Programs and Events

Hanau Boy Scouts Learn About Diplomacy and Citizenship
December 21, 2006.The Hanau Boy Scout Troop 49 from the U.S. Army Garrison Hessen visited the U.S. Consulate Frankfurt on December 22 under the guidance of commander COL Williams. They learned about the history and mission of the U.S. Consulate, U.S. presence in Frankfurt, participated in a quiz on American citizenship and history and met with Consul General Jo Ellen Powell. After an afternoon of civic education the Boy Scouts received their citizen badges as proof of their learning experience.
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Prof. Paul Rundquist discusses American politics with students in Landau and Germersheim
December 15, 2006. Prof. Paul Rundquist, a former member of the Congressional Research Service in Washington and presently a visiting professor at the University Halle-Wittenberg and the London School of Economics, gave lectures on "American Politics and Culture After the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks" at the University Koblenz-Landau/Landau Campus and the University of Mainz/Germersheim Campus on December 15. Having only recently ended over 30 years of independent research for members of Congress, Rundquist was able to offer the political science and American Studies students fascinating insights into the political process and the relationship between Congress and the White House after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (more) 

German and American Children Sing Christmas Carols at City Hall in Mainz
December 13, 2006. Mainz Lord Mayor Jens Beutel welcomed a full house of children, their parents and friends to the traditional German-American Christmas caroling event at Mainz City Hall. Organized by Lintrude Krüger of the Mainz-Louisville Friendship Circle together with students and teachers of Aukamm Elementary School and Brüder-Grimm-Schule Mainz-Kostheim, the caroling event celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. Lord Mayor Beutel, Lieutenant Colonel Timothy R. Wulff, Commander of 221st Base Support Battalion in Wiesbaden, and Louise Karst, President of the Mainz-Louisville Friendship Circle, welcomed the children and representatives from the U.S. Consulate General and the U.S military. The children sang German and American Christmas carols and brought a festive spirit to the City Hall. Later the kids visited the Mainz Christmas market together, and sang songs on the market stage.
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Marc Copland and Dave Liebman Elate Frankfurt Jazz Fans
December 13, 2006. Jazz pianist Marc Copland (left) and saxophone player Dave Liebman presented selections from their album "Bookends" to a crowd of modern jazz fans at a packed Romanfabrik. The pianist Marc Copland is known as an insider's tip among jazz pianists. Dave Liebman, who plays soprano and tenor sax, is one of the great representatives of modern and free jazz and has played with Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, and Chick Corea. Since 2002 Copland and Liebman have frequently toured together. Michael Hohman of Romanfabrik and PAO Scott Rauland greeted the guests of this special jazz evening before the two well-known and established musicians filled the air of the Romanfabrik with a unique jazz sound. The evening was a cooperative venture between the Romanfabrik, the U.S. Consulate General, and Jazz Initiative Frankfurt. (more) 

PAO Scott Rauland Discusses the U.S. Immigrant Experience with High School Students
December 12, 2006. As part of the U.S. Consulate General's School Outreach Program, Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland visited the Konrad-Adenauer-Gymnasium in Westerburg (Rhineland-Palatinate) on Dec. 12. He engaged Mr. Achim Engels' 12th grade English "Leistungskurs" in a discussion of immigration to the United States. Himself descended from Norwegian immigrants, Mr. Rauland covered the history of immigration and its legacy in American society. He also discussed with the students its ethnic and cultural composition today as well as current social and political issues. (more)

Children in Bad Homburg Perform for Consul General Powell
December 10, 2006. Consul General Jo Ellen Powell visited the mosque of the Turkish-Islamic Society of Bad Homburg on Sunday, December 10. During her visit the Consul General had the opportunity to listen to songs and poems in both Turkish and German performed by children who attend school there on the weekends for religious instruction. Ms. Powell also discussed the program "Windows on America," which Ambassador Timken and his wife initiated earlier in the year. The program sends young students in Germany between the ages of 15 - 17 to the U.S. to get personally acquainted with Americans and the American way of life. Enter Photo Gallery
Exhibition Catalogue: Mosques in the United States and Canada | (more) 

High School Class from Hösbach visits U.S. Consulate General
December 8, 2006. Participating in the U.S. Consulate General's School Outreach Program, grade 10c of the Hans-Seidel-Gymnasium in Hösbach near Aschaffenburg visited the Consulate for a two-fold briefing on December 8. Dr. Renate Vollmer of the Public Affairs Section's Information Resource Center gave a concise overview of the large spectrum of programs offering extended stays in the Unites States for young people. Himself a first-generation immigrant from Panama with parents of mixed ethnic backgrounds, Vice-Consul Scott Hartmann then took the 28 students and their teacher Christian Davis on a tour through the history of American immigration ending with the cartoon "The Simpsons" as a useful starting point for discussing current issues such as ethnicity, religion, and social relations in U.S. society.
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Getting Ready for the U.S. – Pre-departure Briefing at University of Applied Sciences Fulda
December 7, 2006. On December 7th, students from the University of Applied Sciences Fulda attended a 90-minute information session on studying and interning in the United States. The majority of the 50 participating students majors in international management and plans on going to the United States for a semester in 2007. EducationUSA Frankfurt team member Renate Vollmer and Keith Lommel from the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate discussed the U.S. education system, financial aid, health insurance and visa issues with the students. Enter Photo Gallery | (more) 

U.S. Scholar Discusses Mosque Architecture in America with Students & Community Leaders
December 2-4, 2006. Dr. Omar Khalidi, an American photographer and chronicler of mosque architecture, visited mosques in the Rhein-Main area and spoke to several groups on the first leg of his tour through Germany, organized by the U.S. Embassy in Berlin. Khalidi, a senior research scholar at the Aga Khan Program in Islamic Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, spoke to members of the Masjid Othman Ibn Affan in Rüsselsheim and to students and faculty of the American studies and Islamic studies departments at the Johann-Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt. Consul General Jo Ellen Powell hosted a dinner in honor of Dr. Khalidi with a diverse group of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian community activists as well as cultural and academic contacts. Dr. Khalidi will also be visiting Berlin, Cologne, Heidelberg, and Stuttgart, and will attend the opening of the American mosques exhibit at Carl-Schurz Haus in Freiburg on Friday, December 8. Enter photo gallery | (more) 

Langen Students learn about Exchange Opportunities with the United States
December 1, 2006. Students and parents attended an evening information session at Dreieichschule in Langen on studying and working in the United States. Organized by the Förderverein Dreieichschule, the event drew more than 20 participants on a Friday night. EducationUSA team member Renate Vollmer (U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt) gave a presentation on the university system, application process and financial aid, followed by information on internships, voluntary work and Au Pair. Afterwards she answered questions at an information table set up in the lobby. Students picked up information on various exchange programs, and received advice on exchange opportunities. The school library received a book collection, including the four volume set "If You Want to Study in the United States" and the CD ROM "About the USA". Enter photo gallery | (more) 

Conference for University International Offices Held in Frankfurt
November 30, 2006. A conference on "Studying Abroad in the U.S.," organized by the U.S. Consulate General and the Fachhochschule Frankfurt am Main, was well attended by representatives of universities in Frankfurt's consular district. Dr. Renate Vollmer introduced Mission Germany's service "EducationUSA", Phillip Slattery and Gerda Wagner gave an overview of current visa regulations and answered numerous questions. Dr. Christian Schäfer of the German Academic Exchange Service presented international perspectives for the German Bachelors degree. The conference was rounded-out by a roundtable on partnership programs with the U.S. by the German Bundesländer Baden-Württemberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, and Hessen with representatives from the ministries and from universities. To support the student advising efforts of the international offices, the U.S. Consulate General provided the "If You Want to Study" book series, published by the State Department, as well as printed versions of the IIP E-Journals "College and University Education in the U.S.A" and "See You in the U.S.A."
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Steuben Schurz Society Hosts Thanksgiving Dinner
November 23, 2006. Consul General Jo Ellen Powell attended the Steuben-Schurz Society's annual Thanksgiving dinner this year, which was held on November 21 in Frankfurt. In her remarks to the group on "The U.S. Mid-term Elections and U.S. Foreign Policy," the Consul General pointed out that President Bush has "assured the American people and the world that he wants to make these next two years productive ones." She further added that "the Executive Branch, in cooperation with the new Congress, will continue to work with allies to promote our common interests and shared values," and praised the Steuben Schurz Society for the valuable work they do in promoting understanding between Germans and Americans. Amongst the 100 guests who attended the dinner were three members of the Steuben-Schurz "USA Interns" program as well as four of the U.S. students who were given scholarships to study in the state of Hesse after their universities were closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Thanksgiving at the White House | (more) 

National Book Award Winner Richard Powers on Reading Tour through Germany
November 24, 2006. On his reading tour through Germany, Richard Powers, recent winner of the National Book Award, read to full house at S. Fischer publishing house in Frankfurt on November 24. Richard Powers, the author of eight previous novels and a MacArthur Fellowship recipient, won the National Book Award for his latest book, The Echo Maker. The award was announced on November 15 in New York City. During a reading tour through Germany, which was co-sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and the Fischer Verlag, with stops in Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Cologne, Richard Powers took time to chat about The Echo Maker and earlier works. Chat transcript | (more)

Happy 10th Birthday to the American Library in Karlsruhe!
November 18, 2006. The American Library in Karlsruhe celebrated its 10th anniversary with a special all-day program on November 18. On behalf of the U.S. Mission to Germany, Information Resource Officer (IRO) Sheila Weir congratulated the library team and the Friends of the American Library, e.V. on their success and thanked them for the enthusiasm and dedication in the last decade. In her remarks, Ms. Weir commended Dr. Karen Adams-Rischmann, chairwoman of the Friends Association, Chief Librarian Julia Arnold as well as countless volunteers from many nations on their initiative and tireless efforts to turn this former U.S. army library into such a lively and exciting venue for intercultural encounter. Ms. Weir also highlighted the U.S. Embassy's support for the American Library and the long-standing cooperation with Dr. Adams-Rischmann and Ms. Arnold. Enter photo gallery |(more) 

Ambassador Timken joins 60th anniversary celebration at GAI Heidelberg
November 16, 2006. Jakob Köllhofer, Director of the German-American Institute (GAI), welcomed Ambassador Timken and his wife, Baden-Württemberg Minister President Öttinger, Heidelberg Lord Mayor Weber, and Dr. Manfred Osten, former secretary-general of the Humboldt Foundation, among the guests of honor in a celebration of the GAI's 60th anniversary. In his speech the Ambassador congratulated Mr. Köllhofer on the institute's impressive success story in promoting the transatlantic partnership in the Rhine-Neckar region. He also expressed his admiration for the effectiveness of the public-private partnership sustaining the GAI. The guests of honor and a large audience of friends of the GAI from politics, business, science and culture greatly enjoined musical entertainment presented by a "rainbow" group of children of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds for whom the GAI offers a regular meeting point.
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Ambassador Timken discusses the U.S. Elections at Hessischer Rundfunk
November 16, 2006. Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. met with senior editors of Hessischer Rundfunk television and radio programs on November 16 in Frankfurt. They held a wide-ranging discussion on current issues, including the U.S. elections, U.S. investments in Germany, Iran's nuclear ambitions, and climate change. The Ambassador also conducted an interview with hr info, which was broadcast the afternoon of November 16. In the interview Ambassador Timken also discussed the U.S. elections as well as German efforts to promote economic reform.
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Military Naturalization Ceremony at the U.S. Consulate
November 14, 2006. Some 30 active-duty service members from 19 different countries took the oath of allegiance and became the newest U.S. Citizens during a special overseas military naturalization ceremony held at the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, on November 14. Dr. Emilio Gonzalez, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, presided over the ceremony for the service members, their families and friends. An immigrant to the United States himself, Dr. Gonzalez thanked the service members for their dedication in defending America's ideals of freedom and democracy with their lives. Consul General Powell emphasized in her remarks the role of immigrants in the United States: "Throughout our history, immigrants have added their contributions and cultures to America, making our nation strong. [...] The society that you defend and are about to join as Citizens was built on the dreams and determination of the millions of immigrants who came here before you." Enter photo gallery | (more) 

Consular officer Michael Greer discusses the U.S. immigrant experience with high school students
November 13, 2006. As part of the U.S. Consulate General's The School Outreach Program, Consular officer Michael Greer visited the Kurfürst-Balduin-Gymnasium in Münstermaifeld on November 13. He engaged two 12th grade English classes in discussions of immigration to the United States. Himself of Scottish and Italian descent, Mr. Greer caught the students' particular attention with an analysis of the cartoon "The Simpsons" as a useful starting point for discussing issues like ethnicity, religion, gender, and social relations in American society.
Request an American Speaker for your School | (more) 

Let’s Go Abroad!
November 9, 2006. On November 9, 2006, the U.S. Consulate Frankfurt’s EducationUSA and the Consular Section participated in the annual "Let’s Go Abroad" information fair organized by the German-American Institute "Carl-Schurz-Haus" in Freiburg and the Labor Exchange. The fair featured 15 organization offering programs for the U.S. and other overseas countries. More than 300 high school and university students enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions on going to the United States for studying or an internship. They picked up information material on the United States, including the CD ROM "About the USA". (more) 

Consulate intern Joao de Oliveira discusses the U.S. immigrant experience with high school students
November 3+6, 2006 As part of the U.S. Consulate General's The School Outreach Program, intern Joao de Oliveira visited three high schools in Limburg and Wiesbaden on Nov. 3 and 6. He engaged English classes from grades 9 to 12 in discussions of immigration to the United States. Himself a young second-generation immigrant American with a Brazilian father and a Peruvian mother who had met in California as students, Joao caught the students' particular attention with an analysis of the cartoon "The Simpsons" as a useful starting point for discussing issues like ethnicity, religion, gender, and social relations in American society.
Request an American Speaker for your School | (more) 

Hessischer Rundfunk welcomes CBS Los Angeles sports reporter and video journalist Rodney Hunt
November 3, 2006. The U.S. Consulate General arranged a visit for CBS Los Angeles sports reporter, video journalist and photographer Rodney Hunt to Hessischer Rundfunk (hr) TV in Frankfurt on November 3 for an exchange of ideas with German colleagues. Hessenschau reporter and video journalist Olaf Jahnke, a trained camera man, introduced his guest from LA to the groundbreaking video journalism program at hr. Rodney Hunt was impressed with hr's technology and training initiative involving 90 video journalists in different news and service programs. Hunt said "technology waits for no one. Hessischer Rundfunk has taken it by the horns. These reporters are an invaluable asset to the broadcaster and its audience." (more) 

Studying and Working in the United States
November 2, 2006 On November 2, EducationUSA Frankfurt's Renate Vollmer and Erinn Stott from Consulate General Frankfurt’s Visa Section participated in "AVANTI! Job, Praktikum und Studium in Europa und Übersee" in Darmstadt. The fair, organized for the fifth time by the Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt, featured 27 organizations. Numerous teenagers and young adults picked up information on studying and working in foreign countries. They used the opportunity to ask specific questions on going to the United States for studying or an internship and picked up information material on the United States, including the CD ROM "About the USA". The presentations by EducationUSA Frankfurt on "Studying and working in the United States" drew 40 interested young adults. Overall, nearly 300 students and trainees attended the fair. (more) 

Consulate General Welcomes Hesse Business Council
November 2, 2006 On November 2, Consulate General Frankfurt welcomed the Business Council's Hesse section to an evening discussion on economic, cultural, and political ties between the United States and Germany, with special focus on the state of Hesse. Consul General Jo Ellen Powell welcomed guests to the Consulate's historic "Flag Room" and noted the special relationship between Americans and Germans since 1945. Deputy Principal Officer Richard Aker spoke on U.S.-German relations as the launching pad for an open discussion on political and economic issues. (more) 

Consul General Powell Greets Fulbrighters
October 28, 2006. At the annual Welcome Meeting for fellows of the Fulbright exchange program in Frankfurt, organized by the Fulbright Alumni Association for returning German students and arriving American students, Consul General Powell joined Fulbright Commission Executive Director Dr. Rolf Hoffmann and other VIPs in welcoming the large group of over 100 guests who attended. Powell emphasized that almost 1/3 of the more than 150,000 people who have come to the United States from Germany as guests of the U.S. Government under various exchange programs are Fulbrighters. Powell appealed to the students to continue being Ambassadors for German-American friendship and to stay in touch with each other. CG Powell also introduced the Department of State Alumni Program web page for all Alumni of U.S. government-sponsored programs. (more) 

President Bush's Chief Environmental Advisor discusses Environmental Policy in Frankfurt
October 23, 2006. Chief Environmental Policy advisor to the President, James L. Connaughton, spent a day in Frankfurt to discuss U.S. Environmental Policy with German media representatives, environmental experts, and the general public on October 23. He addressed the upcoming G-8 summit in Germany next year and explained the administration's National Energy Plan and Comprehensive Climate Strategy in an interview, a webchat, organized by the State Department, and at a luncheon hosted by Consul General Powell. As a member of the U.S. delegation, Mr. Connaughton was on his way to Helsinki, where the European Union and the United States of America will conduct a High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development on October 24-25. The objective of the talks is to build on existing transatlantic initiatives and further advance the G-8 Gleneagles Plan of Action for Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development. In this context, Mr. Connaughton emphasized "the significant common ground the U.S. enjoys with European environmental policies." He said, the United States is "working very closely with European policymakers on long-term technology opportunities."
Audio Feature: Listen to excerpts from Jim Connaughton's interview with Pia Zimmermann, hr-info (Windows Media Player and DSL connection required) | Podcast | Webchat summary | (more) 

Press Roundtable Clarifies Visa Regulations for German Children's Passports
October 19, 2006. On October 19 Frankfurt's Consular Section held a press roundtable to inform journalists about upcoming visa regulations regarding children's passports (Kinderreisepässe). Children's passports issued on or after October 26, 2006 will require a visa for entry to the U.S. Those issued before October 26 will remain valid for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program. Therefore the U.S. Consulate advises German travelers, whose children might need new passports after October 25, to obtain regular German e-passports for their children. The journalists were also briefed on the worldwide requirement to use the electronic visa application form as of November 1 and on application procedures for the current 'Green Card Lottery' (Diversity Visa Lottery). Finally, Jeffrey Sapko, Department of Homeland Security attaché, announced the launch of a new online appointment system for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. (more) 

American Expert Analyzes Mid-Term Elections And U.S. Foreign Policy
October 18, 2006. Dr. Jackson Janes, Executive Director of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., presented two lectures on “U.S. Foreign Policy Challenges and the Mid-Term Elections” at a luncheon hosted by the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation in Mainz and at a roundtable at the Hesse State Chancellary in Wiesbaden on October 18. Dr. Janes offered a thorough analysis of the significance of the mid-term elections for U.S. foreign policy and transatlantic relations to numerous representatives from industry, academia and especially from the state governments of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, which cultivate particularly strong ties to the U.S. federal government and their partner states Wisconsin and South Carolina, and therefore have a special interest in the political developments in Washington. (more) 

NYU Professor Easterly Calls For A Paradigm Shift In Foreign Aid
October 17, 2006. William Easterly, Professor of Economics at New York, gave a lecture on “We are Saving the World to Death – Towards a More Professional Management of Foreign Aid” at the German National Librray. Organized by the U.S. Consulate, Campus Verlag, the Hesse Center for political Education (HLZ), the National library and the German-British Society, the event drew an audience of over 300. Among them were over 50 professionals from GTZ and KFW, Germany’s major institutions in the field of foreign aid, who felt encouraged by the conclusions of Easterly’s empirical study that the traditional financial hand-outs had done more harm than good and that successful aid had to be made accountable, results-oriented and compatible with actual local needs to the exclusion of national governments. (more)

Mawlana Celebration at Orient Palace in Frankfurt
October 13, 2006. Orient Palace, the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, the Afghan Mosque Frankurt and the Mevlana Mosque in Offenbach celebrated an evening dedicated to the famous poet Mawlana, who had been born as Jalalluddin Mohammed Rumi Balkhi in 1207 A.D. in what is today the province of Balkh in northern Afghanistan and emigrated to Turkey to escape the attacks of the Mongoles. Mawlana is known for being the father of Sufism and the order of the dancing dervishes. After the prayer and the breaking of the fast in this holy Muslim month of Ramadan, more than one hundred guests of different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds enjoyed short speeches by representatives of the Consulate and the two mosques as well as an oriental buffet, music by a Muslim-Christian duo, video art and the dance of a dervish, all in the spirit of tolerance and humanity as preached and practiced by Mawlana. Afghan Ambassador to Germany Hamidullah Nasser-Zia said that "one feels at home here. This is the way to bring together hearts and religions." (more) 

Consul General Jo Ellen Powell opens seminar on 'Doing Business in the United States'
October 11, 2006. U.S. Consul General Jo Ellen Powell opened a one-day seminar on "How to Be Successful in Doing Business in the United States" at the Chamber of Commerce in Freiburg/Breisgau on October 11, 2006. The seminar was jointly organized by the chamber, the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, the Carl-Schurz-Haus Freiburg, the Council of American States in Europe (C.A.S.E.) and the German American Business Community in Baden. Representatives of C.A.S.E., the German-American Chamber of Commerce in New York, law firms and industrial companies, as well as an American expert on intercultural differences, provided hands-on advice and practical experiences for medium-sized companies planning to enter the U.S. market. (more) 

Folk Concert Highlights the State of Wisconsin
October 9, 2006. Singer & songwriter Bucky Halker and his band celebrated Wisconsin's cultural heritage on occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Hesse Wisconsin state partnership at a concert at Romanfabrik Frankfurt on October 9. Hosted by Romanfabrik and the U.S. Consulate General, Halker - originally from Ashland, Wisconsin - presented his newly released CD “Wisconsin 2.13.63” along with inspired interpretations of Woody Guthrie songs and traditional Blues tunes by Leadbelly and J.B. Lenoir. Frankfurt's local Blues harp hero Mojo Kilian joined Halker on stage for selected pieces. PAO Scott Rauland, who also hails from Wisconsin, introduced the artist and underscored the long-standing relationship between the states of Hesse and Wisconsin. (more) 

America@Frankfurt Book Fair featured Indian Culture in America as well as Materials for Schools and Libraries
October 4-8, 2006. The U.S. Embassy in Germany promoted publications and products for schools and libraries as well as specialized services for information professionals and academics at the Frankfurt International Book Fair, the world's largest and most renowned literary exhibit, visited by almost 300,000 eager readers, networkers and knowledge-seekers this year! As a tribute to the Guest of Honor, India, the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt and the State Department in Washington organized a webchat with Indian American writer Indu Sundaresan, at the embassy's booth. Students around Germany as well as visitors at the booth took the opportunity to chat with Indu about her books and her impressions of America from the perspective of an immigrant: "The happiest realization still is that in the U.S. you can be part of the society and still maintain your own ethnic and cultural identity. I am, today, both Indian and American, more effortlessly than in any other country in the world." Public Affairs Representatives also interviewed famous Indian American film director Mira Nair.
The State Department's youth book collection on display at the stand drew the attention of many librarians and visitors. Teachers filled their bags with information materials, while students and kids flocked to the booth to collect American flags, About the USA CD-ROMs and information on studying in the U.S. | (more) 

German-American Day Concert Celebrates American Jazz Classics
October 8, 2006. The City of Frankfurt, the Jazz Initiative, the U.S. Consulate and musikglobal Frankfurt joined forces along with corporate sponsors (Cerberus Deutschalnd GmbH, Dewey Ballantine LLP, Fraport, P&G, Standard&Poor's) in showcasing American Classics with the Frankfurt Jazz Big Band at Amerika Haus on October 8 as part of the German-American Day celebrations. PAO Scott Rauland emphasized the significance of the Amerika Haus legacy and the continued importance of cultural programs in his opening remarks. City Councilman Bürger delivered opeing remarks for the city highlighting the heritage of American Jazz and its impact on the cultural environment in Frankfurt. (more) 

Prof. Martha Bayles speaks at international conference by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
October 6, 2006. Martha Bayles, professor at Boston College, participated in an international conference on "Political Communication in a Globalized World: Attention for Political Concepts, Persons, and States" organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in cooperation with the Institute for Journalism of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz at the ZDF Conference Centre in Mainz-Lerchenberg on October 5/6, 2006. As part of a panel on "Country Branding: Worldwide Public Relations" Prof. Bayles discussed the ability of a government to influence its country's image abroad, using the United States as an example. (more) 

German-American Friendship Day Features Youth Exchange Fair and Reception at U.S. Consulate
October 6, 2006. On October 6th, German-American Friendship Day, the City of Frankfurt and the U.S. Consulate organized the youth exchange fair "Hello World!" for the fourth time. 40 exchange organizations and exchange consultants presented their programs at Wöhlerschule. More than 700 students and parents used the opportunity to talk to representatives of the organizations and pick up information materials. The Consular Section provided guidance on visa procedures. During their visit to the fair, Consul General Jo Ellen Powell and City Official Haindl talked to recently returned exchange students about their experiences.
In the evening, Consul General Powell hosted the fourth annual joined reception with the City of Frankfurt to celebrate German-American Friendship Day at the U.S. Consulate, attended by more than 200 guests. The Consul General’s remarks emphasized the U.S. government's commitment to Frankfurt demonstrated by the expanding role of the Consulate as a regional center for American diplomacy. (more) 

Ambassador Timken meets Business Representatives and School Kids in Heidelberg
October 5, 2006. At the invitation of the Heidelberg Center for American Studies (HCA), Ambassador Timken delivered the keynote address at a conference on "State and Market in a Globalized World: Transatlantic Perspectives" at the Arthotel in Heidelberg on October 5. Addressing over one hundred leading representatives of the business and academic commuinities in the Rhein-Neckar region, he shared his personal experience as a prominent American entrepreneur whose fortune 400 company had successfully met the challenges of an ever accelerating globalization process through flexibility and constant innovation. Abassador Timken and his wife also visited the Roma-Sinti Center in Heidelberg and met with the director of Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, Matthias Jung, to discuss public opinion issues in Germany. In the afternoon, Ambassador Timken paid a visit to Rhein Neckar Zeitung and joined his wife at the One World Language School (OWLS), a program of the German-American Institute for integrated learning. (more) 

60th Anniversary of Speech of Hope celebrated in Stuttgart
October 4, 2006. Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was the keynote speaker at a ceremony at the Stuttgart opera house on October 4 commemorating the 60th anniversary of the September 1946 "Speech of Hope" in Stuttgart by then-Secretary of State James F. Byrnes. In that speech, the U.S. had signaled its intent to re-unify Germany (with or without Soviet cooperation) and that U.S. troops would remain in Germany as long as any foreign troops remained in the country. At the October 4 ceremony - attended by Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr., his wife Sue and 1,300 guests - all speakers including Chancelor Merkel (via video message from Berlin), Federal Minister Annette Schavan, Minister President Günther Oettinger and Lord Mayor Wolfgang Schuster underscored the indispensable nature of the German-American partnership. According to Dr. Kissinger, "no other foreign government leader receives more attention and respect in Washington than Chancellor Merkel." Talking about the threat of terrorism, Kissinger also pointed out that "the challenges of present times require a new form of cooperation between Germany and the United States." (more) 

“Libraries Open Doors to Cultures Around the World!” Ambassador Timken at State Library Festival
October 1, 2006. Ambassador and Mrs. Timken participated in the closing event of the State Library Festival in Rhineland-Palatinate (R-P) in Koblenz on October 1. The festival was part of the state's “Culture Summer” under the patronage of Minister President Kurt Beck. From September 18-October 1, the Festival featured over 400 events at 200 libraries in this state of over 4 million inhabitants. In his remarks, the Ambassador compared the festival to the “National Book Festival” that First Lady Laura Bush co-hosted with the Library of Congress the day before on the Washington Mall: "Like the First Lady, Sue and I are both great fans of libraries because of their potential to improve educational opportunities, open doors to cultures around the world, and connect people. The Embassy and our Consulates support libraries through new partnership initiatives that are designed to develop a broader network of cooperation with libraries around Germany and to showcase the special role that libraries play in society." (more) 

Consul General Powell Hosts Iftaar at her Residence
September 29, 2006. On the occasion of Ramadan, Ambassador Timken and Consul General Powell hosted numerous Muslim representatives from government, business, academia and culture to an Iftaar dinner at Mrs. Powell's residence. In his remarks, Ambassador Timken recognized the millions of Americans with Islamic background and their contribution to American society. He also quoted from President George W. Bush's Ramadan address: "Ramadan and the upcoming holiday seasons are a good time to remember the common values that bind us together. Our society is enriched by our Muslim citizens whose commitment to faith reminds us of the gift of religious freedom in our country. We send our best wishes for a blessed Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak." (more) 

Ambassador Timken Opens ‘American Mosques’ Exhibit at Frankfurt City Library
September 28, 2006. A broad cross-section of the diverse Muslim community in central Germany attended Ambassador Timken’s opening of the “American Mosques” exhibit at the Frankfurt City Library's international branch on September 28, 2006. The photos by MIT professor Omar Khalidi show the enormous ethnic diversity of Muslims in the U.S. and reflect the American tradition of religious tolerance and immigration.
Ambassador Timken called the exhibition "a wonderful way to observe Ramadan" and said he hopes visitors "will learn more about Muslims in America by seeing how American Muslims worship around the U.S." He underscored President Bush's message to the United Nations last week, in which the president underlined the tremendous respect Americans of all creeds have for Islam, and the commitment that Muslims make to faith, family, and education: "We look forward to learning more from each other in the years ahead through programs and exhibits like this." (more) 

Mrs. Timken and Consul General meet with Muslim women leaders
September 28, 2006. A group of Muslim women and specialists working with immigrants in Germany were invited to a roundtable with Mrs. Sue Timken and Consul General Jo Ellen Powell at the Consulate General in Frankfurt. Mrs. Timken talked about her and Ambassador Timken's initiative "Windows on America", which enables minority students to experience first-hand school and family life in the U.S. and about their numerous Muslim outreach activities. The roundtable included activists from a variety of professions and national backgrounds. Mrs. Timken encouraged the women to continue a dialogue with each other and promised to come back to visit the women's institutions and see the project. (more) 

Ambassador and Mrs. Timken visit Mainz
September 28, 2006. Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr., and Sue Timken paid an official visit to the city of Mainz. Ambassador Timken signed the City's Golden Book at a ceremony at the town hall. Mayor Beutel and the Ambassador both emphazised the special importance of Mainz for the German-American friendship, having hosted two presidential visits, one by former President Bush in 1989 shortly before the wall came down, and one by the current President Bush in February 2005, another turning point in U.S.-German relations. At the reception following the signing of the Golden Book, Ambassador Timken, Mrs. Timken, and Frankfurt Consul General Jo Ellen Powell met with members of the City Council, representatives of the Mainz-Louisville Friendship Circle, the Federation of German-American Clubs, and with exchange students currently studying at the University of Mainz. In the morning, Ambassador Timken gave an interview to the Allgemeine Zeitung. Mrs. Timken then met with 10th grade students of diverse ethnic backgrounds at Gleisbergschule in Mainz-Gonsenheim, and talked with them about their future job perspectives, images of the United States and Germany, and answered personal questions. During their stay in Mainz, Ambassador Timken and Mrs. Timken also visited Schott Glass, and were received by Cardinal Lehmann for a tour of Mainz Cathedral. (more) 

Karben Students Learn About Exchange Opportunities with the United States and Europe
September 28, 2006. More than 80 students and parents attended an evening information session at Kurt-Schumacher-Schule on exchange opportunities with the United States and Europe. EducationUSA team member Renate Vollmer (U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt) gave a presentation on "Spending a High School Year in the United States" and answered numerous questions. Students picked up information on various exchange programs, and received advice from EducationUSA and Eurodesk on exchange opportunities. The school library received a book collection, including the four volume set "If You Want to Study in the United States". (more) 

Ambassador opens "I Like America" exhibit at Schirn Kunsthalle
September 27, 2006. A standing room only crowd was on hand at the Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt September 27 to see Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. open the exhibit entitled "I Like America." The Ambassador praised the exhibit, which documents the fascination Germans had with the exploration of the American frontier in the 1800s, for helping both Germans and Americans appreciate the common values of freedom and liberty that have made the American frontier a topic of interest on both sides of the Atlantic. (more) 

Directors of German American Institutes discuss new Youth Outreach Initiatives at U.S. Consulate General
September 18, 2006. Directors from the German American Institutes (GAI) of the Southwestern cities of Freiburg, Heidelberg, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart and Tübingen met on Monday at the U.S. Consulate General to discuss joint youth outreach initiatives with Consul General Jo Ellen Powell, John Matel, Director of IIP's Office for Europe and Eurasia at the State Department, and Public Affairs representatives.
Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland emphasized the importance of attracting younger audiences by using the latest technology while John Matel demonstrated how State Department webchats work, using an online chat with Antonio R. López of World Bridger Media on media literacy as an example. The State Department arranged the chat to coincide with the inaugural White House Conference on Global Literacy hosted by First Lady Laura Bush at the New York City Library on the same day. (more) 

Teacher training seminar on “Religion and Politics in the U.S.
September 14 & 15, 2006. Teachers from the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg participated in a training seminar on “Religion and Politics in the United States” in Boppard on Sept. 14 and 15. The seminar was co-sponsored by the Atlantic Academy Rheinland-Pfalz and the IFB Boppard. German and American experts, among them Adam Garfinkle, chief editor of The American Interest, and U.S. Army Chaplain and Imam Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad, explained religion as a central and complex part of American history, culture and politics manifesting itself in many widely different forms and political directions. (more) 

Exhibit about children's book author Eric Carle opened at National Library in Frankfurt
September 13, 2006. The German National Library in Frankfurt opened the exhibit 'Eric Carle: Syracuse N.Y. - Stuttgart - New York' on September 13. Eric Carle, the author of The Hungry Caterpillar and more than 70 other picture books that have sold over 65 million copies worldwide, is one of the most popular children's book authors. The speakers, among them Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland, U.S. Consulate General, and Wolfgang Dietrich, a long term friend of the author's, emphazised Carle's role for international understanding and building strong bridges between Germany and the United States. Gregor Hübner played the musical version of 'I See a Song - Ich habe die Geige klingen hören' by Eric Carle. The exhibit will be shown at the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek through November 18. (more) 

U.S. Consulate Re-dedicates September 11th Plaque
September 11, 2006. On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the commemorative plaque, located until August 2006 in front of the Amerika Haus, was unveiled at the U.S. Consulate General, Gießener Straße. The ceremony featured brief remarks by Frankfurt's Lord Mayor Petra Roth, who reiterated the desire of the citizens of Frankfurt to work with the U.S. to "pursue a peaceful future," and U.S. Consul General Jo Ellen Powell, who stated that she looked forward "to working with our German friends and partners to leave a safer and more hopeful world for our children and grandchildren." (Remarks)
Donated by the city of Frankfurt on September 11, 2002, the commemorative plaque by artist Günter Maniewski is a sign of sympathy and the city’s close relationship with the United States, especially the city of New York and its citizens. (more) 

State of Hesse Recognizes German-American Friendship Society at Official Reception
September 5, 2006. Minister-President, Roland Koch, organized a special reception for the members of the Steuben-Schurz Society, the oldest German-American friendship society in Germany, on Tuesday, September 5. Koch was joined by U.S. Consul General Jo Ellen Powell, who praised the Steuben-Schurz Society for excellence in "sustaining personal connections, cultural ties, and business relationships among everyday citizens." She offered a special salute to the Steuben-Schurz Society for its work in developing the USA Interns program, which has helped hundreds of young Germans and Americans get to know their counterparts by working with partner organizations on the other side of the Atlantic. (more) 

Consul General Powell Visits the 6th annual Newcomers Festival - Welcome to Hessen on September 2 in Frankfurt
September 2, 2006. Consul General Jo Ellen Powell, the most prominent newcomer in attendance, opened the Newcomers Festival on September 2 at Hessischer Rundfunk along with its Director General, Dr. Helmut Reitze, and Dr. Helmut Kreuziger, Managing Director, Hessen Agency. She praised the cultural and economic diversity as well as the hospitality of Hesse. The event which is supported by the Hessen Ministry of Economic Affairs attracted 60 exhibitors and over 3,000 visitors of many different nationalities. The Newcomers Festival consists of an extensive exhibition of services, clubs and organizations in the area. It is designed as a family-oriented and informative event that allows the international community to discover the attractiveness and diversity of the region as a business location. (more) 

Frankfurt celebrates the Blues
August 31, 2006. The Matchbox Bluesband and special guests Keith Dunn (USA) and Christian Rannenberg unleashed blues power at an outdoor concert at Frankfurt's Palmengarten on August 31. (more)

Seminar highlights 60 years of U.S. presence in Hesse
August 31, 2006. U.S. ConGen’s POL/ECON chief Dan Froats was the first one of a roster of speakers participating in a seminar on “Amerikaner in Hesse” organized by the Hesse Center of Political Educatio, the Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft and the city of Hanau at the Hanau City Hall on August 31 and Sept. 1. German and American experts as well as individuals who had played an active role in the German-American relationship, among them AFN radio director Gary Bautell, described and analyzed German-American interaction during the past six decades as well as the impact of the U.S. military presence and of its partial disappearance on the state and the region. (more) 

Joe Stefanelli Exhibit opened at Ludwig Museum Koblenz
August 30, 2006. Ludwig Museum Koblenz opened a unique exhibit with paintings by Joe Stefanelli, one of the last living members of the legendary New York School and representative of abstract expressionism. The collection of paintings is being shown for the first time in a German museum. 85 year old Stefanelli had come from New York especially for the opening. Koblenz Cultural Commissioner Detlef Knopp and PAO Scott Rauland welcomed Joe Stefanelli and the guests. Museum director Dr. Beate Reifenscheid introduced the artist and his work, colorful paintings which seem to bundle Stefanelli's humour, his zest for life and inner freedom. After the opening, numerous friends and collectors of Stefanelli's art welcomed the artist and besieged him for autographs. The exhibit will be shown at Ludwig Muesum Koblenz until October 29. (more) 

Frankfurt Passport Service Goes Live!!!
August 28, 2006. Newly-arrived Consul General Jo Ellen Powell delivers Frankfurt's first Emergency Photo-Digitized Passport (EPDP) to American citizen Randal Rodenberger.

The new, more secure format for emergency passports has been introduced in Munich, London and Frankfurt as a prelude to world-wide usage. American citizens who receive the EPDP will have one year to obtain a full validity passport at no additional charge.

The new passports have a digital photograph and are only 12 pages, since they are intended to be used only for temporary emergencies. The Department plans to roll out the new technology to embassies and consulates worldwide by the end of the year. (more) 

Welcome to our new Consul General Jo Ellen Powell!
August 21, 2006. Jo Ellen Powell, a career member of the Foreign Service, has assumed her new duties as Consul General of the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt on August 21, 2006. Prior to her assignment to Frankfurt she most recently held the position of Executive Director in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) at the State Department in Washington D.C. Before joining the WHA bureau in August 2004 she served as the director of the Human Resource bureau’s Office of Employee Relations, 2001-2004, and as the Management Counselor, U.S. Embassy Canberra, 1998-2001. Ms. Powell’s previous posts abroad included Paris, Rome, Beirut, and Amman, Jordan.
Ms. Powell, a recipient of several distinguished State Department awards, is married to Stephen Engelken, also a career Foreign Service Officer. They have one son, John. (more) 

America at Gießen Festival
August 19, 2006. On August 19th, Sister Cities Assocation Gießen - Waterloo, Iowa, presented information on their long-time partnership during the annual "Stadtfest Gießen". Members of the association told interested guests about their activities, including trips to Waterloo and other parts of the United States, and provided information on how the partnership had started. They were joined by EducationUSA (Public Affairs Section/U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt), which provided information on studying and working in the United States. Visitors were especially interested in a high school year abroad and Au Pair opportunities. They also picked up general information on the United States, including the CD ROM "About the USA". During the afternoon, the Gießen public enjoyed a square dance performance by the Lahn-River-Wheelers. (more) 

Thanks for the Memories!
August 15, 2006. More than 100 Frankfurters bid farewell to the Amerika Haus on Tuesday. For the last 60 years, the Amerika Haus has been the heart of American culture in the city. Amerika Haus Director and PAO Scott Rauland handed over a symbolic key to Frankfurt's cultural commissioner Dr. Felix Semmelroth. In his remarks, PAO Rauland emphasized that "the closure should not be seen as a sign of decline in German-American relations." On the contrary, "the presence of American culture in this city is so strong that one doesn't necessarily need a cultural institution to promote it." Acting Principal Officer Richard Aker agreed by pointing out numerous cooperative ventures with local partner organizations: "Thanks to these partnerships, we look forward to a bright future for German-American relations. We must maintain strong ties and mutual understanding for one another’s ideas and cultures to help make the world a safer and more peaceful place. We are sure that the network of strong local partnerships and new media technology will allow us to continue to do this in an increasing variety of ways." (more) 

Ambassador Timken Reaches Out to Local Communities in Southwestern Germany
August 3-6, 2006. Ambassador and Mrs. Timken visited various cities in Baden-Württemberg and met with citizens as part of their effort to reach out to local communities in Germany. In Breisach, they were greeted by Mayor Rein and members of the city council and signed the Golden Book of Breisach. Freiburg's Lord Mayor Salomon welcomed the Timkens to the town hall on August 4 where he discussed the latest economic challenges in the region with the Ambassador. On August 6, the Head of the District Authority in Gutach, Landrat Brodbeck, introduced the Ambassador and his family to the famous Black Forest Open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhöfe that explore 400 years of cultural heritage in the Black Forest region. On the same day, the Ambassador visited Wolfach, sister city of the American town of Richfield, located in the Ambassador's home state of Ohio. Wolfach's Mayor, Gottfried Moser, hosted a reception at the town hall in his honor with members of the city council and participants in the exchange activities with Richfield. (more) 

Ambassador Timken joins Artists and Students at Premiere of "Dances for the Blue House"
August 3, 2006. Ambassador and Mrs. Timken along with Cultural Affairs Attaché Claussen participated in the opening performance of the cultural and youth outreach project “Dances for the Blue House” taking place in the southwest German cities of Breisach and Freiburg since mid-July. The Blue House in Breisach was the center of the city’s local Jewish community before its destruction during the Holocaust. Jonathan Hollander and Aviva Geismar, two Jewish-American choreographers, and their New York-based dance companies Battery Dance Company and Drastic Action had worked with some 150 local German high schools students and dance groups to create new dance pieces that respond to the tragedy and commemorate the Jewish history of the town. In his remarks to the participants, German and international guests, some of them descendants of Jewish families in Breisach, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of “building a bridge between yesterday, today and tomorrow for coming generations.” He commended the dancers on their efforts to foster mutual understanding with this exchange project that uses the power of dance to confront history. (more) 

Ambassador Timken kicks off regional IVLP Alumni Network
July 28, 2006 On July 28, Ambassador and Mrs. Timken attended the first International Visitor Leadership Program Reunion for the Southwestern part of Germany at Evangelische Akademie Bad Boll. The event was organized by the German American Center/James F. Byrnes Institute, Stuttgart, and Evangelische Akademie Bad Boll. Director Joachim Beck, Evangelische Akademie, and State Secretary Rudolf Böhmler, Chairman of the Board at DAZ, welcomed the guests. In his remarks, Ambassador Timken emphazised the importance of networking and building people-to-people contacts. Alumni Coordinator Daniela Schilling-Muehl introduced the alumni.state.gov website and its AGS Community, pointing out the manifold opportunities of this international alumni community. The Alumni were enthused to meet and get to know each other. The program laid the ground for a Regional Alumni Association and for future cooperation with and among the IVLP Alumni. Traditional blues music with the Down Home Perculators and a barbecue rounded-out the program. (more) 

Ambassador and Mrs Timken visit Kirchheim unter Teck
July 28, 2006. On their trip through Baden-Württemberg, Ambassador and Mrs. Timken visited the picturesque town of Kirchheim unter Teck on July 28. In the morning, Ambassador and Mrs. Timken met with students of Schlossgymnasium, who enthusiastically talked about their exchange experiences in the U.S.. Schlossgymnnasium recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of their exchange program with Marsh Valley High School in Idaho. Ambassador and Mrs. Timken shared with the students their impressions of Germany and described their daily work. After a visit to Daimler Chrysler’s Fuel Cell Research Facility in Nabern, Kirchheim's Lord Mayor Angelika Matt-Heidecker welcomed the Ambassador and Mrs. Timken in the historic town hall, where the Timkens signed the city's Golden Book. A walk through the old town of Kirchheim concluded the visit. (more) 

U.S. and EU at Mannheim City Library
July 27, 2006. EducationUSA Franfurt and Eurodesk Deutschland held an afternoon information session on studying and working in the United States and the European Union. 75 Mannheim High School and vocational students used the opportunity to pick up information material, listen to presentations and get advice. Topics ranged from how to organize a stay as an Au Pair to internships, studying and working in the United States. Mayor Christian Specht welcomed the students to the City Library and spoke about the importance of spending time in another country. In the morning, students chatted with Renate Vollmer (EducationUSA) and Annette Luthringshauser (Eurodesk) during a webchat on the topic organized by the Mannheimer Morgen |  (more) 

U.S. Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. signs Golden Book of the city of Ulm
July 27, 2006. On his first trip to the southern and eastern regions of Baden-Württemberg Ambassador Timken and his wife Sue Timken were welcomed by the Lord Mayor of the city of Ulm, Ivo Gönner, and signed the city's Golden Book.

Also on their route was a tour of the Steiff company in Giengen, which Mrs. Timken, herself a huge "Teddy Bear" fan, enjoyed very much. The Ambassador also gave an interview at the regional newspaper Südwestpresse. (more) 

Summer reception at German-American Institute Tübingen
July 21, 2006 About 400 friends and members joined the GAI at it's yearly summer reception at the pittoresque monestary of Bebenhausen close to Tübingen on July 20. The GAI looked back on a very successful last year and presented a versatile fall program. Rolf Schiller, President of the Board of the German American Society, and Vice Konsul Gregg Naarden, greeted the numerous guests. This year, long-time members of the Society were honored for the first time. Among them was 92 year-old Professor emeritus Gerhard Müller-Schefe, who remembered the life-changing first research scholarship to the U.S. with his family of six and the beginings of the GAI in Tübingen. Before the guests mingled in the cloister, they were entertained by the Tübingen Klezmer group "Jontef", who presented songs about a Jewish-American immigrant family. (more) 

Illinois and Rhineland-Palatinate Teachers Study Media
July 17-21, 2006. Teachers from Rhineland-Palatinate and Illinois participated in the annual week-long Intercultural Teacher Training Seminar jointly organized by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Education, the Illinois Humanities Council, the IFB - Haus Saarburg, the Atlantic Academy Rhineland-Paltinate and the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland and representatives of the other co-sponsoring institutions kicked off the seminar on "The Impact of Media on Education."

During the week, lectures and discussion workshops at the seminar facilities in Boppard were combined with field trips to ZDF, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Bloomberg and the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt where the group was briefed by Andrew Parker, Chief of the Consular Section, on the manifold functions of the consulate including its Public Diplomacy activities. (more) 

American Students Visit School to Teach German Teenagers About America
July 12 & 13, 2006. The Consulate General Frankfurt held another two school outreach events to help German high school students gain a better perspective of life in the United States. The interns gave presentations on immigration history and discussed multiculturalism. On July 12th, Public Affairs Intern Andrew Eilts, a student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., accompanied by Assistant Public Affairs Officer Jeff Arnold, visited the Dr. Richter School in Kelkheim. On July 13th, Public Affairs intern Erin Cooper, a student at the University of California, Berkeley, visited the Liebigschule in Frankfurt. EducationUSA Frankfurt’s Renate Vollmer gave a brief presentation on studying and working in the United States. Following each presentation, the students asked questions on various topics. (more) 

Study, Work and Intern in the United States - USA Infospecial at Koblenz City Library
July 5, 2006. On July 5th, EducationUSA Germany held an infosession on studying and working in the United States at the City Library Koblenz. The event, organized in cooperation with the German-American Club Koblenz, drew more than 40 participants. A presentation by Public Affairs Frankfurt/Education USA’s Renate Vollmer was followed by an intense questions & answer session. Topics ranged from visa regulations to organizing internships and studying and working in the United States. Participants picked up information material on the United States, including the CD ROM "About the USA", on EducationUSA and other services of the Information Resource Center Frankfurt. The library received a book donation with publications on these topics, including the "If you Want to Study in the United States" guides. (more) 

Celebration of America's 230th Independence Day
June 29, 2006. Over 200 invited guests from throughout the Rhein-Main area enjoyed a unique celebration of America's 230th celebration of Independence Day in the Atrium at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt.

In addition to the presentation of the colors by the U.S. Marine Security Guard Detachment Color Guard and welcoming remarks by Ms. Geeta Pasi, Acting Principal Officer, the guests witnessed a Naturalization Ceremony conferring U.S. citizenship on 17 members of the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in Germany.

After the formal program, the guests enjoyed food and refreshment while listening to the Headwinds Woodwind Quintet of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band. (more) 

Workshop on Chicano Theater at Frankfurt University
June 29, 2006. On June 29, Jorge Huerta, a professional theater director with the University of California at San Diego, and Carlos Morton, a playwright and theater producer with the University of California Santa Barbara, conducted an afternoon workshop on “Chicano Theater” at Frankfurt University’s Center for North American Studies. These two leading authorities vividly explained the complexitiy of the major cultural expression of an ethnic group which has become the largest ethnic minority in U.S. society. Working as a harmonious team and combining lecturing, reading and acting, Huerta and Morton opened students’ and faculty’s eyes for the variety of Chicano cultures and identities, the major social and political issues grappled with by Chicano communities and for the way all of this had been reflected in Chicano theater over the past 50 years. (more) 

Dialogue Between Labor Market Experts at Landau University
June 27, 2006. On June 27, Nik Theodore, Professor of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, University of Illinois at Chicago, held a lecture on “Work – New Trends in the Age of Globalization” at the economics department of the University Koblenz-Landau/Landau Campus in Rhineland-Palatinate. Theodore shared his most recent empirical research on the temporary labor force in the U.S. with over 50 students and faculty with a special interest in labor market issues. Since the question of the minimum wage is currently on the top of the German labor market reform agenda, Theodore’s finding that there was no correlation between a rise of the minimum wage and job growth was of particular interest. (more) 

Young soccer players of the World Cup Sports Initiative end their tour in Frankfurt
June 23, 2006. Young soccer players of the World Cup Sports Initiative started their day by visiting the Commmerzbank Tower. They got an eagle's eye view of Frankfurt from the Commerzbank Tower during a tour arranged by Commerzbank spokesman Dennis Phillips. Their schedule took them from Manhattan last week to 'Mainhattan' this week, as they mixed in some sightseeing to round out their schedule of soccer clinics, scrimmages, and attendance at a World Cup game. In the afternoon, the players from 13 different countries played lively scrimmages with the youth soccer teams of Eintracht Frankfurt (boys) and KSV Weckesheim (girls) and talked about soccer in their countries. In the evening, the participants will visit the International Media Lounge for music by American blues musician Little Willie Littlefield. The boys and girls, ages 13-18, represent: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bolivia, China, Indonesia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Uganda and Uzbekistan. (more) 

Fans Cheer Team USA at Amerika Haus
June 22, 2006. The Amerika Haus Frankfurt was once again filled with guests as Public Affairs Frankfurt hosted another World Cup party to coincide with the USA vs. Ghana game on Thursday. Despite the American loss, over 100 people enjoyed watching the game and the accompanying American-style BBQ with hot dogs and hamburgers, and the crowd remained enthusiastic supporters of Team USA until the end of play. Due to the United States' 1:2 loss, the American team has been eliminated from the 2006 FIFA World Cup despite an impressive game against Italy last Saturday. (more) 

Guest lecture on China at Frankfurt University's East-Asia Institute
June 21, 2006. Marking a new cooperation between the U.S. Consulate General and Frankfurt University’s Interdisciplinary Center for East-Asian Studies (IZO), Jacob Park, professor of business and public policy at Greenmountain College in Vermont, gave a lecture on "China and Sustainable Development: Global Risks and Opportunities" at IZO on June 21. Prof. Park shared his original year-long research on the tremendous ecological challenges resulting from China’s rapid economic growth and discussed with students and faculty the implications for Europe and the U.S. of China’s transition from a production site for foreign companies to a world leader in high-end research and development. (more) 

Ambassador & Mrs. Timken Engage in Soccer Diplomacy in Kaiserslautern
June 17, 2006. Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. and his wife Sue Timken were in Kaiserslautern on Saturday, June 17, throwing their full support behind the U.S. Men's National Team in their 1-1 draw against Italy. The Ambassador was warmly greeted by Kaiserslautern's Lord Mayor Deubig outside the historic Casimir Hall along with representatives from the American and German Armed Forces and was later a guest of honor at a lunch hosted by the Lord Mayor in the City Hall. Afterwards, the Ambassador and his wife toured Kaiserslautern's famous 'Fan-Mile' and met with journalists and excited fans from all over the world, including many Americans who had come to show their support for Team USA. The Ambassador also met with the Italian Ambassador to Germany, with both expressing confidence in their respective teams and praise for Germany and Kaiserlautern's warm welcome and comprehensive security arrangements. After the meeting, Ambassador Timken went to the Fritz-Walter-Stadion where he watched the USA and Italy battle to a 1-1 tie. (more) 

Ambassador Timken Promotes U.S. Soccer on National TV
June 16, 2006. Ambassador Timken gave a live interview at the ZDF program "Drehscheibe Deutschland - WM Spezial" and spoke with ZDF online editor Sebastian Voss on June 16th (Transcript). He expressed his excitement of being Ambassador in Germany at the time of the World Cup and praised the host nation's hospitality for soccer fans throughout the country. Asked about the U.S. team's performance during its first game, he acknowledged the strength of the Czech side but was optimistic for a good game against Italy in Kaiserslautern tomorrow. He congratulated Germany for qualifying for the second round. Ambassador Timken praised the excellent cooperation with German authorities with respect to security issues. The popularity of soccer in the U.S. has been growing steadily over the past years and with 18 million active players the national team should not have any recruitment problems in the future. (more) 

University of Wisconsin Women’s Soccer Team helps Celebrate Hessen-Wisconsin Partnership in Frankfurt
June 16, 2006. As part of the thirtieth anniversary of the Hessen-Wisconsin state partnership in 2006, thirty eight members of the University of Wisconsin women’s soccer team were welcomed to Frankfurt in the historic Kaisersaal at the Römer. The group was greeted by state council woman Erika Pfreundschuh, who expressed her gratitude for their role in reminding the world that soccer, as well as sports in general, does not only belong to men. Susan Walke and Dr. Kirsten Gerstner from the U.S. Consulate General and Uwe Becker, CDU Faction leader and Frankfurt’s future head of the department for youth and sports, also warmly welcomed the guests. During their twelve day tour of Hessen, facilitated by the Hessen state government, the team will be competing against four German clubs as well as seeing and experiencing all that Hessen has to offer. There was an air of excitement floating in the room, it was obvious that the team was eager to embrace the opportunity to compete, learn, and interact with young Germans. (more) 

World Cup Reception at Amerika Haus Brings in a Full Crowd
June 12, 2006. Over 150 guests packed the Amerika Haus Frankfurt on Monday to see the USA vs. Czech Republic match and to support the USA Interns program. The Steuben-Schurz Gesellschaft, the German-American friendship organization that runs the USA Interns, held the World Cup reception to help dozens of interns who cross the Atlantic every year and support bilateral American-German friendship through the USA Intern program. Although the game did not end in an American victory, the interns, SSG supporters, and Consulate employees all enjoyed wonderful food and friendship in a lively atmosphere at the Amerika Haus. (more) 

Media Conference on German and American Journalism Draws Large Audience
June 12, 2006. Over 100 participants attended a media conference on New Paradigms in German and American Journalism hosted by Mainz University and its partners from the m3+ZDF exchange program in cooperation with the Atlantic Academy. This unique exchange program traces its roots to a 1996 presentation by U.S. journalism professor Jim Willis to a ZDF audience and has since expanded to include Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the Wiesbaden and Mainz Universities of Applied Sciences. It is co-sponsored by the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt. The conference featured leading television journalist Elmar Theveßen, ZDF, as well as German and American media professors, who are involved in this exchange. The main topic for discussion was the development in the U.S. of so-called 'emotional journalism,' illustrated by various clips, in particular Anderson Cooper's CNN coverage of hurricane Katrina. (more) 

Representatives of the 32 World Cup Countries in Vintage Car Parade
June 11, 2006. High-profile representatives of the 32 World Cup countries drove in a parade of rare cars that rarely leave museums. The parade, organized by the State of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Stuttgart, started at the Palace of Ludwigsburg and proceeded to the city center of Stuttgart where several thousand spectators enjoyed the show. Afterwards the participants gave interviews and participated in talkshows. (more) 

Moonlighters perform at International Media Lounge and City Arena in Frankfurt
June 2+3, 2006. The International Media Lounge, hosted by the City of Frankfurt's press office and the Frankfurt Press Club, opened on June 2 as a meeting place for journalists from all over the world who are in Germany covering the FIFA World Cup. On this occasion the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt sponsored a well-received performance by the Moonlighters, a New York City-based band featuring 1920's and 30's jazz and Hawaiian music. Until July 2 the Media lounge will enable reporters to watch World Cup games, meet colleagues and get professional assistance for their work. Interested correspondents can register here. Again sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General, the Moonlighters took their Hawaiian Swing also to the City Arena on June 3, a multicultural festival in downtown Frankfurt featuring musical performances from groups representing the 32 nations participating in the World Cup. (more) 

Political expert Jerry Hagstrom engages 250 Bundeswehr members
May 31, 2006. Jerry Hagstrom, prize-winning journalist, book author and commentator with the National Journal in Washington, presented a lecture on “The Foreign and Domestic Policy Debates in Washington 5 Months Before the U.S. Congressional Elections” at the Bundeswehr facilities in Idar-Oberstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, on May 31. Hagstrom engaged 250 young Bundeswehr soldiers, from all of Germany and at the beginning of professional military careers, in an intensive discussion of U.S. politics. The length of the discussion proved the success of this pioneering event and launched a new institutional cooperation between the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt and the central Bundeswehr facility in Idar-Oberstein. (more) 

Ambassador Timken delivers Commencement Address at University of Maryland University College in Heidelberg
May 28, 2006. Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. received an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of Maryland University College and delivered the Commencement Address at its graduation celebration in Heidelberg, Germany, on Sunday. In attendance were over 250 graduates of the UMUC, many of whom serve full-time in the American military. The Ambassador thanked both the UMUC for serving America's military all over the world and the men and women in our Armed Forces who combined a rigorous academic study with military and civilian service. "It has taken personal discipline, stamina, and a sense of purpose to carry through," the Ambassador said. "Congratulations on a job well done." In the context of the common agenda of the transatlantic partnership the Ambassador emphasized the strong relationship between President Bush and Chancellor Merkel. "At every level, we are seeing a substantial upswing in governmental visits and consultations, evidence that the German-American relationship is moving forward," the Ambassador said. (more) 

Briefing for 50 Executive MBA Students at U.S. Consulate General
May 22, 2006. Deputy Public Affairs Officer Jeffrey Arnold welcomed a group of 50 Executive MBA students from the College of William and Mary doing a summer program at their German partner university, the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel, on May 22. He was joined by representatives of the U.S. Commercial Service, the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the Rhein-Main Economic Development Agency and the American German Business Club. (more) 

University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, Orchestra and Choir give concert in Frankfurt
May 22, 2006. On their 2006 tour of France and Germany, the Concert Choir and Chamber Orchestra of the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse gave a guest performance at the Frankurt University of Music and Performing Arts, one of UW partner universities in Germany on May 22. The concert also marked the beginning of this year's celebration of the 30th anniversary of the partnership between the States of Hessen and Wisconsin. Dean Bernhard Wetz of Frankfurt University for Music and Performing Arts and Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland of the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt welcomed the guests. The Orchestra and Choir under the leadership of conductors Alden Hoefer and Gary Kent Walth presented, among others, music by Copland, Beethoven, Bach and Faure. (more) 

Ambassdor Timken Meets Minister President Oettinger in Stuttgart
May 19, 2006. Minister President Günther H. Oettinger welcomed the Ambassador of the United States to Germany, William Robert Timken Jr., to an introductory call in Stuttgart on May 19. "The relations between Baden-Württemberg and its partners from the U.S. have been very good traditionally. We would like to maintain and expand them in the future," Minister President Oettinger said. The Ambassador and his host also discussed the strong mutual economic relations and the importance of Stuttgart for the U.S. military forces. They emphasized the need to continue and expand the outstanding cooperation between education and research institutions in the U.S. and Baden-Württemberg.
(Photos: Staatsministerium Baden-Württemberg) (more) 

Ambassador Timken congratulates the Frankfurt Union Club
May 20, 2006. On occasion of its 50th anniversary, Ambassador Timken delivered the keynote speech at the Union Club Frankfurt, formerly known as the American Press Club. The Ambassador emphasized key factors of the current German-American relationship, among them strong ties between Chancellor Merkel and President Bush, to an overflow audience of economic, cultural and political leaders. (more)

"Thanks to the President for sending you!"
Stuttgart Students and Teachers welcome Sue Timken to their School
May 19, 2006. Mrs. Sue Timken discussed American Life and Culture with some 30 students and teachers of Königin-Olga-Stift in Stuttgart on May 19. Mrs. Timken addressed issues like education, sports, volunteerism, and study in the USA. She engaged in a lively discussion about the differences and similarities in American and German school and family life with the students who have recently returned from an exchange visit to their American partner school in Oregon. At the conclusion of the program, Mrs. Timken presented a set of books and CD-ROMs about the USA for the school library to headmaster Karl Waidelich who enjoyed the morning with the wife of the U.S. ambassador so much that he asked her to thank President Bush for sending her and her husband to Germany. (more) 

Ambassador Timken discusses Globalized Economy with Students at Hohenheim University
May 19, 2006. U.S. Ambassador Timken was received by the president of Hohenheim university, Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Liebig, and high-ranking members of the faculty for a discussion with business and economics students on May 19. After a private meeting with the president and several professors and a tour of the university library, the Ambassador signed the guest book in one of the most exquisit historical halls in the historical castle. He then shared his experience of 40 years in private business in a lecture on “Corporate Responsibility in a Globalized Economy” and engaged the students in an extensive discussion which he continued informally during the concluding reception hosted by the university president in his honor. (more) 

Full House at second anniversary of Arab-American Dialogue at GAI Tübingen
May 19, 2006. The second anniversary of the Arab-American Dialogue Tübingen was celebrated by a diverse group of over 80 people at the German-American Institute (GAI) in Tübingen on May 19 with a rich cultural program. The evening was openend by Tübingens GAI director, the deputy President of the Verein arabischer Studenten und Akademiker in Tübingen, the Assistant Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, and the two moderators of the Arab-American Dialogue introduced the program of the evening. Before the participants from Germany, the U.S. and many Arab countries enjoyed the food and engaged in lively discussions about cultural differences and similarities, the moderators of the Dialogue, Penelope Pinson and Hussein Hamdan, performed a skit reflecting on the two years of the dialogue and giving an outlook. (more) 

Ambassador Timken Delivers "Talk at Byrnes" Lecture at the IHK Stuttgart
May 18, 2006. Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. delivered a "Talk at Byrnes" lecture entitled German-American Relations in the Merkel Era to a full crowd of over 200 at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Stuttgart. The Ambassador focused on the greatly improved German-American relationship that began with President Bush’s visit to Mainz in 2005 and was maintained during Chancellor Merkel’s two trips to Washington, D.C. "President Bush sees Chancellor Merkel as a strong ally when it comes to uniting the world to speak with one clear voice," the Ambassador said. "President Bush and Chancellor Merkel are not, I can assure you, focusing on differences." After the speech, the Ambassador answered several questions from the audience about the importance of trans-Atlantic trade and investment and other topics. (more) 

Philadelphia Museum of Art Shares Marketing Secrets with Frankfurt
May 18, 2006.The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Marketing Director, Charles Croce, delivered a presentation to a group of German gallery and museum directors at the Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt on May 18th. Mr. Croce, who has also worked for many other cultural institutions in New York and Philadelphia as well as the German national airline Lufthansa, showed his German colleagues how the United States and specifically the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art markets its cultural institutions. Mr. Croce focused on the Museum’s special exhibit promotions as well as new attempts to draw in Philadelphia’s diverse population, including young people and college students. (more) 

U.S. Constitution celebrated at Kassel University
May 17, 2006. Acting Cultural Attache Roy Weatherston joined American Academy Fellow Ruth Wedgwood of Johns Hopkins University in an event at Kassel University’s historical “Eulensaal” on May 17 celebrating the publication of Constitutional Documents of the United States of America 1776-1860 published by Horst Dippel, Professor of British and North American History. Prof. Dippel’s comprehensive guide to the U.S. Constitution demonstrates the continued importance placed on the U.S. Constitution by German scholars. Some one hundred guests heard remarks from several speakers including distinguished Johns Hopkins University scholar Dr. Ruth Wedgwood. (more) 

Acting Principal Officer Geeta Pasi Meets With Members of Hesse's Muslim Community
May 16, 2006. Acting Principal Officer Geeta Pasi greeted more than 20 members of Hessen's Muslim community during a tea on May 16 that provided an opportunity for strengthening relationships and seeking means for future cooperation and understanding. In her welcoming remarks, APO Pasi emphazised the importance of building mutual understanding and stated: "The Islamic faith places a strong emphasis on hard work, family and service to the community - values that are shared by Americans. We all must work to foster common interests and values between people around the world. We have much to learn from each other and we have more that can unite us than divide us. " Among the attendees were representatives of the diplomatic corps, public officials, private sector, religious and charitable organizations. (more) 

Memorial Celebration in Honor of Carl Schurz
May 15, 2006. On May 15th, the Steuben-Schurz-Gesellschaft e.V. celebrated the centennial anniversary of Carl Schurz’s death at the Carl Schurz School Frankfurt with some 300 guests. Dr. Rüdiger Wersich, Center for North America Studies at the University of Frankfurt, held the keynote speech entitled “Carl Schurz: From a Revolutionary to a Statesman”. The event was a benefit event for the USA-Interns program of the Steuben-Schurz-Gesellschaft, which organizes internships for US university students in Germany and for German university students in the USA. President Dr. Ingrid Gräfin zu Solms-Wildenfels pointed out that the motto of the Steuben-Schurz Society: “stabiliy and friendship in a challenging environment” has not lost importance over the years and in future. (more) 

America at Baden-Wuerttemberg Tag in Wertheim
May 13 and 14, 2006. On May 13 and 14th, the four German-American Institutes located in Baden-Wuerttemberg (Heidelberg, Tuebingen, Freiburg, Stuttgart) presented their programs and services at the first "Baden-Wuerttemberg Tag" in Wertheim. They were joined by Public Affairs Frankfurt’s EducationUSA, which provided information on studying and working in the United States. Visitors picked up information on the United States, enjoyed American style popcorn and tried their skill at Basketball. During the Baden-Wuerttemberg Tag, more than 50 exhibitors showcased services and organizations in Baden-Wuerttemberg. (more) 

Welcome to the USA! at Mannheim City Library
May 11, 2006. On May 11th, a webchat with the Mannheimer Morgen and an information session at the City Library provided information to Mannheim citizens on "Studying and Working in the United States". The lively chat between PD Frankfurt’s Educational Adviser Renate Vollmer and Matthew Roy from the Consular Section and readers of the Mannheimer Morgen was followed by an all afternoon infosession "Welcome to the USA", organized in cooperation with the City Library Mannheim. Questions from more than 60 students and parents were answered. Topics ranged from how to organize a stay as an Au Pair to visa regulations for internships, studying and working in the United States. The library received a book donation with more than 30 publications on these topics, including the "If you Want to Study in the United States" guides. (more) 

Seminar Offers New Insights Into Occidental/Oriental Relations
May 11, 2006. Prof. Peter O’Brien, a poltical scientist at Trinity University, San Antonio, and Dr. Ulrike Ackermann, a social scientist from Frankfurt, were on the roster of experts discussing “The West and the Islamic World” at a seminar in Birkenfeld at the Naher river on May 11 and 12. Co-sponsored by the Atlantic Academy Rheinland-Palatinate and the IfB Boppard, the seminar attracted teachers and students from Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg. Six renowned experts and a movie offered a wide array of new perspectives – i.e. historical and current cultural relations, islamist terrorism, prospects for political, economic and social development and the role of women in the Islamic world – on a critical relationship which ranks at the top of the agenda of international relations. (more) 

Acting Principal Officer Geeta Pasi Addresses American-German Business Club
May 9, 2006. Acting Principal Officer Geeta Pasi addressed a meeting of the American-German Business Club at the Frankfurt Marriott on Tuesday, May 9th. AGBC member Klaus Nierendorf introduced Ms. Pasi by noting her successful career in the Foreign Service, highlighting her previous assignment as the senior desk officer for Afghanistan before coming to Frankfurt. The speech, entitled '21st Century Diplomacy', focused on America's changing foreign service goals and policies in order to adapt to a more globalized world. Afterwards, Ms. Pasi answered questions from the assembled guests about how people and governments need to change in order to be successful in the 21st Century, American policies towards the United Nations, and about her next assignment as Deputy Chief of Mission in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (more) 

U.S. Climate Change Policy Debate Topic of Expert Roundtables
May 8, 2006. Prof. Thomas Brewer of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business discussed “The Business Dimension of Climate Change Policy” at expert roundtables at the Hesse Ministry for the Environment in Wiesbaden and with members of the Hesse Free Democratic Party in Hanau on May 8. Prof. Brewer informed influential political and state government officials, among them three division heads of the Hesse Environmental, Financial and Social Ministries and two members of the FDP’s Federal Commission on the Environment, about a complex climate change policy debate in the U.S. cutting across party lines and heavily focusing, on the federal level, on technological solutions as opposed to regulations. (more) 

James Rizzi Exhibit Opening
May 5, 2006. The work of American artist James Rizzi is currently shown at the ExploraMuseum in Frankfurt. The exhibition features over 100 of the artist's unique and eye-catching art. James Rizzi himself was present at the opening of the exhibit on May 5 and signed artwork that was on sale. Assistant Public Affairs Officer Jeff Arnold joined other Frankfurt luminaries in addressing the hundreds of eager guests in attendance. Mr. Arnold thanked Mr. Rizzi for showing the diversity of America and especially of New York City, Rizzi's home. The artist has created an immediately-recognizable style that includes 3-D works that fascinates both young and old alike and has created a fanbase throughout the world. The Rizzi exhibition organized by Galerie am Dom in Wetzlar and Vision Event runs at the ExploraMuseum until June 5th. (more) 

World Press Freedom Day Reception
May 4, 2006. On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd, Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs Anne Chermak and Press Attache Robert Wood welcomed journalists from the Rhein-Main area at the Amerika Haus Frankfurt on May 4. They were joined by participants of the annual press specialists’ conference from all of Mission Germany’s posts. The reception celebrated the commitment and courage of journalists around the world, who fight for freedom of press despite dangerous working conditions and threatened by government censorship. (more) 

American Citizen Information Night
May 2, 2006. Frankfurt's Consular Section hosted its first American Citizen Information Night May 2 in the consular atrium. Acting Principal Officer Geeta Pasi and Consular Section Chief Andrew Parker welcomed approximately 200 members of the local American community who turned out for the evening event. Information night was notable for the close cooperation of multiple US government agencies including IRS, USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Service) and Social Security who answered questions regarding their services to the public. Consular section representatives answered questions about everything from tourist and immigrant visa processing to how American travelers and expatriates can register themselves with the consulate online, how to renew a US passport and the availability of American notarial services. (more) 

Earth Day event raises public awareness of new diabetes type 2 epidemic
April 27, 2006. Almost 50 professionals from medicine, the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, government and education attended the Earth Day event “Diabetes and the Environment” at the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce on April 27. Matthias Gräßle, Managing Director at the Chamber of Commerce, and Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland offered welcoming remarks. Thomas Dannenmann, the president of Earth Day International/German Committee, then introduced the two featured speakesr, Alan Lockwood, Professor of Neurology at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and Prof. Rüdiger Göke, one of Germany’s leading diabetes specialists. Prof. Lockwood presented his updated pioneering study on the contribution of environmental pollution to the risk of acquiring diabetes type 2. Prof. Göke explained the medical aspects of diabetes type 2 and its rapid spread as the most costly chronic disease in western industrial societies. (more) 

Presidential Leadership and Political Reporting - Terry Michael addresses Journalism Students at Mainz University
April 25, 2006. Terry Michael, Executive Director of the Washington Center for Politics & Journalism, addressed postgraduate students at the Journalism Department of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz on April 25. His talk on Presidential Leadership, hosted by Prof. Karl Nikolaus Renner, focused on leadership traits, such as moral authority, communication and political skills, administrative ability, as well as the willingness to lead. Mr. Michael also provided an outlook to the upcoming Congressional elections in 2006 and the Presidential race in 2008. (more) 

Visa Information Session at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt
April 24, 2006. For the first time, the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt held an information session on J-1 Visa for German exchange organizations on April 24. 50 participants from more than 45 exchanges organizations used the opportunity to participate in a guided tour of the visa section, receive information on new developments and to ask questions. Frankfurt consular chief Andrew Parker and Assistant Public Affairs Officer Jeff Arnold greeted the guests and emphasized the importance of exchange programs for the United States. Renate Vollmer provided information on EducationUSA services. Information on new developments in regard to J-1 visa processes by Joanne Brooks-Lindsay, was followed by an intense Question and Answer session. (more) 

Consulate Informs Public on Changes Regarding German Temporary Passports
April 11+13, 2006. The U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt held an information session on changes regarding German temporary passports on April 11. As of May 1 German temporary/emergency passports will no longer be valid for travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Holders of German temporary or emergency passports who intend to travel to or through the United States must either obtain a valid, machine-readable regular German passport for Visa Waiver Program travel or apply for a U.S. visa to travel to the United States. Frankfurt consular chief Andrew Parker and consular officer Michael Greer as well as Minister-Counselor for Consular Affairs Steve Pattison from the Embassy in Berlin explained upcoming changes and answered questions from the audience. In addition, Michael Greer and his consular colleague Stephanie Schaeckermann answered more questions from people around Germany during a live Internet chat.
Samples of German passports: Valid for Visa Waiver | Visa Needed | More on the new regulations | (more) 

Mainz Celebrates German-American Friendship
April 9, 2006. The city of Mainz hosted another colorful festival celebrating German American friendship on April 9, following up on last year's successful event held in the wake of President Bush's visit to the city. Along with tens of thousands visitors, Lord Mayor Jens Beutel and Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland underscored the importance of German-American friendship on a person-to-person level. As guest of honor at the opening ceremony, the PAO talked about his personal ties to the city of Mainz going back to his time as a student at Mainz university in the early 80s: "Those years made a very strong impression on me -- I returned to the U.S., first to teach German to young American high school students, and later to join the foreign service. I have always dreamed of returning to Germany, and have had the good fortune to do so twice to date." The PAO also addressed questions on the new U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt. (more) 

'Liz Taylor - Photographs from Bob Willoughby' exhibition opens in Koblenz
April 6, 2006. A photo exhibition highlighting the early career of American actress Liz Taylor opened to a large crowd at the Ludwig Museum in Koblenz this past Thursday. The 70 photographs were all the work of Bob Willoughby, a master photographer who followed the young actress during her meteoric rise into one of the leading stars of the age. Frankfurt Deputy Public Affairs Officer Jeffrey Arnold and the Director of the Ludwig Museum, Dr. Beate Reifenscheid, welcomed the seventy guests and talked about Ms. Taylor's impact as an actress and as an advocate for issues such as AIDS. Bob Willoughby's photographs of Elizabeth Taylor will run in the Ludwig Museum in Koblenz until May 7th. (more) 

Frankfurt High School Students learn about Studying in the United States
April 4, 2006. As part of "infotage 2006", Frankfurt high school students received information on studying in the United States. The week long information fair at Frankfurt Universities, organized by the Labor Exchange, gives 11th and 12th graders the opportunity to experience college life, listen to lectures and visit the campuses. Public Affairs Frankfurt/Educational Information Services’ Renate Vollmer answered questions at an information booth for two hours, followed by a presentation and questions & answer session on the topic to 45 students. Students picked up information material on Educational Information Services and other services of the Information Resource Center, the publication "If you want to study in the United States" and material on visa issues. (more) 

New Generations, New Services? Changing Services in an Academic Library
March 27, 2006. Barbara Walden from the Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison, gave a lively presentation on "New Generations, New Services? Changing Reference and Research Services in an Academic Library" at the Frankfurt University Library on March 27, 2006. The library and the Information Resource Center of the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt teamed up for the second librarian’s round table this year. Librarians from Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg learned about the changes in reference services that the Memorial Library intends to implement within the next five years. An inspiring discussion about the future of reference and research services concluded the official program. (more) 

U.S. Women's National Team Soccer Player invited to visit Frankfurt during Webchat
March 22, 2006. A few hours before the friendly match between the U.S. and German Men's National Teams U.S. Women's National Team soccer player Catherine "Cat" (Reddick) Whitehill participated in an online chat about soccer in the U.S. and her experiences as a participant in World Cup tournaments. With the Men's World Cup in Germany this summer, and the 2007 Women's World Cup rapidly approaching, this was a great opportunity for soccer players and fans in Germany to speak with a true American star. Alexandra Rauland, goalie of the girls' soccer team at Frankfurt International School (FIS), was excited to exchange ideas about penalty kicks and soccer as spectator sport with Cat. Cat also offered helpful advice for young girls who would like to play at university level. Alexandra invited Cat to meet with the Frankfurt International School girls' soccer team, if she makes it to Germany in the summer. Chat Transcript | Mission Germany's Soccer Page | Upcoming webchats | (more) 

Students Learn About Training after Finishing School
March 21, 2006. Public Affairs Frankfurt informed about exchange opportunities with the United States during the Bringme event at the Ludwig-Ehrhard School in Wiesbaden. Following a panel discussion, 130 students interested in training opportunities after finishing school talked to various career experts. Public Affairs shared an information table with Kristina Köhler, member of the Bundestag, who talked to students about the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program. Students picked up materials on exchange opportunities and on the United States, including the CD ROM "About the USA" and the publication "Muslim Life in America" in English and Turkish. A selection of materials, including the Outline Series, was presented to the school library. (more) 

Experts debate U.S. and EU Global Interests and Responsibilities
March 16, 2006. Dr. Andrew Denison, Director/Transatlantic Network, and Prof. Hans Maull from Trier University lectured and debated on “The U.S. and EU – Their Interests and Responsibilities in the World” at a half-day seminar sponsored by the U.S. Consulate Frankfurt, the Landeszentrale für politische Bildung (LpB) and the Atlantic Academy Rheinland-Pfalz at the LpB in Mainz on March 16. Maull and Denison formed an impressive German-American team convincing over 70 representatives from high-schools, the Bundeswehr, academia, German-American organizations and the media of the many opportunities for the U.S. and Europe to renew a long and successful partnership by working together in joint and complementary roles on a variety of pressing global issues. (more) 

U.S. author Dave King and German actor Jan Josef Liefers open Germany-wide reading tour of "Homecoming" in Frankfurt
March 13, 2006. Dave King and Jan Josef Liefers read to a full house with over 300 fans at Die Deutsche Bibliothek Frankfurt from King's first novel "Homecoming" (Aufbau Verlag, Original title: "The Ha-Ha") They complemented each other in presenting chapters from the original English version as well as from the German translation. After the reading, Dave King discussed his book, the idea behind it, and his biography with Jan Josef Liefers and the interested audience. The event was organized by Aufbau Verlag in cooperation with the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, Die Deutsche Bibliothek and Carolus Buchhandlung. If you missed the event, click here to watch some highlights of their performance or here for the interview that the U.S. Consulate's Cultural Affairs Specialist Dr. Kirsten Gerstner conducted with Dave King before the reading. (Windows Media Player and DSL connection required.) (more) 

Globalization Seminar a Great Success
March 10-12, 2006. 28 teachers of English and Social Sciences gathered at Schloss Rauischholzhausen to discuss Globalization and its effect on National Identity with four American academics and journalists. Dr. Darrell West from Brown University, Debra Magpie Earling of the University of Montana, John Dean from the University of Versailles, and Fulbright scholar and U.S. News and World Report contributor Joellen Perry all gave an American perspective on how German teachers and instructors can teach and prepare German youth for a rapidly changing world. The seminar consisted of lectures, readings, film screenings, workshops, and discussions all at the beautiful and scenic Schloss Rauischholzhausen in northern Hessen. The participants left the seminar with an increased enthusiasm for teaching the often misunderstood and difficult subject of globalization. (more) 

American Student Visits Schools to Teach German Teenagers About America
March 6, 2006. The Consulate General Frankfurt held another three school outreach events early in March to help local German high school students gain a better perspective of life in the United States. Public Affairs intern Andrew Eilts, a student at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. visited three high school classes and discussed immigration history, multiculturalism in the United States, and what life is like for the average American high school student. The excited students asked many questions on a wide range of topics, ranging from American opinions about illegal immigration to what young Americans do in their spare time. (more) 

From Cyberspace to Real Life:
Frankfurt Students thrilled to meet Morton Rhue in Person
March 6, 2006. Morton Rhue, featured author of the U.S. Consulate's first live web chat at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2005, finally fulfilled online wishes of German students who had been disappointed that he wasn't at the fair in person: Organized by his German publisher Ravensburger and the Oberursel bookstore Bollinger, Morton flew in from New York to discuss his latest book with hundreds of fans who attended his readings at two schools and the bookstore on March 6. Beyond the reading, Morton shared with his enthusiastic audience insights about Wiener Schnitzel and German beer, freedom of speech and the First Amendment, why he likes America and how a writer called Todd Strasser turned into a French dead end road... If all that sounds strange to you, watch the video, taken at Morton's performance at a Oberursel Gymnasium. (Windows Media Player and DSL connection required.) (more) 

At MBA Fair, Participants Learn About Studying in the United States and Visas
March 4, 2006. The Information Resource Center Frankfurt represented the Educational Information Services at the World MBA Tour in Frankfurt. Consular Officer Phillip Slattery provided guidance on visa procedures. Participants received information on upcoming webchats on working an studying in the United States, how to research universities offering MBAs, taking the GMAT, and copies of the "If you want to Study in the United States" series. The 600 visitors met representatives from U.S. and European universities. (more) 

U.S. Mission Team Supports U.S. Soccer Squad in Kaiserslautern
March 1, 2006. Representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Berlin and U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt led by Deputy Chief of Mission John Cloud attended the USA-Poland friendly in Kaiserslautern this Wednesday. They cheered as Clint Dempsey headed home the game-winner early in the second half and the U.S. Men's National Team fought through tough conditions, including a snowstorm in the final 20 minutes, to defeat Poland, 1-0. In front of 13,400 fans, a majority of whom were U.S. military personnel and their families from Ramstein Air Base, the U.S. wore their new white Nike uniforms for the first time, opting for the long sleeves, as the temperature dropped at kickoff. After the game, Bruce Arena discussed the tough roster decisions he faces, while the players reflected on the win. The win improves the USA's record to 4-0-1 during their 2006 World Cup preparations. (more) 

Americans Cheer On U.S. Men's National Team in Kaiserslautern
February 28, 2006. Hundreds of excited soccer fans came out to support of the United States Men's National Soccer Team on Tuesday. The rally, held at Ramstein Air Force base, came the day before the US team met Poland in a pre-World Cup friendly in Kaiserslautern. The Men's National Team, which includes three Americans who regularly play soccer in the German leagues, were on hand and were eager to meet with their fans to sign autographs. Comedian Drew Carey also made a special surprise appearance and gave his prediction for victory in Wednesday's game, while two large screens highlighted Team USA's successes in the World Cup qualifying rounds. Video (Windows Media Player and DSL connection required) (more) 

Reading and Jazz with crime author Bill Moody and the Frankfurt Jazz Trio
February 28, 2006. A diverse crowd of jazz fans and crime novel readers enjoyed the Carneval Tuesday evening at Romanfabrik with U.S. crime author and jazz musician Bill Moody. Bill Moody read from his new book "Bird Lives!" and later played the drums together with Frankfurt Jazz Trio featuring Thomas Cremer, Olaf Polziehn, and Martin Gjakonovski. The evening was an entertaining mix of English and German (Jochen Nix) reading from Moody's latest book, Q&A sessions moderated by Kathrin Fischer, hr2, and excellent Jazz by the Frankfurt Jazz Trio/Bill Moody. The evening was crowned with a jam session of the Frankfurt Jazz Trio with pianist and singer Karmen Mikovic who was in the audience. (more) 

German Journalists explore Multiculturalism in the United States
The U.S. Embassy Berlin organized a journalism tour on "U.S. Multiculturalism" in cooperation with the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program and Foreign Press Center in Washington D.C., as well as the Bilateral U.S. -Arab Chamber of Commerce in Houston. From February 11-17, eight journalists from German broadcast, online and print media explored the issue of multiculturalism in the U.S., with a special focus on Muslim communities and the integration of foreigners in the United States. Accompanied by the press specialist of the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, the group visited the State Department and organizations, such as the Center for Muslim Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Arab American Institute and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life in Washington D.C. (more) 

New York Photo Exhibit Draws School Groups To Amerika Haus
February 24, 2006. In the past two weeks, Frankfurt’s Amerika Haus hosted over 100 German students of four local high school classes who were interested in learning about immigration to the U.S. and eager to examine the Landmarks of New York photo exhibition currently on display. The students came prepared with questions not only about immigration history but also current U.S. policies around the world. All workshops featured lively discussions with State Department intern Andrew Eilts about life in the United States. He also lead the students through the New York exhibit featuring photos of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and other famous New York City landmarks. (more) 

Atlantic Academy Rhineland-Palatinate celebrates its 10th anniversary
February 22, 2006. The Atlantic Academy Rhineland-Palatinate, one of the leading institutes in Germany in promoting the trans-Atlantic dialogue, celebrated ten successful years on Wednesday with a packed celebration in Kaiserslautern. The Director of the Academy, Dr. Werner Kremp, Kaiserslautern Lord Mayor Bernhard J. Deubig, State Minister Karl Peter Bruch, and DAAD Professor Dr. Crister Garrett were joined by over 150 guests of honor. On behalf of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin and the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland thanked the academy for its invaluable contributions to the strength of the German-American partnership and expressed his hope for a continued close cooperation. (more) 

Students from Berufliche Schule Biedenkopf Visit Consulate
February 13, 2006. 32 students studying to be secretaries and administrative assistants in international business visited the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt on Monday, February 13, 2006 for two presentations and a panel discussion on what it’s like to work in administrative positions in the United States and in its diplomatic missions abroad. Assistant Public Affairs Officer Jeff Arnold welcomed the students to the Consulate General and described its role, while representatives of other sections briefed the students on the Consulate's hiring process and the outlook for careers in the United States. After the presentations, the interested students snapped up information packets and expressed appreciation for the briefings tailored to their career interests. (more) 

Pulitzer Prize Winner Michael Cunningham fascinates Frankfurt Audience with "Specimen Days"
February 10, 2006. More than 100 fans took over Frankfurt's Romanfabrik last Friday to spend an evening with Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham (The Hours) who read from his latest master piece: the Walt Whitman-inspired, time-traveling novel Specimen Days. In greeting the enthusiastic audience, Cunningham said he was glad to be back in Frankfurt where he had stayed for a few years as a kid and surprised everybody with his German skills. He especially thanked Georg Schmidt, the "author" of the German version Helle Tage (Luchterhand), for his superb translation. Actor Stéphane Bittoun performed as Cunningham's German voice while Kathrin Fischer of hr2 moderated the Q&A session following the reading. (more) 

From Italy to Frankfurt to become an American Citizen
February 9, 2006. Officer Jeffrey Sapko of the U.S. Consulate's Department for Homeland Security swore in Army Specialist Sascha Fletcher of the United States Army Garrison stationed in Vicenza, Italy. Specialist Fletcher was born in Germany and raised by his grandfather, a member of the U.S. Air Force stationed in Kaiserslautern. He decided to make the eight-hour drive up from Italy and have his citizenship ceremony conducted here in Frankfurt. "This is my home," he said, shortly before taking the Oath of Allegiance and receiving his American citizenship. (more) 

Fulda Students Learn About Internships in the United States
February 8, 2006. Educational Information Services/Information Resource Center Frankfurt’s Renate Vollmer presented a "USA Info Special" on internships and working in the United States at the Fachhochschule Fulda. The presentation covering various kinds of internships, how to apply for them and how to apply for a visa, was followed by an Question & Answer session. 12 students learned about the attraction of interning in the U.S. and ways to make it a smoother possibility. (more) 

Rotation Of Leadership At U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt
February 6, 2006. Peter W. Bodde departed his posting at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany, on February 5, 2006, to assume his new duties as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. William R. Timken, Jr., the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, has selected Ms. Geeta Pasi, formerly Deputy Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany, to serve as Principal Officer of the U.S. Consulate General upon Mr. Bodde's departure. Ms. Pasi, who holds the rank of Counselor in the Senior Foreign Service, has been serving in Frankfurt since August 2003. She has served in four other overseas posts as well as in Washington, D.C., most recently covering Afghanistan. (more) 

Author and Professor Ethel Morgan Smith Describes the Civil Rights Movement to Local Students
February 3, 2006. In honor of African American History Month, the U.S. Consulate General invited African-American author and West Virginia University professor Ethel Morgan Smith to talk about the Civil Rights movement and race relations in the United States to over 200 students at the Goethe-Gymnasium in Frankfurt. Professor Smith gave a brief history of the Civil Rights movement and answered questions about her own background and experiences growing up in the segregated South. She also discussed racial history since World War II and told the local German students many anecdotes and stories from her own personal experience. (more) 

European premiere of Landmarks of NY exhibit at Amerika Haus
February 2, 2006. The State Department -sponsored photo exhibition The Landmarks of New York made its European debut to a crowd of well over one hundred people Thursday night at Amerika Haus. Frankfurt's Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland greeted the guests, noting that Frankfurt is an ideal location for this exhibit, since both Frankfurt and New York are the business hubs of their respective continents. The guests enjoyed the opportunity to view the 80 black and white photos as classic New York songs played in the background. The exhibit will be open Thursdays through Saturdays from 1-5 pm and will run until February 25, 2006. (more) 

Tübingen Students learn about Internships in the United States
February 1, 2006. Educational Information Services/Information Resource Center Frankfurt’s Renate Vollmer presented a "USA Info Special" on internships in the United States, organized by the German-American Institute Tübingen. The presentation covering various kinds of internships, how to apply for them and how to apply for a visa, was followed by an intense Q&A session. 30 students learned about the attraction of interning in the U.S. and ways to make it a smoother possibility. The infosession was part of "Go Abroad – Internships in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand" with two hours dedicated to each country. (more) 

Consul General Bodde Says Goodbye
January 30, 2006. Deputy Chief of Mission John Cloud and his wife Mary hosted a reception in honor of Consul General Peter Bodde and his wife Tanya Bodde at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt. Over 200 distinguished guests attended the event Monday evening to commemorate the Boddes’ imminent departure from Frankfurt. Deputy Chief of Mission Cloud, Minister Udo Corts from Hessen, and Lieutenant General Rod Bishop of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, all spoke fondly of Mr. Bodde’s three and a half years as Consul General and wished him and his family well as he becomes the new Deputy Chief of the U.S. Mission in Pakistan. The departing Consul General thanked all in attendance as well as his staff and everyone in and out of Frankfurt who helped make his time here a wonderful experience. (more) 

German-American Institute in Freiburg Opens to a Full House
January 28, 2006. Over 100 guests and friends of the German-American relationship spent Saturday, Jan 28, at the new location of Carl-Schurz Haus, the German-American Institute in Freiburg, with a diverse program. The inauguration started with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a panel discussion on the current status of transatlantic relations and the role of Carl-Schurz Haus. The high-level panel moderated by Thomas Hauser (Badische Zeitung) with Lord Mayor Salomon, PAO Scott Rauland (U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt), Prof. Schneider (Uni Freiburg), Michael Wehner (Landeszentrale für Politische Bildung), and Thomas Keller (Deutsche Bank) brought the big picture of the German-American relationship down to the local level and emphasized the importance of the work of the Carl-Schurz Haus for Freiburgs' cultural scene. (more) 

Mrs. Sue Timken, wife of the U.S. Ambassador, is impressed by photo exhibit on the Arab world
January 27, 2006. Mrs. Sue Timken, along with her daughter Fran, visited the photo exhibit "Dense but Deep" at the gallery of ifa/Institute for Foreign Relations in Stuttgart. Both were very impressed by the photos from Arab photographers from Lebanon, Egypt and Palestine, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Morocco, and tried to gain better insights into their world by studying their work. The images by "outside" photographers - including two Americans and several Europeans - was of special interest as it helped to challenge the traditional Western view of the Arab world. (more) 

Zeitzeuge and U.S. Author Herbert Gold fascinates students with his history as a Jewish American writer
January 26, 2006. Jewish-American writer Herbert Gold read to a group of 50 American Studies students at Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz from his books “Fathers” and “Bohemia”. Gold also talked to the students about his experiences growing up in the United States in a Jewish immigrant family from the Ukraine, his own evolving and changing identity as a Jewish-American writer, and his live in the bohemia/beatnik circles. (more)

Military Naturalization Ceremony at U.S. Consulate General
January 25, 2006. Ambassador William Timken Jr. presided over a naturalization ceremony for 27 service members from over 20 different countries, their families and friends at the U.S. Consulate General. In his remarks, he pointed out that the United States is built on the dreams and determination of millions of immigrants and that it has grown and flourished through their contributions and sacrifices. Ambassador Timken noted that Germany was a fitting place to acquire US citizenship, as so many Germans have crossed the Atlantic to adopt America as their new home. “From Baron von Steuben, who helped General Washington make the Continental Army strong enough to defeat the Redcoats, to former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, they have helped make America what it is today.” And sometimes descendants of German immigrants even come back to officially represent the United States in Germany, like Ambassador Timken himself, whose great grandfather had emigrated from a small German village to the U.S. (more) 

Darmstadt Students learn about Studying and Working in the United States
January 24, 2006. More than 250 high school students received information on studying and interning in the United States during a day-long University and Career Information Fair for 11th and 12th graders, organized by Darmstadt universities and the Labor Exchange. Information Resource Center/Educational Information Services’ Renate Vollmer and State Department Intern Andrew Eilts answered questions at a information booth in the morning, and were joined by Phil Slattery, from the Consulate General’s Visa Section for a presentation and Q&A session in the afternoon. Students picked up information material on Educational Information Services and other services of the Information Resource Center, the publication “If you want to study in the United States” and material on visa issues. (more) 

Rhein-Main Librarians meet at U.S. Consulate General
January 20, 2006. Nancy Rajczak, U.S. Embassy Berlin's Coordinator for Information Resource Centers (IRCs) in Germany, presented an overview of American public libraries at the first "Librarians' Roundtable" in the new U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt (Transcript). Librarians from Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg learned about programs & services at U.S. libraries, their funding and administration, particularly the role of Boards of Trustees as well as volunteers, "Friends of the Library," and PR strategies.
After the presentation on American public libraries, representatives of the consulate's Information Resource Center briefed the participants on IRC Services in the new environment, introducing new outreach initiatives like web chats, America@yourLibrary or educational information services. An inspiring discussion about new opportunities for cooperation with local libraries concluded the offical program. (more) 

Freiburg Students hear about Studying and Working in the United States
January 19, 2006. On January 19, Educational Information Services/IRC Frankfurt’s Renate Vollmer and Tanya Ward from Consulate General’s Visa Section presented a “USA Info Special” co-sponsored by the German-American Institute Freiburg. They gave a presentation and distributed information on studying, working and interning in the U.S. at the Berufsinformationszentrum of the Labor Exchange in Freiburg. Following the presentation, the students posed numerous questions on studying and interning in the U.S. as well as visa-related questions. (more) 

State Department intern Andrew Eilts passes on American spirit to students in Wiesbaden
January 18, 2006. State Department intern Andrew Eilts visited the Humboldt-Schule in Wiesbaden as part of the U.S. Consulate’s School Outreach program. On leave from George Washington University where he is an undergraduate student majoring in International Economics, he discussed the history of German-American relations with grade 10 and 11 students many of whom will soon go on an exchange visit to high schools in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition, he answered a host of questions on youth culture, high school and family life. English teacher Theis, who hosted him along with the school deputy principal Dr. Herbert Gutjahr, thanked Andrew Eilts for having made the students and teachers already feel like being in America. (more) 

Information on Avian Influenza
January 10 + 12, 2006. The U.S. Consulate General held town hall meetings in Frankfurt and Stuttgart on January 10 and 12 to inform American citizens about U.S. Government efforts to plan for a possible outbreak of avian influenza. The Regional Medical Officer at the Consulate, Dr. Kimberly Ottwell, discussed the ways that avian influenza differs from human influenza, how it is transmitted and steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of contracting either type of influenza. She also pointed out a wealth of internet web sites that can be consulted for further information. Consular officers were also on hand to answer questions from the audience on services that the consular section can provide to American citizens. (more) 

Consul General Bodde welcomes Frankfurt Rotarians
January 9, 2006. Consul General Peter Bodde introduced the Consulate General to fellow members of the Frankfurt Rotary Club. After a presentation about the different agencies and offices in the consulate and their responsibilities in the ceremonial "Flag Room", the guests enjoyed a special tour of the building, including a visit to the Consul General's own office. Consular Section Chief Andrew Parker and his staff explained how to apply for visas and demonstrated how a visa is printed. To wrap up the program, the guests visited an exhibit highlighting the U.S. Military presence in Frankfurt and the Rhein-Main region over the last 60 years which was created by Dr. John Provan. (more)