SELECTED EVENTS - September to December 2005 Consul General Mark Scheland and His Family Visit Annaberg-Buchholz

December 18, 2005. Consul General Mark D. Scheland and his family visited Annaberg-Buchholz to see the famous “Mountain Parade” put on by Saxon‟s miners‟ guilds. The colorful parade entailed almost 1200 participants from across the mining regions of Germany, and who were all dressed in traditional garb. The procession marks the end of the city‟s traditional Christmas Market. Consul General Scheland joined Annaberg-Buchholz‟s Lord Mayor Barbara Klepsch and Deputy Mayor Thomas Proksch, as well as Saxony‟s Minister of Economics and Labor Thomas Jurk and Saxony‟s District Administrator for the county of Annaberg, Jürgen Föster, on the reviewing stand.

Consul General Mark Scheland and his family visit Annaberg-Buchholz. FromlLeft: Mayor Thomas Proksch, Annaberg-Buchholz; State Minister Thomas Jurk, MdL, Saxony State Ministry for Economics and Labor; Lord Mayor Barbara Klepsch, Annaberg-Buchholz; Consul General Mark Scheland and Family; District Administrator Jürgen Förster, Rural District Annaberg-Buchholz

Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig Addresses Students and English Teachers in Southern Saxony

December 5, 2005. Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig and the director of the Information Resource Center (IRC), U.S. Consulate General Leipzig, participated in America Day at the city library in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) town of Annaberg-Buchholz. Consul Wenig addressed two groups of students on the subject of the consulate and the U.S., one from the 10th grade at the 'Berufliches Gymnasium - Richtung Wirtschaftswissenschaft,” and the other from the 10th and 11th grades at the “Evangelisches Gymnasium Erzgebirge.” Eleven English teachers from the district also attended an afternoon presentation and discussion lead by Consul Wenig on U.S. themes. The visitors from the U.S. Consulate General Leipzig were also welcomed by Annaberg-Buchholz Mayor Thomas Proksch, who attended one of the student programs, and Consul Wenig officially presented to the Annaberg-Buchholz library some U.S. military Rhein-Main-donated children's books, as well as presentation books on U.S. society and geography.

Annaberg-Buchholz Mayor Thomas Proksch; Ute Dittrich, Annaberg-Buchholz Public Library; Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig, U.S. Consulate General Leipzig (From Left)

Alumni Networking in Leipzig

December 1, 2005. The U.S. Consulate General Leipzig hosted a reception for former International and Voluntary Visitors, bringing together grantees from a wide variety of institutions and geographic locations throughout the Leipzig consular district. Cultural Attaché Kim Marie Sonn and Alumni Coordinator Daniela Schilling-Muehl, both from U.S. Embassy Berlin, introduced the new alumni website to the 50 attendees and pointed out the manifold opportunities of this international alumni community. The program was rounded out at Leipzig public library by a performance of the Nancy Thym Harptree duo, which led the audience through a journey in time with songs of German immigrants to the U.S.

Nancy Thym Harptree Duo and Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig (From Left)

American Students Lecture at Leipzig Community Library

December 1, 2005. Three Consulate General Leipzig interns and the director of the Information Resource Center (IRC) visited the Mölkau public library and addressed 25 10th grade students from suburban Leipzig high schools. The U.S. interns talked about American society and culture while the IRC director made a presentation about the consulate and introduced new American books. The school outreach program at Mölkau library, initiated through a book donation in 2004, reaches out to students who do not have direct contacts with Americans and was publicized in the Mölkauer Gemeindeblatt.

U.S. intern Michael Cude lectures at Mölkau Community Library

November 24-25, 2005 Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig attended the American Studies Committee 2005 Conference at Leucorea Foundation in Lutherstadt Wittenberg. Before a group of 20 German academics specializing in U.S. studies, Wenig introduced the Leipzig Consulate General and participated in post presentation discussions on presentations which included Dissent in America by Dr. Erik Mortensen, a Fulbright professor from Wayne State University, and The Origins of the Southern Evangelical Mind, presented by Leipzig-based Fulbrighter Dr. John B. Boles of Rice University. November 24, 2005 During a whirlwind visit to Leipzig U.S. Consulate General, the Cultural Attaché and Minister Counselor for Public Affairs from the German Embassy in Washington accepted a check from a delegation of Dresden musicians and Sächsische Zeitung staffers in support of New Orleans flood victims. The 10,000 Euro donation came from the proceeds of a concert staged on September 25, at which more than 100 musicians from the region played for free to demonstrate their solidarity with displaced musicians in the south. The newspaper had supported the initiative by advertising the concert and appealing to its readers to contribute to the cause. November 23, 2005 Leipzig U.S. Consulate General staffer Birgit Kämmer attended this year's Language Day at the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences. While representatives from other Leipzig institutions spoke about educational opportunities in various Eastern European countries, Spain, France, Great Britain and Australia, Kämmer informed the students about the U.S. system of higher education, opportunities to study abroad, internship programs and visa regulations. On November 24, the regional job center in Erfurt invited Kämmer to an all-day event reaching out to high school and university students as well as to young professionals. November 23, 2005 Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig and Leipzig U.S. Intern Michael Cude addressed students at the Magdeburg Vocational School. After a presentation about the Consulate, Wenig made a short presentation on the U.S. educational system, social security and treatment of minorities in the U.S. A friendly discussion followed, and the students, none of whom had ever been to the U.S., demonstrated great interest in these and other themes. The class also presented Wenig a signed class photo. November 21, 2005 The photo exhibit featuring 32 portraits of blues musicians and countryside images from the deep south was put on display at the Thuringia headquarters of public broadcaster Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) in Erfurt. The exhibit was initiated by Leipzig's U.S. Consulate General in cooperation with photographer Axel Kuestner to draw attention again to the loss of cultural heritage in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In their opening remarks, Leipzig Consul General Mark Scheland, MDR Thuringia Director Werner Dieste, and Reinhard Lorenz from the Eisenach International Jazz Archive, all stressed the strong cultural ties between regional institutions and Leipzig's Consulate General, which were reflected by this successful cooperation. November 19, 2005 As part of International Education Week (IEW), Cultural Affairs Assistant Birgit Kämmer, U.S. Consulate General Leipzig, traveled to Wurzen to speak about educational opportunities in the U.S. Some 35 high school students received up-to-date information about the workings of the U.S. higher education system, study opportunities, grant programs and current visa regulations. In addition to the general overview, Kämmer elaborated on the Fulbright exchange program and encouraged the future university students to take advantage of this excellent study program.

November 18, 2005 Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig and Consulate General Leipzig's staff joined the festivities to celebrate the 240th anniversary of TU Bergakademie Freiberg. The college is unique in that as a mining college, it is one of the few of its type in Germany. Ministerpresident Georg Milbradt gave the keynote speech. Consul Wenig spoke to Ministerpresident Milbradt and Rector Professor Unland after the formal proceedings. U.S. Perspective on Political, Economic and Educational Reform in the Middle East and North Africa

November 16, 2005. U.S. speaker Charles K. Mallory, Senior Adviser at the US Department of State‟s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, explained to students at the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität of Jena recent developments in U.S. policies towards the Near Eastern States. Mallory analyzed changes in U.S. foreign policy and assistance towards Egypt since September 11, 2001, and put a special emphasis on the role of civil society in the Middle East. His audience was especially interested in the various U.S. reform initiatives

Meghan Davis, PhD Candidate; Prof. Dr. Helmut Hubel, University of Jena, Chair of Foreign Policy and International Relations; Charles K. Mallory, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; Holger Moroff, Research Assistant (From Left)

November 11, 2005 Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig attended a performance of the Jazzmeile Thüringen in the brick keller of the public library in Weimar. Several American Jazz artists are now performing in Thuringia, among them Chicago-based harmonica player Howard Levy, Pat O‟Bryan from Texas and Chris Cacavas from Tucson, who will present American jazz to large audiences in various cities in Thuringia. The Consulate and the organizers of Jazzmeile Thüringen have been working together for 5 years. The Consulate General again supported this year‟s festival series. Consul General Mark D. Scheland Visits Weißenfels, Saxony-Anhalt

November 10, 2005. Consul General Mark D. Scheland participated in the opening ceremony for the Central German Medicine Education Center in Weißenfels, which offers 700 students the opportunity to train in physio-therapy and related fields. The Mayor of Weißenfels, Mr. Manfred Rauner, attended the ceremony. At the event the Consul General presented the director of the Center, Mr. Joachim Tentscher, with a collection of English books and reference works for their library, with the hope for future cooperation with the Information Resource Center at the Consulate General in Leipzig.

From left: CEO of the Medical Educational Center in Weißenfels; Lord Mayor Manfred Rauner, Weißenfels; Consul General Mark D. Scheland, Leipzig

Leipzig High School Students Celebrate Book Donation

November 8, 2005. Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig, U.S. interns Sean McGrath and Michael Cude and the director of the Information Resource Center (IRC), U.S. Consulate General, attended a presentation by 5th and 11th grade students showcasing their English language skills, held at the school library of the Humboldt Gymnasium in Leipzig. The principal and English teachers thanked the Consulate for its longstanding support and cooperation, and Consul Wenig officially presented the new English language books to the school‟s library. A lively discussion about the U.S. rounded out the program.

English teacher Mr. Engel (Left) and Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig present the new U.S. book collection

English Teachers Explore U.S. Topics at Seminar in Leipzig

November 3, 2005. Consulate General Leipzig hosted teachers of English at an in-service training seminar in Leipzig. Consul General Mark Scheland welcomed participants from across Saxony, Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig and Consulate General Leipzig staff talked about services for teachers and students, while Bettina Kutsche, Foreign Commercial Service (FCS), presented FCS Leipzig and gave an overview over recent economic developments in the U.S. Prof. Crister Garrett of Leipzig‟s American Studies Institute discussed U.S. domestic and foreign policy with the group. The seminar, which was supported by the Ministry of Education and regional school authorities, introduced consular activities and current issues in American society to teachers from vocational schools.

Consul General Mark Scheland welcomes the English teachers from Saxony

Exhibit on German Immigration to Texas Opens in Leipzig

November 3, 2005. The Consulate General Leipzig, in cooperation with the Houston-Leipzig Sister City Society and the main library of the city of Leipzig, opened an exhibit entitled, German-Texans and the Llano Estacado Connection. Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig delivered welcoming remarks, and Dr. Meredith McClain from Texas Tech University in Lubbock presented a slide-show lecture, followed by a reception.

Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig opens the exhibition "German-Texans and the Llano Estacado Connection"

Magdeburg Students Investigate U.S. Opportunities

November 1, 2005. Professor Holger Kersten from the University of Magdeburg and a group of his students attended a presentation on study and internships in the U.S. delivered by Consulate General staffer Birgit Kämmer, which took place at the Magdeburg International Library. While Ms. Kämmer provided general information and addressed questions, the head of the Academic Exchange Office, University of Magdeburg, introduced the group to U.S. exchange programs involving Magdeburg. The director of Leipzig's Information Resource Center (IRC) talked about IRC services and resources.

Prof. Holger Kersten and Heidrun Willms, Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg

Magdeburg English Teachers Learn About Life in the U.S.A.

October 27, 2005. Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig, U.S. Consulate General Leipzig, and the Director of the Information Resource Center (IRC) conducted a workshop for English teachers at the Magdeburg Public Library. Wenig spoke about the U.S. in presenting his home state of Alaska, and discussed political and environmental issues with the 35 participants. The introduction to IRC services and products was followed by a donation of books on U.S. history and immigration to the Magdeburg library, which participates in the America@yourlibrary project.

Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig, U.S. Consulate General Leipzig, talks to English teachers at Magdeburg Public Library

Consul General Mark Scheland Hosts Participants of a Fulbright Seminar

October 25, 2005. Consul General Mark Scheland welcomed a group of six participants of a Fulbright seminar for U.S. Administrators on International Education at the Consulate General Leipzig. Scheland outlined the structure and work of diplomatic posts abroad, explained the Consulate's involvement in international educational exchange (i.e. with regard to the Fulbright program) and engaged the group in a lively discussion on a variety of topics.

Consul General Mark Scheland (Center) meets With U.S. Fulbright administrators in international education at the Consulate General Leipzig

Strengthening Ties with School Libraries

October 25, 2005. Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig welcomed 25 librarians and staffers from Leipzig school libraries and introduced them to the Consulate's tasks and services. Consulate's Information Resource Center staff presented USA information on the Internet, while Consulate's Cultural Affairs Assistants provided an overview on 'Educational Information Services' and the Leipzig- Houston sister city partnership. U.S. intern Sean McGrath compared his library experiences in the U.S. and Germany.

U.S. intern Sean McGrath, U.S. Consulate General Leipzig, talks to a group of librarians and staff from Leipzig schools

October 24, 2005 Nicole Krauss - considered a new, inspiring voice in American literature - read from her latest novel The History of Love in Leipzig's „House of Books‟. Her novel has already been translated into 27 languages and is to be produced as a Hollywood movie. According to literary critics, Krauss had added a new protagonist to Jewish literature. The joint-venture between Consulate General Leipzig and one of the city‟s leading cultural institutions was enriched by Germany's best-known speaking voice: Christian Brueckner reading the part of Leo Gursky. October 21 - 23, 2005 The sixth Saxon Youth Media Forum took place at the Dresden State Parliament, featuring for the first time a U.S. speaker via Internet link-up. Parliamentary President Erich Iltgen welcomed the 200 young media buffs, aged 13-20, who produced radio and TV programs, photo stories, a newspaper and Internet web pages in the course of their three-day workshops. After the opening, media specialist Professor Heilbrunn from Ohio State University was projected via Internet link-up on a large screen in the assembly hall and took part in a panel discussion on the effects of digitalization on the future media landscape. October 19, 2005 American author Leonard Chang read from his latest writings at Jena's City Library, talked about his experiences as an Asian American, and discussed his own path in becoming a writer. The reading ended with a long and vivid discussion on writing strategies, and the role of Korean-Americans in American society. Chang added a colorful facet to the image of multicultural America, while demonstrating at the same time that mystery novels can also be high quality literature. October 19, 2005 The German-American Dialogue Center (GADC) in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, launched its annual scholarship competition for students from Saxony-Anhalt at a news conference in Magdeburg. Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig, who attended the event together with Consulate General Leipzig staff, underscored in his remarks the importance of exchanges for young people. Chairman of the GADC Board and Bundestag Member (MdB) Dr. Uwe Küster praised the Consulate for its continued support. Consul Wenig will participate in selection process in late January 2006.

October 18, 2005 U.S. Speaker Mark Gibb, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), met with experts of Leipzig's Regional District Government to discuss trends, problems and perspectives in land use planning, demographics and economic development. Gibb presented examples from Virginia and gave an overview of the NVRC‟s successful cooperation with German partners in Stuttgart. Leo Artmann, his Saxon counterpart, took Gibb on a tour of one of Leipzig's former brownfields, which are being recultivated and turned into attractive areas for housing, tourism and environmentally friendly businesses. October 11- 15, 2005 Supported by the Consulate General Leipzig, the Leipzig Jazz Club hosted its 29th international festival (Leipziger Jazztage), which - as in the past - proved to be the most important forum for contemporary jazz and world music in the five new German states. The 73 musicians attracted more than 5,300 jazz enthusiasts: many young, in addition to those who have stayed young. The concerts took place in smaller clubs, as well as in Leipzig‟s large Opera House, and featured newcomers as well as U.S. legends like Branford Marsalis, Ralph Towner and Dave Holland with their bands. October 12, 2005 Accompanied by the project and marketing manager of the city, the Weißenfels municipal library staff - including its new director - visited the Consulate General for the first time. The group studied resources of the Consulate's Information Resource Center (IRC) and was trained on USA information on the Internet. Images from the Deep South in Leipzig

October 11, 2005. A photo exhibit paying tribute to the Deep South opened in Leipzig's student club Moritzbastei. The exhibit was initiated by Leipzig's Consulate General in cooperation with photographer Axel Küstner to draw attention again to loss of cultural heritage in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Küstner chose 32 portraits of blues musicians, city and countryside images out of a pool of more than 20.000 photographs. After Leipzig, the exhibit will go on the road for display at further destinations throughout Germany. In their opening remarks, Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig, U.S. Consulate General, and Reinhard Lorenz from the Eisenach International Jazz Archive stressed the strong cultural and educational ties between regional institutions and Leipzig's Consulate General, which were reflected by this successful

cooperation.

Reinhard Lorenz, Jazz Archive Eisenach; Axel Küstner, Photographer; Mark Wenig, Consul for Public Affairs (From Left)

October 3-9, 2005 The 48th International Leipzig Festival for Documentary Film attracted a primarily young audience of more than 20.000 this year. As a result of Consulate General Leipzig's facilitation, several U.S. filmmakers were able to attend the festival, which featured 327 contributions from 50 countries. Special screenings of films by American film pioneers Albert and David Maysles enriched this year's program. Diane Weyermann, director of the Documentary Department of the California Sundance Institute was on the jury of the festival, which received broad national and regional recognition and press coverage. Jenny Abel from Los Angeles received the Movie World DVD Award for her film Abel Raises Cain. Leipzig Stages Youth Exchange Fair

October 8, 2005. Consulate General Leipzig invited exchange organizations, students, parents and teachers to an all-day youth exchange fair at the Leipzig Public Library. About 300 students gathered information on educational opportunities in the U.S. and listened to Sylvia Schill, co-author of A High School Year in the U.S. Bundestag deputy Rainer Fornahl talked about the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Program while a recently returned German student recounted her U.S. experiences as Au pair. Consul for Political and Economic Affairs Mike Rousek welcomed the 25 exchange organizations from all over Germany and singled out youth exchanges as a vital element of German-American relations.

Cultural Affairs Assistant Birgit Kämmer (Left), U.S. Consulate General, and Susanne Pilz, Student, a former au pair in the U.S.

Consul General Mark Scheland Unveils Plaque Commemorating the Former U.S. Consulate in Annaberg-Buchholz

October 8, 2005. The American Consul General Mark D. Scheland made his inaugural visit to the city of Annaberg-Buchholz in the Ore Mountain region of Saxony. He was warmly welcomed by Lord Mayor Barbara Klepsch, and given the honor of signing the “Golden Book” of the city. The Consul General and the Lord Mayor were joined by Steffen Flath, Minister of Culture and Education, Saxony, Dresden, and Thomas Bezner, head of the German-American Society in the Free State of Saxony, Chemnitz, in the unveiling of a plaque, which commemorates the former location of the American Consulate. The text of the plaque reads: “Annaberg- Buchholz 12-8-1879 through 6-30-1908. In this building resided the Consulate of the United States of America, whose purpose was to coordinate overseas trade.”

From left: Thomas Bezner, head of German-American Association in Saxony, Chemnitz; Barbara Klepsch, Lord Mayor, Annaberg-Buchholz; Consul General Mark D. Scheland, U.S. Consulate General Leipzig; Steffen Flath, MdL, Minister of Culture and Education, Saxony, Dresden

October 7, 2005 Consulate General Leipzig hosted a working luncheon for Marybeth Peters, United States Register for Copyrights. Peters introduced representatives from Leipzig libraries, law offices and the German Association of Publishers and Book Traders to legal copyrights in the U.S. and the differences between the U.S. and German/European systems. Peters also toured the Deutsche Buecherei (German Library), which was founded in 1912 and collects all books printed in German since 1913. In return, she explained to her German counterparts the role and activities of the Library of Congress. 'American Studies Orientation Week' at Leipzig University

October 6, 2005. The Institute for American Studies, University of Leipzig, staged its first Orientation Day for new students. As one of the guest speakers, Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig presented an overview of American BA and MA programs. The staff of the Consulate General explained Consulate resources. Approximately 80 students who will begin their American Studies program this year were familiarized with the Consulate and its research services and received the CD-Rom About the USA.

October 4-5, 2005 U.S. Consulate General Leipzig hosted Saxon teachers of English at an in-service training conference in Rodewisch. The conference, which was co-sponsored by the regional school authorities (Regionalschulamt Zwickau), centered on U.S. domestic and foreign policy, transatlantic relations, cultural misunderstandings -and how to avoid them- and the U.S. as a multi-ethnic society. Featured U.S. speakers included Heidelberg-based Professor Steven Bloom and Erlangen-based historian and political scientist Dr. Herbert Sirois. The teachers unanimously expressed their appreciation for the rare opportunity to discuss U.S. issues with “real Americans, in a remote region, where foreign nationals are a rare occasion.”

Book Donation to Europe-Library in Görlitz

October 5, 2005. Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig, U.S. Consulate General Leipzig, the director of the Consulate's Information Resource Center (IRC) and U.S. intern Sean McGrath handed over a book donation from the former Rhein Main U.S. military base to the Görlitz European Library. In the audience were the director of the Euro-School-Organization (ESO) as well as students from the ESO and the Augustum high school. The participants were introduced to the Consulate's tasks and services and IRC products and resources. Intern McGrath presented his home state Colorado and discussed U.S.-German cultural differences with the 30 students.

American intern Sean McGrath talks about his home state Colorado to students of Görlitz' high schools

Mark Wenig, Crister S. Garrett and Prof. Keil (from left) at the University of Leipzig

October 1, 2005 Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig and his wife were among the guests of the world premiere of das treffen - the otherside, a transatlantic simulcast by the Magdeburg theatre and the Tennessee Repertory Theatre Nashville. At both venues, the spectators took part in the same performance with the actors entering and taking their seats among the audience. September 30, 2005 Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig and his wife represented the Leipzig Consulate General at the annual Gera-Fort Wayne sister city festivities. Following Wenig‟s welcome speech, the celebrations included videos of previous visits, rock music, and an American western-style buffet. Among the guests were members of the Fort Wayne sister city organization and a band. Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr., Visits Dresden

September 29, 2005. Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr., made his initial call on Saxon Minister-President Georg Milbradt in the framework of a two-day visit. His agenda also included a discussion with local political representatives, which produced valuable insights into the debate about future German government constellations – particularly in view of the postponed Bundestag vote in Dresden‟s voting district I on October 2. In addition, Ambassador Timken visited AMD, the largest U.S. investor in the state of Saxony, and met with a group of teachers, who reflected on their experiences as participants in the Eastern German Teachers Visitor Program. Ambassador Timken's wife Sue Timken and his daughter Fran Karsh visited the porcelain factory in Meißen.

Froml left: Marko Braungarten, Vacha; Jeanine Kämpfer, Altenburg; Elke Stier, Crimmitzschau; Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr., and Sue Timken; Dr. Dagmar Schulz, Leipzig; Kerstin Jarosch, Breitungen; Fran Karsh; Renate Dorn, Zschopau

Dessau Highschool Students Learn about the U.S.

September 28, 2005. Consulate General Leipzig's Information Resource Center (IRC) Director Thea Bohse and U.S. intern Michael Cude visited the Anhaltische State Library Dessau. The IRC director presented to the library an Academic American Encyclopedia and children books, donated by the former Rhein Main U.S. Base library, as well as a State-by-State Atlas and books over U.S. immigration. The head of the Dessau cultural office, local media and 40 high-school students from the Gymnasium Philanthropinum, accompanied by their English teachers, joined the hand-over ceremony. Intern Cude provided a Power Point presentation about his home state of Texas, followed by a lively discussion with the students over life growing up in America, while the IRC director briefly talked about consulate services and provided information material about the US.

Super Sonntag journalist (right) interviews Michael Cude, U.S. intern at Consulate General Leipzig (Left), in Dessau Library.

Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. Visits Leipzig and Erfurt

September 20 - 21, 2005. The first visit of Ambassador William Timken, Jr. to Leipzig and Erfurt garnered extensive media coverage, in which he underscored U.S. interest in the establishment of a stable German government and in the maintaining of good bilateral relations between the U.S. and Germany. He also discussed the extensive and challenging tasks involved in dealing with Hurricane Katrina, and emphasized the global challenges facing economies in the U.S. and Europe. His wife, Sue Timken, and daughter, Frances Karsh, accompanied Ambassador Timken, Jr. as he visited the U.S. Consulate General in Leipzig, where he met with Consul General Mark Scheland and consulate staff members. Editor-in-chief Bernd Hilder of the regional newspaper Leipziger Volkzeitung then interviewed Ambassador Timken, Jr., while Mrs. Timken and Ms.

Karsh visited the Academy of Visual Arts and the Gallery of Contemporary Art, both in Leipzig. While in Erfurt, Ambassador Timken, Jr. attended his first meeting with Minister President Dieter Althaus.

Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr., (left) with Staff Members and interns of the U.S. Consulate General Leipzig

"Music Helps" with Katrina Aftermath

September 17 and 21, 2005. On September 21, Saxony's internationally renowned state orchestra (Staatskapelle) performed in Houston, Texas, as a sign of solidarity for Hurricane Katrina victims and volunteer helpers. The concert, which was initiated by Saxon Minister President Georg Milbradt under the patronage of Federal President Horst Koehler, received support from the U.S. Consulate General Leipzig, the Berlin Embassy and institutions in the United States. On September 17, U.S. Consulate General Leipzig supported a Jazz concert for New Orleans as part of the Jena City Festival. The organizers and musicians, among them jazz veterans like the Jena

Dixieland Stompers, encouraged the audience to donate money to help musicians in New Orleans who were left stranded by Katrina. Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig was introduced to the audience from the stage and later discussed further cooperation with Jena district mayor Rosa-Maria Haschke and representatives from the cultural scene.

Jena Jazz concert musician

Concert for New Orleans

Jena Dixieland Band

The audience of Jena's city festival

Listeners of the New Orleans Jazz concert

September 9, 2005 The German and American interns of the Consulate General visited the Euro-School Leipzig, where they spoke with students from English language classes. The casual meet-and-greet session allowed the school‟s students to practice their English comprehension, while learning about the activities of the Consulate and life growing up in the United States. September 8, 2005 As part of the active sister city relationship, a jazzband from Akron, Ohio, played an open-air concert in Chemnitz, which was attended by Consulate General Leipzig staff. The Jack Schantz Quartet, which arrived a week ago, played and rehearsed with the local youth jazz youth band and toured the Chemnitz area. Chemnitz Lord Mayor Dr. Seifert welcomed the band and underscored the importance of and his support for the sister city relations with the U.S.

Jazz Band Performing at the Jena City Festival

September 7, 2005 The new Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig and Consulate staff member Beate Renker traveled to Glauchau to participate in the bi-monthly meeting of the local sister city group. The group gave a warm welcome to Consul Wenig and then asked all participants for a moment of silence to commemorate the hurricane victims in the southern United States. The main focus of the meeting was a first-hand travel report by a Glauchau family that gave a vivid account of its stay with various American host families in Lynchburg during the summer. Mark Wenig handed over English-language childrens‟ books for the Glauchau public library. September 1, 2005 Consul for Public Affairs Mark Wenig and U.S. Consulate General Leipzig staff traveled to Magdeburg for a press conference introducing the world premiere of "das treffen - the other side," a multi-media live theater project to be performed and simulcast in Nashville and Magdeburg from September 30 - October 2, 2005. The event will take place under the chief patronage of Phil Bredesen, Governor of Tennessee, and Prof. Böhmer, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt. As a panelist in the press conference line-up, Mark Wenig took the opportunity to underscore the Consulate‟s support for the project.