Democrats Abroad Norway

Betty Haugen wins voter registration raffle!

(Oslo, 19 August)  Those of you who have been following our website know that we in Democrats Abroad Norway had a voter registration drive this June 2010.

Now we’d like to congratulate the winner — Betty Haugen!  Betty won the Get Out the Vote 2010 Raffle –with a NOK 500 gift card as the prize. As with all the others entered in the raffle, she submitted the emails of five American friends living in Norway. This provides us a way to reach other Americans in Norway and assist them in registering to vote for the upcoming mid-term elections.

The winner was randomly drawn in July. The information gained will be handled confidentially and deleted on November 3, 2010 –right after the elections.

We send our thanks to Betty and everyone else who participated.

Democrats Abroad Norway is trying to reach as many Americans living in Norway as possible. No matter who you want to vote for in November, if you are an American living in Norway, we are happy to help you register so you vote.

YOUR CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

On November 2nd, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be up for election, as will 36 of the 100 seats in the Senate and 39 of the 50 state governorships. Many of these races will be close, and the campaign is already in full swing in the States.

Republicans are pushing hard to regain a majority in Congress. If achieved, there are threats to rescind important legislation like healthcare.

You have the right to vote, and your vote can make a difference. The absentee ballots from Americans abroad were the ones that decided the outcomes in 2006 in Virginia, in 2008 in Minnesota and in 2009 in New York.

So — ACT NOW! Register for an absentee ballot!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE JULY 4th WEEKEND?

The American Coordinating Council of Norway (ACCN) is arranging not one — but three days of events for meeting, greeting and networking with fellow Americans and America-fans! Democrats Abroad Norway will be there.

Each year the ACCN produces the ACCN Independence Day Celebration in Oslo on the weekend closest to the actual date. This year that means the event will take place on July 2-4. Democrats Abroad Norway is an active member of ACCN and the event.

CELEBRATING IN OSLO

On Friday a six hour event at the Grand Hotel will feature musical rhythms that will shake the soul (from 1600 to 2200).

On Saturday, an Arts and Entertainment Brunch at the Rica Victoria Hotel will feature Jazz and a Silent Auction (from 1300-1600).

And then on Sunday – the 4^th of July — the signature event will be “The American Celebration” (from noon to 1700) at Frogner Park in Oslo. As always there will be all the ingredients of a wonderful 4th of July celebration:

• Sports,
• Children’s games,
• Great American food,
• Arts and crafts,
• Beautiful setting in which to celebrate.

And last but not least, lots of good, old-fashioned American hospitality.

DEMOCRATS ABROAD NORWAY WILL BE THERE

Do you want information on voter registration? Are there any specific questions you have about being an American in Norway? Or do you just want the opportunity to meet other Democrats and the chance to become a member? Then the ACCN Independence Day Celebration is the place.

Democrats Abroad Norway will be manning a tent at the ACCN Independence Day Celebration at Frogner Park on Sunday from 1200 to 1700. Join us there and exchange views!

REGISTER FOR THE EVENTS

Click on the link for the ACCN site for more information about events that help connect Americans in Norway to other Americans! You can also use the link to register for the events you wish to take part in.

4th of July 2010 Weekend Events!

You must register and pay – Go to www.accn.no – you won’t want to miss these events!

Enter a Raffle for a kr. 500 Gift Card

Help Democrats Abroad Norway get out the vote 2010.

Share the names and emails of five (5) Americans living in Norway, and your name will be entered to win a kr. 500 gift card.  Send the names and email addresses to membership@democratsabroad.no.

The winner will be randomly drawn on July 1st.  Information will be handled confidentially and deleted on November 3, 2010.

World Cup Soccer (Hard Rock Cafe, Oslo) – England v. USA June 12th 2010, 20:30 (8:30 p.m.)

Come watch the USA national team take on England in their first match of the World Cup tournament.

Venue in Oslo to be announced – check www.democratsabroad.no for more information. If you need voter registration assistance, we will be there to help.

Voter Registration Assistance – June 5th 2010, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

If you would like assistance registering to vote and live in the Oslo or Drammen area, members of the board are available to help. On Saturday, June 5th 2010, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. we will be at the following locations to help you. Stop in!

• Drammen – Baker Hansen by the train station
• Frogner – Kaffebrenneriet Løvenskioldsgate 2
• Majorstuen – United Bakeries Valkyriegata 9-11
• Røa – Baker Hansen Vækerøveien 207
• Sentrum – Kaffebrenneriet Universitetsgata 18
• Vinderen – United Bakeries Slemdalsveien 63B

FIRST AMERICAN TOWN MEETING: A SUCCESS

By all measures, the first Town Meeting sponsored by the American Embassy for Norwegian-based Americans was an impressive success. Over 270 US citizens joined the get-together, which had to be moved from the Embassy to the Bristol Hotel in central Oslo due to strong interest from the American-Norwegian community.

For the more than 270 Oslo-based Americans, it was an evening of networking and renewing country ties. US Ambassador Barry White hosted this First Town Meeting which was designed to orient Americans living in Norway on Embassy activities and the diplomatic support it could provide.

The Embassy was represented by Cherrie Daniels (Head of Political and Economics Section), Colonel Don Keply (Defense Attaché), Eric Carlson (Regional Security Officer, US Department of State), Hester Kerlick (Vice Counsel), and Kelji Turner (discussing the new American Embassy). Rodger Deuerlein (Head of the US Embassy Consular section) served as MC for the event.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP. TAX CHALLENGES. NEW EMBASSY – AND MORE

In the more than an hour of presentations, Embassy personnel and a range of organizations supporting Americans in Norway informed Town Hall attendees on a wide range of issues. Everything from security in Norway and dual citizenship issues, to insurance for permanent residents and the increasing sophistication of the Norwegian view of American politics. And from financing aspects of education abroad and tax-related challenges to drivers license renewal and plans for the building of the new US Embassy.

The formal part of the meeting was followed by a stimulating Q&A session that lasted for nearly 40 minutes. For a more detailed summary of the Town meeting, read the Town_Hall_Meeting_Minutes_12/05/2010.

DEMOCRATS ABROAD WAS THERE

“The event was also an opportunity for those of us at Democrats Abroad to let people know about our activities to get out the vote,” said Lisa Cooper, Chairperson for Democrats Abroad in Norway (DAN) and one of the members of the panel of American organizations that supported the Embassy at the Town Meeting.

“We also talked about our other activities to help connect Americans here – and keep them up-to-date on political issues where they can have some impact,” she added.

Other organizations represented were Chrys Hellum, President of the American Coordinating Council of Norway (ACCN); Jason Turflinger, Managing Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Norway (AmCham); Sarah Øverland, President of the American Womens’ Club (AWC); and Ken Burton, Chairperson for Republicans Abroad Norway (RAN).

MID-TERM ELECTIONS: GAME CHANGING POTENTIAL FOR DEMOCRATS

The upcoming US mid-term elections have the potential of changing the game for the Obama Administration. A possible shift in control in congress could threaten the President’s agenda – so every vote counts.

With President Barack Obama half way through his first term in office, the US Mid-term Elections will be held on November 2. At that time 435 members of the House of Representatives will be up for election. In addition, one-third of the Senate — or 34 Senators — will be elected, and 37 State Governors will be on the ballots. A number of local issues will also be up for consideration in state elections.

If history repeats itself, the odds can favor Republican gains in the House and Senate. The party in power usually loses seats, but the mid-terms are also seen as a referendum of the sitting President and his party.

HOUSE: CONTINUED CONTROL?

Polls indicate that 164 House seats are solid Democrat and another 64 are leaning Democratic with some 30 seats too close to call. Democrats now hold 257 seats, 39 seats more than the minimum needed for control. If Republicans were to pick up the high side of the 20-to-50 seats that some polls now predict, that could mean a shift of control in the House of Representatives that would threaten the President’s agenda.

However, a recent New York Times/CBS poll indicates that Americans feel President Obama better understands their needs and problems and has made more of an effort to be bipartisan than Congressional Republicans. So that may help counter balance some of the normal drop for the party in power.

SENATE: A MORE UNSTABLE BALANCE?

In the Senate, the current balance is 57 Democrats, 41 Republican and 2 independents who caucus with the Democrats. Current polls indicate that of the 36 Senate seats that are up for election, 7 are solidly Democrat and four are leaning Democratic. On the Republican side 12 are solid and 8 are leaning Republican. Five of the 36 seats are up for grabs.

Any shift in power to the Republicans will make it even more difficult to bring desired legislation to the Senate floor.

WHAT ABOUT THE STATES?

Gubernatorial elections will also be held on November 2^nd –37 states and two territories will hold elections for governor. Currently 20 seats are held by Democrat incumbents and 19 are held by Republican incumbents. Polls indicate that 3 of the Democratic Governorships are safe, and 5 are leaning Democratic. Five of the Republican seats are safe and 9 are leaning Republican – with 15 governorships that are up for grabs. So a lot is at stake in the various state governments as well in the mid-term elections.

YOUR VOTE COUNTS !

A heavy Democratic turnout of those energized to vote for the first time in the 2008 elections, might turn the tide, making it easier for President Obama to carry out his agenda. This is what the Democratic National Committee is calling its 50-State Strategy.

The President and the Democratic Party are committed to keeping the nation safe and expanding opportunity for every American. That commitment is reflected in an agenda that emphasizes strong economic growth, an overhaul of regulations governing the financial industry, affordable health care for all American, and freeing ourselves from oil dependency through the investment in renewable, alternative energies. It also focuses on ending the war in Iraq while refocusing our efforts on dealing with the post-September 11 world; protecting the environment, and working for open, honest and accountable government.

Elections are often won on a narrow margin, so every vote counts, and organizing voter registration and voting from abroad can push the game-changing potential of the mid-term elections in the right direction.

Town Hall Meeting at the Embassy on May 12, 2010

Embassy of the United States of America

Henrik Ibsens gate 48

Oslo, Norway

Message to U.S. citizens residing in the Oslo area.

The Embassy wishes to invite U.S. citizens to a meeting at the Bristol Hotel ((Kristian IV’s gate 7) on May 12, 2010 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

The Ambassador and Embassy officials will talk about topics we believe are of interest to U.S. citizens residing in Norway including U.S. – Norway relations, security and safety issues and consular services.  The American Chamber of Commerce, Democrats Abroad, Republicans Abroad and the American Women’s Club will also provide information about their organizations.

Please R.S.V.P. as soon as possible if you would like to attend. Space is limited. R.S.V.P. by sending an e-mail to osloamcit@state.gov with your full legal name. Please remember to bring your passport for ID purposes.  Due to security procedures at the Embassy, we recommend you arrive at least 15-20 minutes before the meeting starts.

We look forward to seeing you at our Town Hall Meeting.

2010 Primary Elections by Month

February

Illinois- February 2

March

Texas- March 2

May

Indiana- May 4

North Carolina- May 4

Ohio- May 4

Nebraska- May 11

West Virginia- May 14

Arkansas- May 18

Kentucky- May 18

Oregon- May 18

Pennsylvania- May 18

Idaho- May 25

June

Alabama- June 1

Mississippi- June 1

New Mexico- June 1

California- June 8

Iowa- June 8

Maine- June 8

Montana- June 8

Nevada- June 8

New Jersey- June 8

North Dakota- June 8

South Carolina- June 8

South Dakota- June 8

Virginia- June 8

Utah- June 22

July

Georgia- July 20

Oklahoma- July 27

August

Kansas- August 3

Michigan- August 3

Missouri- August 3

Tennessee- August 5

Colorado- August 10

Connecticut- August 10

Minnesota- August 10

Washington- August 17

Wyoming- August 17

Alaska- August 24

Florida- August 24

Louisiana- 1st Party Congressional- August 28

Arizona- August 31

September

Guam- September 4

Virgin Islands- September 11

Delaware- September 14

District of Columbia- September 14

Maryland- September 14

Massachusetts- September 14

New Hampshire- September 14

New York- September 14

Rhode Island- September 14

Vermont- September 14

Wisconsin- September 14

Hawaii- September 18

October

Louisiana- State Primary and 2nd Party Congressional- October 2