President Obama’s First 100 Days

Dear APA Society supporter,

You are warmly invited to attend the inaugural meeting of The American Politics Society, to be held on Wednesday 3 Jun 2009. As foreshadowed, our first meeting shall be held upstairs at the Backbencher on Molesworth St (follow the signs to our meetings once you arrive). We will be kicking off at 6.30pm and expect the event to last until approximately 8.00pm.

If you arrive early the Backbencher is also unveiling downstairs the new John Key, Bill English, Pita Sharples and Rodney Hide puppets between 6 pm and 6.30 pm. And at 9 pm the TV show Back Benches is filmed live downstairs.

The event will feature guest speaker Mr Terry Michael, executive director of the Washington Center for Politics and Journalism, who will be speaking on the topic: “President Obama’s First 100 Days”. Terry is visiting New Zealand on a speaking tour sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Welilngton, whom we thank for their co-operation.

The evening will also include the first quiz to determine our inaugural American Politics Nerd Champion. Please bring a pen if you wish to enter.

Please respond by email if you wish to come, to: tapasnz@gmail.com. Space is tight so the event is limited to the first 60 responses. We will let you know if there is a problem.

You can also see on Facebook who is attending.

Hope to see you there,

The Co-Covenors,

The American Politics Appreciation Society

(unincorporated since 2009)

Speaker Background:

Terry Michael is founder and executive director of the Washington Center for Politics and Journalism.

Michael was a reporter and political press secretary from 1969-88. He is former press secretary for the Democratic National Committee (1985-87), and is a former press secretary for Congressman (and later Senator) Paul Simon (D-IL), Congressman Robert Matsui (D-CA), and the Democratic Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives. He has been a presidential primary campaign spokesman, including service as director of communication for the Paul Simon for President committee,1987-88.

Michael has served as a guest lecturer on media and politics, in both the U.S. and other countries, for the U.S. Dept. of State. He is a former adjunct lecturer at The George Washington Univ., where he taught (1998 to 2002) “Journalism 100: Theory and Practice.”

He lives on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.