AMERICAN CITIZENS ABROAD (ACA)

http://www.aca.ch/

A non-profit association dedicated to serving and defending the interests of individual US citizens world-wide.

ACA news

News from ACA -- December 1998 -- issue 49

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THANKSGIVING
As Americans across the country and around the world pause to celebrate the uniquely American event of Thanksgiving, let us also pause a minute to really give thanks for our heritage and traditions which we cherish and keep wherever we are in the world. Thanksgiving was instituted at a time when North America was being settled by expatriates from foreign lands. Now, many of us have chosen to again go abroad and explore new worlds or perhaps our own country of origin or that of our ancestors. But at the same time we still value our homeland, even though we don't live there anymore. This is what is hard for many of our fellow citizens to understand. We are, or would like to be, citizens of the world. That, in a sense, is what Thanksgiving really should be--thanks for us for being able to be citizens of the world.

MEDICARE IN MEXICO?
That could be a possibility, according to a research group at the University of Texas. The group, part of the LBJ School of Public Affairs, is working on a policy research project that is investigating ways to bring Medicare benefits to the many US retirees living in Mexico. (ACA has been a long-standing proponent of Medicare for US citizens located anywhere in the world, the way CHAMPUS is applied to US military retirees.) The U of Texas website dealing with this is: http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~healthp/medicaremx.html

The group, including researchers David Warner and Shiloh Daniel, is planning a conference on this subject in February 1999.

OTHER COUNTRIES ALSO REACH OUT TO THEIR CITIZENS ABROAD.
Many countries around the world actively support and maintain contacts with their citizens residing abroad, either through non-governmental associations such as ACA or official government channels. Examples are a book for Canadians working overseas http://www.workingoverseas.com/. Australian citizen groups in different countries http://www.coolabah.com/oz/, a fun French site http://www.frogsonline.com/ and Swiss government help for its citizens abroad http://www.revue.ch/.

GOT THOSE POST-ELECTION NO-VOTE BLUES?
Kicking yourself for not having voted? We overseas voters do have to plan ahead in order to vote, but with more and more states accepting faxed ballot requests and faxing blank ballots back to voters, US citizens around the world were able to cast their vote within a few days before election day this year. Did you not receive your ballot in time? Next year you'll know that you can pick up a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) at US consulates. State voting officials are required by law to accept the FWAB ballot if they do not receive their own ballot back in time.

Have a complaint? The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) really listens! Let them know if you did not receive your ballot in time, or have repeated hassles with local election officials. The FVAP takes its mission very seriously, making sure that US citizens overseas can cast their votes. They are reachable by email international toll-free phone (dial the AT&T access number in your country then 877 217 3249). ( This item adapted from a report submitted to the American Club of the Costa del Sol by ACA Executive Director Dorothy van Schooneveld.)

ACA TO BE PRESENT AT THE AMERICA CENTER "OPEN HOUSE"
Thursday 3 December 1998 is the date set for Geneva's America Center "Open House" hosting many American and International groups in the Geneva area. Doors will be open 6 to 8 pm at the World Trade Center building 2 lobby (near the Geneva Airport). All are welcome. Raffle tickets will be on sale at CHF 2.- a piece.

NEW ACA COUNTRY CONTACTS IN CHILE AND ETHIOPIA.

ANNUAL ACA FUND-RAISER SLATED FOR THE RICHEMOND HOTEL
If you're planning to be in or around Geneva on the evening of Friday 12 March 1999, be sure to drop in to the famous ACA fundraiser auction, taking place this year in Geneva's Richemond hotel; plenty of food, entertainment and fabulous prizes to be auctioned off.

This edition of American Citizens Abroad's News Update was prepared by Karl Jauch. It offers news and views relevant to Americans living abroad. Essential to the success of such a network is feedback and input from recipients. This News Update is, like ACA itself, of, by and for Americans abroad. ACA is staffed entirely through the efforts of volunteers, with its primary income source being modest membership fees and donations from concerned individuals. The News Update can be maintained in the long-term only if it justifies itself in terms of membership and donation revenue for the organization. for which you will be rewarded with regular (e)mailings of the News Update.

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.

If YOU would like to be become part of the dynamic all-volunteer team which powers ACA, there is constant need for additional physical and/or electronic "staff". In addition to regular VOLUNTEERS, ACA is interested in INTERNS and/or in tailoring CLASS PROJECTS aimed at awakening students to issues affecting American citizens abroad. Contact ACA's Geneva office 
   American Citizens Abroad ACA 
   5 B, rue Liotard 
   CH-1202 Geneva 
   Switzerland 
   Phone & Fax numbers: 
     +41 (0)22 3400233 or +41 (0)22 3400448 
   email: acage@aca.ch 
   
   or 
                              
   American Citizens Abroad 
   1051 N. George Mason Drive 
   Arlington, VA 22205 
   USA 
   Fax +1 (703) 527-3269

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