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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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November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Tuscaloosa
November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Birmingham
November 6, 13, 20, 27
Birmingham
November 6, 13, 20, 27
Birmingham
November 2 & 16
Auburn
November 5
Tuscaloosa
November 9
AGP Board Meeting
Birmingham
November 9
Birmingham
November 9
Lantern Festival
Tuscaloosa
December 6
AGP St. Nicholas Day Event
Mobile
December 9
Huntsville
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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Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:
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Visa Lottery Technical Issues
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Did you enter the electronic diversity visa lottery between Oct. 3 to 10? Due to a technical issue, the DV-2019 entry period that began on October 3 has been closed. Entries submitted during October 3-10 are not valid! The technical issue has been resolved and a new full entry period will begin at noon, U.S. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday October 18, 2017 and will run until noon Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday November 22, 2017. Only entries submitted during this period will be accepted and considered for selection in the lottery. Please throw away any confirmation number or other documentation that you have if you submitted an entry during Oct. 3-10.
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German Word
of the Month
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"Herzblut"
Have you found the job of your dreams? Are you working with Herzblut every single day?
You don't need to be in the medical field to work with Herzblut. Although Herzblut translates to "heart blood", it has nothing to do with blood in a medical sense.
Herzblut is a term used to describe passion - the "heart and soul" or the "lifeblood" of someone's work or actions. If you are working with Herzblut, you are working with passion.
If, for example, you love cooking more than anything else on this earth, you could say that you put your Herzblut into your cuisine. If you love acting or singing, you may leave your Herzblut on the stage.
If you are passionately engaged in a project at work or school, you may put all of your Herzblut into it.
Having Herzblut for something means you are putting all of your love, energy and hard work into it. Keep it up - not everyone finds the things that bring out their Herzblut!
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German Idioms
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"zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen"
Literal translation: "
kill two flies with one swat"
English equivalent: to kill two birds with one stone
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Events & Seminars Offered by AGP Members
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November
GACC South Events
GACC South
November
NAITA
November
ATN
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
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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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| Fall of the Wall Event in Birmingham |
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We are Celebrating the 28th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall with
German style hors d'oeuvres, beverages and networking:
Thursday, November 9, 2017
5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
The Art Gallery at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook
Birmingham
Thank you to our generous sponsors:
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| Honorary Consul's Corner |
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By Michael Johnson
A delegation from the German State of Baden-Württemberg visited Alabama last week on a whirlwind tour. The delegation was headed by the Minister of Economic Affairs, Labor and Housing, Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut. She was accompanied by over thirty representatives from private industry, Parliament, public agencies and the press. Alabama once more showed its strong "German team," with great efforts in organizing and hosting from several corners of the state. Dr. Hoffmeister-Kraut met with Governor Ivey and Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield to discuss areas of common interest and focus, and the ongoing relationship between our states. The delegation also participated in a business round table, a luncheon at the North River Yacht Club, a meeting with MBUSI CEO Jason Hof and a reception at EDPA.
Stuttgart is the capital city of Baden-Württemberg and home to Daimler, parent company of Mercedes-Benz, which is near and dear to both states. The delegation's focus was on the future of the automobile industry. Prior to arriving in Alabama, the delegation spent several days in Washington, D.C., where the Congressman Robert Aderholt and Senator Richard Shelby also met with Dr. Hoffmeister-Kraut and the delegation participants.
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| Sweet Partnership |
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By Jessica Armstrong, Business Alabama
For Germans doing business in Alabama, the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama" is more than a state slogan borrowed from the 1974 Lynyrd Skynyrd hit song. German companies indeed feel at home here and the feeling is mutual.
And for Alabamians, what's not to love? For the past two decades, German companies have invested $8.4 billion in Alabama and created nearly 15,500 jobs in the state.
About 90 German-owned companies now operate in Alabama, observes Tine Hoffmeister, executive director of the AlabamaGermany Partnership, whose aim is to promote business opportunities and cultural exchange. The nonprofit was created nearly 20 years ago, after Mercedes-Benz built its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Vance, which kicked off Alabama's thriving auto industry.
Click Here for Business Alabama's Full Story
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| German Consul General Unity Day Speech |
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Thank you to German Consul General Ruenger for hosting a wonderful German Unity Day event in Atlanta. We share part of his speech here:
Last weekend, national elections were held in Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel
was given the mandate to form a government under her leadership for the fourth time.
She will have to establish a coalition with other parties in parliament and - as it looks
now - she will probably do so with the Liberals and the Green Party.
Negotiations won't be easy. But at the end of the day, we will have a new government
coalition and in the meantime the current government will carry on. Among the potential
coalition partners there are a number of substantial differences on issues like security,
defense, migration, social affairs, the problems of the Euro and the future of the
European Union.
However, and this is very important: there is also a very solid spirit of cooperation and a
willingness to compromise in our parliament - even more so when TV cameras and
microphones are shut off.
The Grand Old Parties in Germany, the "Peoples Parties," Conservatives and Social
Democrats, suffered in these elections, losing 20% of their voters. And, for the first time
in recent history, a right-wing extremist party was elected into Germany's national
parliament.
Members of this party time and again made headlines with racist and anti-Semitic
remarks. This can and will not be tolerated.
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The Reformation, 500 Years Later
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By NPR
Five hundred years after a rebellious act by a single German monk divided the Christian world, religious leaders on both sides of that split have finally agreed their churches share responsibility for the historic rupture.
On Oct. 31, 1517, an outspoken university lecturer and Augustinian monk named Martin Luther posted a list of objections to the dominant Roman Catholic beliefs and practices of his time. Chief among his grievances was the church's claim that Christians could buy their way out of punishment for sin - and thus shorten their time in purgatory - by purchasing a letter of "indulgence" from their local parish. In practice, much of the money went into the pockets of corrupt local princes.
Whether Luther nailed his list to the door of his hometown church, as legend has it, or simply mailed it to his archbishop is in dispute, but his
"95 Theses"
represented a stunning challenge to papal authority and the entire Holy Roman Empire.
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The Evolution of Engineering Materials: UAB Study Abroad in Germany
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| Students in front of a half-timbered house in Esslingen_ Germany |
The Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age: societies have always been fundamentally defined by the materials that they use.
In May 2018, Alabama engineering students will have the opportunity to learn first-hand about the past, present and future of engineering materials through a three-week study abroad trip to Germany. The program will be led by Dr. Amber Genau, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at UAB. Dr. Genau spent two years as a guest scientist at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne before coming to UAB in 2010.
The course will consider how the development of new materials, like cast iron or synthetic polymers, has shaped society, and how scientists and engineers are working to create the materials of tomorrow. Germany's long history of scientific and technological innovation makes it an ideal place for students to personally encounter more than 2000 years of this history. The program will be based in Aachen, facilitating interactions with RWTH Aachen University and FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, as well as field trips to companies like the Otto Junker foundry and MAGMASOFT casting simulation software headquarters. Students will also tour various historic and cultural sites in the region and receive introductory German language instruction. Interactions with German students and engineers will help the American students put their own country and experiences in perspective, as well as begin to see themselves as part of the global profession of engineering.
By Graduated Student Emily Shedlarski, Manufacturing Engineer at Hubbell Power Systems, Inc.
When I signed up to study abroad, I didn't realize I was opening myself to a better paying job and significantly more opportunities. Before the trip, I acquired my passport, taught myself some German, followed economics and the news of Europe, and became more acquainted with foreign policies. After I returned, during job interviews leading up to graduation, I was seen as a strong candidate due to my partial understanding of another language, ability to travel internationally, and knowledge of Europe. This lead to multiple job offers since many prestigious foundry companies are based out of Europe. Currently, I am the project manager for a multimillion dollar capital investment: to replace an entire foundry for my company. It so happens that the machine we purchased was a German one. My previous experience with Germany gave my company an advantage and has removed communication barriers between us. I recently returned from a two week trip in Germany related to the project, which was easy after studying abroad with UAB. We look forward to working closely with the German team this month when construction begins. Study abroad changed the way I viewed the world, increased my knowledge of foreign affairs, and has greatly benefited my company. I highly recommend Study Abroad for all engineers. The foundry world is a lot smaller than you would imagine, and the job market is competitive.
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| Lantern Festival and St. Martin at Tuscaloosa Academy |
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AGP is proud to be sponsoring the upcoming Lantern Festival and St. Martin at Tuscaloosa Academy (TA) on Thursday, Nov. 9 from 5:30 pm to 7 pm.
Program includes:
Musical Introduction
Lantern Song Performed by the TA Children Choir
Short Theater Play
Lantern Walk
Buffet and Raffle
Dress appropriately and don't forget your lanterns!
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Dara Longgrear, Exective Director of TCIDA, Retiring
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By TCIDA
After 31 years as the executive director of the Tuscaloosa County
Industrial Development Authority (TCIDA), Dara Longgrear has elected to retire, effective November 1.
"Dara has been a difference-maker for Tuscaloosa, who has led the transformation of our industrial economy," said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. "The lives of our citizens are better because of Dara's dedication and leadership. To say he will be missed is an
understatement."
Under his leadership, Tuscaloosa County's economy has transformed as its presence has grown on the national and international stage. During this time, more than $7.5
billion has been invested into the economy and almost 16,000 jobs announced with the successful recruitment of companies representing eight different countries.
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