Consul General Janice Weiner as “witness to history” - commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Wall
November 5, 2009.
In the context of its Europe Music Awards, MTV invited selected guests from media, business, politics, and the creative industry to an afternoon program exploring the events around November 9, 1989. The program featured Duesseldorf Consul General Janice Weiner and Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs, George Glass, from the U.S. Embassy Berlin, who shared their experiences of serving at the U.S. Embassy in East Berlin during the fall of the Wall and the Reunification process in 1989/1990.

Dialogue On Post-Conflict Reconstruction In Bonn
October 29, 2009.
Barbara Balaj, independent consultant for the World Bank, engaged important audiences on post-conflict reconstruction issues on October 29 in Bonn. At a roundtable discussion at the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) moderated by Director Peter Croll she gave an overview of the post-conflict reconstruction activities of the U.S. government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. A subsequent luncheon on “Women in Post-Conflict Societies“ involved representatives of the Federal  Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development as well as international development organizations. Both program events explored opportunities of economic cooperation in the Middle East facilitated by the World Bank and the role of the U.S. as a broker.

Konrad Adenauer Alumni Briefed At The Consulate
October 29, 2009.
A group of students from Cologne University, all of them grantees of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation, visited the Consulate on October 29, where they had a wide-ranging discussion with Consul Chris Grossman. The students were interested to learn about U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy and current events. Chris Grossman explained how the Foreign Service and the State Department represent the U.S. abroad, focusing on Mission Germany and the public diplomacy activities of the Consulate in Duesseldorf.

Minister President Juergen Ruettgers Welcomes Consul General Janice Weiner To NRW
October 28, 2009. 
On October 28, Minister President Dr. Juergen Ruettgers received Consul General Janice Weiner for her official introductory call at the State Chancellery. Dr. Ruettgers noted his regular annual visits to the United States and the importance the state government attaches to close bilateral relations. The meeting was an opportunity to review the varied and close connections between North Rhine Westphalia and the United States, in particular the economic interdependence and numerous exchange programs, and to discuss the challenges the world economic crisis presents. | State Chancellery press release & photo

High School Students In Essen Interested In Policies of the Obama Administration
October 27, 2009.
On Oct. 27, Deputy Consul General Chris Grossman discussed U.S. policies and society with 90 students at Gymnasium Essen-Werden, an active partner of post’s MeetUS program. The 12th graders showed keen interest in current foreign and domestic challenges facing the Obama Administration and used the discussion to get first-hand views from the U.S. diplomat. Most questions centered on the economic crisis, climate change, the struggle against extremism and health care reform. Many of the students had spent a high school year in the U.S. and demonstrated their knowledge and expertise in exchanges with the speaker. | Meet US School Outreach Program

NRZ Portrays Consul General As A “Top Woman” In NRW
October 23, 2009.
In the October 23 issue of the Neue Rhein Ruhr Zeitung (NRZ) Consul General Janice Weiner is portrayed in the newspaper’s special series “Top Women in NRW.” The detailed article describes her career as a senior U.S. diplomat, her first impressions of the state capital and the focus of the public diplomacy work at the consulate. There is also a reference to the fact that three of the five U.S. Consuls General in Germany are women. Other women in leadership positions featured in the series include: the director of the Duesseldorf art museum, the president of Duesseldorf technical college and the CEO of a major company located in NRW. | Read the article

Ambassador’s Award In American Studies Presented At Bonn University Ceremony
October 19, 2009.
At the opening ceremony of the academic year at Bonn University on October 19, the U.S. Ambassador’s Award was presented to Daniel Holder for his thesis in North American Studies by Rector Professor Juergen Fohrmann. This year’s prize was awarded to Mr. Holder for his thesis on “From ‘Black’ to ‘Red’? W.E.B. DuBois and Paul Robeson’s Responses to McCarthyism” prepared under the direction of American literature professor Sabine Sielke. Consul General Janice Weiner represented the U.S. Mission at the event and congratulated the young scholar on his academic accomplishment. In addition to the award signed by Ambassador Murphy, Mr. Holder received a grant that for a research project related to the United States. The tradition of awarding the best thesis at Bonn University goes back to 1992 when the U.S. Embassy was in Bonn. | Bonn University North American Studies Program

U.S. Economist David Singer “Guardedly Optimistic” About Economic Recovery
October 14, 2009.
At a roundtable discussion at the headquarters of Deutsche Telekom in Bonn on October 14, MIT political economist David Singer discussed the prospects for effectively regulating international financial markets and the economic recovery in the U.S. and Europe. The event, which was arranged by the Consulate in conjunction with the Bonn Chapter of the German Council on Foreign Relations and Amerika Haus NRW, was attended by government officials, diplomats and business leaders and generated a focused discussion on the lessons that need to be drawn from the financial crisis. After the roundtable David Singer gave a radio interview to Deutschlandfunk. | Listen to the interview

Ambassador's Visit to Cologne Highlighted by Reception at City Hall
October 12, 2009.
Ambassador Philip Murphy spent Columbus Day in Cologne engaging in a variety of activities: At the International and Food and Beverage Trade Show (ANUGA) in Cologne he met with representatives of U.S. food companies and showed his support for U.S. agriculture. He then participated in a roundtable with editors and gave an interview at German national radio “Deutschlandfunk” which was broadcast the next day. The visit concluded with a reception hosted by Cologne Mayor Fritz Schramma at City Hall which was attended by Cologne officials and citizens involved in bilateral relations, including members of the Cologne-Indianapolis partnership committee and the Amerika Haus e.V. NRW. The Ambassador thanked Mayor Schramma for his enduring dedication to German-American friendship and expressed his appreciation to Cologne citizens committed to cultivating German-American ties.

Ambassador Phil Murphy Supports U.S. Agriculture at ANUGA Trade Show
October 12, 2009.
At this year’s ANUGA (International and Food and Beverage) Trade Show in Cologne, Ambassador Murphy met with representatives of U.S. food and beverage companies to highlight the importance of trade and show his support for U.S. Agriculture. More than 160 U.S. companies representing a variety of products including nuts, beef, poultry, grains, juices, and other consumer-oriented food products showcased their quality products to international importers and food service organizations. Most of these companies are small to medium sized firms, whose participation is supported through the use of funds provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program. The ANUGA Trade Show is the world’s largest food and beverage show in the world and takes place every two years.

Major Exhibition In Kleve Dedicated To Alex Katz
October 11, 2009.
An exhibition entitled “Alex Katz - An American Way of Seeing” opened at Museum Kurhaus Kleve on October 11.  At the opening, attended by 400 guests, Consul General Janice Weiner noted the large presence and variety of American art and culture in North Rhine-Westphalia and thanked Museum Director Guido de Werd and his team for continuing to present major American artists in his city near the Dutch border.  Kleve Mayor Theodor Brauer acknowledged Consulate’s support for the exhibition. Alex Katz, who is 82, was present at the opening and signed dozens of exhibition catalogues. The exhibition will be shown until February 21, 2010.

Huge Interest In “Startschuss Abi” Exchange Fair In Gelsenkirchen
October 10, 2009.
Close to 1,000 high school students from all over NRW were a record attendance at this year’s “Startschuss ABI” information and exchange fair at the Science Park in Gelsenkirchen on October 10. This annual event, jointly organized by "e-fellows.net," a consortium of the Holtzbrink publishing group, Telekom, McKinsey and DIE ZEIT, provides current information on study opportunities in Germany and abroad. Many of the students came by the EducationUSA booth where exchanges specialist Petra Spitz from the U.S. Consulate Duesseldorf provided pertinent information about studying in the U.S., student visa, financial aid, internships and au-pair. | Education USA

German-American Day Celebration Focuses On The Fall Of The Wall
October 4, 2009.
"60 Years German Basic Law - 20 Years Fall of the Berlin Wall" was the theme of the 23^rd German-American Day celebrations jointly hosted on October 4 by the German-American Friends of the Niederrhein and the American Women's Club Duesseldorf at the Lehmbruck Museum in Duisburg. As keynote speaker, Consul General Janice Weiner gave an update on bilateral relations and talked about her assignment as a junior political officer in East Berlin from 1988- 90 where she also experienced the night of November 9 when the wall came down. Other speakers included the Mayors of Duisburg and Krefeld who emphasized the important work of the regional German-American associations and in particular their support for student exchanges. The event in Duisburg was a welcome opportunity to thank the members of two organizations for their commitment to furthering German-American friendship.

Consulate’s Commercial Service Assists U.S. Exporters to Reach out to New Customers in Germany
September 24-27, 2009.
Expopharm, the annual show for pharmacy products, attracts an ever-growing number of international exhibitors and visitors. Duesseldorf Senior Commerical Specialist Anette Salama supported Hollywood Brands USA out of New Jersey and  Pharmaceutical Trade Services (PTSI) of Gautier, MS with market and contact information and helped to strengthen their current business relationships in European markets. | U.S. Commercial Service Germany

Consul General Weiner Hosts Annual Fall Reception
September 22, 2009.
Consul General Janice Weiner hosted a reception for contacts representing a cross-section of the North Rhine-Westphalian political, business, diplomatic and cultural community on September 22. The reception served as introductory event for the Consul General as well as new director of the Foreign Commercial Service section at the consulate, Richard Kanter. Welcoming the guests Janice Weiner underscored the importance the consulate places on a strong U.S. - German relationship. The reception was also an occasion for Janice Weiner and Richard Kanter to express thanks for the support and welcome they had received upon arrival and to discuss plans for the new season.

Explaining The New U.S. Foreign Policy Approach In Bruehl
September 21, 2009.
On September 21, Bernd Herbert from the consulate discussed key elements of the Administration’s foreign policy with junior civil servants at the Federal Public Administration College Bruehl.  Drawing on the recently released “Transatlantic Trends” of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, he suggested that the improved image and support for U.S. global leadership on the part of European audiences had created new political space for transatlantic cooperation. | Enlarge picture

Consul General Janice Weiner Meets the Press in NRW 
September 17, 2009.
At a press conference at the consulate on September 17, Janice Weiner introduced herself as the new Consul General in Duesseldorf.  Print, radio and TV journalists from ten media outlets in NRW used the event to ask Ms. Weiner about her experience as a U.S. diplomat, her initial impressions of Duesseldorf and also her plans for future activities. Ms. Weiner said that it was an honor for her to serve as Consul General in NRW and that the new U.S. Ambassador in Berlin, Philip Murphy, was fully aware of the special significance of North Rhine Westphalia for bilateral relations. She invited the media and the public in general to consider the Consulate the first point of contact for questions about the United States and the German-American relationship. | WDR TV Lokalzeit

Lecture By Charles Kupchan Attracts Audience Of 400 In Cologne
September 16, 2009.
Charles Kupchan, acclaimed book author and currently a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, presented a stimulating lecture at the Cologne Chamber of Commerce on “The West and the Rise of the Rest: Toward a New World (Dis-) Order?” on September 16.  The speaker was invited by the Otto Wolff Foundation and the Amerika Haus e.V. NRW and argued that the West should focus all its energies and attention on playing a key role in shaping the new world order and  include Russia in the Euroatlantic Alliance. Ingo Zamperoni, anchor of the ARD Nightly news magazine, moderated the lively discussion with the audience. 

U.S. Commercial Service Duesseldorf Supports U.S. Companies at Major Industry Event in Essen
September 14-19, 2009.
At "Schweissen & Schneiden 2009", the world's lead welding, cutting, and surfacing technology fair, Principal Commercial Officer Richard Kanter and Commercial Specialist Klaus Jonas assisted 49 U.S. companies with counseling, market information, distributor recruitment and outreach and local website promotion, with invitations to over 150 German and European wholesalers and distributors. The Essen Welding Show counted over 1,000 exhibitors and over 60,000 trade visitors. The U.S. Welding Industry reported success in the international arena, with expected sales of more than $15 million; and  all U.S. exhibitors were very satisfied with their participation. | U.S. Commercial Service Germany

Ceremony In Roetgen Commemorates Liberation By U.S. Forces In 1944
September 12, 2009.
Federal Minister Ulla Schmidt, NRW Interior Minister Ingo Wolf, NATO General Egon Ramms, Minister-President of the German-speaking region in Belgium, Karl-Heinz Lambertz, and Richard Volk of the U.S. Consulate Düsseldorf spoke at a September 12 ceremony in Roetgen  commemorating the 65th anniversary of its liberation by U.S. forces during WW II.  Roetgen Mayor Manfred Eis unveiled a memorial plaque marking the place where an advance detachment of the U.S. Third Armored Division crossed the German border as the first U.S. unit on September 12, 1944. Several hundred people attended the moving ceremony that paid tribute to the role of the United States at the end of WWII and to German-American friendship since then.  | Article Aachener Zeitung 

Transatlantic Trends Explained At NRW Parliament
Sept. 11, 2009.
At the invitation of the German-American Parliamentary Group and the Amerika Haus e.V. NRW, Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, the Senior Director for Policy Programs at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, presented the findings of the newly released “Transatlantic Trends” at the Landtag in Duesseldorf. In his analysis he emphasized the positive impact of President Obama (“Obama bounce”) on the European public and discussed pertinent views in the U.S. and European countries on major foreign policy and security issues. Angela Freimuth MdL, Vice-President of the Landtag, welcomed the participants who included NRW Minister Ingo Wolf, state legislators as well as other guests involved in transatlantic affairs. | Transatlantic Trends 2009

Consul General Welcomes New Fulbright Teaching Assistants
September 9, 2009.
Consul General Janice Weiner along with Deputy Principal Officer Chris Grossman welcomed 140 new young American Fulbright teaching assistants on September 9 at their traditional orientation seminar in Altenberg outside Cologne. Consul General Weiner told the group about U.S. diplomacy in Germany and her own experiences living in East Berlin before the fall of the wall and offered an update on the status of bilateral relations. The Consulate used the opportunity to encourage the junior U.S. teachers to take part in the U.S. Mission’s school outreach program and other activities.

Ambassador Murphy Visits Duesseldorf
September 7-8, 2009.
As part of Ambassador Philip Murphy’s first visit to North Rhine-Westphalia on September 7 he called on Duesseldorf Lord Mayor Dirk Elbers at the City’s Town hall where he also signed the City’s Golden Book. The Ambassador thanked the Lord Mayor for the city’s support for the Consulate and German-American friendship. Afterwards he met with Handelsblatt chief editor Bernd Ziesemer for an informal tour d’ horizon of current international economic and financial issues. The next day, September 8, Ambassador Murphy visited the Consulate where he met the American diplomats and the staff and explained some of his plans and activities over the next months. | Rheinische Post article

Ambassador Murphy Guest Of Honor At Traditional Iftar Dinner
September 7, 2009.
On September 7, Ambassador Murphy was the guest of honor at a traditional Iftar during Ramadan hosted by Consul General Janice Weiner at her residence. In his welcome remarks the Ambassador referred to President Obama’s historic speech in Cairo and his Ramadan message and also explained that communication with the Muslims in Germany would continue to be an important part of Mission Germany outreach programs. The dinner offered an opportunity to meet leading representatives of the Muslim community in NRW and to discuss a variety of aspects concerning the integration of immigrants in Germany, especially those with a Muslim background.  | President Obama’s Ramadan Message

Ambassador Murphy Encourages Students In Bonn To Make A Difference September 7, 2009.
After participating in the 60th anniversary of the constitutive session of the Bundestag in Bonn, Ambassador Philip Murphy conducted a mini town hall with a group of 25 high school students at the Museum of Contemporary German History. The section dedicated to the Berlin airlift -- and featuring fuselage of a so-called “Rosinenbomber” --  served as the backdrop for a wide-ranging give-and-take that covered political as well as broader social issues. A number of the students who had been on exchange programs to the U.S. were able to discuss their first-hand views of the United States. The Ambassador encouraged the students to engage actively and make a difference in their society. | Photo Gallery

Ambassador Murphy Visits European Air Hub of UPS at Cologne/Bonn Airport
September 7, 2009.
On September 7, new U.S. Ambassador to Germany Philip Murphy began his first visit to Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany's most populous state, with a tour of the automated package sorting operations at the UPS European Air Hub at Cologne/Bonn airport, UPS's largest facility outside of the United States and its main European gateway. Accompanied by Düsseldorf Consul General Janice Weiner, CS Düsseldorf Principal Commercial Officer Richard Kanter, both newly arrived, and Senior Commercial Specialist Anette Salama, Ambassador Murphy was also given an overview of the UPS history in Europe and market access issues and competitive pressures that the company faces in Germany. | larger image

Contemporary American Art Displayed At Old Town hall In Hattingen
September 4, 2009.
An exhibition with paintings and photography by American artists Thomas Sayre and Frank Craig from Raleigh, North Carolina, opened at the Old Town Hall in Hattingen on September 4, 2009. The consulate provided support for the exhibition that helped the local art association to show contemporary American art in the heart of the Ruhr area.  Because of the death of Frank Craig only two weeks before the opening, the organizers dedicated the exhibition to him.  The exhibition will be shown through October 18.

Welcoming New Consul General Janice G. Weiner to Duesseldorf !
Janice G. Weiner, the new U.S. Consul General in Duesseldorf, took up her duties on August 14, 2009. 
Ms. Weiner’s first tour in the Foreign Service was in then-East Berlin from 1988-90; she served as the State Department’s Germany desk officer from 1996-98.  Prior to joining the State Department, she spent 18 months as a post-graduate fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Competition Law in Munich in 1984-85.  Most recently, she served as press attaché in Mexico City, Mexico and political counselor in Ankara, Turkey.  Other tours include Warsaw, Poland as deputy political counselor, Toronto, Canada as political/economic chief and a previous tour in Ankara.  In addition to German, she speaks French, Turkish, Polish, Spanish and Dutch. | Full bio

Supporting the Congress – Bundestag Exchange Program
August 3, 2009.
On August 03, deputy principal officer Christopher Grossman welcomed the American participants in the 2009/10 Congress-Bundestag Exchange (CBYX) Program at the Academy for International Education in Bonn where the students are currently attending an orientation seminar set up by the Academy and exchange partner Open Door International to prepare them for their year-long stay in Germany. Grossman talked to them about the Foreign Service and explained the role of the U.S. Mission in Germany.  He also encouraged them to register with their respective consulates and to take part in the Consulate’s “MeetUS” school outreach program.

High School Students at Adenauer Foundation Learn About U.S. Politics
July 28, 2009.
Deputy Principal Officer Chris Grossman spoke on July 28 to 80 German high school students at one of the summer academies organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Wesseling. Grossman talked about challenges facing the U.S. and the world as well as about recent developments in U.S. domestic politics. The students actively engaged in a debate on a number of topics including the closure of the Guantanamo Bay facility, the worldwide economic crisis, and combating global climate change. During the four days of the academy, the students have a chance to focus on the relationship between Germany and the U.S. 

NRW Media Bid Consul General “Farewell”
July 24, 2009.
Influential NRW print media bid farewell to Consul General Matt Boyse this week, with feature stories or interviews appearing in Germany’s largest circulation regional daily, the Essen-based Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ) on July 20, the Duesseldorf edition of BILD on July 21, and Duesseldorf-based Rheinische Post on July 22.  His 20-minute interview in Polish with Radio Duisburg will be aired on July 28.  In an article for the monthly “NRW.jetzt” that will appear shortly, the CG reflected on the German-American relationship, drawing from thousands of conversations and other experiences during his three years in Duesseldorf.

Woodcut and Print of President Obama’s Berlin Speech Unveiled 
July 23, 2009.
On July 23, Deputy Principal Officer Chris Grossman attended the first printing of a woodcut made by Cologne artist Juergen Christ of President Obama’s speech in Berlin in July 2008. Christ was inspired by Obama to make the woodcut based on a photo from the speech, noting that then candidate Obama had made a great impression on the German audience in his speech. The printing took place at a print shop in Cologne where a number of Christ’s previous works were on display.  In his remarks Grossman thanked the artist for his initiative and for furthering the  relationship between the German and American people. The print shop will make fifty prints from the woodcut, one for every state in the U.S. | Article Koelner Stadtanzeiger | Video Koelner Stadtanzeiger TV | Washington Post, July 23, 2009 | New York Times, July 23, 2009

“Take me out to the Ballgame!” 
July 12, 2009.
The German baseball season is nearing its summer highpoint, as the Northern League competes with the Southern League for the national championship.  On July 12, the Solingen Alligators roundly defeated the Mainz Athletics 10-0 at home, thus reaching the semi-finals in the First German Bundesliga.  After throwing out the first ball, Consul General Matt Boyse joined NRW Amcham Representative Werner Kanthak and MdB Juergen Kucharczyk (SPD) in rooting for the Solingen team, which was undeterred by the rain showers that accompanied the start of the game. 

A Public Discussion of the Economic Crisis
July 6, 2009.
CDU Bundestag member Dr. Guenter Krings together with Dieter Breymann hosted an evening discussion with members of their party’s “Mittelstand” (Small and Medium Sized Industry) organization in Moenchengladbach on July 6.  Guest speaker Consul General Matt Boyse offered perspectives on the Administration’s and broader American views on the financial and economic crisis in the U.S. and elsewhere, distinguishing between its origin and the broader causes, and highlighting the many factors in many countries that contributed to it, and urging a more differentiated understanding than is often heard. “We are all in the same boat,” he observed, and called for drawing careful conclusions from these developments.  In his public remarks, MdB Krings agreed, commenting that many shared responsibility for the crisis, and that it was “not just an American phenomenon.” The CG also took the opportunity to congratulate four recent German participants in the Congress-Bundestag Exchange Program who either recently returned from a year of high school in the U.S. or who will soon embark upon one. 

Major League Baseball Celebrates Independence Day in Duesseldorf 
July 4, 2009.
The Major League Baseball (MLB) Road show celebrated Independence Day on July 4, 2009 with a baseball exhibition on the Marktplatz in front of the Rathaus in Old Town Duesseldorf. The event included a batting cage, a small baseball field, a pitching game, music and a tent where people could watch last year’s World Series. Deputy Principal Officer Chris Grossman threw out the opening pitch for the event on the field and then participated in batting and catching events with the public. MLB gave a donation of baseball equipment to a local youth league as part of the event.  The activities were enjoyed by both the young and the old.

Student Advising Night at Dortmund University
July 1, 2009
Several universities in North-Rhine Westphalia are offering a “Long Night of Student Advising” this summer to inform students about international exchange opportunities. The International Relations Office of the Technical University of Dortmund invited a number of American universities and exchange organizations with U.S. programs as well as the U.S. Consulate Duesseldorf to their event on July 1. Education USA representative Petra Spitz presented a lecture on “What you should know, if you want to study in the U.S.” and provided individual counseling at an information booth all evening. About 300 students used the opportunity to ask many questions about  campus life in the U.S. , curriculum, funding possibilities etc. TU Dortmund University is well-connected to various institutions of higher education in the United States with two official university partnerships (University of Iowa and University of Southern California) and a number of other bilateral exchange agreements with U.S. institutions. | Education USA - Information on Studying in the U.S.