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Dankeschön to our PATRON Members:
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Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:
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German Word
of the Month
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KABELSALAT
If there's one thing Germans really despise, it's having an unappealing Kabelsalat growing in the corner of their homes, consuming all that lands in their midst. Literally translated, this German word means "cable salad," but it has nothing to do with the leafy greens you may have just had for lunch! Instead, this word refers to a tangled mess of electrical cords that can quickly become overwhelming.
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"Brother Joseph and the Grotto"
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"Brother Joseph and the Grotto" tells the story of Joseph Zoettl, a hunchbacked monk from Bavaria, and his quest to do something in a "small way" to serve God. He began constructing miniatures of the world's notable and sacred buildings and the work grew to become the renowned Ave Maria Grotto at Saint Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama.
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New AGP Members
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Corporation / Associate Level
Klaus-Dieter Lengelsen President WKW-Erbsloeh North America Inc.
Andre Saxenhammer Plant Manager WKW-Erbsloeh North America Inc.
Art Rogers
Director of Human Resources
WKW-Erbsloeh North America Inc.
Individual / Individual Level
Daniela Cook
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AGP Member News
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Latest News From:
German companies: please send us your news link to director@alabamagermany.org
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German Quote
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"Die wahre Freude ist die Freude am anderen."
The real joy is the joy of others.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Writer and Pilot
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Save the Dates
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First Presbyterian Church, Tuscaloosa
December 5, 2013
Income Tax Seminar for German Expats
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
December 7, 2013
Das Haus, Birmingham
December 8, 2013
Christmas Holiday Luncheon
Valley Hill Country Club, Huntsville
December 10, 2013
German PATRIOT Office, Huntsville
December 24, 2013
First Presbyterian Church, Tuscaloosa
January 6, 2014
Samford University, Birmingham
January 31, 2014
Culinary German Dinner
Brock's, Hoover
March 6, 2014
AGP's Celebration Dinner
Bryant-Denny Stadium
Tuscaloosa
March 7, 2014
German-American
Executive Round Table
Tuscaloosa
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Glühwein
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At Christmas, many German town centers have street markets with stalls selling cookies, arts and crafts, wooden toys and other festive items. Almost every street corner seems to boast Bratwurst and Glühwein (hot mulled wine) stalls. It's amazing how revived one can feel after a small glass of warm, spicy red wine. Below is a basic recipe. If you want a less alcoholic drink, then mix in apple juice or water.
Ingredients: 1 bottle full-bodied red wine 1 small lemon 15 cloves 1 cinnamon stick 4-6 tablespoon sugar
Preparation: Pour the wine into a large saucepan. Cut the lemon into quarters. Stick the cloves into the rind of on quarter. Slice the rest thinly. Add the quarter and slices to the pan with the cinnamon and sugar.
Heat slowly until hot, but do not allow to boil. Serve in heatproof glasses or small cups.
Enjoy!
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AGP
Executive Committee
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Chairman
Bryan Winter
Lewis, Smyth & Winter, PC
Vice Chair/Chair Elect
Warren McCullars
Alagasco
VP Education
Dr. Anne-Katrin Gramberg
Auburn University
VP Business Development
Brian Hilson
Birmingham Business Alliance
VP Communication
Devin Dolive
Burr & Forman LLP
VP Culture
Dr. Thomas Fox
University of Alabama
VP Membership
Claudia Zimmermann
Alabama Power Company
Secretary
Judy Benson
Johnson Controls
Treasurer
Arnold Servo
Rödl & Partner
Immediate Past Chair
Arndt Siepmann
City of Auburn
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AGP Affiliates
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Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Christoph Sander Marquis Two Tower Suite 901 285 Peachtree Ctr Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: (404) 659-4760
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany for the State of Alabama Michael Johnson Johnston Barton Proctor & Rose LLP Phone: (205) 458-9421 mhj@johnstonbarton.com German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States Martina Stellmaszek 1170 Howell Mill Road Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: (404) 586-6800
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Contact Us
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Office
205-943-4772
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Join Our List
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Happy Holiday Wishes to Y'all from AGP
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On behalf of AGP, I would like to wish each and everyone of you a very Happy Holiday Season and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Tine Hoffmeister
Executive Director
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AGP presents 2014 Slate of Officers and Directors
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Following the AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) board meeting November 7, 2013, in Birmingham; Seth Hammett, Former House Speaker and current AGP Board Member, oversaw the swearing-in ceremony of the 2014 AGP Slate of Officers and Directors. The Slate was presented and approved by the membership.
 From left to right: Dr. Thomas Fox, Judy Benson, Claudia Zimmermann, Arnold Servo, Warren McCullar, Devin Dolive
As of November 8, the following officers will serve on AGP's Executive Committee:
Chairman
Bryan Winter, Lewis, Smyth & Winter, PC
Vice Chair/Chair Elect
Warren McCullars, Alagasco
Vice President Education
Dr. Anne-Katrin Gramberg, Auburn University
Vice President Business Development
Brian Hilson, Birmingham Business Alliance
Vice President Communication
Devin Dolive, Burr & Forman LLP
Vice President Culture
Dr. Thomas Fox, University of Alabama
Vice President Membership
Claudia Zimmermann, Alabama Power Company
Secretary
Judy Benson, Johnson Controls
Treasurer
Arnold Servo, Rödl & Partner
Immediate Past Chair
Arndt Siepmann, City of Auburn
Ex-Oficio, Honorary German Consul
Michael H. Johnson, Johnston Barton Proctor & Rose LLP
AGP is welcoming new members to the Board of Directors:
Tom Brinkley
Maynard, Cooper & Gale
Chip Cherry
Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
Dr. Mark Heinrich
Department of Post-secondary Education
Warren Hicks
TVA Economic Development
Lori Huguley
City of Opelika
Wiley Lott
Southeast Alabama Gas District
Albert von Pelser-Berensberg
REHAU Automotive, LLC
Troy Wayman
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
Full list of all Board Members...
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Income Tax Seminar Dec. 3rd for German Expats
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Join us for an informative Income Tax Seminar for Germans that is living/working in the US presented by Rödl & Partner. There will be refreshments and sandwiches before the seminar.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Parlor on 4th Floor of Mary Hewell Alston Hall at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Program will cover:
Einkommensteuer/Lohnsteuer
Pflicht zum Lohnsteuereinbehalt in den USA
- Lohnsteuereinbehalt auch bei Entsendung
- Besteuerung von Fringe Benefits
- HypoTax
Umfang der Steuerpflicht in den USA
- Beschränkte Steuerpflicht
- Unbeschränkte Steuerpflicht
- Wahlrechte im ersten und letzten Jahr der Steuerpflicht
Relevante Artikel des Doppelbesteuerungsabkommens:
- Artikel 15 - Einkünfte aus nichtselbständiger Tätigkeit
- Artikel 10 - Dividenden
- Artikel 11 - Zinsen
- Artikel 6 - Einkünfte unbeweglichen Vermögen (Mieteinnahmen)
- Ggf. Artikel 18 und 18A - Ruhegehälter und Altersvorsorgepläne
Auskunftspflichten bei Vermögen außerhalb der USA
- Form TD F 90-22.1
- Form 8938
- Form 3520
Rentenversicherung
Sozialversicherungsabkommen Deutschland/USA:
- Umfang des Abkommens
- Möglichkeit der Befreiung von der US Social Security & Medicare Tax bei Entsendung
- Form D/USA 101
Please pre-register for this event TODAY! It is FREE to AGP members and only $10 for non-members.
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Congratulations to AGP member REHAU
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Reprinted from The Cullman Times
REHAU announces $2.5 million technical center for Cullman; 1st outside Germany. Expected to create more than 100 jobs over next 3-5 years
Following a $100 million expansion in production capacity last year, REHAU is shaking things up once again in Cullman - but this time it's something a little different.
The Cullman branch of REHAU has already grown into one of the auto part manufacturer's largest locations outside of Germany, and now officials have announced a new technical center that should create more than 150 jobs and maintain the local plant's position as a key component of the company's global strategy.
The technical center, which will be used to develop and refine production processes, is the first ever built outside of REHAU's native Germany. Similar to a research and development lab, the center will focus on injection molding, paint, fabrication and supply chain processes. The company plans to specifically use this new space to conduct automotive component and system design initiatives that will be implemented in Cullman and eventually at plants across the globe.
REHAU is a tier-one supplier for Mercedes-Benz, and in addition to the myriad other polymer products produced by the company, the Cullman location also manufactures bumper assemblies for Mercedes' C-Class and M-Class vehicle lines.
For full story...
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German Christmas Market in Birmingham
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The Third Annual German Christmas Market in Birmingham is coming up. Please come and join us for this traditional German celebration of the holiday season. Brought to you by the Freunde Deutscher Sprache und Kultur (FDSK) in collaboration with AGP, the "Weihnachtsmarkt" will take place on:
Saturday, December 7th
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
at "Das Haus"
2318 2nd Avenue North,
Birmingham, AL 35203
Shop for Christmas gifts, decorations and German food specialties while enjoying a mug of Glühwein (hot mulled wine) and other German beverages and dishes. Kids activities will include carousel rides, arts and crafts, and lookout for the scavenger hunt for German language learners.
All-day program of live Christmas music, with carol singing, instrumental music, and members of the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra will preform at 4:30 pm.
Sankt Nikolaus and Knecht Ruprecht - the German Santa and his sidekick - will make an appearance at 3 p.m. If you would like your child to receive a special gift from Nikolaus, please bring a small wrapped present, labeled with your child's name, to the event.
If you have pre-ordered your German Advent Wreath it can be picked up at the Christmas Market.
For more info...
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By Christian Höferle, Höferle Consulting
For personal or professional relationships across cultural gaps to work, one big skill to master is communication. First, there is language. In a transatlantic setting this typically involves English and German (I like to bridge the cultural gap between North America and the German-speaking world). However, no matter how good your foreign language skills are, there is always an additional layer of complexity: communication styles based on culturally determined behavioral preferences.
To decipher each other's cultural code in communication can take years and most newcomers to a culture trip over linguistic hurdles. Typically, one of the first misunderstandings in U.S.-German interactions is the informal American greeting:
"How are you?" is an English phrase - not an invitation to give a presentation about one's current state. Since the phrase is a question, Germans sometimes feel prompted to give a sincere, detailed, and honest answer. Quick bit and well-known piece of advice to German-speakers: Don't. The proper response: "Fine, how are you?"
For full story...
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Save the Date for German Piano Battle
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We have delighted to welcome the "PIANO BATTLE" to Birmingham. The PIANO BATTLE has been performed in several sold-out tours in Asia and at festivals in Europe including their home country: Germany.
Join us for this fun, family friendly event:
Monday, January 6th
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Samford University, Birmingham
The PIANO BATTLE is the brainchild of internationally accomplished pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis. The duo will go head-to-head on stage, charming and enchanting the audience with a variety of classical pieces. The show is divided into several rounds, each featuring a certain music style. The two artists, with distinctly different performance styles, will go so far as to improvise based on the tunes you request.
A competition wouldn't be a competition without a jury and here, YOU will be the the judge. All members of the audience are invited to vote on the pianists performances and eventually decide who the winner is.
Learn more about the PIANO BATTLE and the pianists.
This FREE event is made possible by Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Samford University and AlabamaGermany Partnership.
Get your FREE tickets today!
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HONORARY CONSUL GENERAL'S CORNER
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By Michael Johnson
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