BERN Drop-off Event for Wounded Warriors

Donate to Wounded American Soldiers!!!

BERN Drop-off Event

WHEN: Friday, December 11, from 12pm to 1pm

WHERE: Starbucks on Waisenhausplatz, 3011 Bern (near train station)

WHAT: Democrats Abroad Switzerland is collecting care packages for the Wounded Warriors project and will be delivering them in person at Landstuhl Hospital in Germany on 12 December 2009.

If you cannot make it at the Drop-Off Event, contact Natasha Jackson on 031 300 20 30 to arrange another drop-off time before 4pm this Friday. Her office is located near the train station.

Items Needed (must be new):

Swiss chocolate

Foot powder

Chapstick

Sweatshirts with hoods

Jackets with hoods

Sweatpants

Toiletries – travel size (not hotel size)

(Do not need to be new):

DVDs (American Zone 1 and non-violent)

Other Options

We are also happy to take up letters and cards you want to write the soldiers. Check out http://www.democrats.ch for details on what to write and ideas for what to include in a care package. 



Please spread the word and forward this email to any colleagues or friends who may wish to take part! Download official flyer at: http://www.democratsabroad.org/sites/default/files/WW_DACH_A4_Print.pdf

For more information:

chair@democrats.ch

45th DA Celebration

Democrats Abroad is celebrating its 45th Anniversary this October!

Democrats Abroad in Vaud are kicking off the DA 45th Anniversary festivities with a party on Sunday October 4th, in the charming village of Bursins, at a private home overlooking Lac Leman nestled within the Vaudois vineyards. Come join American families for a Sunday afternoon of games for the kids and political fun for adults. A small contribution to Democrats Abroad is requested of only $20 per family. Be sure to select “Bursins 45^th celebration” from Event the drop down menu.

We will also hold a prize drawings to win one of several fabulous gift baskets. Participate in your chance to win for an additional $40 contribution to DA online (under Bursins 45^th celebration” event). If you cannot attend the party, you can still make a contribution to enter your chance to win a basket! All goods have been donated by our members to help DA fill our coffers for the 2010 elections. Join in the fun and support our efforts to make this a fund-raising success! You will not be disappointed!

Send us an email at events@democrats.ch to let us know the names of those coming and if you contributed to the prize drawing! For more information on the event visit: http://www.democratsabroad.org/Bursins_45th

More DA 45th Anniversary parties planned around Switzerland in 
Geneva on 14 October and Zurich on 15 October.

For more information about DA celebrations around Switzerland click here: http://www.democratsabroad.org/node/9657

And for a printable event flyer can be found on the Democrats Abroad website at: http://www.democratsabroad.org/sites/default/files/Bursins_45th.png

Podcast of US Tax Meeting in Vaud

News Update: IRS extends the voluntary disclosure deadline to 15 October 2009 from 23 September 2009

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On August 31st, 65 Americans attended the Dems Abroad Vaud meeting on US taxes in Lully. To listen to a podcast of the full meeting, click on the image below.

Speakers (L-R): Jonathan Lachowitz, Geoffrey DeHaven, David Hirsberg

At times, the sound quality is too low to hear questions from the audience. (file is iPod/iPhone compatible!)

If you would like to contact our guest speakers, contact details are below. (Click on their names for their email address and company to be linked to their website)

Geoffrey DeHaven, Enrolled Agent & US Certified Financial Planner (TM), US Tax Abroad with 19 years experience as a US tax planner. Based in Brussels - Tel. +32 11 58 92 61

David Hirsberg, Partner of Withers LLP specializing in US tax law based in Geneva - Tel +41 22 593 7777

Jonathan Lachowitz, Certified Financial Planner (TM) and Investment Advisor, White Lighthouse based in Lausanne - Tel. +41 22 548 1431

Click here for copy of Jonathan Lachowitz' presentation in which you will find very helpful information.

Need the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts FBAR form (TD F 90-22.1)? Download it here. It must be mailed back to U.S. Department of Treasury and arrive (not postmarked) by 23 September 2009 with a note explaining why it is late (deadline was 30 June but extension permitted until 23 Sept. 2009).

Read a clear explanation about your options.

UPDATED INFORMATION: Read the written answers to questions sent to us by email before the meeting. Many thanks to Geoff DeHaven for taking the time to answer them.

Summary of U.S. Tax information
This compilation was put together by our member, Susan Stuber, based on these two tax information meetings as well as interviews and correspondence with, chiefly, Geoffrey DeHaven. It is meant as a guideline to your most pressing questions; if you desire further information, there are footnotes to guide you to the relevant web links. At the end of the day, however, you will be well-advised to have a tax advisor who is versed in U.S. tax regulation.

SAVE THE DATE

DA Vaud members are invited to a party at member's home in Bursins to celebrate the 45 anniversary of Democrats Abroad.

Mark your calendars for Sunday October 4th, 3-6pm!

More details coming soon...

Democrats Abroad Vaud US Tax Meeting

When: Monday 31 August 2009. Doors open at 6pm, meeting starts at 6:30pm

Where: Salle Communale de Lully in Lully, Vaud (see below for directions)

Guest speakers: Geoffrey DeHaven, Enrolled Agent & US Certified Financial Planner (TM) with US Tax Abroad and David Hirsberg, Partner of Withers LLP

Suggested contribution: CHF 10

RSVP: Space is limited, please sign up at events@democrats.ch

Democrats Abroad Vaud is sponsoring a meeting on the issue of US taxes as a service to our members and the American community in the region. Many Americans living in Switzerland have questions about filing the FBAR (foreign bank account report) and their US taxes. We have invited two specialists on US expatriate taxation to explain the FBAR and the current voluntary compliance initiative that is in place at the moment but set to expire on 23 September 2009. We are delighted that Messrs. DeHaven and Hirsberg have offered their time and expertise to help debunk common fallacy and clarify who needs to file taxes and the FBAR, how and when.

We’d like to hear from you and invite DA members to send in your questions to us by 26 August. This way our guest speakers can focus their presentations on the issues that are of most importance. Please send your questions to events@democrats.ch

On the agenda so far, we have the following four main issues:

1. FBAR deadline extension. Who should file the FBAR and how it is different from previous years? What are the penalties of not reporting?

2. Voluntary compliance initiative, what is it? When is the deadline? Who should file back taxes?

3. Clarification of who needs to file US income taxes: examples of qualifying earned income, situation for pensioners and spouses of non-US citizens (working and non-working).

4. Inheritance taxes

This event is open to all American citizens. Please RSVP to events@democrats.ch. For more information, please visit http://vaud.democrats.ch

Directions to Lully Salle Communale:

BY CAR: Taking the autoroute from Lausanne or Geneva, get off at Morges Ouest, and follow the signs direction Bière. You will bypass Tolochenaz, and then at the third roundabout, you will come to a chapel in the middle of Lully. The Salle Communale is located opposite the church above the epicerie. Parking is available in front of the Salle Communale as well as on the parking lot of the church.

BY TRAIN: Take the train to Morges. There is a bus leaving the Morges train station (direction Lavigny) at 6.08 p.m., arriving at the post office in Lully at 6.14 (2^nd stop from Morges station). When getting out of the bus, walk toward the church. The Salle Communale is located on the left side of the roundabout, opposite the chapel and above the epicerie.

Vaud Economy Event - May 20 2009

On May 20th, 15 Democrats Abroad members and friends gathered in Vaud to discuss the global economic crisis. After enjoying some local wines and trying Bill’s famous chilli and Raffi’s unbelievable tapenade, we left the terrace and views over Lac Léman to settle into some more serious business. To set the tone and gain some insight on what brought on the crisis, we watched the PBS FRONTLINE documentary : Inside the Meltdown. Here are some reactions and interesting discussion points that came about:

"It is a discouraging fact to learn that nine people were called together to save the US economy"  - after seeing in the documentary that Secretary Paulson had called the CEOs of the 9 largest US banks together to impose his decision on what the fate of the US banks would be.

"I reject the premise that companies are too big to fail. This brings to mind an oligarchical system similar to the one in Russia."

"Property speculation and making money on homes is not something that exists in Switzerland, as prices are heavily regulated. The US has gotten into trouble because in the States home ownership became a generator of wealth. For example, in California, house prices have always boomed. Americans see home ownership as their way to grab a piece of the pie."

"Regulation only works when there are good intentions. Otherwise, people will always find a way to beat it and find loop holes as a result of greed. Without regulation, banks went after short term gains without regard for the long term need of the society."

"The mass centralization of banks is one cause of this crisis. Where have all the local banks gone ? Condensing power into a small number of very large banks is the systemic problem."

"This current crisis brings to mind the quote : Extreme forms of capitalism is also a form of communism."

We look forward to the next gathering in Vaud to focus on President Obama’s Healthcare reform. Check this page for announcements and updates!