad. See: travelregistration.state.gov Registration information given to the State Department is protected by the Privacy Act.

(Thanks to reader Andee Goldman for this reminder)

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In addition to the statistics and facts documenting many of the differences he now seeks individuals’ personal experiences for illustration. Share with him any personal story that illustrates, for example, child care where you live, or stories or personal experiences you can relate about paid parental leave, vocational training, or higher education. How about housing affordability? Do you have any experience in living in "public housing"? Have you received housing subsidies, as so many people in Europe do?

Hill writes: "I'm looking for your impressions, your experiences, with an emphasis on any personal stories you have -- the more vivid, the better. If you were going to take me on a tour, and "show me" your personal experiences, what would you say?"

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On Wednesday, April 18^th 2007, Dr. Robert Rosen, CEO of Healthy Companies, and author of “Global Literacies” will be interviewed on Ask the Experts, an online discussion group sponsored by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. (see: www.globalization101.org). Discussion will be based on the paper “New Global Professions” (available at: www.globalization101.org). Global professionals, whether “Davos culture” or a more widely defined group, will have an impact on international and national economies. Read the short paper and add your comments to the discussion.

(thanks to reader Leila Heron for bringing this to our notice).

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All members are welcome to join the annual statutory meeting which reviews the past year's activities and plans for the year to come. The meeting will begin at 19h00, and will be held at 2 Rue Thalberg, Geneva, Switzerland.

RSVP prior to May 5, 2007 via email: or Geneva phone number: 0041 22 3400233.

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Remember the penny postcard? Whether you do or not, you may enjoy looking at the collection of old postcards on www.rootsweb.com You can search by state and county in the USA and find an assortment of views that your grandparents – or great-grandparents – might have sent. The site also has interesting pages on the history of the postcard.

(Thanks to reader Mary Converse for this tip.)

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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, email:

WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO ACA'S FINANCIAL SUCCESS:

1. ORDER YOUR PUBLICATIONS THROUGH THE ACA WEBSITE and we get paid for your business - at no extra cost to you. Go to the Book Review section and click on any link to amazon-com (USA) or amazon-UK. Any purchases you make when you have entered through the ACA portal, whether of items reviewed on the 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. You can also order our new ACA book So far and Yet So Near directly from www.amazon.com USA or from www.amazon.co.UK and add your other orders.
   
   
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. This year's auction is scheduled for Friday 20th April 2007 at the Ramada Park Hôtel in Geneva. See our Donors List of fabulous prizes.
   
   
3. IS YOUR MEMBERSHIP CURRENT? Renew by secure online payment or contact the ACA office email: . Membership is only US$40 a year (CHF 50). 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. Secure payment using PayPal^®, or send a check to: ACA, 5 rue Liotard, 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!