Programs and Events

Assimilation: Can Germany/ Europe Learn from the U.S. ?
December 9, 2005. Richard Alba, Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at State University of New York (Albany), spent two hours at the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry for Generations, Family, Women and Integration in Düsseldorf on December 9 discussing patterns of adaptation and assimilation of immigrants in the U.S. His partners were staff members of the ministry who involved the American expert in a spirited comparative debate of different approaches toward integration in both countries. (more)

Balancing Unity and Diversity
November 29 - 30, 2005. Tamar Jacoby, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, spoke about American immigration before university students and faculty in Muenster, Siegen and Dortmund on November 29 and 30. Jacoby discussed traditional patterns of integration in the U.S. as well as recent challenges presented by growing numbers and concentrations of immigrants, global mobility and communications, and concepts of multiculturalism. Her topic, “Balancing Unity and Diversity in a Changing Nation,” highlighting some major differences between European and American concepts of immigration and integration, was very well received. (more)

Proceeds of the Düren Jazz Festival Donated to New Orleans Musicians in Need
November 22, 2005. At a ceremony on November 22, representatives of the Jazz Club Düren presented a check of 7272 $ to Constance C. Jones, Director of the Amerika Haus Cologne, and Eric Rueter, Deputy Consul General in North Rhine-Westphalia. The donation was collected at a special jazz festival in Düren on October 22-23 which was dedicated to the victims of hurricane Katrina. As the festival organizers explained, the festival was presented in the spirit of "giving back to New Orleans for the enrichment of our lives through their music." (more)

Florida Governor Jeb Bush Visits MEDICA Trade Show in Duesseldorf
November 16, 2005. On November 16, Florida Governor Jeb Bush and his delegation visited the MEDICA international trade show in Duesseldorf where he inaugurated the Florida Pavilion. On the occasion, he also met with North Rhine Westphalian Minister-President Juergen Ruettgers at the State Chancellery where he signed the guestbook. Governor Bush also presented the keynote address at a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce and participated in press events that generated extensive coverage. (more)

German-American Panel Discussion Examines United Nations Reform Agenda
November 14, 2005.  The prospects for successfully reforming the United Nations were examined at a panel discussion at Amerika Haus on November 14. Moderated by WDR journalist and former New York correspondent Thomas Nehls, Craig Cohen (Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington), Professor Werner Link (Cologne) and Dr. Günther Unser (Aachen) compared and analyzed the different expectations in the United States and Germany concerning the future role and structure of the U.N. The event was jointly arranged by the U.S. Consulate General in NRW and the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für die Vereinten Nationen.” (more)

Pulitzer-Prize Winning Author Discusses Future of Civilization in Cologne
November 3, 2005. Jared Diamond, Professor of Geography at the University of California at Los Angeles and internationally acclaimed author of studies on the history of civilizations, presented a lecture based on his new book “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” at Cologne’s Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum of Ethnology on November 3. A large and attentive audience listened to the lecture and engaged the author in a discussion on his thought-provoking theses. At the conclusion of the event, Jared Diamond signed copies of his book which has just been released in German by Fischer-Verlag. (more)

U.S. Author Charms Cologne Secondary Students
October 20-21, 2005.  American fiction writer T.A. Barron read from his fantasy books which focus on the Merlin and Avalon legends and discussed his books and ideas with young readers at the Anna-Freud-Schule and at the Schulzentrum Zündorf. At the events on October 20 and 21, Barron highlighted the fictional heroes’ courage to remedy social and environmental ills and stressed the importance of character, moral values and responsibility. The events were a joint project of the SK Stiftung Kultur and the Amerika Haus. (more)

Adding New Facets to the Aachen-Arlington City Partnership
October 19, 2005. At a meeting in Aachen with city officials and regional planners on October 19, Mark Gibb, the Executive Director of the Northern Virginian Regional Commission, informed his German colleagues about new trends and developments in one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. Aachen Lord Mayor Dr. Linden took time out to welcome Mark Gibb. Since Aachen enjoys an active city partnership with Arlington in Virginia, the meeting also generated ideas for including regional planning as a new aspect in the bilateral dialogue. (more)

Ambassador William Timken at Opening of ANUGA Trade Fair
October 7, 2005. On October 7, U.S. Ambassador William R. Timken participated in the opening of the international ANUGA trade fair in Cologne where he dedicated the U.S. pavilion. On the occasion, he met with German economics minister Wolfgang Clement and also Cologne Lord Mayor Fritz Schramma. Prior to the opening, Ambassador and Mrs. Timken visited Cologne Cathedral and also the “Praetorium,” once the seat of the Roman governor. At the Museum Ludwig, Director Kaspar Koenig offered a guided tour through the museum’s famous collection of contemporary American art and German expressionism. (more)

Introducing Students from Düsseldorf, Oberhausen to Amerika Haus Resources
September 28, 2005. On September 26 and 28, Amerika Haus Director Constance Colding Jones welcomed high school students from Duesseldorf and Oberhausen and discussed with them U.S. immigration and also the continuing appeal of the “American Dream.” The students were also introduced to the American studies resources available at the Amerika Haus Information Resource Center. Visits by NRW school classes are a regular part of Amerika Haus activities and support its school outreach initiative. (more)

American Author Writes About History of Coastal New England Town
September 14, 2005.  At a reading/discussion at Amerika Haus on September 14, American novelist Dawn Clifton Tripp presented her new novel “Season of Open Water,” which is set in the real and also fictional world of the early 20th-century coastal village of Westport Point in Massachusetts. The novel, based on authentic stories by Westport locals, is about fishermen and other town residents becoming involved in bootlegging in the 1920s. The German translation of the book, published by marebuchverlag, is entitled “Wasserzeit.” (more)

Photo Exhibit Commemorating September 11, 2001
September 8, 2005. Consul General George Knowles was guest of honor at the opening of a photo exhibit in Duesseldorf on September 8, commemorating the victims of the terrorist attacks four years ago. The exhibit, entitled “The Continuing Impact of 9/11,” has been arranged by the Berlin-based gallery “Camera Work” and shows one hundred yet unpublished photos of 9/11 in New York. Sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce and Stadtsparkasse Duesseldorf, the exhibit will be on view in the lobby of PriceWaterhouseCoopers until the end of September. (more)

Welcoming New Fulbright Teaching Assistants in Germany
September 8, 2005. Consul General George Knowles welcomed the new Fulbright teaching assistants in Germany at a seminar in Altenberg on September 8. He invited the young educators to be active participants in the German-American dialogue and to discuss U.S. society, culture and politics with young Germans. Initiated by U.S. Senator William Fulbright, the Fulbright exchange program has had extraordinary impact around the world. There have been more than 250,000 Fulbright grantees worldwide and many of them have made significant contributions to the overall goal of advancing mutual understanding. (more)

Young Scholars from the U.S. and Russia Enjoy Ragtime Music
September 1, 2005. On September 1, U.S. Consul General George Knowles welcomed twenty U.S. and Russian recipients of the Humboldt Foundation’s Chancellor scholarships to an evening of Ragtime music performed by American pianist and composer Brett Youens. As part of his performance, Youens also explained the popular origins and continuing attractiveness of Ragtime as a quintessential American genre. The Chancellor scholarships provide young scholars a yearlong exchange experience in Germany. (more)

U.S. Participants in Congress Bundestag Exchange Program Visit the Amerika Haus
August 10, 2005. On August 10, 24 U.S. participants in this year’s Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program visited the Amerika Haus to learn about German-American relations. Created in 1983, this program is designed to strengthen the bilateral friendship and understanding. For the students the exchange offers an opportunity to learn about their host country, broaden their horizons and build manifold skills. U.S. Consul General George Knowles welcomed the group and explained the role of the U.S. Consulate in promoting bilateral relations. (more)

FCC Commissioner Discusses Regulation Issues in Cologne, Bonn
July 4, 2005. On July 4, Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) discussed “The New Digital Age - A Revolution in Communications” with members and guests of the German-American Lawyers’ Association in Cologne. Earlier, Ms. Abernathy met with Matthias Kurth, the President of the German Regulatory Authority in Bonn. Abernathy’s visit enhanced bilateral cooperation in international electronic communications. (more)

Consulate Celebrates Independence Day and 50th Anniversary of Amerika Haus
July 1, 2005. Numerous guests from government, media, cultural, business and educational institutions attended the combined celebration of Independence Day and Amerika Haus's 50th Anniversary in Cologne on July 1. The official part of the reception started with welcoming remarks by Consul General Knowles, Chargé Cloud and Cologne Lord Mayor Schramma and the American national anthem. Live Dixieland jazz and ragtime music entertained the guests. (more)

Concert Kicks off Amerika Haus Cologne 50 Years Celebrations
June 24, 2005. 300 people attended a June 24 a capella concert of the Princeton Tigertones at Amerika Haus Cologne, starting a series of celebratory events. After the concert with music from the past five decades, guests were able to view an exhibit of 100 posters documenting past public programs, take away a color brochure on the history of the Amerika Haus, and sample a menu featuring contributions from McDonald’s, Coca Cola and Starbucks. (more)

T.C. Boyle Reading in Cologne Attracts 800 Enthusiasts
May 18, 2005. American novelist T.C. Boyle was in top form as he entertained a large crowd of predominantly young people with readings from his novel “The Inner Circle” in Cologne on May 18. Boyle spoke animatedly and with humor about the novel’s main themes and the creative process of turning historical events and characters into fiction. After the reading, which was co-sponsored by the Amerika Haus, a large number of readers waited in long lines to have their books autographed. (more)

U.S. Elder Statesmen Discuss Bilateral Relations with Students at NRW Landtag
April 26, 2005. At a visit to the state parliament in Duesseldorf hosted by Angela Freimuth, MdL, former U.S. Congressmen John Anderson and Matthew McHugh engaged students in a discussion of U.S. foreign policy and German-American relations. The visit on April 26 was part of a special “Congress to Campus” program designed to discuss with students how the U.S. Congress and the government really work. The students from Duesseldorf University found the views of the two elder statesmen stimulating and “refreshing.” (more)

Briefing Exchange Students on the Future of Transatlantic Relations
April 14, 2005. On April 15, a group of U.S. exchange students from Northwestern universities visited the Amerika Haus to discuss German-American relations. The students are participants in a 3-month exchange program that is administered by the University of Oregon and the Carl-Duisberg-Center. Amerika Haus director Carolyn Johnson discussed the prospects for bilateral relations over the next few years and spoke about the value of acquiring international knowledge and intercultural skills to deal with cross-cultural conflicts and realignments of national interests. (more)

“Study USA” Books Donated to Cologne Public Library
March 14, 2005. At a ceremony on March 14, Amerika Haus Director Carolyn Johnson presented a collection of books to the director of Cologne Public Library, Dr. Horst Neisser. The collection of “Study USA” books and university catalogues, which will be regularly expanded and updated, is designed to help interested students inform themselves about study opportunities or internship programs in the United States.  (more)

Panel Examines the Future of the Transatlantic Relations
March 2, 2005. At a panel discussion at Amerika Haus Cologne on March 2, Fred N. Irwin, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, and Friedrich Merz, ranking CDU member of the Bundestag, discussed the prospects for transatlantic relations. The speakers emphasized the importance and benefits of a close transatlantic partnership and pointed out that this relationship needed to be further developed under the changed conditions of the 21st century. The discussion was co-sponsored by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and broadcast in part by Phoenix-TV. (more)

Dialogue on Islam and Democracy at Amerika Haus
February 25, 2005.  At a lecture/discussion event at Amerika Haus Cologne on February 25, John Voll, Director of Georgetown University’s Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, lectured on Muslim communities in the U.S. Professor Voll’s presentation generated a lively discussion with the audience, mainly representatives of Muslim organizations and experts in the field, on the situation of Muslims in Germany and the U.S. John Voll is one of leading scholars on Islam in the United States and has written many books on the subject. (more)

Voices of the Civil Rights Movement in Dortmund
January 25-26, 2005.  Professor Horace Huntley, director of the Oral History Project at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, gave two lively presentations in Dortmund on January 25 and 26, 2005. At the University's American Studies Department and the Martin-Luther-King Gesamtschule, Huntley illustrated the early years of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. with his own personal recollections and the accounts of the "foot soldiers" in the struggle to end racial segregation. The students were impressed with the substance and style of Professor Huntley's lectures. (more)

Major Exhibition Dedicated to U.S. Painter Mark Tansey Opens at Museum Kurhaus Kleve
January 23, 2005.  On January 23, the first major exhibition in Germany dedicated to renowned American artist Mark Tansey opened at Museum Kurhaus Kleve. The artist was present at the opening and talked about his paintings with many of the 300 guests attending the vernissage. Among the speakers at the opening was U.S. Consul General George Knowles who noted that the U.S. Mission in Germany was pleased to sponsor the exhibition of one of America’s most interesting contemporary painters. The exhibition will be shown from January 23 - April 4, 2005. (more)

Briefing of U.S. Participants in Congress Bundestag Exchange Program at Amerika Haus
January 18, 2005.  On January 18, the U.S. participants in this year’s Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program visited the Amerika Haus to discuss German-American relations. Created in 1983, this program is designed to strengthen the bilateral friendship and understanding. For the young people who participate the exchange offers an extraordinary opportunity to learn about their host country, broaden their horizons and to build lifelong skills. Amerika Haus director Carolyn Johnson welcomed the group and engaged them in a discussion of the prospects for German-American relations over the next few years. (more)

Ambassador Coats Underscores American Commitment To Close U.S. - German Ties in Düsseldorf
January 11, 2005. At a visit in Duesseldorf on January 11, 2005, Ambassador Daniel Coats met with Minister President Peer Steinbrueck and later presented a speech on bilateral relations at the Industrieclub. In his speech Ambassador Coats emphasized the need for close German-American cooperation in addressing major global issues and noted the importance of President Bush's visit to Germany in February. (more)