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The N.C. Zeitgeist Foundation & Davidson College hosted a German Election Watch Party

9/25/2017

 
Davidson College and The N.C. Zeitgeist Foundation organized an election day watch event on Sunday, Sep. 24; complete with brats, potato salad and red cabbage.
 
Klaus Becker, Honorary Consul of Germany, described the pre-election background, introduced the main political parties and analyzed possible coalition scenarios while Dr. Besir Ceka, Assistant Professor with the Political Science Department at Davidson College, commented on the results.
 
Although the new right-populist party AfD was expected to enter the German parliament,  its dramatic gains of 13%, making it the 3rd strongest party, came as a surprise, even as a shock. The relatively poor results of Germany’s two big parties, the Volksparteien or people’s parties, which have long been the pillars of a stable political system, are largely considered the political price for Merkel’s 2015 decision to open the borders to refugees from Syria and Iraq. The arrival of a million refugees over the last two years opened deep rifts in the population and weakened its support.  Although Merkel’s CDU/CSU alliance won the highest share of vote, it has not won enough that it can govern alone, meaning it will have to find coalition partners from smaller parties.  

Opening of the Gotha and the Thuringian Forest at the Schiele Museum

9/9/2017

 
On Saturday, Sep. 9, the exhibition Gotha and the Thuringian Forest was opened at the Schiele Museum in Gastonia. Gastonia and Gotha in Thuringia (one of the five formerly East German states, have been sister cities for a while. With a lot of efforts, patience and dedication, they have erected this wonderful exhibition which is really worthwhile to visit.
 
Klaus Becker, the German Honorary Consul, was invited to address the audience of about hundred people on the old-fashioned farm next door to the museum. He pointed out that in times of unpredictable U.S. foreign policies, the changing of the relations among the countries, it is even more important that grass root organizations of the United States and Germany are working closely together. People have to talk to each other, continue the dialogue, work on projects together like this marvelous exhibition to contribute to a sustainable and peaceful relationship.
 
Klaus Becker reminded that he had opened the doors to a closer relationship with Thuringia: its President of the State Parliament Christian Carius visited Charlotte several times and recently Wolfgang Tiefensee was in town, formerly mayor of Leipzig, today Secretary of Commerce in the Thuringian government cabinet.

2016 TEASE TOUR AGAIN A BIG SUCCESS

11/8/2016

 
A special thank you to the artists, our sponsors, our curator Johanna Steinz, and everyone who helped make the 2016 art tour a success.
Photos courtesy of Daniel Coston Photography 

The N.C. Zeitgeist Foundation host Former Ambassador John Kornblum at their first ever White Asparagus Feast

6/24/2016

 
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Thank you to all who attended our first ever White Asparagus Feast last night.
​
One of our guests of honor for the evening was former Ambassador John Kornblum. 
Ambassador Kornblum has been a major player in American foreign policy in Europe in the past 30 years. He is Former Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, responsible for Canada and Europe; he was involved in the Helsinki Accord, was one of the architects of the Dayton Agreement and served as U.S. Ambassador in Germany from 1997 to 2011. 

White Asparagus + Soccer +
Former Ambassador John Kornblum
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PROLOGUE

In the months April through June,
Germans consume more than
100,000 tons of white asparagus.
 
This is an opportunity to join in

as well.
 
White Asparagus Feast
 
Welcome Prosecco
White Asparagus Cream Soup
White Asparagus, Potatoes, Schnitzel, Drawn Butter and Sauce Hollandaise
Asparagus-inspired Dessert
 
 
Location:
BLUE Restaurant,
Hearst Tower
214, N. Tryon St., Suite 100
CLT, NC  28277
 
Date: June 23, 2016, 6:30 pm
 
Parking is easy: the restaurant provides complimentary valet parking
 
Price: $60 per person for Prosecco, meal, gratuities and taxes, beverages extra

Payment is accepted at the door. Capacity is limited.


​

N.C. Zeitgeist Foundation Hosts Reception for Soccer Star Paul Breitner

5/18/2016

 
Playing an instrumental part in bringing FC Bayern Munich, one of the most successful soccer teams in the world, to Charlotte, the N.C. Zeitgeist Foundation hosted a reception for Paul Breitner at Quail Hollow on May 18. Breitner, former World Cup Champion and today's official brand ambassador of FC Bayern Munich, came to Charlotte to meet with soccer fans and raise interest among Germans and German companies for the game  FC Bayern Munich against InterMilano on July 30.
 
The evening included a panel discussion with Charlotte's mayor, Jennifer Roberts, and German Honorary Consul and Chairman of the Zeitgeist Foundation, Klaus Becker, covering a wide range of questions on soccer, sports in general, and the important role it can play, in particular, in the life of young people.
 
Breitner, who is fluent in several languages, actively engaged with the 125 guests, including city officials, international business people and enthusiastic soccer fans and made sure everyone had a really good time.

All photos by Daniel Coston Photography 

Klaus Becker Featured in Charlotte Business Journal

9/18/2015

 

"Navigating cultures is key of global commerce"

Klaus Becker Featured in CBJ

Klaus Becker Featured in the Charlotte Business Journal 

8/21/2015

 

"Dialing back criticism of the Germans"

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Ambassador Wittig Tours Charlotte, North Carolina

3/6/2015

 
H.E. Peter Wittig, Ambassador of Germany to the United States and his wife, journalist and writer Huberta von Voss-Wittig, traveled to Charlotte on the invitation of the Honorary Consul and CEO of Nirosteel, Klaus Becker. The Ambassador and his wife toured one of Siemens USA’s biggest manufacturing plants, the local training facility at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC). After the tours Ambassador Wittig was the keynote speaker at a luncheon hosted by the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, where he spoke to the bilateral relationship between Germany and the U.S., joint initiatives, current affairs and Germany's presence within the Charlotte region. Later that evening, he and Huberta attended The German Opera Gala, an event celebrating Germany’s long opera tradition. Read more about his visit here.

N.C. Zeitgeist Hosts the First Annual German Opera Ball honoring Peter Witting, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the U.S.

3/6/2015

 

The N.C. Zeitgeist Foundation hosted the first annual Deutsche Opernball (German Opera Gala). Distinguished guests gathered for dinner and dancing at Quail Hollow Club for this gala. Presented by the N.C. Zeitgeist Foundation and BMW, it honored Peter Wittig, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the U.S.

The N.C. Zeitgeist Foundation Board: Mary Dowd, Klaus Becker, Gunda Knese, Mike Hawley, Margaret Rosenfeld, Michael Almond
Klaus Becker, Huberta von Voss-Wittig, Dr. Peter Wittig, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany tot he United States
Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter and Ambassador Dr. Peter Wittig
Ambassador Dr. Peter Wittig, Klaus Becker, Manfred Erlacher, President of BMW Manufacturing Co., Spartanburg, SC
Christoph Chelko, Fiorella Becker, Concha Becker, Mary Dowd

The Transatlantic Exhibition of Art in the SouthEast Artists' Tour (TEASE) Took Place Today at Hendrick Motors of Charlotte (Mercedes)

9/15/2014

 
Today TEASE took place at Hendrick Motors of Charlotte (Mercedes) with the ideal pairing of German Engineering and German Art.
More than 150 people viewed paintings perfectly accentuated in the main showroom alongside the new C-class models. Ed Kennedy, General Manager and generous sponsor of the event, opened the vernissage, and Klaus Becker took over introducing the artists.

Earlier this year, the NC Zeitgeist Foundation and Klaus Becker, Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Charlotte, NC, invited five established and promising artists from Germany and Austria to exhibit their works in this part of the United States, making their paintings and sculptures available and publicly accessible to a culturally interested audience in the Southeast.

Learn more about each pop-up gallery during the event, the artists and our sponsors and partners that made this tour possible.
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© The N.C. Zeitgeist Foundation 2015
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Picture
  • Events
  • TEASE
  • Voices from the Zeitgeist
  • About
    • Honorary Consul (ret.)
    • Board of Directors >
      • Klaus Becker
      • Bettina Gruber
      • Michael S. Hawley
      • Michael A. Almond
      • Johanna B. Steinz
      • Christian Forstner
    • Advisory Board >
      • Peter Betz
      • Stefan Engel
      • Ambassador (ret.) Mark Erwin
      • Lieutenant General Frederick Benjamin "Ben" Hodges
      • Prof. Dr. Klaus Larres
      • Ambassador (ret.) James Melville
      • Berkeley von Feilitzsch
      • Heribert von Feilitzsch
      • Dipl.-Ing. Knudt Flor
      • Claudius Reckord
      • Holger Stark
      • Joe Woerner
      • Kristin Zettlemoyer
    • Partners and Sponsors >
      • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Germany in NC
    • German Industry
    • German Resources in Charlotte
  • Photo Gallery
    • Archive
  • Contact