January 2022
New Year Greetings from Incoming AGP Chair
Dear AGP Members & Supporters, 

Happy new year to you and your families, both here and abroad.
 
Thank you all for your support of the AGP during the past year. Last year, 2021, was about flexibility and overcoming adversity; the leadership of Chairman Brian Hilson and Executive Director Tine Hoffmeister brought our organization successfully and safely through the year.
 
Last May, we returned to in-person meetings and enjoyed a remarkable turnout at our Annual Celebration Dinner in June. At that celebration, we awarded the Rainer Bauer award to Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield.


 
Sadly, Mr. Bauer passed away in December. Although he will be sorely missed, his memory, and recognition of his contributions to the AGP, will live on through the Rainer Bauer award.
 
Through these contributions, Tine and I, along with the rest of the board, will bring momentum with us into the new year, as we continue to adapt to challenges and make the most of our opportunities.
 
We have a new Consul General, Ms. Melanie Moltmann, whom we hosted on her first official visit, and we plan to work closely with the Consulate, and with Matthias Hoffmann and his team at the German American Chamber of Commerce of the South, to increase our presence, membership and value.
 
We recently met with the German Olympic Committee’s World Games 2022 delegation and will work closely with them in preparation for, and during, the World Games. The 2022 World Games, second only to the Olympics, will be held in Birmingham, July 7 to 17, 2022.
 
The next AGP Dinner Celebration will be in Mobile on February 24. The program will be a little different this year, but sure to prove both fun and enlightening, including a Mardi Gras Parade and an opportunity to show off Mobile’s heritage with the oldest German company in Alabama, Evonik.
 
This year should also be interesting for the industry, as we continue to focus on electric vehicles. Mercedes Benz US International, and its suppliers, are leading the way with expansions to produce electric vehicles. The Alabama Mobility and Power Center, a partnership between The University of Alabama, Alabama Power Company, and Mercedes, is creating a new research and development center to spur growth in the electric vehicle market. 

As Germany starts the new year with the new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, German-American relations should continue to strengthen. According to recent publications, Germany again views the US as its most important foreign policy partner.

It’s my honor to serve as your chairman. Thank you for the opportunity, and thank you for all you do to make the AGP successful! 
 
Sincerely / Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Kirk Atkinson
AGP Chair
AGP Welcome New Board Members
The AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) is excited to announce that it has appointed four directors to serve as officers on the Executive Committee. The committee has also rotated five existing EC directors into new positions, including Kirk Atkinson, president of Adah International, who has stepped into the role of Chair for AGP for the next 12 months.

In the addition, three new board members as been appointed to serve on the Board of Officers.

The following four new officers have been added to serve on the AGP's Executive Committee: 
We are delighted to welcome such a strong group of new board members who will bring diverse expertise and insight to our organization. We look forward to working with the new directors as we continue our mission “to develop and support relationships between organizations and individuals in Alabama and Germany.” Please help us welcome following new board members:
AGP's Board of Directors serves a three-year term. The organization has grown considerably over the past several years and the service of our board of officers and directors has greatly contributed to this growth. We are very thankful for their hard work and dedication to the organization.


AGP 24th Annual Celebration Dinner in Mobile
Registration is open for AGP 24th Annual Celebration Dinner in Mobile in connection with Mardi Gras. Two great events in ONE night in beautiful Mobile!
Please join us:
Thursday, February 24, 2022
3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Battle House Hotel & Spa
Mobile, AL

The AGP Annual Celebration Dinner traditionally attracts 230-260 industrial, cultural, educational, and governmental leaders. We all come together to celebrate the Alabama-Germany Friendship.

Thank You To Our Generous Presenting Sponsor:
Dankeschön to our PATRON Members:
Approval for Mercedes-Benz Solar Project
By Alabama NewsCenter
Photo Credit: Phil Free/Alabama NewsCenter. Alabama Power CEO Mark Crosswhite left, and MBUSI CEO Michael Goebel discuss a new solar project to support the automaker's renewable energy goals.

Alabama Power and Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. (MBUSI) received approval from the Alabama Public Service Commission for the proposed 80-megawatt Letohatchee Solar Project in Lowndes County.

This project and the renewable contract between Alabama Power and MBUSI build on a long-standing partnership between the two companies and align with the shared vision of enhancing the use of renewable energy.

Under the 15-year contract, MBUSI will receive all the renewable energy credits (RECs) from the facility, which will cover a significant portion of the electric needs for its Vance and Bibb County campuses. Alabama Power will receive the entire electric output from the project pursuant to a 15-year power purchase agreement.

The Letohatchee Solar Project is expected to create about 300 construction jobs while generating more than $9 million in tax revenues for Lowndes County over the life of the project. Commercial operation is expected to begin in March 2024.

Mercedes-Benz Cars first announced its holistic approach to climate protection under the sustainable mobility strategy known as “Ambition 2039” – setting goals that cover all stages of the automotive value chain – from technical development to the extraction of raw materials, to production, service life, and recycling.

“MBUSI’s commitment to the Letohatchee Solar Project is an important action in realizing this strategy for the Vance and Bibb campuses’ electric supply,” said Michael Goebel, president, and CEO of MBUSI. “As we ramp up battery production and electric vehicle production in Alabama in 2022, MBUSI is seen as a critical location for the Mercedes-Benz shift toward an emissions-free and software-driven future.”


Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel Receives Farewell Military Honors at 'Grand Tattoo'
By DW.com
The Bundeswehr, Germany's federal armed forces, bid farewell to Chancellor Angela Merkel. The "Grosser Zapfenstreich" is the highest military ceremony for a civilian.

At a ceremony held by torchlight, the Bundeswehr, Germany's federal armed forces, said goodbye to Chancellor Angela Merkel. The military tattoo has become the unofficial farewell ceremony for defense ministers, presidents, and chancellors.

In a short, earnest speech on Thursday night, Merkel thanked Germans and called on them to approach life with a "lightness of heart" and be optimistic about their country's future.

"Sixteen years as chancellor of Germany were full of events, often very challenging — politically and as a human being," she said, continuing "Multiple crises have shown the importance of international cooperation while tackling the challenges that face the world.

The chancellor added that the "last two years of the pandemic in particular" had shown "how important trust in political leaders, science, and public discourse really is." Democracy, Merkel said, was also based on trust, "on solidarity, on listening to one another, and also on facts." "I would like to encourage you in the future to look at the world from other people's perspectives as well," she concluded.

Germany's Olaf Scholz Urges Unity in First New Year's Address
By DW.com
In his first New Year's message, Olaf Scholz highlighted the challenges that flooding and the pandemic wrought on Germany in 2021. "We will be able to master the major changes of our era… if we pull together," he said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in his first New Year's speech that bringing the coronavirus pandemic under control "will be a major task in the new year." 

In the address, broadcast in full on Friday night but released in writing ahead of time, Scholz noted the numerous, growing challenges facing Germany and the rest of the world.
"We're at the beginning of a new decade. A new era is dawning. An era that will be successful if we actively shape it. Because we can make a difference if we remain determined and take our fate into our own hands," Scholz said.

He concluded the address with an appeal: "My great wish for 2022 is that we keep standing together."
The pandemic continues to rage, climate change poses an ever-growing risk, hundreds of lives were lost in deadly floods that hit western and southern Germany this summer and tensions along the Russian-Ukrainian border are causing global concern as the world heads into the new year.
But with the turbulent times of the past 12 months, Scholz said Germany can tackle the challenges by working together even in the darkest times.

"These days, some people complain that our society is 'divided.' I'd like to take this opportunity to make very clear that in fact, the opposite is true: our county is standing together."

Germany’s G7 Presidency in 2022
On 1 January 2022, Germany will assume the G7 Presidency for one year. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has set out a prevention and transformation agenda for the G7 Foreign Ministers. The focus will be on the climate crisis, the pandemic as well as strengthening the resilience of Democracies.

As Foreign Minister ABaerbock said, "We can only successfully tackle global challenges by working together."
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States as well as the European Union work together in the Group of Seven (G7). They meet in this format to discuss, in particular, global economic, foreign, and security policy, development, and climate issues. As well as the consultations among the Heads of State and Government, the G7 partners now work to achieve their common goals through ministerial meetings in several spheres. These include foreign affairs, digital transformation and technology, finances, health, trade, and home affairs.

One highlight of Germany's leadership will be the meeting of G7 leaders at Elmau Castle in the Bavarian Alps, where in-person collaboration can take place.


Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:
Welcome New AGP Member
Please help us welcome our new member:

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP

Rolf Meyer
Northport


2022 AGP Membership Renewal Now Open

Thank you for your support as an AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) member in 2021! It is so appreciated especially in times like this.
 
Membership renewals will be sent out shortly and we hope you will renew your membership or become a new member TODAY! Your support will help us deliver new programming and support our ability to connect businesses, organizations, governments, and individuals.
The World’s Most Powerful Languages
 By The Local
Speaking multiple languages opens doors for you – to international jobs, to meeting new people, and to a greater understanding of the world. Academic studies rank English as the world’s most useful language.

As you’re reading this, you’ve already got that covered! But which other languages could give you an edge in terms of international opportunities? And which will be the most valuable come 2050? 

As we approach 2022 and the world continues to evolve, The Local has partnered with ESCP Business School to explore which languages could help you create a brighter future for yourself.

The German language is placed as #5. German lacks the global appeal of the languages above; it’s an official language in only six countries, all in Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein). But don’t underestimate its usefulness if you see your future in Europe and your primary goal in learning a language is to boost your career prospects.
Germany is the EU’s most populous country and its biggest economy. The likes of Siemens, Allianz, and Bayer (not to mention a few well-known car markers) are huge employers in major industries. And research has found that learning German can have significant financial rewards. German ranks seventh in the PLI, but jumps up to third for the economic opportunities it brings – and is forecast to still hold both these positions in 2050.

The Longest Unmortared Wall in The U.S. is Right Here in Alabama
By Only in Your State

The Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall is located just off the Natchez Trace Parkway in Florence, Alabama. Measuring more than one mile, it's the longest unmortared wall in the U.S.

Tom Hendrix built this unique wall, which took more than 30 years, to honor his great-great-grandmother, Te-lah-nay. She was part of the Yuchi Indian Tribe that was forced off their land, which was located along the Tennessee River in the 1800s. She, along with her sister, Whana-le, were sent to the Indian Territory of Oklahoma during the movement that was later known as the Trail of Tears.

Because Te-lah-nay's journey back home was made one step at a time, Mr. Hendrix built his wall one stone at a time. His wall also has several high and low spots, which are also reflective of his great-great-grandmother's journey. The Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall is also the largest memorial built to honor a Native American Woman.

The next time you're in the Florence, Alabama area, consider visiting the Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall. It's a definite must-see!


COVID-19 RELATED NEWS AND RESOURCES

Key Information for Travelers to Germany from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Visit CDC Website.


RESOURCES

We have collected a list of resources that can provide information and assistance during these challenging times. You can find them on our website under Helpful Resources.


AlabamaGermany Partnership:

By phone: (205) 341-7880 or email: director@alabamagermany.org. Please make an appointment to visit the office.

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