My name is Michele Jiménez. I was asked by Democrats Aboard if I would like to organize a local chapter of the group in Mälardalen.

At this point, I’d like to determine if anyone in Västerås and/or Eskilstuna would like to be more active in Democrats Abroad. (Don’t worry – I’m not asking for a commitment: I just want to know if you’d like to be more active with the group.)

I live in Kvicksund, which, as you probably know, is halfway between Västerås and Eskilstuna so I can be active in either city. But I’m aware that people, unless they’re students and/or employed in the other city, don’t usually travel between Eskilstuna and Västerås or vice versa. Yet because of our relatively small numbers in the region, I think it’s probably best to combine the groups if we can.

So, two questions, please:

1) Would you like to become more actively involved in a local chapter of Democrats Abroad?

2) If we have a meeting or social gathering of Democrats Abroad in Västerås and/or Eskilstuna, perhaps two or three times a year, would you attend ALL the meetings?

If enough people are interested, we can plan to get together soon, maybe at a coffee shop in Västerås or Eskilstuna, and talk about what we’d like to do as a group.

Please respond to dashalland@gmail.com by Friday, February 11 if you are interested.

Thanks, and best regards,

Michele

The price an unbelievable 225:- p/p and 100:- for children under 12 years old for the following:

Roast Turkey (served ready for carving)
Vegetarian dressing/stuffing
Mashed potatoes
Oven baked sweet potatoes served with honey and ginger
String beans with roasted sunflower seed, mushrooms and garlic
Browned Brussels sprouts
Grilled corn on the cob
Butter cooked brown sugar-glazed carrots with bacon strips
Oven baked pumpkin pie
Cranberry sauce
Turkey gravy/sauce
Swedish brewed coffee or tea.
Wine, beer or soft drinks at reasonable prices.

Payment: Kindly pay for yourself or your party directly to the restaurant no later than four weekdays prior to November 27th into the restaurant’s bankgiro 275-5767 Don’t forget to leave your name and the words ‘ESCC Thanksgiving’ in the message box. Print out a receipt of your payment and take it with you. You only have to show it, not leave it.
The restaurant’s website is: http://www.skal-restaurangbar.se/

There is only place for 20 persons in the upper area of the restaurant so make your reservation immediately. There is additional space for long tables sitting up to 40 in their cellar accessible by narrow staircase. A second setting later in the day at 18:00 can be arranged if there is enough interest.
The restaurant will take cash at the door but only if there is room available. If you haven’t made a reservation don’t be surprised if we are forced to turn you away.

Reservations: Anita Coté Irestrand: Tel 08-664 5345 (evenings & weekends) or 070-397 1029 aci@comhem.se (Anita teaches so her mobile might be shut during some working hours – leave a message or call later in the evening).

On November 2, Americans will determine whether Democrats or Republicans will run the House and Senate. Follow the race with fellow Democrats at Democrats Abroad Sweden.

Come talk with other Americans in Stockholm about their views on the U.S. mid-term elections on Tuesday, November 2, at the ‘First Tuesday’ election watch party hosted by Democrats Abroad Sweden.

Where: Herman’s Vegetarian Restaurant
Address: Fjällgatan 23a http://kartor.eniro.se/m/IhqUM
Time: 18.00-22.00 (6 pm-10 pm)
Entry: Free, open to the public

“There’s a lot at stake,” says Democrats Abroad Sweden Chair Peter Dahlen. “Today, Democrats control both chambers of Congress, but Republicans hope to regain control.”

Over the last several months, volunteers from Democrats Abroad Sweden have reached out to voters throughout the country about the importance of the November elections.

Americans will cast their ballots for 435 House seats, 37 of 100 Senate seats, and 37 gubernatorial elections.

The party in power in each house runs the committees, the most powerful bodies in Congress. Committee members control which bills come to a vote, and bills that committees approve can affect issues such as taxes, immigration, health care, energy policy, and education.

“There are 2 choices voters face in November—moving America forward or going back to the failed policies of the past,” adds Dahlen. “It’s taken two years just to stop digging the hole we were in when President Obama took office. Now we have to give him two more years to continue creating jobs and re-energizing the U.S. economy.”

Please join us November 2 to talk politics and public policy and to follow the early election returns. And please remind every American you know to vote!

To read more on Sarah Hollister’s Organizing for America blog, click on the link.

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on November 2, US Midterm Election Night.

Details:
Herman’s Vegetarian Restaurant, Fjällgatan 23a or enter through the Garden Gate and look for the top of the green former elevator, now art studio, on the corner of Katarinavägen and Renstiernasgatan.

Hälsans Hus: T- Slussen, Bus 2, 3, 53, 71 & 76 to Tjärnhovsplan

Meals, refreshments and desserts are available for purchase and there are special prices for Students (2 for 1) and Senior Tuesdays (70kr).

Voter Registration information will be available.

New Voter Registration Rules apply to US citizens abroad. Every vote counts. A victory for Democrats in the November 2 Midterm Congressional Election is critical to the continued success of President Obama. The Republican opposition, the Party of NO must not be allowed to take away the hope for change we voted for in 2008.

Tell an American to Register and Vote!

For more information:
<democratsabroad.se or www.votefromabroad.org>

Opinions and viewpoints expressed during FirsTuesdays gatherings are those of the individuals involved and not of The Democratic Party, Democrats Abroad or Democrats Abroad Sweden.

Press Contact & questions:
Bruce Morris 076 220 8288

WHAT: Voter Registration

WHEN: October 23, 2010 11am-1 pm

WHERE: Tully’s, Stockholm

WHY: Overseas voters are required to request an absentee ballot for the primary and also for the mid-term elections in November

WHAT: Voter Registration

WHEN: October 26, 2010 0 6-8 pm

WHERE: Pizza Hut Kungsgatan, Gothenburg

WHY: Overseas voters are required to request an absentee ballot for the primary and also for the mid-term elections in November

This is the final spurt towards the November 2 elections and you still have opportunities to vote. There are 3 in-person events as listed below:

1. October 23, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm
Saturday, October 23 • 11:00am – 1:00pm
________________________________________
Location Tully’s Coffee
Götgatan 42, T-Medborgarplatsen
Stockholm, Sweden
________________________________________
Created By Democrats Abroad Sweden

________________________________________
More Info Last chance to come and register to vote! If you haven’t yet received your absentee ballot, come on down and let us help you fill out your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB).you will need your voting address(where you last lived in the US, Social Security number, and it is helpful if you know the names of your candidates or Congressional District number
.
If you have already registered and voted, you can come anyway and mingle with friends.

2. October 23, 2010 Voter Registration Uppsala
For US citizens in Uppsala who would like to receive help filling in an application for absentee voting, we are arranging two dates:
Monday, October 18, 6:00-9:00 p.m., at Buddy’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, www.buddysirishpub.com
and
Saturday, October 21, 1:00-3:00 p.m., at Hugos kaffe & deli, www.hugoskaffe.nu, Svartbäcks…
See More

Buddy’s Irish pub and restaurant
www.buddysirishpub.com

3. October 26, 2010 Voter Registration at Pizza Hut, Kungsgatan, Gothenburg, 6-8 pm

Otherwise, you can fill out your FWAB by going to www.votefromabroad.org . Here is a list of the Democratic candidates. (Press the CTRL button AST you click on the hyperlink.) Here’s the link to the website page: http://www.democratsabroad.org/article/2010/01/12/2010-democratic-candidates-house-and-senate

Even if you have already voted in your state primary, you must register/request your absentee ballot for the November 2 General Election. This is a result of the Military Overseas Voters Empowerment Act.

The MOVE Act directly affects how YOU exercise your right to vote. Signed into law by President Obama in October 2009, MOVE takes effect after your state’s primary and before the election in November.

MOVE both expands your rights as an Overseas Voter and requires you to request your ballots more often.

Here is what Democrats Abroad wants you to know about this important legislation that we lobbied Congress for years to pass:

1. Requires ALL states to provide voter registration applications online.
2. For the November 2010 General Election, ALL states must provide for the electronic transmission of the blank ballot 45 days prior to the election.
3. This means YOU should submit your Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) again, making certain to mark the “electronic” option for receipt of the ballot and include your email address, even if you are registered in a state that has not allowed electronic transmission of voting material in the past, such as New York. Please indicate that you are requesting your ballot for the November 2 General Election in # 6 of the FPCA. If you have not yet requested your ballot for your state primary, you must make a separate
application and indicate “state primary” in #6 of the FPCA.
4. The MOVE Act eliminated all Notary Requirements.
5. The MOVE Act expands the opportunities for use of the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) in all Federal Elections, including primaries and special elections.
6. The MOVE Act provides for the electronic transmission of a blank ballot 45 days before the election:
a) By email
b) By fax
c) By blank ballot which can be downloaded from the state’s website.

To see what your state has decided, please click on this link to get your file with state-specific updates. (You need to press your CTRL button AST you click on the link.)

Most states have decided how they are to implement the MOVE Act in August 2010, and those states with late primaries may not be able to send ballots on time. In that case, the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) may be used.

It is important to request a ballot for every election, even if your Local Election Official usually sends it to you, for two reasons:
1. The State and Local Election Officials are no longer required to keep overseas voters on their rolls.
2. Republicans plan to challenge all overseas voted ballots not accompanied by a valid ballot request.
Therefore, you must request your ballot for the NOV 2 ELECTION. Do it now, if you have not already done so!

You can go to www.votefromabroad.org to fill in and print out your FPCA, or you can attend our in-person Voter Registration events held throughout Sweden. If you have any questions about your voting, please contact me at secretary@democratsabroad.se . Democrats Abroad has made a difference in U.S. elections, so your vote is very important.

You can also go to Democrats Abroad’s Voting Action Center at http://www.democratsabroad.org for voting updates. You can even visit your state’s website there to check the status of your ballot/registration. http://www.democratsabroad.org/article/2010/01/01/verify-your-voter-registration-state-state (You must log in to the DA website : www.democratsabroad.org to see this page.)

We recently held phone-banking in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and in Halland. Our other local chapters will be doing so throughout October. If you have missed our call and have changed your email address or other contact information, please send these updates to secretary@democratsabroad.se . In Stockholm, we are looking for volunteers for the following committees: Voter Registration, Events, Fundraising, Outreach, Issues, and Publicity, as well as a Young Dems coordinator. If you are interested, please write to the above email address. We need your help!

KEEP OUR CONGRESS BLUE!

Regards,
Sandy Mansson
Democrats Abroad Sweden Secretary and Voter Registration Chair

WHAT: FWAB Evening

WHEN: September 28, 2010 0 6-9 pm

WHERE: English School North, Stockholm

WHY: If you have requested your ballot but have not received it you can use an emergency write-in ballot for the mid-term elections in November

Democrats Abroad Sweden will be holding its Emergency Write-in Absentee Ballot evening on Thursday, October 14, 2010, 6-9 pm at the English School North, Roslagstullsbacken 4, Stockholm. If you have not received your ballot and need help in filling out your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot, come and join us. We will have someone from the US Embassy’s Citizen’s Services to mail your ballots free in the Diplomatic Pouch. Otherwise, you can fill out your FWAB by going to www.votefromabroad.org . Here is a list of the Democratic candidates. (Press the CTRL button AST you click on the hyperlink.) Here’s the link to the website page: http://www.democratsabroad.org/article/2010/01/12/2010-democratic-candidates-house-and-senate

Even if you have already voted in your state primary, you must register/request your absentee ballot for the November 2 General Election. This is a result of the Military Overseas Voters Empowerment Act.

The MOVE Act directly affects how YOU exercise your right to vote. Signed into law by President Obama in October 2009, MOVE takes effect after your state’s primary and before the election in November.

MOVE both expands your rights as an Overseas Voter and requires you to request your ballots more often.

Here is what Democrats Abroad wants you to know about this important legislation that we lobbied Congress for years to pass:

1. Requires ALL states to provide voter registration applications online.
2. For the November 2010 General Election, ALL states must provide for the electronic transmission of the blank ballot 45 days prior to the election.
3. This means YOU should submit your Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) again, making certain to mark the “electronic” option for receipt of the ballot and include your email address, even if you are registered in a state that has not allowed electronic transmission of voting material in the past, such as New York. Please indicate that you are requesting your ballot for the November 2 General Election in # 6 of the FPCA. If you have not yet requested your ballot for your state primary, you must make a separate
application and indicate “state primary” in #6 of the FPCA.
4. The MOVE Act eliminated all Notary Requirements.
5. The MOVE Act expands the opportunities for use of the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) in all Federal Elections, including primaries and special elections.
6. The MOVE Act provides for the electronic transmission of a blank ballot 45 days before the election:
a) By email
b) By fax
c) By blank ballot which can be downloaded from the state’s website.

To see what your state has decided, please click on this link to get your file with state-specific updates. (You need to press your CTRL button AST you click on the link.)

Most states have decided how they are to implement the MOVE Act in August 2010, and those states with late primaries may not be able to send ballots on time. In that case, the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) may be used.

It is important to request a ballot for every election, even if your Local Election Official usually sends it to you, for two reasons:
1. The State and Local Election Officials are no longer required to keep overseas voters on their rolls.
2. Republicans plan to challenge all overseas voted ballots not accompanied by a valid ballot request.
Therefore, you must request your ballot for the NOV 2 ELECTION. Do it now, if you have not already done so!

You can go to www.votefromabroad.org to fill in and print out your FPCA, or you can attend our in-person Voter Registration events held throughout Sweden. If you have any questions about your voting, please contact me at secretary@democratsabroad.se . Democrats Abroad has made a difference in U.S. elections, so your vote is very important.

You can also go to Democrats Abroad’s Voting Action Center at http://www.democratsabroad.org for voting updates. You can even visit your state’s website there to check the status of your ballot/registration. http://www.democratsabroad.org/article/2010/01/01/verify-your-voter-registration-state-state (You must log in to the DA website : www.democratsabroad.org to see this page.)

Here is the Democrats Abroad Sweden Voter Registration Plan for 2010 with Fall Mingle all over Sweden:

October 14, 2010 FWAB Evening at English School North, Stockholm, 6-9 pm

October 23, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm

October 26, 2010 Voter Registration at Pizza Hut, Kungsgatan, Gothenburg, 6-8 pm

November 2, 2010 General Elections

We recently held phone-banking in Stockholm and in Halland. Our other local chapters will be doing so throughout October. If you have missed our call and have changed your email address or other contact information, please send these updates to secretary@democratsabroad.se . In Stockholm, we are looking for volunteers for the following committees: Voter Registration, Events, Fundraising, Outreach, Issues, and Publicity. If you are interested, please write to the above email address. We need your help!

KEEP OUR CONGRESS BLUE!

Regards,
Sandy Mansson
Democrats Abroad Sweden Secretary and Voter Registration Chair