Programs and Events

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December

Minister President Koch hosts Christmas Reception for American Soldiers and their Families
December 16, 2005. At a Christmas reception hosted by the Hesse state chancery at Schloß Biebrich for the U.S. troops based in Hesse, Minister President Koch and U.S. Consul General Bodde thanked the soldiers for their continued services and their good relationship with the German host country. Even though troop numbers have decreased over the last years, the military community is still an essential partner for promoting German-American friendship in the region. To the sound of Christmas carols sung by a local school choir the children of the soldiers received Christmas presents from Santa Claus and his angelic helper. (more)

Journalists discuss future NATO roles with U.S. and German Diplomats and Officers
December 15, 2005. Eight newspaper and radio journalists from southwest Germany got an inside view of how the NATO alliance is being transformed to meet 21st Century challenges during a special three day program sponsored by the U.S. Consulates General in Frankfurt and Munich and the U.S. Embassy in Berlin. The tour included a visit to NATO’s multinational AWACS unit in Geilenkirchen followed by meetings in Brussels and Mons with representatives from the U.S. Mission to the EU, a NATO Operational Headquarters, and the U.S. Mission to NATO. (more)

Consul General Bodde highlights German-American partnership at prestigious "Winter-Lecture-Series" in Stuttgart
December 13, 2005. As keynote speaker at the German Armed Forces' "Winter-Lecture-Series" in Stuttgart, Consul General Bodde addressed some 250 attendees, including members of the German military as well as representatives of the consular corps, political parties and German-American organizations. In his speech, he underscored Secretary Rice's statements during her recent trip to Germany and other European countries, saying that the Unites States is committed to defeating terrorism and defending its citizens against terrorist enemies that themselves do not recognize any borders or any legal limits on their actions. He emphasized that "at the same time as we carry out our responsibility to protect our citizens, we will adhere to our duty to respect U.S. and international law. The United States Government understands that respect for the law is what sets us apart from the terrorists who are our enemies. It is also what makes possible the close cooperation we have with allies around the world, most importantly in Europe." (more)

American Islamic Chaplain calls for Tolerance and Friendship between the World’s different Religions
December 13, 2005. Imam Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad, the first Islamic Chaplain in the U.S. Armed Forces, visited the Fatima Zehra Mosque and the Amerika Haus in Frankfurt. Discussing his work and experience as a Muslim chaplain and Major in the American military stationed in Kiztingen/Bavaria with members of the Muslim community in the Rhein-Main region, among them fellow imams and representatives of the cultural, consular and business communities, he insisted on the responsibility of religious leaders to promote tolerance and friendship between the world’s different religions and between the variations within one faith. (more)

"Shades of Blue": hr Big Band meets Vincent Herring at Amerika Haus
December 8, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde opened the final event of the "Amerika Meets Frankfurt" series, a concert entitled “Shades of Blue” featuring the hr Big Band and U.S. sax player Vincent Herring as soloist on December 8th at Amerika Haus. This first-class cross-cultural collaboration, directed by Jörg-Achim Keller, included works by Thad Jones, Duke Ellington, W.C. Handy and Herbie Hancock. In cooperation with Hessischer Rundfunk, "Amerika Meets Frankfurt" has been highlighting the impact of American culture on Frankfurt since 1945 with a total of 18 cultural programs between June 2 and December 8. (more)
Video (Windows Media Player and DSL connection required):
Vincent Herring with hr Bigband: "Mary Ann"

American Expert discusses "China's Rise to Economic Power" with Frankfurt's Business Community
December 7, 2005. Dan Blumenthal, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., discussed “China's Rise to Economic Power - What Is the Impact on North/Southeast Asia and Beyond?” with China experts from the Rhein-Main business community at a working luncheon at the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce and the headquarfters of Commerzbank AG. The discussions focused on China's trade and energy policies, the strategic political implications of Chinese economic growth, and an assessment of the risks and opportunities of investing in the Chinese market. (more)

"Television and U.S. Popular Culture" featured at Amerika Haus
December 1, 2005. The U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt hosted a teacher training seminar on "The Golden Age of Television - The Role of TV Series in U.S. Popular Culture" on December 1 at the Amerika Haus. Scott Rauland, the Consulate's Director of Public Affairs, delivered introductory remarks. Jane Feuer, Professor of English and Film Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, analyzed several TV series, such as "West Wing" and "The Sopranos," while Barbra Morris from the University of Michigan discussed "The Reflection of Cultural Dilemmas in Teledrama and the Viewer's Consciousness." A hands-on demonstration of how to use TV spots in the classroom concluded the workshop. (more)

November

German-American Club in Koblenz Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary... and Thanksgiving
November 25, 2005. One day after the official Thanksgiving date, the German-American Club (GAC) in Koblenz gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving as well as the 20th Anniversary of the club's foundation. Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Scott Rauland spoke to the group about U.S. views of the new German government and prospects for improved relations, quoting extensively from Ambassador Timken's recent opinion piece in the Berliner Zeitung. The club also invited college students from Koblenz's sister city of Austin, Texas, who are currently studying in Koblenz, to join them. (more)

U.S. Consulate Celebrates Thanksgiving Throughout District
November 22, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde gave the keynote address at the annual Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Germany's oldest group dedicated to German-American friendship, the Steuben-Schurz Society. The group helped 15 American college students from Louisiana avoid the holiday blues by hosting them at the event. (more)

Frankfurt Students Discuss U.S. Policy and Cultural Issues
November 17, 2005. The highlight of the U.S. Consulate's International Education Week program was a visit to the Anna-Schmidt High School in Frankfurt. Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Scott Rauland and Cultural Affairs staffers talked to a group of forty 12th graders about the work of the Consulate General in Frankfurt and discussed current U.S. policy issues. Through the personal dialogue with the PAO and his colleagues, the students gained new perspectives on topics such as U.S. goals for building democracy in Iraq, individualism and rights in the U.S., and the State Department’s Doors to Diplomacy 2006 competition. (more)

Arabs and Americans build bridges at German American Institute in Tübingen
November 16, 2005. Frankfurt Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland participated in the Arab-American Dialogue at the German-American Institute (GAI) in Tübingen that takes place every month and is organized by the GAI and the Association of Arab Students and Academics. The goal is to bring together people from the Arab world and the U.S. as well as from Germany to talk with each other and clear the air of misperceptions that cloud the relationships of these groups. Over 40 participants from a wide variety of countries, ages and professions, engaged in an enthusiastic exchange of ideas and viewpoints on culture, society and the politics of Arab countries and the U.S. (more)

Inauguration of America@your Library Partnership with Frankfurt's City Library
November 10, 2005. The U.S. Consulate General and the Frankfurt City Library invited some 50 students of the Friedrich-Dessauer-Gymnasium to the inauguration of their America@yourlibrary partnership that officially sealed their successful cooperation on November 10 at the Höchst library branch. Public Affairs Officer Scott Rauland symbolically presented a check and emphasized in his remarks the historical legacy of Amerika Häuser and their libraries for Germany. He said the U.S. looks forward to continuing America's engagement with the German public through partnerships like this that will hopefully attract students not only to books but also to digital video conferences or web chats with notable Americans. Besides, he highlighted the state department's new web project competition "Doors to Diplomacy" for high school kids around the world and encouraged the German students to participate. (more)

AVANTI! Studying and working in Europe and Overseas.
November 10, 2005. IRC Frankfurt’s Renate Vollmer and Michael Greer 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 fourth time by the Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt, featured 22 organizations. Numerous young adults visited the information table of the Educational Information Service/Consular Section to ask specific questions on going to the United States for studying or an internship and pick up information material. The two presentations by the Educational Information Service on "Studying in the United States" and "Internships and working in the United States" drew 50 interested young adults. Overall, nearly 500 students and trainees attended the fair. (more)

October

U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt Celebrates Grand Opening - Ambassador Timken underscores German-American Cooperation and Trust
October 31, 2005. The U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt celebrated its grand opening at the new premises on Gießener Straße in Frankfurt-Eckenheim. In the presence of Lord Mayor Petra Roth and State Minister Jochen Riebel, U.S. Ambassador William Timken Jr. highlighted this project as a testament to the U.S. Government’s strong commitment to Germany: “Germany is a vital partner that we rely on and trust. Nothing illustrates how seriously the U.S. takes this relationship more than the new Consulate General in Frankfurt. It is one of the largest U.S. diplomatic facilities overseas. As a regional center, it will handle important logistical aspects of U.S. diplomacy in Europe, Africa, and parts of the Middle East,” Ambassador Timken said. (Full text of speech) Henrietta Fore, Undersecretary of State for Management, and Consul General Peter Bodde thanked Frankfurt and the state of Hessen for their exceptional support. (more)
Video National Anthem | More Photos

Wisconsin writer Michael Perry entertains library guests
October 27, 2005. Michael Perry, author of 'Population 485 - Meeting your Neighbors One Siren at a Time', shared with a captivated audience at the city library Frankfurt his thoughts on sneezing cows and other important facts of life growing up in a small town. Time flew by as Perry, whose trip to Germany is sponsored by Axel Dielman Verlag, told lively stories about the characters in his book. The cheerful evening ended with a song written and performed by the author. (more)

Iftaar at Amerika Haus Frankfurt
October 26, 2005. On the occasion of Ramadan, Deputy Consul General Geeta Pasi and PAO Scott Rauland, Director of the Amerika Haus Frankfurt, hosted over 50 Muslim representatives from government, business, academia and culture to an Iftaar dinner at the Amerika Haus. Chaplain Ibraheem Rasheed (U.S. Military in Hanau) announced the breaking of the fast and Chaplain Abdullah-Rasheed Muhammad (U.S. Military in Kitzingen) led the prayer. In his welcoming remarks, the PAO emphasized the recognized role of the Amerika Haus as a forum for intercultural dialogue. (more)

U.S. Consul General Peter W. Bodde welcomes guest of honor, Korean-American author Leonard Chang, to the Book Fair
October 22, 2005. Frankfurt Consul General Peter W. Bodde welcomed Korean-American author Leonard Chang and friends of the Consulate at the U.S. Embassy's Book Fair booth. Chang read from his 2004 novel "Fade to Clear" and discussed his approach to writing in a Q&A session with the audience. His first novel, entitled The Fruit 'N Food, was published in 1996 and is now taught at colleges around the country. His third, Over the Shoulder(Ecco/HarperCollins, 2001), appeared to wide acclaim and introduced the character Allen Choice, who is also the focus of Underkill (St. Martin's Minotaur/Dunne, 2003). Allen Choice returns in the new Fade to Clear (St. Martin's, 2004), which is garnering some of the strongest reviews of Leonard's career. (more)

Book Signing with U.S. Business Expert John Caslione
October 21, 2005. John Caslione discussed his latest best-selling book, "Global Manifest Destiny: Growing Your Business in a Borderless Economy" at the Frankfurt Book Fair. He signed copies of his book, published by Dearborn Publishing. It is one of Harvard Business School's "HBS Working Knowledge" top business book picks. John A. Caslione is founder and President & CEO of Andrew-Ward International, Inc. (1991), a global marketing and sales firm with offices in Chicago (US) and in Frankfurt (Germany). (more)

The U.S. Embassy at the Frankfurt Bookfair, October 19 - 23
Frankfurt Students chat with Popular American Author at U.S. Embassy Booth
October 20, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde joined Frankfurt students for a web chat with American author Todd Strasser (popularly known in Germany by his pen name, Morton Rhue) on October 20. Todd took questions and comments from students and teachers on the impact of his books and their powerful themes during a live Internet chat to celebrate the Frankfurt Book Fair. Students from around Germany participated in the chat from their computers at home. Rhue’s books "Die Welle", "Asphalt Tribe" and "Ich knall euch ab!" are popular reading in schools throughout Germany. Photos | Report from Washington | Transcript
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Book Fair guest Anthony Doerr reads at Amerika Haus
October 19, 2005. Anthony Doerr, author of 'The Shell Collector' read at Amerika Haus from his first novel 'About Grace' in cooperation with Beck Verlag. The protagonist, David Winkler, begins life in Anchorage, Alaska, a quiet boy drawn to the volatility of weather and obsessed with snow. Sometimes he sees things before they happen -- a man carrying a hatbox will be hit by a bus; Winkler will fall in love with a woman in a supermarket. When David dreams that his infant daughter will drown in a flood as he tries to save her, he comes undone. He travels thousands of miles, fleeing family, home, and the future itself, to deny the dream. On a Caribbean island, destitute, alone, and unsure if his child has survived or his wife can forgive him, David is sheltered by a couple with a daughter of their own. Ultimately it is she who will pull him back into the world, to search for the people he left behind. (more)

U.S. author David Gilbert at Amerika Haus
October 17, 2005. U.S. author David Gilbert read from his first novel 'The Normals' at Amerika Haus in cooperation with Eichborn Publishing. Billy Shine, a glum, rudderless 28-year-old Harvard grad, has defaulted on his student loan, and the brutish collection agency that has taken over his debt is not playing around. To escape, Billy quits his temp job and heightails it out of Manhattan to be a guinea pig in an experimental drug trial. Billy grapples with his place in life and tries to come to terms with his parents' kamikaze love for each other. Fast-paced and winningly insouciant if sometimes self-consciously showy, this is a fine debut that uses humor to tackle some very serious issues, including questions of medical ethics, the search for grace and the meaning of love. The author will also be present at the Bookfair and visit the booth of the US Consulate General. (more)

First Visa issued at New U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt
October 14, 2005. The Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General issued the first visa at the new Frankfurt office building on October 14. “We now can provide more efficient service to our customers in a very comfortable environment,” Consular Section Chief Andrew Parker said at a media event in the Consular waiting area, a brand new atrium with a capacity of almost 300 people. In Fiscal Year 2005 the Consular Section in Frankfurt issued over 54,000 non-immigrant visas, 5,000 immigrant visas, 23,000 passports and 5,000 reports of birth. (more)

U.S. Ambassador Timken Pays First Formal Visit to Hesse Minister President Koch.
October 13, 2005. U.S. Ambassador William Robert Timken jr. paid his first formal visit to Hesse Minister President Roland Koch at the State Chancellery in Wiesbaden on October 13. The Ambassador underscored the unique nature of the German-American relationship. He thanked Minister President Koch for his ongoing support in deepening transatlantic relations. In particular, he expressed appreciation for the state government’s initiative to offer full scholarships to students from the Hurricane stricken state of Louisiana at Hesse universities. (more)

Mrs. Timken and Mrs. Bodde Inspire Students with Reading about the 'Candybomber'
October 13, 2005. Mrs. Timken and Mrs. Bodde presented a new childrens’ book about the famous ‘candy bomber’ Gail Halvorsen to a group of 5th graders at a school in Enkheim, Frankfurt, and educated them about the special German-American relationship after WWII. The children were especially excited when they distributed little 'candybombs' to illustrate the story and the critical role the recently closed Rhein-Main Air Base played in the Berlin airlift. They also engaged a class of 12th graders, many of whom had been to the U.S. on school exchanges, in a lively discussion about differences in German and American lifestyle and school systems as well as the personal experiences the students had made in the U.S. To round off the reading event, the school library received a set of books from the former Rhein-Main Air Base library, which was donated to the Frankfurt public library. (more)

The Delta Blues Benefit Concert for New Orleans in Frankfurt
October 12, 2005. At the initiative of band leader Dale King, a Marburg-based American citizen, the blues artists Chris Paulson, Matchbox Bluesband, Dirk Hess & Bernie Batke and the Dale King Blues Band performed for the benefit of New Orleans musicians suffering from hurricane Katrina at the Blues&Beyond in Frankfurt. Vice Consul Michael Greer from the U.S. Consulate General thanked the musicians for their initiative and the audience for their support. As a result of this event, donations in the amount of $1,160 will be transferred to the New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund. (more)

U.S. Flag Raised At New Consulate Office Building In Frankfurt
October 11, 2005. The American flag was raised at the new U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt for the first time this morning. The Marine Guard Detachment Frankfurt presented the colors to Consul General Peter W. Bodde in front of the new Consulate Office Building on Gießener Str. 30.

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Exhibit about Children's Book author Eric Carle opened in Stuttgart
October 11, 2005. Over 300 guests attended the opening of the exhibit 'Eric Carle: Syracuse N.Y. - Stuttgart - New York' at the Württembergische Landesbibliothek in Stuttgart. The author of 'The Hungry Caterpillar' and more than 70 other picture books that have sold over 65 million copies of his books worldwide was present at the opening. He told an enthusiastic crowd anecdotes about his family being a great inspiration for his picture books. The speakers, among them Konsul Scott Rauland, emphazised the strong relationship between Baden-Württemberg and the US and the need to continue and intensify person-to-person relationships. (more)

Official Ceremony Commemorates Closure of Rhein-Main Air Base
October 10, 2005. U.S. Ambassador Timken joined General Foglesong, Commander of the U.S. Air Force in Europe, Dr. Wilhelm Bender, the Chairman of Fraport, and other leading American and German dignitaries in a ceremony commemorating the closure of the Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt. The air base, which has been operated by the Americans since 1945, played a crucial role during the Berlin Airlift in 1948-49. Fraport will use the facilities to further develop the Frankfurt International Airport, while the U.S. military will use expanded facilities in Ramstein and Spangdahlem to replicate Rhein-Main's place in America's global airlift network. (more)
Please see: Ambassador Timken's speech

Hesse Science Minister Corts and Consul General Bodde Welcome 14 students from the U.S.
October 8, 2005. Hurricane Victims continue Studies with Scholarships at Universities in Hesse Wiesbaden / Frankfurt - Udo Corts, Hesse Minister for Science and the Arts, and Consul General Peter Bodde welcomed 14 students from Louisiana at Frankfurt airport. Upon invitation from the universities in Hesse these students continue their studies for a year after their academic opportunities had been impaired in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Minister Corts took the initiative for this project, unique in Germany: " The German-American friendship should not only prove itself in speeches but also in everyday life and above all in cases of emergency. Hesse wants to contribute to that," Corts said. Consul General Bodde welcomed the students as Ambassadors of their country and said: "This is a wonderful example for the unique partnership between Germany and the United States." (more)

Youth Exchange Fair at Amerika Haus
October 6, 2005. On German-American Day, the City of Frankfurt and the U.S. Consulate organized for the third time an annual Youth Exchange Fair, “Hello World!” 33 exchange organizations, and six non-profit organizations and exchange consultants presented their programs at the Amerika Haus Frankfurt. More than 700 students and parents used the opportunity to pick up information materials. Presentations were given on what to consider when deciding on an organization, and on school regulations regarding spending time away from the German school. Recently returned exchange students talked about their experiences, and the Consular Section provided guidance on visa procedures. (more)

Frankfurt and U.S. Consulate Celebrate German-American Day
October 6, 2005. The U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt and the City of Frankfurt joined forces in celebrating German-American Day at the City Hall “Römer”. The event featured speeches by Consul General Peter Bodde and Economic Commissioner Nikolaus Burggraf, as well as music by the USAFE quintet. The celebration emphasized the continued vitality of the German-American partnership. (more)

School Outreach in Wiesbaden
October 6, 2005. As part of the U.S. Consulate’s school outreach program, Vice-Consul Jeffrey Arnold visited the Carl-von-Ossietzky-Schule in Wiesbaden. Offering a wide variety of historical and current facts and statistics, he involved 30 students of the 13th grade “Leistungskurs Englisch” in an extensive discussion of the United States as a country of immigrants. (more)

60th Anniversary of the State of Hesse
October 2, 2005. More than 15000 people celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Hesse during a celebratory event at the I.G. Farben Building (University of Frankfurt). Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Holbrooke, Hesse Minister President Roland Koch, and professors Arno Lustiger and Claus Leggewie discussed the state of German-American relations. Public Affairs Frankfurt's Information Resource Center presented information on the United States at special information table. Participants picked up Mission Germany's "About the USA"-CD-ROM, paper flags and IIP broschures such as “Muslim Life in America”, “Tsunami”, “Outline of U.S. Government” and “Marshall-Plan.” (more)

Photographer Julius Shulman opened in Frankfurt
October 1, 2005. Exhibit dedicated to Photographer Julius Shulman opened in Frankfurt. The Deutsches Architekturmuseum Frankfurt openend the exhibit 'A Lifetime for Architecture: The Photographer Julius Shulman' which will run through December 11, 2005. The exhibit shows a wide selection of Shulman's work starting in the 1930s until today. The photographer, who will celebrate his 95th birthday in a few days, was present at the opening and talked about his life as a photographer. Among the speakers of the opening was Consul Scott Rauland, who thanked Julius Shulman for coming to the opening and noted the reciprocal influence of German and American architecture pointing out works of German and American architects in both countries. (more)

September

Move of Staff of Amerika Haus Frankfurt to New Consulate Office Building
Amerika Haus To Continue To Host Events
September 29, 2005. The 11 employees of the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt will be moving into the new consulate building in Gießener Straße in Frankfurt-Eckenheim from the Amerika Haus in Staufenstraße 1. Consul Scott Rauland, Director of the Amerika Haus, emphasized at a press conference, "The U.S. Consulate General will continue the full range of its cultural activities from the new building. The Amerika Haus will continue to play an important role as a venue for events." (more)

Paula Sergi at the Amerika Haus
September 28, 2005. Wisconsin writer Paula Sergi reads her poems September 28, 2005. Paula Sergi, writer from Fond du Lac in Wisconsin, read poems from her book 'Family Business to an audience of students of Anna-Schmidt Schule and members of the Hessen-Wisconsin society at Amerika Haus Frankfurt. She spoke about her German roots and her experiences living and writing in Hessen. Sergi was accompanied by Geoffrey Steinherz, actor and singer, who read her novels in German. Sergi and Steinherz engaged the audience in a lively discussion about Sergi's close to life poems. Consul Scott Rauland, a native of Wisconsin himself, greeted the audience and introduced them to his home state of Wisconsin. (more)

Reception in Stuttgart
September 27, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde and his wife Tanya held a reception for business contacts and friends at the Baden-Württembergische Landesbank in Stuttgart. In his welcoming remarks to leaders of the German political, economic and cultural community, among them former Stuttgart Lord Mayor Manfred Rommel and Heilbronn Lord Mayor Helmut Himmelsbach, and the U.S. military, Mr. Bodde thanked for the support coming from Baden-Württemberg and all over Germany in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He emphazised the close business and cultural contacts between Baden-Württemberg and the United States and stressed the importance of the personal dimension of the German-American partnership. (more)

Consul General Peter Bodde Holds Reception in Kaiserslautern
September 22, 2005. Accompanied by his wife Tanya, Consul General Peter Bodde held a reception for business contacts and friends at a local restaurant in Kaiserslautern. In his welcoming remarks to leaders of the German political, economic and cultural community, among them Kaiserslautern Lord Mayor Bernhard Deubig, and the U.S. military, Mr. Bodde stressed his close private connection to the Kaiserslautern region and his feeling of “coming home” as well as the importance of the personal dimension of the German-American partnership. (more)

Celebration of Hesse's 60th Birthday
September 19, 2005. Consul General Peter W. Bodde celebrated Hesse’s 60 th Birthday together with Science Minister Udo Corts and Frankfurt University President Prof. Dr. Rudolf Steinberg at a press conference in the former office of General Dwight D. Eisenhower at the Frankfurt IG-Farben Building. Consul General Bodde emphasized the impact of America’s “Great Generation,” exemplified by Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Marshall, on the development of a strong and stable democracy in Germany. Hesse Science Minister Corts, introducing the program of an all-day 60th anniversary celebration in Frankfurt on October 2, said: “We owe a debt of gratitude to our American friends in many ways. After all, we owe them the foundation of the state of Hesse.” (more)

Meet Holly-Jane Rahlens and Learn "How To Really Kiss"
September 19, 2005. New York-born "learned Berliner" Holly-Jane Rahlens, the celebrated author of "Prinz William, Maximilian Minsky and I" (German Youth Literature Prize 2003) and one of the best-known American performance artists in Europe, entertained a cheerful crowd with segments of her latest book "How To Really Kiss" at Amerika Haus Frankfurt. Living up to her reputation as being a “storyteller by the devil’s grace” (Der Tagesspiegel), she immediately drew the audience into the world of the pains and passions of the book's main character, a 15-year-old teenage girl who is in hormone hell and forced to go on a three-week trip though the German province with her psychologist mother "Dr. Mom", only accompanied by a sex guide and dreams about the greatest boy of all she had just fallen in love with...
Cécile Schortmann, Hessischer Rundfunk, introduced the author and moderated the Q&A session following the reading. (more)

Military Naturalization Ceremony at Amerika Haus
September 15, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde joined 37 service members from 25 different countries, their families and friends at their naturalization ceremony at Amerika Haus where they became citizens of the United States. In his remarks to them, 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. Mr. Bodde called Germany 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.” (more)

Germany responds to Katrina
Consul General Bodde Thanks Benefit Concert Organizers
September 13, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde took the stage to thank the organizers, performers, and sponsors of a benefit concert put on by Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt on 13 September. Dr. Wolfgang Tischler of Deutsche Bank led a group of volunteers and organizations who put on the concert, which featured a lineup of jazz, blues, and gospel music. Thousands of Euros were raised to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. (more)

American-German Business Club Makes Donation to Help Hurricane Victims
September 13, 2005. AGBC National President Dennis Phillips and AGBC Frankfurt President Philip Haleen symbolically passed a donation of 3000 Euros to Deputy Consul General Geeta Pasi (2nd from left) of the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt and Carsten Voigt, Coordinator for U.S.-German relations at the German Foreign Ministry at a luncheon at the Marriott Hotel in Frankfurt. The donation will be placed in the German American Solidarity Fund to be used in helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. All ten chapters of AGBC in Germany and the U.S. contributed to the donation. (more)

Meet the Author: Dawn Clifton Tripp
September 13, 2005. As part of the series ‘America meets Frankfurt - 60 years of American culture in Frankfurt’, organized by Amerika Haus Frankfurt and Hessischer Rundfunk, U.S author Dawn Clifton Tripp read from her latest book ‘The season of open waters’ and showed pictures of Westport Point, the location of the novel, at Literaturhaus Villa Clementine in Wiesbaden. The head of Wiesbaden's Kulturamt, Arno Fischer, and Amerika Haus Director Scott Rauland greeted the guests. Cécile Schortmann, Hessischer Rundfunk, read from the German version of the book. The reading was a cooperation with Mare publishing house. (more)

Adolf Cluss Connects Heilbronn and Washington D.C.
September 9, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde underscored German-American cultural ties in his remarks at the opening of the Adolf Cluss exhibit in Heilbronn. Cluss (1825-1905), 1848 activist born in Heilbronn and the most influential architect in the "Red Brick City" Washington D.C.in the late 19th century, was also honored by former German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, Washington D.C. city council member Sharon Ambrose, Heilbronn Lord Mayor Helmut Himmelsbach, as well as senior representatives from the Heilbronn City Archive and the Goethe Institute Washington D.C. (more)

Katrina Jazz Nite - Benefit Concert
September 9, 2005. Internationally renowned Jazz musicians raised money with a concert at the Frankfurt train station. Ron Ringwood, Joan Faulkner, Johnny Rogers, Deidra Jones, Myron Miller, J.C. DooKingue, Alicia Tayor and New Hope Missionary Baptist Choirs and many more performed for free. Up to several hundred listeners enjoyed the top-class concert. The Bahn AG provided the space for free. Initiators of the concert were the Frankfurt Management Consultant ConActivity und Roots GmbH & Co KG. Donations by the audience and proceeds from the sale of drinks will be forwarded to WORLD VISION, an internationally active relief organization. The money will be used in the affected areas. Vice Consul Michael Greer greeted the audience and expressed the deep gratitude of the U.S. Government for the generosity shown by Germans towards the victims of Hurricane Katrina. (more)

Solidarity with Flood Victims
September 9, 2005. At the opening of Bad Dürkheim's local sausage market, Mayor Wolfgang Lutz presented Scott Rauland, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt, with a 5000 Euro check to express the sympathy and the solidarity of the citizens of Bad Dürkheim with the flood victims in the southern part of the USA. The money should directly reach the people affected by Hurricane Katrina. (more)

School wall gets a graffitied face-lift
September 8, 2005. Amerika Haus Director Scott Rauland unveiled a wall painting funded by Amerika Haus at the former American-run Astrid Lindgren elementary school. The project followed-up on the June 2005 hip-hop project with Jugendring and 3 Jungfrauen Hip-Hop Netzwerk. Based on students’ suggestions the artwork by Helge 'Bomber' Steinmann centers around a hot-air balloon shaped like a globe, surrounded by flying characters from Lindgren’s stories. In appreciation the school donated a small tree to Amerika Haus decorated with wishes from German students to US students affected by Hurricane Katrina. (more)

Reeducation and Marshall-Plan Films
September 8, 2005. As part of the series “America Meets Frankfurt - 60 Years of American Culture in Frankfurt”, Amerika Haus Frankfurt and Hessischer Rundfunk co-hosted two evening showings on September 8th and 9th of post-WWII U.S. films from the 1940s and 1950s at the German Film Museum in Frankfurt. The films documented the atrocities of the Nazi regime and the efforts of the Allied Forces to demonstrate and teach democratic values to the German population through short films. (more)

Event at Astrid Lindgren Elementary School
September 8, 2005. Students at the Astrid Lindgren Elementary School in Frankfurt presented Amerika Haus Director Scott Rauland with a small tree decorated with wishes for American students affected by Hurricane Katrina. They also requested that Amerika Haus help to arrange a partnership between a U.S. school and Astrid Lindgren Elementary School. "We wish you find a new home" and other messages of hope and inspiration were attached to this tree German students decorated for American victims of Katrina. (more)

August

Dedication of New U.S. Consulate General
August 30, 2005. The U.S. Ambassador-designate to Germany, William R. Timken, Jr., the U.S. State Department's Director of Overseas Buildings Operations, Major General (retired) Charles E. Williams, and Consul General Peter W. Bodde cut the ribbon at a Dedication Ceremony for the New American Consulate General Building in Frankfurt on August 30, 2005. The official opening ceremony of the new U.S. Consulate General will take place after the completion of its move this October. (more) | More photos | AFN Feature story with video

July

JUST DO IT! American Initiatives @ Your Library
July 13, 2005. More than 50 German librarians attended a workshop on “Programs for Teenagers and Young Adults at American Libraries” in Mannheim organized by the U.S. Consulate and the Rhineland-Palatinate Center for Public Libraries. This was the first workshop designed to bring together librarians from Rhineland-Palatinate, Hessen, and Baden-Württemberg for professional development. American guest speaker Josie Parker, director of the Ann Arbor District Library in Michigan, presented her youth programs and suggested new ways for attracting teens. Ute Hachmann, direcor of the city library in Brilon, reported on her internships at two American teen libraries and described her strategies for bringing American-style programs to Germany. The participants welcomed the new ideas and look forward to future opportunities to learn from their U.S. counterparts. (more)

Frankfurt Celebrates America's 229th Independence Day!
July 4, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde along with his wife Tanya hosted a reception at his residence for over 350 guests from the consular corps, the military, politics, business, academia and the media to celebrate the 229th Independence Day of the United States. The official part of the reception started with the Presentation of the Colors by the U.S. Marine Color Guard. After the German and the American national anthems, Consul General Bodde delivered President Bush's Fourth of July message and remarks on the meaning of America’s Independence Day and America's commitment to freedom and democracy around the world. The Woodwind Quintet of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band entertained the guests with their performance. (more)

June

Consul General Bodde kicks-off U.S. Business Week in Stuttgart
June 27, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde participated in a panel discussion on German-American economic relations as a kick-off event for the “USA Week Stuttgart 2005 – USA-Know-How for German Investors” on June 27th. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, the IHK/Stuttgart Region, the Council of American States in Europe (C.A.S.E.) and the German American Institute Stuttgart, the seminar took place from June 27 to July 1 in Stuttgart. It highlighted opportunities in the U.S. market and provided a wealth of hands-on information on essential business issues, including details on opportunities in 10 U.S. states represented at the seminar. (more)

Former President Bush Awarded Point Alpha Prize
June 17, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde was among the first to congratulate former President George Bush on receiving the Point Alpha Prize along with the President's former international counterparts, Mikhail Gorbachev and Helmut Kohl. The ceremony took place at the Thuringia/Hesse border, where U.S. and Soviet troops faced each other throughout the Cold War. Point Alpha was the outpost of the American military during that time. 7,000 spectators, including 150 VIP guests, the Minister-Presidents of Thuringia and Hesse and U.S. Mission's Chargé d'Affairs John Cloud, followed the award ceremony, which paid tribute to the three statesmen’s crucial role in bringing about reunification. (more)

Remarks by Treasury Secretary John Snow at Conclusion of Europe Trip in Frankfurt, Germany
June 16, 2005. "I have been traveling throughout Europe for the past week - starting with meetings in London for the G8 pre-Summit Finance Ministers meetings, then in the Netherlands, Brussels, Paris, and today in Frankfurt. In London last weekend we had the great pleasure to announce a landmark agreement to eliminate the debt stock that highly indebted poor countries owe to the IMF, IDA and African Development Fund. This historic agreement - which built upon the discussions between President Bush and Prime Minister Blair last week, will eliminate the debts of the poorest indebted countries. (more)

Treasury Secretary Snow meets Finance Minister Eichel in Frankfurt
June 16, 2005. Treasury Secretary John Snow held a press conference at Amerika Haus Frankfurt on the conclusion of his Europe trip. It was followed by a one-on-one with German Finance Minister Hans Eichel and a press briefing for selected journalists. In his remarks, Secretary Snow emphasized his desire for the U.S.-EU economic partnership to result in an economically dynamic and vibrant Europe that contributes to the global expansion. He praised the many good reforms steps that are already being put in place throughout the continent and urged Europe to move steadily on its reform path.
Full text of Snow's remarks | (more)

Hip-Hop Comes First!
June 11, 2005. American and German Hip-Hoppers exchanged ideas and shared the stage for two days at events organized by the U.S. Consulate General in cooperation with Frankfurter Jugendring and 3 Jungfrauen Hip Hop Network. The Houston Hip-Hop group Havikoro practiced break dancing on June 10 with a group of predominantly minority youths from Hesse. On June 11, Havikoro participated in a panel discussion at Frankfurt Gallus Theater on the role of Hip Hop in American and German youth culture. Other panel participants were Muri Eren, 3 Jungfrauen Hip Hop Netzwerk, Careem, Rapper, Helge "Bomber" Steinmann, Graffiti artist, and Turgut Yüksel, Frankfurt Jugendring. In the evening, Havikoro performed together with well known Frankfurt Hip-Hop artists at Gallus Theater. Havikoro exposed the Frankfurt audience to an important aspect of American youth culture and highlighted commonalities. (more)

Stability and Friendship in a Challenging Environment
June 7, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde presented a lecture on “Stability and Friendship in a Challenging Environment" at an event hosted by the Steuben Schurz Society at Schloss Hoechst in Frankfurt. He addressed shared values and strong ties between the U.S. and Germany in recent years despite sometimes difficult political situations. He also highlighted the successful cooperation with the Steuben Schurz Society, especially in the field of the USA Interns program. Steuben Schurz President Dr. Ingrid Gräfin zu Solms-Wildenfels welcomed the Consul General while Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger, Foreign Editor, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, moderated the following discussion. (more)

Discussion on American Values at Amerika Haus Frankfurt
June 6, 2005. David Blankenhorn, President of the Institute for American Values, engaged representatives from Hesse's leading academica, business and media in a lively discussion on ‘Moral Values Voters in American Society and Politics’. Moderated by Amerika Haus Director Jeff Arnold and Cecile Schortmann, Blankenhorns’ balanced analysis of the role of moral and religious values in American society and politics led to a valuable exchange of ideas. (more)

America Meets Frankfurt – 60 Years American Culture in Frankfurt
60 years after the end of WWII the Amerika Haus Frankfurt and Hessischer Rundfunk present a program series entitled “America Meets Frankfurt – 60 Years American Culture in Frankfurt”, including film screenings, panel discussions, readings and concerts. In light of the impending move of the Public Affairs section from Amerika Haus to the new Consulate building in Frankfurt-Eckenheim this program offers a review of the multifaceted American cultural work in Frankfurt since 1945. At the same time the series reflects new trends in American culture, literature and society. Information on the program series can also be found at hr online and Hessen - 60 stolze Jahre
(more)

America Meets Frankfurt: 60 Years American Culture in Frankfurt
June 2, 2005. 60 years after the end of WWII the Amerika Haus Frankfurt and Hessischer Rundfunk present a program series entitled “America Meets Frankfurt – 60 Years American Culture in Frankfurt”, including film screenings, panel discussions, readings and concerts. The opening event “Jazz for Democracy” at Amerika Haus on June 2 featured remarks by Consul General Peter Bodde, Manfred Krupp of Hessischer Rundfunk as well as a panel with Frankfurt Jazz legends Emil Mangelsdorff, Fritz Rau and Thomas Cremer, moderated by Jürgen Schwab. The Bob Degen Trio with Thomas Cremer and Manfred Bründl performed two sets of Jazz standards and compositions by band leader and renowned pianist Bob Degen for an audience of almost 200. (more)

Consul General Bodde Opens New AGBC in Karlsruhe
June 1, 2005. Consul General Peter Bodde celebrated the official inauguration of the ninth American German Business Club (AGBC) chapter located in Karlsruhe. At a kick-off event in Baden-Baden, CG Bodde and AGBC Karlruhe President Raymond Jordan welcomed 35 high-profile guests from regional business and industry. They stressed the strength of German-American commercial ties and AGBC’s role as an invaluable partner for the Consulate’s Foreign Commercial Service through its assistance for small and medium-sized U.S. companies. (more)

May

Bestselling Author T.C. Boyle Reads at Schauspiel Frankfurt
May 23, 2005. N.Y. Times Best-selling author T.C. Boyle captivated an audience of 800 excited fans at the Frankfurt Schauspiel while on tour to promote his latest novel, "The Inner Circle." Boyle's reading from his fictional story about Dr. Alfred Kinsey's sex research project in post-war America was accompanied by German actor Jan Josef Liefers, who gave a lively rendition from the German translation, entitled "Dr. Sex", (Hanser Verlag) while Verena Lueken of the FAZ moderated the event. Earlier that day, Mr. Boyle met a group of invited guests at a coffee for select journalists and cultural figures at the Amerika Haus Frankfurt. (more)

April

Consul General Bodde Attends Celebration of Stuttgart's Liberation
April 21, 2005. Frankfurt Consul General Peter Bodde was a guest of honor at Stuttgart’s official commemoration of the end of WW II along with the French Consul General and Lord Mayor Schuster. In front of 400 guests, CG Bodde highlighted Germany’s achievements and emphasized the importance of showing unity and resolve against authoritarian regimes across the world. President Bush Commemorates VE Day in Europe | (more)

German-American Friendship Festival in Mainz
April 17, 2005. As a a follow-up event after the visit of President and Mrs. Bush in February, the City of Mainz hosted a German-American Friendship Festival. Along with tens of thousands visitors, Lord Mayor Jens Beutel and Consul General Peter W. Bodde underscored the importance of German-American friendship on a person-to-person level. Speaking on Gutenberg Square, the Consul General, whose German roots go back to his mother's birthplace Worms, emphasized the importance of Gutenberg's invention of moveable type for achieving religious freedom and democracy. (more)

Almost 200 Attend Fulbright “Centennial Celebration” at Amerika Haus Frankfurt
April 9, 2005. "100 Years of J. William Fulbright - International Understanding Changes The World" was the motto of Germany's celebration of the 100th Birthday of Senator Fulbright, founder of the world-famous exchange program which bears his name. The event was organized by the Fulbright Alumni e.V. and the U.S. Consulate General in cooperation with the German-American Fulbright Commission and the Center for North American Studies at Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University. The day-long program included opening remarks by Charge d’Affairs John Cloud of the U.S. Embassy and Mrs. Harriet Mayor Fulbright, widow of Senator Fulbright and Honorary Ambassador of the Fulbright program. A panel discussion on the Fulbright program as a transatlantic source of ideas, and a performance by Fulbright musicians rounded out the day. Almost 200 invited guests, many of them Fulbright alumni, joined the celebration. (more)

March

Yale Librarian Adresses Students of Stuttgart Media University
March 24, 2005. Dale Askey, Yale University, gave a lecture on "Differences in the Service Mentality in German and American Libraries" and “The Future of the Profession in the US" for students and faculty of Stuttgart Media University. Askey made a strong argument to reform the German library system and abolish the strict separation between public and academic libraries, a controversial position most students and faculty agreed to in the discussion following the lecture. (more)

"AND NEXT TIME WE WANT BUSH!"
Amerika Haus Director Celebrated Like Popstar at Donation of American Youth Books
March 7, 2005. Amerika Haus Director Charles Walsh donated an American youth book collection to the International Library in Frankfurt which is one of the 18 branch libraries of the Frankfurt city library. Silke Schumann, the library director, organized an "America Journey" through the library during which the kids had to answer questions on the U.S. using the new books as well as the embassy’s “About the USA” CD-ROM that runs on computers in the library. In his introduction Walsh encouraged the kids to use the books for understanding the United States and pointed out similarities between his home town New York City and Frankfurt. The kids were particularly enthusiastic in seeing the connection between the books they read now and their own personal future possibilities. (more)

February

President Bush's Visit to Germany
February 23, 2005. President Bush arrived in Mainz in the morning of February 23. The President and Chancellor Schröder held a bilateral meeting, followed by a joint press availability. The Chancellor and Mrs. Schröder-Köpf then hosted a lunch for the President and Mrs. Bush. In the afternoon, the President participated in a roundtable conversation with German citizens, followed by a visit to the Gutenberg Museum with Mrs. Bush. The President and Mrs. Bush then proceeded to Wiesbaden, where they met members of the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division. (more)

Farewell Address and Reception at Römer for Ambassador Coats and Mrs. Coats
February 10, 2005. Frankfurt Lord Mayor Petra Roth hosted a reception at the Römer in honor of parting Ambassador Daniel Coats and his wife Marsha. In his farewell address the ambassador gave a very personal account of his time in Germany while he also outlined the priorities of the new Bush administration. He stressed the strong desire of the president to put past differences aside and to focus on strengthening transatlantic relations. In welcoming remarks, Lord Mayor Roth reflected on the history of the Römer and the city of Frankfurt and its close ties to the United States while Consul General Peter Bodde highlighted Frankfurt’s support for the U.S. consulate and the American community. (more)

January

Two New York Dancers And Choreographers Present Program Of Intercultural Learning Through Dance
January 26, 2005. Organized by Amerika Haus Frankfurt, NY artists Aviva Geismar, Drastic Action, and Jonathan Hollander, Battery Dance Company, engaged some 20 students and professors of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt in intercultural exchange through dance and discussion. Aviva Geismar taught a master class to the students which was followed by a discussion with Jonathan Hollander about the role of dance as a public diplomacy tool. (more)

Darmstadt Students Learn About Studying and Working in the USA
January 25, 2005. At a day-long University and Career Information Fair for 12th graders, organized by Darmstadt universities and the Labor Exchange Dr. Renate Vollmer and Gerda Wagner, representatives of the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt, answered questions and presented information to 360 High School students. Students at this all-day event picked up information material on the Educational Information Service, the publication “If you want to study in the United States”, the CD-ROM “About the USA”, and material on visa issues. The four-volume set “If you want to study in the United States” will be placed in the Berufinformationzentrum of the Arbeitsagentur and the student office of the Technical University Darmstadt. (more)

Reminiscence of Birmingham, Alabama, 1950-1960s
The Birminham Civil Rights Institut’s Oral History Project
January 24, 2005. Dr. Horace Huntley, professor for history at university of Alabama in Birmingham, gave a compelling presentation at Amerika Haus Frankfurt on his work as director of the Oral History Project at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The Oral History Project chronicles the experiences of the “Foot Soldiers” of the civil rights movement. To date, more than 400 interviews have been conducted capturing the spirit and determination of those who participated in various capacities. Dr. Huntley engaged the teachers in attendance in a discussion about the importance of telling that story, especially to younger students so that they don't take the accomplishments for granted and keep on fighting for equality and against injustice. (more)

Live from Amerika Haus Frankfurt: DER TAG in hr2
"Four more years - Erwartungen an die zweite Bush-Regierung"
January 20, 2005. On occasion of the Presidential Inauguration Amerika Haus Frankfurt co-hosted a live radio broadcast of the discussion program DER TAG by Hessischer Rundfunk (hr2). Consul Charles Walsh, Amerika Haus director, delivered introductory remarks. The panel in Frankfurt featured Eric Staal from Republicans Abroad, Prof. Hans-Jürgen Schroeder from Giessen University and ARD journalist Thomas Nehls. The discussion on the President’s second term, U.S. politics, religion and society was complemented by phone interviews with Washington-based U.S. correspondents of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Hessischer Rundfunk. 50,000 hr2 listeners received a manifaceted analysis of the prospects for President Bush’s second term. (more)