Volume V, Issue 1
Winter 2008
Editor: Anne Marie Seibel
Managing Editor: Patricia Coghlan
Assistant Editor: Meg Lozner
Executive Committee
Al Reisz, Reisz Engineering,
Chairman of the Board
Joachim Hofmann, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International,
Vice Chairman/Chairman-Elect
Anne Marie Seibel, Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP,
Vice President of Communications
Amdt Siepmann, City of Auburn,
Vice President of Culture
Hajo Drees, Alabama Development Office,
Vice President of Business Development
Dr. Anne-Katrin Gramberg, Auburn University,
Vice President of Education
Alan Wood, ANB Insurance Services,
Vice President of Membership
Lamar Smith, Alagasco,
Secretary/Treasurer
Jim Robertson, Rödl and Partner,
Immediate Past Chairman
Board of Directors
Greg Barker, Alabama Power Company
Judy Benson , CRH North America
Grey Brennen, Alabama Bureau of Travel & Tourism
Michael Brooks, Ala. International Trade Center
Victor Brown, Birmingham Regional CoC
Billy Joe Camp, World Business Advisors, LLC
Al Cook, Opelika Economic Development
Dr. Thomas Fox, University of Alabama
Dr. Clara Gerhardt, Samford University
Ethan Hadley, Huntsville/Madison County CoC
Mickey Harbin, AT&T
Eva Kühfuss, Eissmann Automotive Group Inc.
Tate Godfrey, North Ala. Industrial Trade Assoc.
Gerhard Graf, Ashford Advisors, Inc.
Andreas Jocham, ISE Innomotive Systems U.S., Inc.
Doug Neil, Daniel Corporation
Rita Powell, FDSK
Glen Pringle, Retirement Systems of Alabama
Jim Schmalz, Regions Bank
Bill Sisson, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
Mark Sheppard, Alabama State Port Authority
Tom Stroud, Moreson Conferencing
Ted vonCannon, Metropolitan Dev. Board
Dr. Robert Weigel, Auburn University
Bryan Winter, Adcox Lewis Smyth & Winter, PC
Those Were the Days
By Dr. Clara Gerhardt
“Thyssen Krupp is coming to Alabama!” The name recognition for me was more personal. My great grandfather had commented
about Alfred Krupp, the German industrialist and steel magnate, and
it was recorded in our family history. About 125 years later, on a different continent, the great-granddaughter of the man who regularly
welcomed Alfred Krupp (1812-1887) at the Essen train station, was
excited by the news of this historical German company coming to Alabama.
Peter Grotepass, pictured below, (1842 – 1918) worked as today’s equivalent of a train conductor. Around 1880, he was promoted
to Senior Station Porter at the main station in Essen, Germany. To
him this was a prestigious promotion as trains had the same respected
aura that airliners had in the Fifties.
On the left, Peter Grotepass (1842 –
1918), on the right Wilhelm Grotepass (1869 – 1954). Peter is the
great grandfather, and Wilhelm is
the grandfather of Dr. Clara
Gerhardt, Past President and Board
Member of AGP.
Continued on page 2
AGP Welcomes New Chairman
Al Reisz
Honorary German Consul
Bruce Jones, Federal Republik of Germany
Executive Director
Patricia Coghlan, AlabamaGermany Partnership
Past Chairs:
Rex Lysinger, Bill Mathews , Don Erwin
Dr. Phillip Crunk, Lamar Smith, Dara Longgrear,
Dr. Jane Stanfield, Dr. Clara Gerhardt
New AGP Chairman Al Reisz
AlabamaGermany Partnership is
pleased to announce Al Reisz, president
of Huntsville’s Reisz Engineering, as the
new Chairman of the Board. Reisz
founded Reisz Engineers in 1974 with engineers from the Apollo lunar landing
program. Since then the company has
grown to encompass numerous branches
of engineering and has worked extensively to develop environmentally
friendly practices. Previously, Reisz
served on the board of directors as Vice
Chairman. Reisz replaces Jim Robertson
of Rödl & Partner.
Elberta German Sausage Festival
Elberta, AL, is proud of its German heritage.
So proud, in fact, that twice a year they host a German Sausage Festival, one in October and one in
March. The festival is headed by the Elberta Fire
Department and serves as a community fund-raiser.
It benefits not only the fire department, but the
helps with town improvements and aids local nonprofits as well. The day consists of entertainment
for adults and children, around 250 arts & crafts
booths, and, of course, food.
As for the sausage itself, the recipe is secret
and each one-day festival sells about 7,000 pounds of
the local delicacy. The recipe has changed slightly
over the years, but the original recipe is credited to
the late Albert Stucki, who managed Elberta’s Packing Plant for 20 years. In addition to sausage, the
festival also boasts an array of other German food,
including German-style potato salad and struedel.
Elberta’s pride in its German roots is evident;
the town’s slogan “Für das gute Leben” is displayed
on the welcome signs and the local water tank.
The next festival will take place from 8 a.m.
until 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. For more information on the festival, visit the official website at
http://sausagefest.elbertafire.com/.
AGP Celebrates 10th Anniversary
This year AlabamaGermany Partnership is commemorating its 10th anniversary with our annual dinner
and business forum, which will take place April 24-25
at the new Westin Hotel in Huntsville. At our annual
dinner we will be honoring Governor Bob Riley, among
others.
To add to the celebration, AGP is joining with
people across the country to celebrate 50 Years of
America in Space, which included a Grand opening
Gala for the Davidson Center for Space Exploration in
Huntsville on January 31.
“Those Were the Days“ (cont. from pg. 1)
This is the extract from the family history:
“Alfred Krupp greeted him like a dear old acquaintance”
(“Alfred Krupp begruesste ihn wie einen lieben alten
Vertrauten!”)
“The station porter, Wilhelm Grotepass had the duties
of connecting the chains on the platforms, signposting
the exits, and giving the departure signal by ringing a
brass bell. He also had the honorary position of greeting and accompanying very important guests. On intended arrivals and departures of VIP’s, a telegram
alerted the station personnel. It was Peter Grotepass’
duty to welcome and help the guests. Through the telegrams he could anticipate station arrivals of the magnate Alfred Krupp. Even after Peter Grotepass had retired, he was called back on duty when Mr. Krupp traveled to or from Essen main station. On these occasions
Mr. Krupp would greet Peter Grotepass like a dear old
acquaintance…”
Peter Grotepass is the great grandfather of Dr Clara
Gerhardt-Grotepass, past chair and board member of the
AGP.
10th Anniversary Sponsors
New AGP Members
Corporate Regular: ThyssenKrupp Steel and Stainless USA, LLC, (Dr. Ulrich Albrecht-Frueh);
Berg Spiral Pipe Corporation (Uwe Arenz); Merrill Lynch (Andrea Taylor); Frost Cummins LLP,
(Diana S. Knight);
Corporate Associate: Ashford Advisors, (Gerhard Graf)
Educational/Student: Denis Brunotte, BSC; Individual: Sabine Lamont, Trussville;
AGP Hosted Immigration Seminar with
Japan American Society of AL
University of Alabama Hosted Annual
High School German Day
AlabamaGermany Partnership cosponsored a legal seminar with the Japanese
American Society of Alabama entitled “Latest
Developments: Immigration and Law.” The event
took place on February 28 at the World Business
Center’s Skyline Dining Room.
Speakers included attorneys Mac Greaves
and James Nolan. Greaves is a partner with Birmingham law firm Burr & Foreman where he focuses on the fields of labor and employment.
Nolan, an immigration attorney, has his own
practice (James Nolan Law Office) in New York
City.
The University of Alabama hosted its thirteenth annual High School German Day February 20. This year’s topic
was German Music - From Hildegard von Bingen to Tokio Hotel. High school German students had the opportunity to take
part in a number of competitions in the categories of oral
events, written events, and visual projects.
For the past two years the AGP awarded a gift basket
to the Group Song Winners, which this year went to the Alabama School of and Mathematics and Science from Mobile.
The university also offered a $1000 scholarship to the
winning senior of German Day. The award, based on excellence in German, is sponsored by Mercedes-Benz U.S. International. For more information please visit the website at
http://bama.ua.edu/~deutsch/german_day.html .
AGP Launches Newly
Revamped Website
You’ll still find us at
www.alabamagermany.org!
Check out our new site, complete with online registration
and payment for our 10th
Anniversary Celebration.
Pictured above AGP members Eva Kühfuβ, Thomas
Hoheisel, and Vesta Marcum network before seminar.
Piano/Voice Lessons in German
AGP Sponsored Events
Klavier und Stimme Lehrer für Alter 5
und auf. Bakkalaureus der
Philosophischen Fakultät in christlicher
Erziehung/Musik. Bitte rufen Sie Amy
Hulteen an 205.939.3508. Öffnungen still
verfügbar für Feder!
March 25
AGP OSHA/Safety Seminar Auburn. –
Watch our website for more details
April 24-25 10th Anniversary Celebration Westin, Huntsville
Other Events
March 29 Elberta Sausage Festival
http://sausagefest.elbertafire.com/
April 4-6 GACC Annual General Meeting
Houston, TX
http://alabamagermany.org/events/?eventID=4&date=04/04/2008
Piano and Voice Teacher for ages 5 and up. Bachelors
degree in Christian Education/Music. Please call AGP
member Amy Hulteen at 205.939.3508. Openings still
available for students!
ONGOING GERMAN CLUB EVENTS:
Come to Speak (or Listen to) German!
Freunde Deutscher Sprache & Kultur (FDSK) (The Birmingham German Club) Fridays 7:30pm-??2318 2nd Avenue North,
Birmingham, Alabama FDSK for Rent: Call 256-268-5500.
Stammtischlern der Zauberstadt
at Giuseppe's Cafe Southside-Birmingham (925 Eight St. South 324-2626) heute abend um halb acht.
Trish Coghlan, Executive Director
[email protected]
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tel: (205) 943-4772
500 Beacon Parkway West
Fax: (205) 943-4780
Birmingham, AL 35209
www.alabamagermany.org