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Dankeschön to our PATRON Members:
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What to do in Alabama
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March 2 - Oct. 26
Huntsville
October 14
Birmingham
October 13 - 15
Talladega
October 14
Alexander City
October 14
Thorsby
October 21
Auburn
October 21 - 22
Tuscaloosa
October 28
Elberta
October 28 - 29
Florence
October 28
Pelham
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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October 11, 18, 25
Tuscaloosa
October 12, 19, 26
Birmingham
October 16, 23, 30
Birmingham
October 16, 23, 30
Birmingham
October 18
AGP German Business Committee
Birmingham
October 19
Auburn
October 19
Auburn
October 26
Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa
November 9
AGP Board Meeting
Birmingham
November 9
Birmingham
November 9
Lantern Festival
Tuscaloosa
December 6
AGP St. Nicholas Day Event
Mobile
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
Renato Gross
President/Founder
Individuals
Brigitte Kenmade
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Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:
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German Word
of the Month
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"kalter Kaffee"
You're meeting up with an old friend and she says she has some gossip for you.
"Bill and Maria broke up!" she says, looking for a reaction from you.
You respond, telling her that is kalter Kaffee. In other words, old news.
The German term kalter Kaffee means "cold coffee", describing a coffee from yesterday - or the day before. But when used as a metaphor, most Germans are not describing their caffeinated beverage. They are describing old news - something that is no longer relevant.
If you are slow to find out about something and tell your friends about it, they may respond and tell you that they already know, because that's kalter Kaffee. No one wants to drink a cold coffee - and no one wants to hear old news. So if you have something exciting to share, make sure it's fresh - not from yesterday.
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German Idioms
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"Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen"
Literal translation: "
ou can take poison on that"
English equivalent: You can bet your life on that
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Events & Seminars Offered by AGP Members
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September
GACC South Events
GACC South
September
NAITA
September
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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Diehl Aerospace Celebrating 30 Years
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From Left:
Joe Sherman, Tine Hoffmeister,
Michael Heuer, Dr. Gerardo Walle
DIEHL Aerospace celebrated their 30 year anniversary by hosting Oktoberfest for all of their employees and guests. Dr. Gerardo Walle that serves as the Chief Executive Officer, President and Managing Director of Diehl Aerospace GmbH in Germany joined the festivities.
DIEHL Aerospace is Germany's leading provider of extensive range of products and services for avionics systems and lighting concepts for both civil and military aircraft. Well-known manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing use technology and systems from DIEHL Aerospace in their aircraft.
DIEHL Aerospace in Sterrett was initially set up as a repair center for avionic products. Today it is a 24/7 support center for OEM's and Airlines for avionics equipment (ex. flight control computer & electronics, sensors), lightning equipment, cabin interior equipment (like overhead bin and sides) and lavatories - under DIEHL Aerosystems. The center supports North and South America and employs about 48 on approx. 85,000 sq. ft.
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| AGP Events |
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Upcoming events:
Join us for 3 of our favorite things: Brews, Brats & Networking:
Thursday, October 26, 2017
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Cafe Edelweiss, Tuscaloosa
We are Celebrating the 28th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall with
German style hors d'oeuvres, beer/wine/soft drinks 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 sponsor:
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GACC 2017 International Skills Conference
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The International Skills Conference will take place in Atlanta on
October 31, 2017. It aims to bring together Business Champions in Dual Apprenticeship Programs modeled after the German System with Business, Regional and State Leaders who are interested in solutions for large as well as small and middle-sized employers in order to grow a globally competitive, highly skilled workforce.
Some of the conference highlights include:
- Evening Reception & Inauguration of the GACC South Skills Committee on October 30
- Overview of the Skills Initiative in the United States
- Information about and exchange with stakeholders of our innovative and industry-led programs
- Field trips to West Georgia Tech College and Grenzebach Corporation
- Optional: Volkswagen plant tour in Chattanooga, TN on October 30
For more info on GACC's event and to register
click here!
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Mercedes to launch electric vehicle production in $1B Alabama project
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Made in Alabama
Mercedes-Benz announced plans to invest an additional $1 billion in its Alabama operation, where it will set up electric vehicle production and build a battery plant.
In addition, the German automaker will also expand its logistics activities in the U.S. with a new Global Logistics Center and a new after-sales North American parts hub to be built in nearby Bibb County.
Altogether, Mercedes' new investment in Alabama is expected to create more than 600 jobs and upgrade a plant that the company already describes as one of the world's "smartest" manufacturing facilities.
Read Made in Alabama's Full Story Here
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| BASF marks milestones with expansion of Alabama catalytic converter plant |
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BASF has completed an investment project to expand production at its Alabama mobile catalyst manufacturing site, which has been in operation for more than four decades.
BASF said the Huntsville site expansion began 18 months ago and created 10 jobs. The company said the expansion enables it to continue creating emission control technologies for cleaner air while simultaneously helping the automotive industry grow.
"The Huntsville facility is our largest emissions catalyst manufacturing site in North America, and this expansion demonstrates our commitment to our business growth strategy,"said Ken Lane, president of BASF's Catalyst Division. "The additional capacity will meet the growing market demand and customer technology needs in the region."
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German grocer to open first Alabama location
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By AL.com
A Germany grocery chain Lidl is opening its first location in Alabama.
According to AL.com
, Lidl is planning to open a grocery store in Decatur.
Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling announced via Facebook the chain's first Alabama store will be located in the Morgan County city.
"Lidl "rethink grocery" promotes a less complicated process that allows them to simply deliver low prices, high quality, and the best shopping experience for their customers," Bowling said.
"The ripple effect is tremendous for Decatur," Bowling added.
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| Wallace State, REHAU, county schools partnership graduates first class of trainees |
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By Cullman Times
Nathan Hannah and Steven Ogle - a pair of recent graduates from the Cullman County School system - walked out of the offices at Rehau, Inc. Tuesday as the first beneficiaries of a new apprenticeship program intended to funnel aspiring young people toward rapid advancement in skilled jobs for employers willing to invest in their training.
At a reception Tuesday at Rehau's main offices in south Cullman, officials from the German automotive supply company, along with leaders from Wallace State Community College and Cullman County Schools, celebrated the success of the inaugural Rehau Academy apprenticeship program.
An offshoot of the Fast Track dual enrollment program, which divides participating high school students' time between classes at their local school and Wallace State, the Rehau Academy applies the German model of cultivating workplace skills - a model that streamlines the training process by pairing apprentices with their future employers.
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| International Agreement Signed by German & Alabama Universities |
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Leaders from several German and Alabama universities met in Tuscaloosa Thursday to sign an International Memorandum of Understanding giving Alabama engineering students a chance to study in Germany.
The memorandum, signed by the schools' provosts, establishes an exchange program among the universities in the electrical and mechanical engineering departments. Representatives from all the schools worked together to set the parameters for the courses and the course content that will be taught to the undergraduate students participating in the program.
"Both sides are agreed on the course credit transfer for the English taught engineering courses in Germany," said Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian, an engineering professor and executive director of The University of Alabama's Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies who retired from the German automotive corporation Daimler in 2012 after nearly 40 years of service. He spearheaded the effort on the Alabama and German side.
The Alabama universities participating in the partnership are The University of Alabama, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn University and the University of South Alabama.
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German Teachers of Alabama
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We joined the AL-AATG chapter for their meeting on a Saturday morning at Vestavia Hills High School. These great German educators of Alabama were joined by
Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta's
executive director
Miriam Bruns
that shared many of the tools the organization offers for German teachers.
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| Professor Dr. Haspel Lecture |
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Earlier this month German Professor Dr. Haspel visited University of Alabama Thursday and Auburn University with his lecture:From Martin Luther to Martin Luther King, Jr. This was made possible by Goethe Zentrum Atlanta.
In his lecture Professor Dr. Michael Haspel explores threads connecting Martin Luther to MLK Jr. What do German Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, and twentieth century
civil rights icon, Martin Luther King, Jr. have in common? Both
were Christian iconoclasts who "could do no other" - that is, speak truth to power. This exploration was done in honor of the 500th anniversary of the year Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to door of All Saints Church - a monumental event which ushered in the Reformation and changed the history
of the church forever.
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| New US Citizen |
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By Tine Hoffmeister
Many of you already know my "secret" as AGP's executive director - I am Danish not German.
On September 28th in Montgomery - I took my oath to become an US Citizen.
Many expats will recognize my story of coming to the US for a two year transfer and expecting to go back to Europe after the two years are up. What I didn't expect was to fall in love with this amazing (and crazy) country. 22 years later I decided to "marry" the US for better and worse. The process took 14 months and endless listening to the 100 civic questions on CD that you need to know. Check if you can answer them all
correctly here.
I am proud to now be able to call myself Danish-American!
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| Happy German American Day |
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Article Subheading
October 6 we celebrated German American Day. M
ore than 300 years of
heritage in USA AND the abiding friendship our two countries share!
Originally known under the rubric of "German Day", the holiday was celebrated for the first time in Philadelphia in 1883, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the settlers from Krefeld; and similar celebrations developed later in other parts of the country. The custom died out during World War I as a result of the anti-German sentiment that prevailed at the time, but the holiday was revived in 1983.
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