Dear members, partners & friends,
I am very pleased to share with you a
letter from the German Consul General
in Boston addressed to the German-American business community - please see below.
In this week's newsletter you can register for our upcoming
virtual conversation on EU-US trade
on April 29 and the GABC Young Professionals
Virtual Stammtisch
on April 14. \View our
poll result
from last week which stands in contrast to the
list of MA companies
that have announced layoffs and vote in this week's poll.
I am also pleased to announce that we will be sharing with you content from Andrew Adair's bi-weekly newsletter where he dissects the impact of
U.S. politics on international business and trade with a particular eye on Germany
. We hope you will find this insightful.
Also included this week: news from our
sponsors
,
member announcements
and
local and international press stories.
If you have any to share for us next time, please reach out.
With this, I wish everyone a very happy Easter weekend and as always, please stay healthy.
Emily Westhoven
Executive Director
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This poll will close on April 16 at noon. We will publish the results in the next newsletter.
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Spread Knowledge Not Germs
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TÜV SÜD which specializes in testing, certification, auditing and advisory services, is supporting the fight against COVID-19 in several ways, including the prioritization of all medical device and in-vitro diagnostic device projects that are related to the treatment, testing, and monitoring of the coronavirus outbreak. In addition, they are working to share vital health information, such as mask and hand cleansing infographics. TÜV SÜD has consolidated the CDC's best practices on how to effectively ward off the spread and contraction of the Coronavirus in a preventative guide to staying healthy during these times, and to spread knowledge, not germs.
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On the lighter side of news: Professional Pooches!
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TÜV SÜD AMERICA is an essential business and their labs remain open, however, many employees are working from home and receive important office support through a team of faithful furry office mates. It was time to give the canine (and feline) team members credit and highlight their areas of critical expertise, including:
Colby
reporting to John Tesoro, President and CEO of TÜV SÜD America;
Zeus
reporting to Jim Marsh, President and CEO of TÜV SÜD GRC and
Rusty
reporting to Jasmine Martirossian, Vice President of Marketing.
View
the bios of the entire furry staff of over
50
(
fifty
!) essential TÜV SÜD America pooches.
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Upcoming Webinar: COVID-19 Impact on Clinical Trials and U.S. Regulatory Approval
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On April 15th at 16-17 pm
CET (10-11 am EDT), learn from German Accelerator’s experienced regulatory mentor,
Greg Dombal
, how to navigate the impact of COVID-19 on clinical trials and FDA approval timelines and processes. The German Accelerator team will provide answers on how startups can mitigate their risks around trial integrity, safety of trial participants, and other relevant issues. During the session, opportunities for startups will be highlighted, such as the FDA’s recently announced special emergency program for possible therapies, the Coronavirus Treatment Accelerator Program (CTAP). This webinar will be moderated by Marc Filerman, CEO German Accelerator Life Sciences.
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Translating Washington for Germany
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Excerpt from Andrew Adair's April 6 Newsletter:
"
Despite the Crisis, a Case-by-Case Approach on Tariffs:
To respond to the supply crunch, many are urging the Trump Administration to drop tariffs that it has put in place over the last two years — at a minimum, on supplies needed for the pandemic. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, for example,
is urging the Administration
to “eliminate all tariffs on medicines and medical equipment.” Many in Congress are also calling for tariff-related relief — for example
on March 26
(on all imports during the crisis), and
on April 2
(on medical supplies during the crisis). Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the most prominent Senator for trade policy,
is also pushing the Trump Administration
for similar forms of relief and is urging Trump not to impose any new tariffs during the pandemic. It is notable that Congress declined to force the Administration to accept such tariff relief in the CARES Act; it remains worth watching whether Congress insists on action as it prepares a “Phase 4 bill” this month. Congress could become more agitated, for example, if President Trump imposes yet even more tariffs, e.g.
on crude oil
."
Newsletter in English
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Newsletter auf Deutsch
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In the News | Pressespiegel
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A list of layoffs and furloughs in Massachusetts (so far) due to coronavirus
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"The Globe is keeping track of companies that have announced layoffs and furloughs in response to the outbreak, and charting how it affects their Massachusetts employees."
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E.U. Officials Agree to Deal to Soften Coronavirus’s Economic Blow
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"European Union finance ministers
agreed Thursday night
to a plan calling for more than half a trillion euros worth of new measures to buttress their economies against the onslaught of the coronavirus."
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Germany to run Europe’s first large-scale antibody test programme
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"Germany is to carry out Europe’s first large-scale coronavirus
antibody testing
in an effort to help researchers assess infection rates and monitor the spread of the virus more effectively".
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Germany Will Be a Post-Coronavirus Winner
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"
In striking contrast, recapitalization with government funding will be substantial in fiscally strong European countries, especially in Germany.
"
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Have EU-US Trade Talks Stalled During The Pandemic?
Before the coronavirus burst onto the global scene, there was an expectation that the U.S. had an interest in finalizing at least a “mini” EU-US trade deal before the November elections.
Join us for an assessment of the state of U.S.-Europe trade negotiations as well as other political and economic observations with Washington insider and Founder of DC / Berlin Consulting, Andrew Adair who is currently based in Berlin.
This conversation will be facilitated by GABC board member Leslie Griffin, Principal at Allinea LLC.
Date
:
Wednesday, April 29
Time
: 11AM to 11:45AM -- via ZOOM
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The April Stammtisch Goes Zoom!
The Young Professionals had to cancel the March Stammtisch, but they are back this month
via Zoom
. Virtual meetings can be somewhat awkward, so there will also be some fun
trivia
to enjoy in case some conversation starters are needed.
Sit back, relax and zoom with the YPs -- everyone welcome!
Please register to receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link prior to the Stammtisch.
Date
:
Tuesday, April 14th
Time
: 7PM to 9PM
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Help Needed? Help Wanted!
Are you in need of help?
If you are in the Metro Boston area, sick at home, alone and not able to go out to buy groceries, get to the pharmacy or are "stuck" in some other kind of way, reach out to the
GABC YP Helpline. They may be able to assist you with a run to the store or assist in other ways.
Are you able to help?
Would you like to volunteer to help someone in need who is alone and appreciates the assistance?
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Donate Blood
:
Another great way to help right now is to donate blood. However, it's important to check the eligibilty criteria first. If you have lived in Europe for a certain amount of time, you are most likely excluded:
- Inquire here about eligibility and to make an appointment at Dana Farber
- Review Mass General's Blood Donor Eligibility Guidelines
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Outside of Work | Relaxation
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- Guided Meditation: With many of us transitioning to work-from-home life and spending our days social distancing, it's important to find balance and routine. Venture Lane is offering daily 15-minute meditation sessions each morning from 6:45 to 7:00AM via Zoom (and check out their extensive free virtual crisis managing programming for the entrepreneurial community!)
- Virtual Culture: Empty cinemas, closed theaters and galleries, canceled concerts—our lives have changed immensely in recent weeks. The community is showing solidarity and creativity, and many artists and cultural institutions have put their programs online. The program curators at the Goethe-Institut Boston have put together picks and tips with current offers that you can experience digitally.
- Games & Puzzle Time: "The coronavirus pandemic has forced millions of Americans to hunker down in their homes and find ways to entertain themselves. A lot of them are thinking the same thought: jigsaw puzzles" writes the WSJ. Ravensburger, the world's largest puzzle maker, is working around the clock in order to catch up with the extraordinary demand --and provides alternatives for play time for the time being. Want to know how puzzles are made? The NYT reported this week.
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Host Families Wanted:
GISB hosts a group of exchange students every year in grades 9 to 12. Students join GISB from Germany and the global network of German Schools abroad for 5 to 10 months. They contribute to the cultural and social diversity of the Upper School, making GISB an even more exciting place. Be part of this rewarding experience by opening your home and heart to an international exchange student! Allowing a student to discover America as part of your family, will give you the opportunity to learn about a different culture, its values, traditions, language and food. A monthly stipend will be provided. For more information on becoming a host family, please contact
Susanne Friedman
, International Student Program Manager.
GISB seeks Preschool Teachers
for the Early Education Center for the upcoming school year. This is a full-time flex position. Preschool teachers at German International School Boston co-teach with another full-time educator in a mixed-age group of 2.9 – 5 years. Among other things, teachers design and lead activities to promote physical, mental and social development such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips. Read more about the position in the
German
or
English
description
.
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Helping Hands:
The German Centre Senior Place was the lucky recipient of 100 handmade masks from members of the
German International School Boston
community. "The masks come from German mums from the school who are very happy that their masks are needed in the community. It keeps them busy as well and distracts them, since most of them have family overseas," said Anja, a member of the school's Board of Trustees. To find out how to help send an
email
or check out the
Web site
.
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Our Annual Supporters -Thank you!
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GERMAN-AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL of BOSTON
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