The United States Consulate General Melbourne

is pleased to invite you to a

Voter Information Workshop conducted by

Mr. Kenneth B. Warford, Deputy Director, Voter Assistance, Federal Voting Assistance Program

U.S. Department of Defense

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

2:00-4:00 pm at the Consulate General

553 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne

Please RSVP by e-mail to MelbourneACS@state.gov by February 19, 2014

The Federal Voting Act Program (FVAP) provides free workshops on the overseas voting process to American Embassies and Consulates General around the world.  These workshops are designed to educate Voting Assistance Officers and Voting Assistants as well as citizens and local support staff of various organizations who are in contact with Americans who live, work and study in Australia. 

Comprehensive voting guidance may well determine whether an American citizen in Australia understands how and when to participate in the election process.    

The workshop is PowerPoint-based, and designed to help the audience become familiar with the U.S. Federal Voting Assistance Program, the Voting Assistance Guide and forms voters use to register and vote absentee.  The presenter takes you step-by-step through the voting process when you live overseas – the Federal Post Card Application, and the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.  Mr. Warford will also be happy to answer any questions from the group. 

We hope you will be able to attend or send a representative as the workshop could prove useful to answer any voting questions from American citizens in your organization.

PLEASE NOTE: For security purposes your RSVP is necessary if you plan to attend.  Photo identification will be required for admission to the Consulate General.  All visitors are subject to security screening, so please arrive 15 minutes prior to the workshop.

AWA Charity Golf Tournament @ Victoria Golf Club

Wednesday, 5th March 2014

12:30pm tee off

$220 pp includes round of golf, lunch and cocktails.

Learn more and book your tickets online at awamelbourne.org

100% of profits raised will go directly to the benefit of The Royal Children's Hospital.

http://www.awamelbourne.org/Calendar-and-Tickets/Golf2014.aspx

Ed Gresser - U.S Trade Expert

"21st-Century Trade Policy": The Obama administration has termed TPP a 21st-century agreement. What does this actually mean?

Ed Gresser will examine how the Obama administration and outside actors are trying to adapt The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) to a world of Internet trade, individualized exporting and importing, and rapid development of new technology.

The Speaker:

Mr Gresser is one of the country’s best-known and most influential trade policy scholars, having conducted path-breaking research on the American tariff system, international trade agreements, trade relations with the Muslim world, Asian economic integration and other topics.  In 2013, the Washington International Trade Association- honoured him with its sixth Lighthouse Award, to recognize "contributions made over the course of a career to trade policy, the understanding of global trade, or expanding the benefits of global trade."

Mr Gresser most recently served as Director of the Trade and Global Markets program and as interim President of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). Prior to joining the DLC, Mr Gresser was Trade and Global Markets Director for the Progressive Policy Institute and served as Policy Advisor to U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky. Mr Gresser’s accomplishments include negotiation of China’s WTO accession agreement and passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations.

Mr Gresser’s research has been covered by major publications and new outlets including the Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Financial Times and Far Eastern Economic Review, and has been cited in publications by the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the IMF and other institutions.

Mr Gresser holds an M.A. from Columbia University and a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University.

to be held on

 Tuesday, 8^th October 2013

7:30am – 9:00am

Breakfast meeting

Venue

The Library

Park Hyatt Melbourne

1 Parliament Square off Parliament Place

Melbourne Victoria 3002

RSVP

30^th September 2013

nicola.alekna@aaa-aus.org or 03 9663 9550

Dress: Business Attire

In March and May 2011, AAA launched its Corporate Programme Series in Sydney and Melbourne respectively.

The Corporate Programme presents a forum for young and established business and community leaders to engage in topical business conversation and networking.

To be added to the Corporate Programme Series invitation list, email InfoSydney@aaa-aus.org.

The American Australian Association and United States Studies Centre held a farewell reception for the Honourable Jeffrey L. Bleich, U.S. Ambassador to Australia on 7 August in Sydney.

Guests included former PM Bob Hawke, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner, Business Council of Australia President Tony Shepherd, ABC Chairman James Spigelman, Boeing Australia President Ian Thomas, CHAMP Private Equity Founding Partner Joseph Skrzynski, GE Aviation General Manager Max York, Costco Managing Director Patrick Noone and Tourism Australia CEO Andrew McEvoy.  In addition we were also delighted to welcome  leading Australian business people, CEOs and academics to the event.

Ambassador Bleich's impressive and successful tenure has made a considerable difference to Australian and American relations, and we have especially valued his relationship with and commitment to the AAA. We wish him and his family well as they return to America, as well as continued success in his remarkable and distinguished career. 

View Gallery

On 2 October 2012, AAA together with the U.S.. Consulate, Melbourne and the United States Studies Centre, held a VIP Corporate Breakfast to discuss the political landscape of the 2012 U.S.. Presidential Election. The panel of experts discussed their perceptions of the candidates and offered their opinions on pertinent issues such as the economy, U.S.. foreign policy, and the impact of the election on the Asia-Pacific.

The forum was moderated by Sara James - Emmy award-winning foreign correspondent, author, and commentator. 

The Panel of Experts included:

• Tom Switzer -  A research associate at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and Editor of the Spectator Australia
• Dr Tim Lynch - Senior Lecturer in American Politics and Foreign Policy in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne
• Cameron Stewart -  Associate Editor, The Australian

A special thank you to Arnold Bloch Liebler for hosting the breakfast.

View Gallery

On 14 May 2012, AAA in conjunction with the U.S Consulate General and Invest Victoria, hosted a VIP function with guest speaker Professor Kenneth R. Mayer, Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Professor Mayer discussed the U.S Presidential electoral process, the difficult task of forecasting and existing models of presidential elections.

The Honourable John Olsen, AO, former Premier of South Australia and current CEO of the AAA gave a terrific speech about the strong bond between Australia and the United States as did the Consul General to United States in Melbourne, Frank Urbancic.

With over 90 attendees, the event was a great success and attracted a broad range of guests including the Honourable Marilyn Warren, A.C. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Justice Elizabeth Curtain, esteemed members of the academia world, senior corporates as well as past recipients of the AAA Fellowship Program.

Date: 23 November 2011
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Venue: Mallesons Stephen Jaques - Level 61, Governor Phillip Tower, 1 Farrer Place
Host: Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Speaker: Tom Deutsch

Tom Deutsch, Executive Director of the American Securitization Forum, discussed the US Political, Legislative and Regulatory Landscape for Capital Markets including the post-crisis housing market and legislative outcomes.

Date: 8 June 2011
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Venue: AAA - Level 47, 19 Martin Place
Speaker: Douglas Feith

Douglas Feith, a guest of the US Studies Centre for its National Summit on the 9/11 Decade shared insight on world developments since 9/11 - from geopolitics, peace and stability to freedom, democracy and human rights.

Date: 10 May 2011
Time: 5:30-7:00 pm
Venue: Invest Victoria - Level 46, 55 Collins Street
Host: Invest Victoria

Distinguished guests included US Consul General Michael Thurston and The Hon Louise Asher MP, Minister for Innovation, Services & Small Business and Minister for Tourism & Major Events.