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AmCham France event June 17 on Innovation and Competitiveness
The American Chamber of Commerce in France has regular events with high profile speakers about different global business subjects.
On June 17 from 5:30 to 7pm, they are organizing the following event on Innovation and Competitiveness. The speaker will be Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE, and the conference will be presided by Maurice Levy, Chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe.
Registration required by June 12. All info can be found here.
Innovation et compétitivité : une question d’horizon
17 jun 2013, 17h30 – 19h
Subject : Conférence avec Jeff IMMELT – Chairman of the Board & CEO de General Electric. Animée par Maurice LEVY, Chairman and CEO de Publicis Groupe et Président du Directoire Innovation et compétitivité : une question d’horizon
Speakers : Jeff Immelt – Chairman of the Board & CEO de General Electric Maurice Levy- Chairman & CEO de Publicis Groupe et Président du Directoire
Participants : All members
Location : Pavillon Ledoyen – 1 avenue Dutuit 75008 ParisClara Gaymard, Présidente de l’ American Chamber of Commerce in France et Jean Luc Allavena, Président de la French-American Foundation France ont le plaisir de vous convier à la conférence de
Jeff Immelt
Chairman of the Board & CEO de General Electric
sur le thème : “Innovation et compétitivité : une question d’horizon”Animée par
Maurice Levy
Chairman & CEO de Publicis Groupe et Président du Directoire
La conférence sera suivie d’un cocktail
Veuillez noter que la conférence se tiendra en anglais
Make a reservation (by June 12).
US Tax deadline April 15, and June 17 for US expats abroad
Just a friendly reminder that the April 15th tax deadline is fast approaching with our friends at the IRS. Americans living abroad have until June 17th to file their returns, but still any taxes owed to the US government that are outstanding must be paid by April 15th.
For those in France, the US Embassy Paris has a page dedicated to taxation resources, including many links to IRS and forms (like the 2555-EZ form for Foreign Earned Income Tax Exclusion). As the article stipulates, if you’re American and work and reside outside the US, you may be able to exclude up to $95,100 USD annually in foreign income. Check out the links above for further information.
AARO has some views on taxation of Americans abroad, worth the read.
American Clubs in France: a great resource for events
Bonjour everyone,
I’ve posted in the past about the American Clubs newsletter. It is not just for Americans but more of a resource for expats and French citizens alike to know what’s going on around in France in terms of networking with like-minded individuals in dozens of cities.
I encourage you to sign up for their newsletter (icon on right here to sign up under “Contact Us/Newsletter).
You should also be able to see the latest newsletter edition, for events all over France, here.
Happy networking!
Thanksgiving
I hope everyone had a festive and peaceful Thanksgiving, wherever you are located!
I spent the past 5 Thanksgivings in France, and just had my first one with my family since 2006.
I’ll be posting new content soon.
Voting from abroad in US elections (update)
If you’re American and live abroad, that does not mean you have to put your political views on hold come election time.
Make sure to check out this website Vote From Abroad for information on how to vote from other countries. A video is below. (Disclaimer: This is a Democrat-affiliated organization).
The US Embassy in Paris has also send out helpful information, below the video. The US Embassy’s page on Facebook is also a great resource.
In addition, the non-partisan, non-profit association Union of Overseas Voters has a site at WeVote.fr for tips. You can join them on Facebook.
They have also made these information sheets available for you:
-Important Voting Facts for US citizens
-About the Union of Overseas Voters
-Flyer for help sessions in person in Paris (1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, 2-5pm at Shakespeare & Company, 37 rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris)
Merci for the helpful documents!
If you have any stories about voting from abroad, feel free to post a comment. Happy voting!
Message from US Embassy Paris
Have a say in our country’s future. One of our most treasured values is the right and the privilege to vote – to participate actively in our country’s democratic process. This November, U.S. citizens will elect a President, a Vice President, one-third of the Senate, and the entire House of Representatives. The U.S. Embassy in France encourages all U.S. citizens to participate in this year’s elections, and stands ready to help you vote.
Almost all overseas U.S. citizens can vote. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia now allow adult children who have never resided in the United States to vote using their parents’ state of voting residence. Details are available on the FVAP website at http://www.fvap.gov/reference/nvr-res.html.
Register and request a ballot. To vote, new laws require you to complete and submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) this calendar year. The FPCA allows you to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. If you haven’t yet done so, we urge you to do so now. The easiest way to complete it is online at www.FVAP.gov. Depending on your State’s rules, you then send it to your local election officials electronically or by mail.
Mailing guidance. Print out the completed FPCA and the (U.S.) postage-paid envelope containing the address of your local election officials. You can drop off the postage-paid envelope (containing your FPCA) at the Embassy, and we will mail it back home for you without the need to pay international postage. If it’s easier for you to use France’s postal system, be sure to affix sufficient international postage and allow sufficient time for international mail delivery.
Embassy Paris drop box: You may drop your signed, dated, sealed FPCA registration or ballot in the Consular Section drop box:
a. Go to the Consular Section entrance of the Paris Embassy with your registration or ballot;
b. Announce that you would like to drop off voting materials;
c. Present suitable ID (preferably a passport);
d. Present the registration or ballot;
e. After the security check, place the ballot in the ballot box.
Need help? Go to the Embassy’s voting website page to receive assistance. Voting Assistance Officers or private U.S. citizen volunteers in France may also help you. (NOTE: It is acceptable for private U.S. citizens or U.S. citizens’ groups to collect FPCAs and deliver them to the Embassy on behalf of other eligible voters, as long as each FPCA is in its own U.S. postage-paid envelope.)
Make your vote count! Follow your State’s absentee voting procedures carefully. Send in your FPCA before the registration deadline. When you get your ballot, vote and mail it promptly so it reaches local election officials by your State’s absentee ballot receipt deadline.
Questions? If you have any questions about registering to vote, please contact the Paris Voting Assistance Officer by email at VoteParis@state.gov
US college basketball teams to play in Paris August 11-16
The Euro Jam Paris Basketball Festival will take place from August 11 to August 16, 2012 at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris 16ème.
US college teams featured will be Kansas, Virginia, Colorado and Penn State, each taking on AMW Team France.
You can check out more information on the festival and tickets at the official site and on their Facebook page.
Come on out for this great event!
Expat and US tax issues seminar in Paris Jan. 25
First and foremost,
A healthy, successful and happy new year to you all! I hope you had a restful vacation. I’m back in Paris after a nice trip back home to the US.
As 2012 evolves, there will be an increasing amount of events. One of my goals is to continue to keep you informed about expat events that could be of interest to you. Here is one that came to me just recently. You can contact her for more information (address, etc.).
The law firm Kipling Avocats will be organizing on January 25, 2012 at 2.00 pm in its offices in Paris a two hour seminar on US tax issues for expatriates and the new tax regime applicable to trusts. Anyone interested may contact Virginie Marrer – vmarrer@kiplingavocats.com.
Interviews with American expats in France: cultural perspective
Bonjour!
I was recently interviewed by Margarita Gokun Silver, MPH, CPCC, PNLP at her site here (article below). I sought to explain my story and provide a little does of cultural insight into living in France based on my experiences.
My fellow expat in France, Lindsey, was also interviewed about doing business in France as she started her own company, Lola’s Cookies, selling cookies. You can find that article here.
I invite you to leave your own cultural perspectives in the comments section below.
An American in France
Posted on December 5, 2011There have been quite a few famous Americans (and other expats) in history that decided to either settle or live in France for long periods of time. Today many follow their example and in this blog post we interview Michael Barrett, an American who is now living in France.
Global Coach Center (GCC): How long have you lived in France and how did you come to live there?
Michael: I’ve lived in France now over four years in a row but longer than that over my lifetime. I lived in Paris as a baby and toddler for three years as my father worked here on assignment. My family always had an interest in France so it influenced my decision to study the language and culture in middle school, high school and then in college. My first trip back to France was with the French club of my high school in 2003. During my sophomore year (2nd year) at the University of Notre Dame, I studied abroad in Angers, France 2004-2005, where I lived with a French family, studied in French, traveled and made friends from all over the world. It motivated me to come back.
I followed that with an internship at Sciences Po Paris in 2006, and then after graduating in 2007, I moved to Lyon to be an English assistant. I met my French girlfriend there, pursued graduate studies in communications in Grenoble for two years, during which I worked at AmCham France. In July 2010 I was hired as a Digital Project Manager at New BBDO Paris, and advertising agency. I’ve been here ever since, and I also manage the site Americanexpatinfrance, write for several websites and am involved with the expatriate community while keeping a close group of French friends. I plan on applying for dual citizenship soon.
GCC: What do you love most about living in France?
Michael: My girlfriend, my French friends, the rich culture and gastronomy and history, the diversity of the regions and their characteristics… close proximity to other European countries. A generally balanced approach to life and work…their healthcare system –although it’s not perfect.
GCC: What frustrates you?
Michael: Generalizations about America and its culture, strikes, lack of convenience here (the US is a culture of convenience)…although I’ve gradually come to accept these cultural differences with the traditional French shrug of the shoulders. Every country has its own pros and cons.
GCC: What would you have liked to know that you didn’t before coming to live in France?
Michael: To know how to (try to) master the inner workings of the French civil service bureaucracy and its paperwork, implicit messages (not explicit) and assumptions that you know everything if you don’t ask a question. But I’ve learned how to manage that, too.
GCC: What are three tips you can give people planning to move to France?
Michael:
Learn the language and about the culture as well, as this will not only enrich you but also show a genuine willingness on your part to the French that you’re making an effort and reaching out.
On a related note, be open-minded. This is not America, and there will be some culture shock and things and approaches that are done differently. They have a different perspective here on many things, so approach it with curiosity and don’t be afraid to have friendly debate with French coworkers and friends (make French friends), as long as it’s not on taboo subjects (money, religion) – those are for closer friends usually.
Take a look at practical matters in detail – education, healthcare, taxes, driving regulations, housing – hopefully your employer or organization can help you with these matters. Better to be well prepared than land here and figure out as you go along. That can add to frustration. I’d be happy to advise on questions or refer you to an expert in a field that I don’t master as well.
Talk on US Elections at the American Library in Paris tonight Nov. 22
The University of Notre Dame Alumni Club of France and the American Library in Paris have organized an event tonight at the American Library, entitled “The US Presidential Campaign Ahead” with a talk given by Dr. Steven Ekovich from the American University of Paris. The event starts at 7:30pm. Information below. Promises to be interesting!
Notre Dame Club of France @ The Library: The US Presidential Campaign Ahead
Tue 22 November 2011 19h30
@The American Library in Paris ( 10, rue du Général Camou, 75007 Paris)Description
The US Presidential Campaign Ahead: A second term or a new president?
Political scientist Dr. Steven Ekovich of the American University of Paris assesses President Obama’s prospects for re-election, the evolution of the American electorate since 2008, the role of the Tea Party and the Democratic left in shaping the 2012 debate, and the horse race for the Republican presidential nomination.
About Dr. Steven Ekovich
Dr. Steven Ekovich is currently an associate professor in the American University of Paris’ International and Comparative Politics Department. Previously, he was associate professor at the École Polytechnique (1984-2000). Ekovich also lectured and consulted abroad during this time, visiting almost 30 countries in Europe and Africa.Ekovich graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Philosophy and History (1975), an M.A. in History (1979) and a Ph.D. in History (1984). He has also done graduate work at the University of Chicago and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris.
The American Library in Paris is a focal point for exceptional programs and performances designed to inspire, inform and enrich the community. These programs which are free and open to the public are presented @The Library in conjunction with organizations such as the Notre Dame Club of France.
Michael
americanexpatinfrance
