U.S. Consul General Visits Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung
June 18, 2007. Matthew G. Boyse was guest at the regional daily Westdeutsche Allgemeinen Zeitung (WAZ) in Essen on June 18. The editorial round table, hosted by editor-in-chief Ulrich Reitz focused on the restructuring of former industrial regions, global challenges of fighting climate change and the US-German relations.(more)

NATO AWACS Base Celebrates 25th Anniversary
June 15-17, 2007. The NATO E3A AWACS Component in Geilenkirchen marked its 25th anniversary June 15-17 with "Open Door Days" that attracted some 130,000 visitors and more than 30 aircraft from various NATO countries, including a B-52 that flew from Louisiana and a vintage WWII-era Messerschmidt 109. Base Commanding Officer U.S. Brigadier General Stephen D. Schmidt USAF welcomed CG Matt Boyse and senior guests from all NATO member countries and visitors from across Germany to this event, the major USAF aviation event in Germany scheduled for 2007, stressing the strong partnership between the military and civilian population in the region. A recent study concluded that the installation contributed some 262 million euros to the economy within a 200km radius in 2006. Some 3100 people, including a sizable American contingent, work at the base, which employs an additional 1800 persons indirectly in the surrounding area.(more)

Celebrating Historic Speeches in the German-American Relationship
June 11, 2007. At a June 11 reception at his residence, Consul General Matt Boyse and his wife, Eleanore, welcomed over a hundred guests from politics, business, media and culture from Northrhine-Westphalia, including Lord Mayors Joachim Erwin (Duesseldorf) and Fritz Schramma (Cologne) -- both pictured here -- and NRW Interior Minister Ingo Wolf. The CG used the occasion to reflect upon two of the most significant speeches in the post WWII German-American relationship -- late President Ronald Reagan’s historic “Mr. Gorbachev: Open This Gate; Mr. Gorbachev: Tear Down This Wall” speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in the former West Berlin on June 12, 1987 and the announcement of the European Recovery Program (aka Marshall Plan), which the late Secretary of State George C. Marshall delivered at Harvard University 60 years ago on June 5, 1947. The reception presented an opportunity to remember the leadership, vision and contributions these American statesmen made to Germany's success after WW II as well as to German reunification.(more)

Northwest Airlines Starts Düsseldorf -Detroit Non-Stop Flights
June 6, 2007. The U.S. firm Northwest Airlines (NWA) initiated daily flights between Duesseldorf and Detroit on June 6, increasing the number of direct connections between points in Northrhine Westphalia (NRW) and the U.S. to more than 40 per week. NWA executives traveled from their European hubs in Amsterdam and Frankfurt to Duesseldorf for a series of events, including a major reception, press briefings, and a ribbon cutting ceremony. We wish Northwest Airlines success as it adds alternatives for travelers who wish to fly directly between NRW and the United States.(more)

Updating Teachers on American Studies Resources
May 31, 2007 On May 31, PA Cologne conducted a workshop for teacher trainees from Westphalia at the Amerika Haus which included a presentation by PAO Jones on consular functions and services. The teachers got an overview of American studies resources and exchange opportunities. In addition, two speakers involved in post’s “Meet US” outreach program gave inspiring accounts of their recent school visits.(more)

Annual Conference of the German Association for American Studies Opens in Bochum
May 31, 2007. “Religion in the United States” was the topic of this year’s conference of the German Association for American Studies (GAAS) which opened at Bochum University on May 31. Speaking at the opening, U.S. Cultural Attaché for NRW Constance Colding Jones noted that religion has always been a central, identity-shaping force in the American colonies and the United States. Professor Paul S. Boyer, University of Wisconsin, Madison, delivered the keynote lecture in which he reviewed America's post-1970 religious revival and its public-policy implications.(more)

“Chuck Close - Portraits 1969-2006” at Ludwig Forum Aachen
May 25, 2007. On May 25, the Ludwig Forum in Aachen opened an exhibition of works by American artist Chuck Close, a display of large format portraits representing the artist’s famous photorealism technique. In her remarks at the opening, U.S. Cultural Attache Constance Colding Jones praised the extensive bilateral cultural exchange between the U.S. and North Rhine Westphalia, and described Chuck Close as a leading American artist and former Fulbright professor. The exhibit will be on display until September 2.(more)

Flag Football in Neuss
May 20, 2007. Before the kickoff of a tackle football game between the Neuss Frogs and the Langenfeld Longhorns on May 20, Consul General Matt Boyse posed with high school aged team members, cheerleaders, as well as coaches Boris Huesgen and Jean-Marc Tappy. American football has grown considerably in popularity over the last decade in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), where dozens of flag and tackle teams play every week during the spring. NRW is also the home of two of the National Football League (NFL) Europe's six teams (Duesseldorf RheinFire and Cologne Centurions), which also play during the spring. The Frogs are prepping for a visit this fall to the Neuss sister city, St. Paul, Minnesota, where they will play a number of football teams from the Twin Cities area.(more)

U.S. Consul General Visits Dortmund
May 18, 2007. During a May 18 visit to Dortmund, Consul General Matt Boyse discussed ties between the city, its major institutions and the United States with Lord Mayor Dr. Gerhard Langemeyer and University of Dortmund Rector Dr. Eberhard Becker. The visit included meetings on economic relations between the U.S. and firms in the city with senior officials of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) and stops at firms with growing investment and trade ties with the United States. Dortmund has made considerable progress in the last 20 years as restructures its former steel and coal-based economy into one more that is more diversified and high tech.(more)

Indiana Governor Mitchell E. Daniels Visits NRW
May 15, 2007. During a May 15 visit to North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Indiana Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. visited a number of current or potential investors in the state, spoke at a roundtable discussion on bio-energy hosted by the NRW Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, and hosted a reception at the Industrie-Club in Duesseldorf. The program, organized by Foreign Commercial Service Director Ed Fantasia and Foreign Agricultural Service Bonn Representative Dietmar Achilles, included side trips by members of the 35-member delegation to numerous firms with connections to Indiana in the Cologne and Duesseldorf area.(more)