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Dankeschön to our PATRON Members:
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What to do in Alabama
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December
Birmingham
December
Montgomery/Selma
December 4-18
Montgomery
December 5-8
Montevallo
December 8
Opelika
December 9
Auburn
December 9
Gulf Shores/Orange Beach
December 23
Birmingham
Please note that the dates are shared to the best of our knowledge. If you plan to attend any of the events - please make sure to check information directly with the host of the event. Thank you!
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Save the Dates
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December 6, 13, 20, 27
Tuscaloosa
December 7, 14, 21, 28
Birmingham
December 4
Birmingham
December 4
Birmingham
December 24
Tuscaloosa
January 7
Tuscaloosa
January 18
AGP Board Meeting
Birmingham
March 1
AGP 20th Anniversary Celebation
Vance
Please note that the dates are shared to the best of our knowledge. If you plan to attend any of the events - please make sure to check information directly with the host of the event. Thank you!
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AGP's New Members
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Corporate - Regular Level
Mike Lee, President & CEO
Harry Eldred, Marking & Business Development
Corporate - Associate Level
Ron Carpenter
President
Educational - Professional
Dorothee Ehrhardt
Individuals
Jack Price
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Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:
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German Word
of the Month
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"Adventskranz"
With the holidays upon us, let's take a look at a German word you'll hear frequently every December: Adventskranz.
An Adventskranz is an Advent wreath. This is a tabletop wreath that holds four candles - marking the four weeks before Christmas. In Germany, it is a Christian tradition to light a candle each Sunday before Christmas, starting with just one candle on the first Sunday, two on the second Sunday, etc. On the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit at the same time.
Lighting the Adventskranz creates a countdown to Christmas.
Although many Christians have an Adventskranz
in their homes, the concept originated in 16th century Germany. Protestant Pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern is credited for inventing the wreath. The pastor had founded a mission school (called Rauhes Haus
) in Hamburg, and kids at the school would ask him daily how much longer until Christmas. In 1839, as a result of the children's questions', he built a large wooden ring with 20 red candles and four white candles. Each day in the weeks before Christmas, he would light a candle (white ones were lit on Sundays). And his invention stuck: churches across Germany began adopting the tradition, and the custom even spread to North America in the 1930s. The wooden ring evolved to become a wreath, and people typically use four candles instead of 24.
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German Idioms
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"Jemanden Honig um den Mund schmieren"
Literal translation: "
To smear honey around someone's mouth"
English equivalent: To butter someone up
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Events & Seminars Offered by AGP Members
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December
GACC South Events
GACC South
December
NAITA
December
ATN
February 8
AAMA
Are you a corporate AGP member in good standing that would like to share an event or seminar hosted by your company?
Please e-mail us a link to the event.
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AGP
Executive Committee
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Chair
Dr. Anna Gramberg
Auburn University
Vice Chair/Chair Elect
Brian Hilson
Birmingham Business Alliance
VP Education
Dr. Wolfgang Kneer
SWJ-BREILMANN U.S. LLC
VP Business Development
Jo Bonner
The University of Alabama System
VP German Business
Albert von Pelser
REHAU Automotive, LLC
VP Communication
Devin Dolive
Burr & Forman LLP
VP Culture
Dr. Thomas Fox
University of Alabama
VP Membership
Kirk Atkinson
Adah International, Inc.
Secretary
Bobby Ingram
JamisonMoneyFarmer
Treasurer
Arnold Servo
Rödl & Partner
Immediate Past Chair
Bryan Winter
Winter McFarland, LLC
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AGP Affiliates
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Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
Detlev Ruenger
Marquis Two Tower
Suite 901
285 Peachtree Ctr Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 934-5474
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany
for the
State of Alabama
Michael Johnson
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
Phone: (205) 250-8335
German American Chamber of Commerce of the
Southern
United States
Stefanie Jehlitschka
1170 Howell Mill Road
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: (404) 586-6800
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Contact Us
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Executive Director
Tine Hoffmeister
Office
205-943-4772
director@alabamagermany.org
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Join Our List
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| SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE! |
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2018 is a BIG year for AlabamaGermany Partnership as we will be celebrating our 20th Anniversary. Please make sure to save the date:
Thursday, March 1, 2018
5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Mercedes-Benz Visitor Center
Vance, AL
This is an event and celebration that you don't want to miss. We will open registration later this month. For information on sponsorship opportunities - please e-mail our office.
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Würzburg-Schweinfurt Delegation
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By AGP Chair, Dr. Anna Gramberg
In early November, Auburn University hosted a delegation from the German State of Bayern (Bavaria) from the University of Applied Sciences, Würzburg-Schweinfurt (FHWS). The 12 person strong delegation was headed by its President, Professor Dr. Robert Grebner, accompanied by deans and faculty from engineering, social sciences, business, architecture, computer science, and the head and senior manager of their international office.
Here in Alabama, they met with Auburn's President Professor Dr. Leath and his wife Janet, Mayor Bill Hamm and representatives from industrial and economic development from the City of Auburn, and deans and faculty from the colleges of engineering, liberal arts, and architecture, as well as the assistant provost for international programs.
A university wide Memorandum of Understanding for student and faculty exchange was signed, and cooperation has already begun: in the summer of 2018, engineering faculty from Auburn University will accompany students to FHWS Würzburg for study and practica, and faculty exchange in four areas will start in the Fall semester.
At a reception for the delegation at the Auburn Hotel, 70 guests gathered from the Cities of Auburn, Opelika, also Auburn University, the local Highschool, representatives from German companies, and the Alabama Germany partnership. This is another major step for our collaborations between German and US universities, cities, and businesses.
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| AGP Presents 2018 Slate of Officers and Directors |
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At the AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) board meeting November 9, 2017, in Birmingham; the board Nominating Committee presented their recommendations for the 2018 AGP Slate of Officers and Directors. The board approved the new slate.
There will be no changes to the officers serving on AGP's Executive Committee. AGP is welcoming new members to the Board of Directors:
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Dr. Angela Ferguson
Director, German Program &
Assistant Professor of German,
Department of World Languages and Cultures
Samford University |
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Larry Fillmer
Executive Director
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Jeff Lynn
Sr. Executive Director Workforce and Economic Development
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Auto Supplier Bocar
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By Made in Alabama
German company Bocar, a Tier 1 automotive supplier, announced plans in November to invest $115 million in a new plant in Alabama, creating more than 300 jobs in a project that adds to the state's booming automotive manufacturing sector.
Bocar company leaders made the announcement at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, along with representatives of the City of Huntsville and Limestone County.
"We are glad to invest in Huntsville, Alabama, where good infrastructure, talented people and a host of excellent universities will develop our business while contributing positively to the social and economic development of this community," said Gerd Dressler, the chief financial officer of Bocar Group.
The plant will be built on a site strategically located on the northern side of Bibb Garrett Road, adjacent to Interstate 65, in the Huntsville portion of Limestone County. This will allow the company quick access to be able to ship parts to automotive companies in the region.
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SAS Automotive System
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By Made in Alabama
Global auto supplier
SAS Automotive Systems
is launching an operation in Tuscaloosa County to support the production of Mercedes-Benz's next-generation sport utility vehicles in Alabama, adding 170 jobs to the state's expanding auto sector.
"SAS is more than happy to contribute to the great success story of Alabama's auto production that started right in the very plant where we will be supplying components for Mercedes-Benz's next generation of SUVs," SAS Chief Operating Officer Francois Barthel said in an announcement today.
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| TCIDA appoints Jo Bonner as interim director |
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By Tuscaloosa News
The Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority has appointed Jo Bonner to serve as its interim executive director, the agency announced Wednesday afternoon.
Bonner currently serves as the vice chancellor for economic development at the University of Alabama and represented the Yellowhammer State in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 until 2013. He is standing in at the TCIDA to fill the void created when longtime executive director Dara Longgrear retired earlier this month.
Click here to read Tuscaloosa News full story
AGP is proud to have Jo Bonner part of AGP Executive Committee and as a Board Member.
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| VHHS World Language Honor Society Inductions |
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Vestavia Hills High School's (VHHS) World Language Honor Society Inductions took place late October. As always, it is a day filled with anticipation, pride and sense of accomplishment.
Here are some statistics and pictures from last Tuesday's World Language Honor Society Inductions and Seal of Biliteracy Award Ceremony.
VHHS have currently 1284 students taking a World Language (French, German, Latin, Spanish and ASL). 189 students was inducted into the World Language Honor Societies - 58 of them into the German Honor Society (Delta Phi Alpha), which bring the membership to 101 students.
To be invited to join the honor society you must currently be enrolled in a third or fourth year of
foreign
language and have received A's in at least three semesters and one semester B in their first two years of study.
This is the second year that VHHS awards the Seal of Biliteracy. A total of 56 Students were awarded the Vestavia Hills Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish(26), French(13), German(5), Latin (11) & Russian(1).
CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM ALL!
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Germany's 'hidden champions' of the Mittelstand
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By BBC Global News
Driving along the "romantic road" between two towns in Baden-Wuerttemberg in southern Germany it's easy to admire the lush rolling hillsides, vineyards and picturesque villages.
But peer a bit closer and you catch site of a factory.
Look harder and you discover that this area between the historic towns of Bad Mergentheim and Wertheim is dotted with medium-sized or "Mittelstand" companies.
"You don't expect to find companies here from the heart of German world class industry but they are just in between those valleys in these hills," says Winfried Weber, professor of management at Mannheim University of Applied Sciences.
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| Alabama partners with manufacturing industry council for statewide certifications |
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By Inside Higher Ed
Manufacturing is big business in Alabama, where a new partnership seeks to strengthen the relationship between community colleges and industry.
Earlier this month Kay Ivey, the state's governor, announced that the Alabama Community College System is teaming up with the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council to offer industry certifications. Alabama will be the first state to offer the council's certification across its public colleges, state officials said.
A significant number of people in the state are in manufacturing and transportation, which makes up about 22 percent of the state's workforce, said Jeff Lynn, vice chancellor of workforce and economic development for the community college system. Yet more coordination was needed, he said.
Click here for Inside Higher Ed's full story
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| Sankt Martin Celebration at Tuscaloosa Academy |
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Article Subheading
In Germany, St. Martin's Day is one of the most popular of all Saints' days, especially with children. It is celebrated on the evening of November 11 in most areas of Germany. Children go through the streets with handmade paper lanterns and sign songs about Saint Martin's generosity and the lanterns they are carrying.
APG sponsored the celebration at Tuscaloosa Academy last month. With handmade lantern, songs, and even St. Martin himself on horse.
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| 24-Member Schorndorf Student Delegation in Tuscaloosa |
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By Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International
School visits, cotton fields, football games, history, music, culture, and friendships strengthened to last a lifetime; these were a few of the many, many highlights of the October 14-27 Schorndorf Max Planck Gymnasium student delegation visit to Tuscaloosa. The exchange was the reciprocal visit of students from Tuscaloosa's two-week exchange to Schorndorf this past July. The smiles on students' faces indicated great memories shared by all.
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Glühwein Receipe
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Glühwein is the name for mulled wines in German-speaking countries. You can get Glühwein in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and few other German-speaking areas. Glühwein is exceptionally popular during the Christmas holidays and is commonly served in outdoor Christmas markets along with a variety of other holiday foods and hand-made crafts.
These Christmas markets have tents that have been set up for so people can sit down and get warm while sipping hot German Glühwein as a break from Christmas shopping. For Germans, Glühwein is an integral part of the Christmas experience.
Glühwein Receipe!
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