February 2024

JOIN US for AGP 26th Annual Celebration Dinner 2024

Please plan to join us for AGP's biggest event of the year that brings German and American leaders from industrial, cultural, educational and governmental sectors together to celebrate Alabama-Germany Friendship:

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Club

Birmingham

We celebrate 26 Years of dedication to the development of educational, cultural, and business relationships among individuals and organizations with ties to both Alabama and Germany.   

Thank you to all the event sponsors. We are truly thankful for your support and dedication to the organization.

AGP Business Forum - German American Business Outlook 2024

Join us for breakfast, networking and briefing of the German American Business Outlook for 2024:

Thursday, February 29, 2024

8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 

Birmingham Business Alliance

Briefing on the German American Business Outlook (GABO) had been done annually since 2009 by the German American Chambers of Commerce, and on the German (and European) market in general and their outlook of investing in Alabama in the near future. Topics will also include the energy issues in Europe and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and it's importance to Foreign Direct Investment and how it the IRA is promoted in Europe.

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors:

Dankeschön to our PATRON Members:

AGP Stammtisch in Birmingham

Come join us for the FIRST AGP "Stammtisch" of the year:

Thursday, February 8, 2024

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Ghost Train Brewing Company, Birmingham

Come out to network! This is a great opportunity for German expats to meet and for other German speaking/practicing to improve your German. Speaking German is encouraged but not required. We meet every month (every other month will be in Birmingham).



What does "Stammtisch" mean? A Stammtisch is an informal group meeting held on a regular basis, and also the usually large table around which the group meets. A Stammtisch is not a structured meeting, but rather a friendly and casual get-together.

Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:

Retention of German Citizenship upon US Naturalization

By German Consul General Office

Photo Credit: Germany.info

Information for German citizens about the permission to retain German citizenship while applying for US citizenship.

Bald keine Beibehaltungsgenehmigungen mehr nötig! Noch im 1. Halbjahr 2024 wird das Erfordernis der Beibehaltungsgenehmigung abgeschafft, vermutlich zum Frühjahr. Bis zum Zeitpunkt des Inkrafttretens des Gesetzes würden Sie allerdings weiterhin die deutsche Staatsangehörigkeit verlieren, wenn Sie ohne gültige Beibehaltungsgenehmigung die US-amerikanische Staatsangehörigkeit erwerben. Am besten warten Sie mit der US-Einbürgerung bis das Gesetz in Kraft tritt, oder – falls es eilt – stellen Sie vorher noch einen Antrag auf eine Beibehaltungsgenehmigung. Weitere Informationen finden Sie hier.



Passing of Ambassador John C. Kornblum

We are very sad learn about Ambassador Kornblum's passing in December. Honorary Consul Michael Johnson was fortunate to meet him several times, including the first time in Berlin. Johnson said "Ambassador Kornblum was a true career diplomat, an expert in European affairs, and had a lifelong deep appreciation and fondness for Germany." Memorial service took place in Nashville last month.

Ambassador John C. Kornblum leaves behind a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and statesman. The son of Samuel and Ethelyn Kornblum, he was born in Detroit in 1943, and received a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1964. He married Helen Sen in 1987. The couple had two sons, Alexander and Stephen.

Amb. Kornblum was a preeminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001, and held many high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. assistant secretary of state for European affairs, special envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), deputy U.S. ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin.

After his retirement from government service, Amb. Kornblum was chairman of Lazard Freres Germany, and senior counselor to the international law firm Noerr. He served on numerous boards, including the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, and also as trustee of the American Academy in Berlin, which he helped establish. He was the recipient of many honorary awards, including a Knights Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany and an Order of Merit from Austria.



Grimm Night - Grim Tales at Goethe-Zentrum

AGP Welcomes New Members

Please help us welcome our new members:

Corporate - Regular

ADS-TEC Energy Inc.

Michael Spurr

Public Affairs Manager

ADS-TEC Energy has been developing and producing battery storage-based platform solutions - a combination of highly integrated battery storage and in-house software solutions – for over 10 years, the solutions can be used in a variety of applications: In the field of e-mobility, their system enables ultra-fast charging of electric vehicles, even on a power-limited grid. Industrial applications are supported with numerous grid-serving functionalities such as the optimization of self-consumption or peak-shaving. What all ADS-TEC Energy solutions have in common: Longevity. Thanks to an innovative cloud solution and the digital twin of their battery modules, they guarantee cell performance for up to 10 years.

Learn more at: www.ads-tec-energy.com

Corporate - Regular

NRTC Alabama Inc.

Dan Hill

Chief Operating Officer

Meet your production and automation goals with NRTC Automation. They provide turkey automation solutions, parts manufacturing, professional engineering contract services, industrial robot refurbishing, and decommissioning. At NRTC Automation, they help manufacturers maneuver through the world of automation. Your growth is their mission. NRTC Automation was founded over a decade ago with the goal of delivering high-value industrial automation and manufacturing solutions to all its customers. Their presence in Alabama and the Detroit/Canada/Windsor area allows them to provide widespread services in the United States, Canada, and worldwide. They provide a comprehensive solution for all your industrial automation and production needs.

Learn more at: www.nrtcautomation.com

Governmental Entity/Non Profit

58 INC / Shelby County EDC

Amy Sturdivant

President & CEO

Make 58 INC Your One-Stop Shop For Business Growth Assistance!

58 INC is the lead economic development organization for Shelby County, Alabama and coordinates all business recruitment, expansion, and retention support for the county and its municipalities. Their team has decades of experience and expertise to help with your next business investment decision- all at no cost to the prospect or developer.58 INC offers their connections to be your connections with infrastructure that paves the way for business success. High-quality infrastructure is a key piece of Shelby County’s business advantage. Working with their partners, they’ve invested in a platform for corporate investment and set the stage for your long-term growth.

Learn more at: www.58inc.org

As an AGP member, you can connect with them through the

AGP membership database (except individuals memberships).



High School AP Project Survey About German Dialects

Please help the John Carroll Catholic High School senior Francesca, with her AP Research about the mutual intelligibility of German dialects among native German speakers.

Francesca is currently learning German and plant to continue to study German in college.

Please note this survey is for native German speakers only. Thank you for helping her out.

Devasting Fire Destroys Rolf Meyer's Home

Our AGP member and native German, Rolf Meyer, owner of Rolf’s Cafe and Bistro, and his family lost everything when their home in Buhl caught fire last month. The family including the pets are all okay.

The former Mercedes-Benz U.S. International employee first opened Rolf's Deli and Sausages in Northport back in 2021 when he realized his childhood dream of making his own sausages. Earlier this year he relocated to Temerson Square in downtown Tuscaloosa.

You can read more in Tuscaloosa News. A Gofundme account has been setup to support the family.



AGP Membership 2024

2024 AGP Membership Renewal Now Open

Thank you for your support as an AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) member in 2023!

Membership renewals have been emailed out and we hope you will renew your membership or become a new member TODAY! Your support will help us deliver new programming and support our ability to connect businesses, organizations, governments, and individuals. Didn’t get your renewal? Email us at director@alabamagermany.org or use the link below to renew.

AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) is an extremely active organization. Many of Alabama’s leading German and American companies are active participants in AGP. The organization facilitates:

• Networking Events
• Educational Outreach
• German Dinners
• Cultural Workshops
• Business Seminars
• Young Professionals Events
• Roundtables for German Company Leaders
• Study Trips to Germany

Join us today and be a part of our diverse group of industrial, corporate, cultural, educational, and governmental leaders. 

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