Association Of Americans Resident Overseas
The Association of Americans Resident Overseas (www.aaro.org) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. This Alliance brings together AARO chapters and affiliate organizations around the world.
Local Group Guidelines
Who may join:
- Chapter: a newly-created group representing AARO locally (for example, AARO Paris Chapter, AARO Beijing Chapter, etc.)
- Affiliate: an existing organization wishing to support and coordinate with AARO (for example, the American Club of Beijing, the Expat American Meetup of Mexico City, etc.)
- AARO Chapters should create a Meetup group through which to join the AARO Alliance
What Chapters and Affiliates receive from
AARO:
- Become part of a worldwide organization fighting on behalf of overseas Americans everywhere
- Receive email bulletins with news and insights on our issues, activities, positions, etc.
- A voice in policymaking affecting overseas Americans; chapters provide input on AARO's positions and issues, in particular in relation to Overseas Americans Week (http://www.overseasamericansweek.com/), our annual lobbying trip to Washington
- Organizer of Chapter or Affiliate receives access to members-only information on our website
- Support, coordination and informational resources for organizing AARO-related events (for example, guidance on holding an annual tax seminar or a voter registration drive)
What AARO asks of Chapters and Affiliates:
- Support AARO's positions on our issues, including taxes, voting, Medicare, and Social Security (for more details, see http://www.overseasamericansweek.com/position_papers.htm)
- Make financial contribution to AARO (see "Dues" below)
- Hold an event at least semi-annually dealing with AARO and/or its issues; may be a speaker event or issue-related event, but may of course also have a social component
Dues:
- AARO financial year is September 1 through August 31
- "Founding Chapters and Affiliates" (those joining prior to September 1, 2008) will pay flat-rate dues of $200 for first year (dues thereafter TBD)
- Chapters/Affiliates are free to raise the funds to cover their dues in any appropriate manner (for example, by charging each of their members a corresponding fee, event fees, fundraiser, etc.)
- Any Chapter raising additional fees from its members beyond what is needed to cover dues should allocate those funds to supporting AARO's goals; for example, they may spent that money on letter-writing campaigns, voter registration drives, etc.
How to join the AARO Alliance:
Go to https://secure.meetupalliance.com/AARO/join to join the Alliance. For an existing organization, be sure to provide basic background information, such as the group's size, location, website, etc.
Regular membership:
- Chapter/Affiliate members are encouraged to consider also joining AARO, in addition to their membership in the Chapter/Affiliate
- Regular membership currently costs $85 per year for an individual
- Additional benefits include: access to AARO-affiliated medical insurance plan, attendance at annual general meeting, and quarterly AARO Newsletter
- Regular membership dues go towards supporting AARO's work, including its lobbying activities on Capitol Hill
- Lower entrance fees for certain AARO events
For more information, visit www.aaro.org or contact Andy Coyne at andy@aaro.org.
Beta