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Dankesch�n to our PATRON Members:
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What to do in Alabama
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Nov. 12- Dec.31
Gadsen
Dec. 1-31
Montgomery
Dec. 2-13
Wetumpka
Dec. 3-4
Birmingham
Dec. 3
Orrville
Dec. 3
Birmingham
Dec. 5-19
Montgomery
Dec. 6-8
Montevallo
Dec. 9-10
Linden
Dec. 10
Athens
Dec. 10
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
Dec. 10.
Hoover
Dec. 10-13
Opelika
Dec. 17-18
Pelham
Dec. 31
Rogersville
Please note that the dates are shared to the best of our knowledge. If you plan to attend any of the events - please make sure to check information directly with the host of the event. Thank you!
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Save the Dates
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December 7, 14, 21, 28
Tuscaloosa
December 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Birmingham
December 5, 12, 19
Birmingham
December 2 - 24
Atlanta
December 3
Birmingham
December 4
Tuscaloosa
December 24
Tuscaloosa
Please note that the dates are shared to the best of our knowledge. If you plan to attend any of the events - please make sure to check information directly with the host of the event. Thank you!
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AGP's New Members
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AHI Corporate Housing
Marcus Daiber
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Dankesch�n to our SUSTAINING Members:
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German Word
of the Month
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"Krimskrams"
Do you have a house full of junk? Are your drawers overflowing with knickknacks? Then you have a lot of Krimskrams in your home!
The German word Krimskrams means "junk", "miscellaneous objects" or "odds and ends". It refers to all those random and useless objects you have collected over the years. Maybe you have a lot of useless souvenirs, keychains, magnets, old calendars and other items that serve you no purpose and simply collect dust. But for some reason, you find it difficult to part ways with these items. It might be time to organize or throw away your Krimskrams!
The term comes primarily from the word Kram, which means "stuff" or "junk". Its origins can be traced back to the 16th century; it is believed that the term came from the old German phrase krimmeln und wimmeln ("to crawl") and Kram ("junk") - as in, your place could be crawling or overwhelmed with useless junk.
In today's language, Krims does not have a meaning - but it makes the word Krimskrams more snappy and memorable (similar to the English word "knickknack", where "knick" does not mean anything).
Germans are known for their cleanliness and order, and Krimskrams only makes their lives more cluttered. We're sure that you'll feel better about your home and office space if you clear out some of that Krimskrams!
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German Idioms
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"die Kirche im Dorf lassen"
Literal translation: "to leave the church in the village."
The most commonly used phrase in English for this German expression is "Don't get carried away." In other words, don't do a lot of work for something that can be simple.
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Events & Seminars Offered by AGP Members
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December 5
ATN
December
GACC South Events
Are you a corporate AGP member in good standing that would like to share an event or seminar hosted by your company?
Please e-mail us a link to the event.
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AGP
Executive Committee
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Chairman
Warren McCullars
Alagasco
Vice Chair/Chair Elect
Dr. Anne-Katrin Gramberg
Auburn University
VP Education
Dr. Wolfgang Kneer
SWJ-BREILMANN U.S. LLC
VP Business Development
Brian Hilson
Birmingham Business Alliance
VP German Business
Albert von Pelser
REHAU Automotive, LLC
VP Communication
Devin Dolive
Burr & Forman LLP
VP Culture
Dr. Thomas Fox
University of Alabama
Secretary
Kirk Atkinson
Adah International, Inc.
Treasurer
Arnold Servo
R�dl & Partner
Immediate Past Chair
Bryan Winter
Winter McFarland, LLC
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AGP Affiliates
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Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Detlev Ruenger Marquis Two Tower Suite 901 285 Peachtree Ctr Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: (404) 934-5474
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany for the State of Alabama Michael Johnson Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC Phone: (205) 328-0480 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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Executive Director
Tine Hoffmeister
Office
205-943-4772
director@alabamagermany.org
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Join Our List
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German Christmas Market in Birmingham
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Congratulatory Message to President-elect Donald Trump
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Dear Mr. Trump:
Please accept my congratulations on your election as President of the United States of America.
You will assume office at a time in which our countries are jointly facing many different challenges.
Germany's ties with the United States of America are deeper than with any country outside of the European Union. Germany and America are bound by common values - democracy, freedom, as well as respect for the rule of law and the dignity of each and every person, regardless of their origin, skin color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or political views. It is based on these values that I wish to offer close cooperation, both with me personally and between our countries' governments.
Partnership with the United States is and will remain a keystone of German foreign policy, especially so that we can tackle the great challenges of our time: striving for economic and social wellbeing, working to develop farsighted climate policy, pursuing the fight against terrorism, poverty, hunger, and disease, as well as protecting peace and freedom in the world.
In the years ahead as president, I wish you a sure hand, every success, and God's blessing.
Dr. Angela Merkel Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
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New German Company Breaking Ground in Bibb County
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By AL.com
Executives with German auto supplier M�llerTech will broke ground on the company's new $46.3 million Bibb County manufacturing facility last month.
The factory will employ 222 and manufacture interior parts for the next generation of MercedesBenz SUVs. The project is part of the $1.3 billion expansion Mercedes began in 2015. At an announcement last month in Centreville, M�llerTech said the 150,000-square-foot plant will serve as the company's flagship manufacturing facility, joining existing factories in Elberton, Ga., and Detroit, Mich. Production is slated to begin by the end of 2019.
Click here for AL.com's full story
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BASF invests in McIntosh site, expands plastic additives business
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By Hydrocarbon Processing
BASF announced its plans to invest more than $200 million in its plastic additives business worldwide. Part of this investment will focus on strengthening its manufacturing footprint in North America by investing in its McIntosh, Alabama, site to support market growth.
BASF's investment aligns with announced expansions by existing and new polyolefin producers in North America, which significantly increases production capacity in the market.
Hydrocarbon Processing's full story
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AGP presents 2017 Slate of Officers and Directors
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At the AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) board meeting November 10, 2016, in Birmingham; the Board Nominating Committee presented their recommendations for the 2017 AGP Slate of Officers and Directors. The board approved the new slate.
The following officers will serve on AGP's Executive Committee:
ChairDr. Anne-Katrin Gramberg, Auburn UniversityVice Chair/Chair ElectBrian Hilson, Birmingham Business AllianceVice President - EducationDr. Wolfgang Kneer, SWJ-BREILMANN U.S. LLC Vice President - Business DevelopmentJo Bonner, The University of Alabama System Vice President - German Business Albert von Pelser, REHAU Automotive, LLC Vice President - CommunicationDevin Dolive, Burr & Forman LLP Vice President - Culture Dr. Thomas Fox, University of Alabama Vice-President - MembershipKirk Atkinson, Adah International, Inc. Secretary Bobby Ingram, JamisonMoneyFarmer TreasurerArnold Servo, R�dl & Partner Immediate Past ChairWarren McCullars, Alagasco Ex-Oficio, Honorary German Consul
Michael H. Johnson, Baker Donelson
AGP is welcoming new members to the Board of Directors:
- Blair King, Alabama Power Company
- Jason Roberts, St. Clair County Economic Development Council
- Randy Rogers, Evonik Industries
- Arndt Siepmann, City of Auburn
- Mike Swinson, Alagasco
- Bryan Winter, Winter McFarland, LLC
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Mercedes announces three new logistics providers for Tuscaloosa
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By AL.com
Mercedes-Benz has announced three new local providers to support logistics for its Vance plant. The new providers are Celadon Logistics, Penske Corporation, and Schnelleke Logistics.
German company Schnelleke Logistics, with North American offices in Chattanooga, began as a furniture transport company and has been active in the U.S. since 2010. Mercedes' contract with its current logistics services provider, BLG, is set to end Dec. 31. In a statement, Mercedes said the new contracts were awarded after "an extended competitive bidding process."
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AlabamaWorks Marks Latest Evolution in State's Workforce Development
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By Michael Tomberlin
The forces behind a years-long effort to align the state's education and worker training efforts to meet the needs of business and industry today unveiled AlabamaWorks, a new initiative they say will accomplish those goals.
AlabamaWorks is the latest offering spearheaded by the Alabama Workforce Council, which Gov. Robert Bentley established three years ago to connect the various education and workforce training programs in the state to ensure students and graduates have the skills employers are seeking. "This is about connecting the jobs with the skills necessary to make a difference in the lives of the citizens of the state of Alabama," said Zeke Smith, executive vice president of Alabama Power and chairman of the Alabama Workforce Council. "This is about growing Alabama. This is about making Alabama a better place."
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| St. Nicholas Day (Sankt Nikolaus Tag) | | |
By Germanfoods
In Germany, December 5th is a very special night. Children place a freshly polished pair of boots in front of their bedroom doors. They do this in the hope that St. Nicholas and his assistant Knecht Ruprecht will visit their house. While there, perhaps he will leave a little gift in the boots, such as chocolate, nuts or fruits, or a bag of gummy bears. On the morning of December 6th, parents have no trouble getting their children out of bed! They will already have snuck out of the bedroom to peak at what St. Nicholas has brought them. However, not all children are that lucky. St. Nikolaus only brings presents to those children who are generally well-behaved throughout the year. Those who were not may find a piece of coal in their boots, courtesy of Knecht Ruprecht, who carries a sack of coal on his shoulders.
While Sankt Nikolaus dresses similarly to his American counterpart, he does not drive a sleigh or come down the chimney. In some households, children may actually come face to face with Nikolaus! The imposing Saint (played by a family friend) asks the children whether they have been naughty or nice. Lying is pointless, because Sankt Nikolaus knows everything! He carries around a record of each and every child's good and bad behavior in his golden book. His assistant Knecht Ruprecht is a menacing figure whose role is to frighten children into good behavior with threats of being spanked. However, Sankt Nikolaus is a goodhearted character who simultaneously exudes gentleness and authority. In fact, the German Nikolaus is based on an actual person. Nikolaus was a popular bishop who lived in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) during the fourth century and became a legend due to his humble and generous nature.
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The German Pickle Ornament Story
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This tradition is commonly believed by Americans to come from Germany and be referred to as a Weihnachtsgurke, but this is probably apocryphal. In fact, the tradition is completely unknown in Germany. It has been suggested that the origin of the Christmas pickle may have been developed for marketing purposes in the 1890s to coincide with the importation of glass Christmas tree decorations from Germany. Woolworths was the first company to import these types of decorations into the United States in 1890, and glass blown decorative vegetables were imported from France from 1892 onwards. Despite the evidence showing that the tradition did not originate in Germany, the concept of Christmas pickles has since been imported from the United States and they are now on sale in the country traditionally associated with it.
One suggested origin has been that the tradition came from Camp Sumter during the American Civil War. The Bavarian-born Private John C. Lower had enlisted in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, but was captured in April 1864 and taken to the prison camp. As the story is told, on Christmas Eve he begged a guard for a pickle while starving. The guard provided the pickle, which Lower later credited for saving his life. After returning to his family, he began a tradition of hiding a pickle on their Christmas tree each year.
Another origin which comes from Berrien Springs is a Victorian era tale of St. Nicholas saving two Spanish children who were trapped in a barrel of pickles by an innkeeper.
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USCIS FEE INCREASES AS OF 12/23/2016
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Effective December 23, 2016, fees for most applications and petitions filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will increase. The increases in fees range from as little as $15 to as much as hundreds of dollars for some common categories.
USCIS will increase its filing fees for the first time in six years, by a weighted average of 21 percent for most applications and petitions. Increases will include the filing fees for Naturalization (Form N-400), Adjustment of Status (I-485), Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Form I-140), Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129), Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765), Application for Travel Document (Form I-131), and Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130). For a complete listing of the new filing fees, please visit:
The biometrics service fee charged with certain applications remains $85 and the premium processing fee remains $1,225. Forms 1-131 and 1-765, filed concurrently with Form 1-485, will continue to pay only the 1-485 filing and biometrics fees.
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