Programs and Events

Consul General Matthew M. Rooney and Bavarian Education Secretary Karl Freller at the Albert-Einstein-Gymnasium in Munich
December 22, 2004.
Introduced by Bavarian State Secretary for Education and Culture Karl Freller, U.S. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney spoke to 150 students at Munich's Albert-Einstein-Gymnasium. Also attending the event was school principal Helmward Mörsch (center). The visit allowed for a lively exchange of views on U.S. policy and the current state of transatlantic relations.(more)

Ambassador Daniel R. Coats at the Augsburger Allgemeine
December 17, 2004.
Ambassador Daniel R. Coats (left) spoke at the Foyer of the Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung about "The U.S. Elections - What They Mean for Future U.S.- German relations". After his speech Ambassador Coats answered questions from the audience. Augsburger Allgemeine chief editor Rainer Bonhorst (right) moderated the discussion.(more)

Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year from the U.S. Consulate Munich
December 16, 2004.
Students from the Garmisch American School present a festive program of holiday songs at the Bavarian Ministry of Justice. The singers accompany U.S. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney who stresses the diversity of American Christmas observances in his remarks. The Consul General also explains to the audience of ministry officials, judges and lawyers how so many American Christmas traditions, including the tree and Christmas cards, have German roots.(more)

Transatlantic Relations after the U.S. Elections
December 15, 2004.
American political scientist Douglas Merrill discussed the impact of the U.S. elections on transatlantic relations and U.S. foreign policy at a teachers seminar at the University of Bayreuth. Muencher Merkur political editor Mike Schier also participated in the event, discussing his recent visit to the United States during the presidential election campaign.(more)

Consul General Matthew M. Rooney at the Hanukkah Lighting Ceremony
December 14, 2004.
U.S. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney joined Rabbi Israel Diskin of the Jewish organization Chabad Lubawitsch München at the Hanukkah Lighting Ceremony. Consul General Rooney addressed over hundred people who attended the public Menorah lighting at the Sebastiansplatz/ Jakobsplatz in Munich. Hanukkah is the Jewish Feast of Lights or Feast of Dedication and celebrated for eight days by lighting candles in a menorah every night.(more)

Munich Public Affairs Officer Patricia Guy Speaks at the "Good Bye Bayern - Grüß Gott America" Exhibit
December 9, 2004.
Patricia Guy, Munich Public Affairs Officer, participated in December 9 opening ceremonies in Rosenheim of the exhibit "Good Bye Bayern - Grüß Gott America." The exhibit documents emigration from Bavaria to the United States since 1683. Through photographs, paintings, artifacts and documents it follows the journey of these Bavarian immgrants. About one quarter of the U.S. population can trace its origins to German ancestors. The exhibit will be in Rosenheim's Lokschuppen for four months.(more)

Explicating Post-Election America
December 2,2004
Consul General Matthew M. Rooney addressed an international conference on "The Bush Presidency" convened by the Hanns Seidel Foundation and the University of Regensburg, where American, German, Swiss and Israeli scholars took a close look at the foreign and economic policies of the President's first term and analyzed the election outcome and the President's new mandate. The Consul General also visited Regensburg's oldest high school, the Albertus-Magnus-Gymnasium, (founded 500 years ago) to discuss America's role in the world and transatlantic issues with students and teachers.(more)

Performance Artist Janice Perry In Regensburg
December 1, 2004.
Internationally acclaimed social satirist Janice Perry presented her irreverent fusion of monologues, costumes, and physical comedy revealing miracles in the midst of modern life in her one-woman-show at the Thon Dittmer Palais at Regensburg on December 1. Janice Perry has created nine original solo works, touring and teaching workshops in the USA and Western Europe since 1981. Her work has been adapted for radio and television and has been published in several anthologies.(more)

Consul General Matthew M. Rooney and Consul for Public Affairs Patricia Guy Meet with Bavarian State Legislators
November 23, 2004.
U.S. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney (second from left) and Consul for Public Affairs Patricia Guy (far left) met with a group of Bavarian State legislators that visited Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland on a recent fact-finding and election-campaign observation tour sponsored by the Munich Consulate General and the Partnership of Parliaments. Over lunch at the Bayerische Landtag group leader Manfred Ach (far right) and other legislators reported on their productive best practices exchanges with their American colleagues in Richmond, VA and Annapolis, MD.(more)

Seminar on Transatlantic Relations at the Academy for Political Education in Tutzing
November 19/20, 2004
The Academy for Political Education in Tutzing hosted a two-day 'post-U.S.elections' seminar on transatlantic relations, with a number of high-ranking American and German experts, among them (from left to right) Dean Yap, 1st Secretary at the U.S. Embassy Berlin, Peter Erwand, General Manager, Export Club Bavaria, Dr. Andrew Denison, American policy analyst, Ms. Saskia Hieber, conference chair and Baron zu Guttenberg, member of the German Bundestag (not shown).(more)

Consul General Matthew M. Rooney at the Chamber of Commerce for Swabia in Augsburg
November 19, 2004.
U.S. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney visited the Chamber of Commerce for Swabia in Augsburg for a joint press conference with Chamber President Hannelore Leimer (picture) and a discussion with Swabian entrepreneurs and managers in which he outlined the current business climate in the United States and the Administration's economic agenda.(more)

Bavarian-American Business Dialogue: Consul General Matthew M. Rooney and Judyth Pendell at the Bavarian Association of Industries
November 16, 2004.
U.S.Consul General Matthew M. Rooney and Ms. Judyth Pendell, Senior Fellow at the AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies,addressed Bavarian and American managers in a conference on opportunities and risks in the American business place at the Bavarian Association of Industries. Consul General Rooney presented an outlook on transatlantic business relations while Ms. Pendell, leading American tort law expert, addressed issues of American tort practise and reform in her lecture "The US Legal System and Foreign Market Access and Investment".(more)

Sara Paretsky Reads from Her New Novel
November 15, 2004.
Author Sara Paretsky read from her new book "Blacklist" at the Amerika Haus. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney opened the evening event with welcome remarks. Sabine Thomas from the Krimifestival München moderated the program organized by the U.S. Consulate General, the Bavarian-American Center Munich and the bookstore Krimibuchhandlung Glatteis.(more)

Munich Celebrates Election Night
November 2-3, 2004.
More than 1,200 invited guests joined Consul General Matthew M. Rooney and Amerika Haus Director Tom Darcy for an election night party at the Munich Amerika Haus on November 2 in cooperation with the Bayerische Amerika Akademie and the Bavarian American Center. The guests were entertained by the Express Brass Band and MunichUP and artists of FoolPool. Numerous press and television teams covered the event which included a midnight panel discussion with election pundits, quizzes and a mock election.(more)

Ambassador Daniel R. Coats Opens Festival in Regensburg
October 26/27, 2004.
Ambassador Daniel R. Coats opened the festival "Regensburg, America and the 1950s" marking U.S.- German postwar ties with music, speeches, discussions and play readings. Former AFN Radio moderators Jim Sampson and Fritz Egner recreated a 1950s AFN show for the festival opening. The Ambassador also gave a speech to 250 University of Regensburg students, conducted press interviews and met with business leaders. Mrs. Coats presented childrens' books to the American section of the Regensburg City Library.(more)

Deputy Chief of Mission John A. Cloud Meets with Mayor of Coburg
October 22, 2004.
Coburg Mayor Norbert Kastner (left) proudly shows his picturesque hometown to Deputy Chief of Mission John A. Cloud and Mrs. Cloud (center). During his visit to Coburg Deputy Chief of Mission John A. Cloud also signed the golden book of the city of Coburg and spoke to high school students at the Albertinum about U.S. policy and the upcoming presidential elections.
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Public Affairs Officer Patricia Guy speaks about U.S. Elections at the Sophie-Scholl-Gymnasium in Munich
October 20, 2004.
Public Affairs Officer Patricia Guy explained the U.S. election system to fifty senior high school students and teachers of the Sophie-Scholl-Gymnasium in Munich. She briefed the high schoolers about the electoral college, ballot issues, voting mechanics, media coverage and polls. Her lecture was followed by a lively Q&A session.
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Chief Advisor of Senator Joseph Biden at the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation
October 18, 2004.
Dr. Michael Haltzel (center), chief advisor of Senator Joseph Biden, leading member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke to members of the Bavarian SPD foreign and security policy working group in a program at the Bayern Forum of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Munich. He outlined foreign policy objectives and the role of foreign policy in the election campaign.
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Consul General Matthew M. Rooney at the German Atlantic Association in Lichtenfels
October 16, 2004.
U.S. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney addressed sixty-five high school teachers and civic education docents from all over Germany at an annual seminar organized by the German Atlantic Association in Lichtenfels, Northern Bavaria. Consul General Rooney presented a broad perspective on U.S. foreign and security policy and the future of the Atlantic Alliance.
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Consul General Matthew M. Rooney Meets With Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg
October 16, 2004.
U.S. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney (left) met with German Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee member Karl-Theodor Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg in Kulmbach for discussion of bilateral and transatlantic policy issues including the Global Defense Posture Review. The regional dailies Fraenkischer Tag (84,000 circulation), Obermain Tagblatt (15,000 circulation, and Coburger Neue Presse (15,000 circulation)covered the event.
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TV Advertising Analyst Briefs Bavarian Media
October 15, 2004.
University of Wisconsin political advertising analyst Ken Goldstein (right) presented his research on the financing, impact and effectiveness of American TV campaign ads in a session with Bavarian public and private TV/radio xecutives, producers and regulators at the Bavarian Media Regulatory Commission. Shown with Ken Goldstein is Dr. Martin Gebrande, executive director of the Bavarian Media Regulatory Commission.
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Ambassador Daniel R. Coats Speaks at The Foreign And Security Policy Congress of The Christian Social Union
October 9, 2004.
U.S.Ambassador Daniel R. Coats was the guest speaker at the Foreign and Security Policy Congress of the Christian Social Union. He spoke about the President's Initiative to realign the U.S. Global Defense and stressed the fact that "the transatlantic partnership stands at the heart of a new developing international reality." During his visit to Bavaria Ambassador Daniel R. Coats also met with members of the Junge Union, visited the Factory Outlet Center in Ingolstadt, and visited Prichsenstadt in Lower Franconia.
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Ambassador Daniel R. Coats Visits Prichsenstadt
October 8, 2004
Ambassador Daniel R. Coats and Mrs. Marsha Coats join Michael Glos on a walk through historic Prichsenstadt in Lower Franconia, the home town of CDU/CSU Bundestag caucus vice chairman Michael Glos
(from left: Consul General Matthew M. Rooney, Ambassador and Mrs. Coats, Mr. Glos, Mr. Detlef Dauke).
(more)

German Day of Unity Celebration
October 5, 2004
Consul General Matthew M. Rooney gave a keynote speech at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies on the occasion of the German Day of Unity. The mission of the Marshall Center is to create a more stable security environment by advancing democratic institutions and relationships, especially in the field of defense; promoting active, peaceful security cooperation; and enhancing enduring partnerships among the nations of North America, Europe and Eurasia.
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Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher on Economic Development Trip to Europe
October 1, 2004
Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher visits U.S. Consul General Matthew Rooney in Munich. Governor Fletcher is on an economic development trip to Europe, along with Secretary of Economic Development Gene Strong and Commissioner for New Business Development John McCarty. “Kentucky has long had a European presence, established in 1978 to help identify business opportunities within Europe,” said Governor Fletcher.
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Election Special
Bush vs. Kerry: The TV Debate October 1, 2004 Discussion in our series Election Year 2004 The first presidential debate will take place on September 30. Prof. Dr. Jürgen Gebhardt, Director of the Bavarian American Academy and Dr. James Davis, Ph.D., political scientist at the University of Munich, will analyze the first presidential debate. Organized by: Presse Club München, U.S. Consulate General, Bavarian American Academy
Bush vs. Kerry: The Issues in Debate September 28, 2004 As the U. S. presidential election draws near, Americans as well as Europeans are considering the political platforms of John F. Kerry and George W. Bush. Henry Nickel, Chair of Republicans Abroad, and John McQueen, member of Democrats Abroad, will discuss the candidates’ positions and debate questions taken from the audience. Welcome remarks: Consul General Matthew M. Rooney. Moderation: Patricia Guy, US Consulate General. Organizers: American Association of University and Professional Women, US Consulate General, B.A.Z. Amerika Haus.(more)

Teachers Learn About U.S. Elections
September 20, 2004
Dr. Ian David Lublin, professor of political science, American University Washington, D.C briefed fifty teachers of English from Bavarian high schools on "U.S. Elections 2004 - The Process, the Issues and the Candidates." The lecture at the Amerika Haus Munich was followed by a lively Q&A session.(more)

Transatlantic Economic Ties
September 16, 2004. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney presented U.S. transatlantic economic policy perspectives to members and guests of the Wirtschaftsbeirat der Union in Munich. He emphasized U.S. commitment to international economic development and to global free trade.
Photo:Former Bavarian Minister for European Affairs Reinhold Bocklet (left) talks with U.S. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney.
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A Community Against Terrorism
September 11, 2004. U.S. Consul General Matthew Rooney (right) participated September 11 in a Munich memorial march for the victims of terrorist attack in Beslan, Russia. In remarks Rooney noted the third anniversary of the terror attacks in the USA as well as terror acts worldwide that require nations to work together to defeat terrorism.
Separately, citizens laid flowers at the Berlin Wall fragment in front of the U.S. Consulate on the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks in the U.S.A.
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U.S. Presidential Elections and Foreign Policy
July 6, 2004. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney and Dr. Kai M. Schellhorn, Chairman of the BMW - Herbert - Quandt - Foundation hosted an expert roundtable discussion on the foreign policy platforms in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections with leading American policy analysts Dr. Jeffrey Gedmin, Director, Aspen Institute Berlin and Professor Bruce Jentleson, Director of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University. From left: Dr. K. Schellhorn, Dr. J. Gedmin, Stefan Kornelius (Süddeutsche Zeitung, moderator), Prof. B. Jentleson, Consul General M. Rooney.
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Independence Day Celebration
July 2, 2004. Some 900 guests from government, business, politics, media, academia and consular corps attended the Consul General Matthew M. Rooney's official Fourth of July reception at consulate Munich grounds on July 2, 2004. The official part of the program included the presentation of the colors by the Marine guards, the national anthem and the traditional cake. Consul General Rooney also tested a Harley Davidson.
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Meet America in Straubing
June 29, 2004. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney meet with Straubing's Lord Mayor Reinhold Perlak at Straubing City Hall and signed the city's Golden Book. He also participated in a editors roundtable witht he "Straubinger Tagblatt-Landshuter Zeitung" and had a discussion with students and teachers at the Johannes-Turmair-Gymnasium Straubing.
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Emigration from Bavaria to America
June 25, 2004 With numerous original exhibits from Germany and from the USA, contemporary interviews, music, examples of various dialects, and simulated scenes, the exhibition shows some of the motives that led emigrants to leave Europe and depicts the new lives they started in the USA. Biographies of various individuals and groups give visitors an insight into the history of emigration and allow them to experience this phenomenon at first hand. (more)

Meet America in Bamberg
June 22, 2004. On their first visit to the northern Bavarian city of Bamberg, Consul General Matthew M. Rooney and his wife Dianna visited Clavius High School to a welcome by the school's brass band. Consul General Rooney engaged students and teachers in an open discussion on the future of German-American relations.
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6th BAA Annual Conference 2004: "Religious Cultures - Communities of Belief"
June 17, 2004. Co-Sponsor: U.S. Consulate General
The program of the 2004 Academy Conference was devoted to the basic question of religion in American and European culture. The conference closely examined the controversial thesis that secularization has developed differently in Europe and the United States and that these different developments have left their marks on the respective cultures.(more)

Consul General Matthew Rooney discusses Transatlantic Relations with Students in Augsburg
June 15, 2004. Consul General Matthew M. Rooney addressed 150 political science students at the University of Augsburg on June 15, 2004.
His remarks on transatlantic relations were followed by a lively Q&A session. Consul General Rooney also discussed latest developments in German-American relations and U.S. society and politics.  (more)

Bavarian Minister President Dr. Edmund Stoiber Signs Reagan Condolence Book
June 8, 2004. Bavarian Minister President Dr. Edmund Stoiber came to the Consulate General Munich to sign the condolence book for former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
In his remarks next to the Berlin wall monument in front of the U.S. Consulate General, Bavarian Minister President Stoiber wrote: "Ronald Reagan war ein Mann, der Amerika mit Mut und Zuversicht erfüllt hat, und er war ein treuer Freund unseres Landes. Unvergessen sind seine Worte vor der Berliner Mauer:'Tear down this wall!'..." (more)

Forum on “Current State and Future of Transatlantic Relations”
May 26, 2004 Karl Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg, member of German Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee, makes a point at a May 26 forum on the “Current State and Future of Transatlantic Relations” at the University of Munich's Center for Applied Policy Research. Among his listeners were American Ambassador Daniel R. Coats, at left, and Dr. Werner Weidenfeld, right, head of the think tank. The forum also featured (not pictured) Julianne Smith of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. DC.
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Ambassador visits Nuremberg German-American Institute
May 4, 2004 Ambassador Daniel R. Coats, center, visited the Nuremberg German-American Institute (GAI) on May 4 for a discussion with local and regional officials and media about transatlantic relations, economic matters, and international challenges. The Ambassador was accompanied by Consul General Matthew Rooney, right. Dr. Andreas Falke, left, director of the center, hosted the event.
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Secretary Rumsfeld speaks to international media in Munich
February 6, 2004 Secretary Donald Rumsfeld answers questions from reporters at a crowded press conference following a NATO ministerial gathering Feb. 6 in the Bayerischer Hof hotel.
The Secretary attended that gathering and then participated in the 40th annual Munich Conference on Security, Feb. 6-8. discussing current defense policy issues with ministers from Europe and other defense policy experts.
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