Dear Readers,
I would never have thought that I would write you this letter one day! Haven’t I just arrived in the U.S. some days ago? Well, no, it has been two and a half years, but time has passed by so fast thanks to a flurry of activities at the embassy, a lot of travels (not enough!), and many visitors from Austria, among them most notably Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger.
On Wednesday, September 7, 2011, the former Austrian Vice Chancellor and Minister of Finance, Dr. Hannes Androsch, examined prevailing myths and opinions about Austria with an audience of Austrian expats and Americans. The discussion was preceded by a presentation of the book “Austria. Past, Present and Future,” of which Androsch is the editor. In the book, renowned scholars, experts, and journalists take on the task of rectifying the image of Austria and the Austrians. A wine reception sponsored by the Austrian Embassy concluded the evening.
The Austrian tennis champ Jürgen Melzer, currently ranked 21st in the world by the ATP World Tour, met with Hans Kordik, Counselor for Agriculture and Environment at the Austrian Embassy, on the occasion of the ATP 500 Tournament “Legg Mason” on July 31, 2011.
Over 50 so-called Velomobiles (recumbent human powered vehicles) have recently crossed the continent from Portland, Oregon, to Washington, D.C. on a tour called Roll Over America (ROAM). The tour was designed to showcase the benefits and practicalities of human-powered vehicles, while the riders shared the experience of the grand tour across the continent.
The annual Austrian Science Talk (AST) took place on September 10, 2011, at the New York Academy of Sciences. The conference provided about 130 participants with an opportunity to learn about recent R&D policy developments and new career as well as funding opportunities. It also facilitated the establishment of research collaborations between North America and Austria.
The new Honorary Consul of the Republic of Austria for North and South Carolina was sworn in by the Austrian Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Christian Prosl. The businessman Roland Zimmer has spent most of his life promoting the relationship between Austria and South Carolina. On September 15, 2011, Zimmer was sworn in as Austria’s new Honorary Consul for North and South Carolina during a ceremony at the Piedmont Club in Spartanburg, SC.
The objective of the I-CITE Study Tour, which took place from August 21-26, 2011, in Bavaria, (Germany) and Upper Austria, was the promotion of renewable energy from biomass. On their 5-day trip, 20 American and European scholars and representatives of agriculture and forestry seized the opportunity to discuss the potential for innovative policies, long-term goals, and political leadership in the renewable energy sector.
Photo: Gernot WiednerOn August 12, 2011, Dr. Christian Prosl awarded Mrs. Marie Helene Morrow the Decoration of Honor in Gold for Achievements for the Republic of Austria. Morrow (née Fischer) has been the Austrian Honorary Consul in San Juan (Puerto Rico) since 1981. Her father, Kurt Fischer, was a Jewish doctor who had been expelled by the Nazis. In his day, he was the Honorary Consul in Haiti, where Marie Helene was born in 1941.
Morrow completed her studies in New York and speaks English, Spanish, French, and some German. She dedicated many years of her life to public service and philanthropy, and received many awards over the years. Among others, she has been elected one of the “Ten Outstanding Women of Puerto Rico for humanitarian work.” Currently, she runs six jewelry stores in Puerto Rico (Reinhold Jewelers, named after her deceased husband).
Adrian C.S. Kainz (Photo: Virginia Holocaust Museum)The Adrian C. S. Kainz Distance Learning Center The Virginia Holocaust Museum has named its new distance learning center after the Austrian Gedenkdiener (Austrian Holocaust Memorial Servant) Adrian Kainz, who served at the Museum from 2010-2011.
The Adrian C. Kainz Distance Learning Center was established to offer students and teachers selected programming in addition to already existing programs. With the Museum’s brand-new conference system, it is now possible to hold both national and international audio and video conferences. The honor underlines the importance of the work of the Austrian Gedenkdienst and the valuable contributions it makes abroad.
Ambassador Christian Prosl and Mrs. Patricia Prosl-Hurni, in cooperation with the American-Austrian Cultural Society, opened the doors of their residence for a delightful and special evening filled with chamber music by Earl Williams (cello) and Raymond Wertheim (piano) and an exhibition of artworks by award-winning Austrian-American painter Ingrid Dohm.
The Austrian-American Educational Commission announced that it has received a $120,000 award from the Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation to fund an exchange program for visiting professors of Austrian-American studies. The program will offer Austrian professors the opportunity to teach at an institution in the United States for one semester, and vice versa.
The director of the Austrian Integration Fund, Dr. Alexander Janda, and the Fund’s Team Leader for Knowledge Management, Lisa Fellhofer, visited Washington, D.C. from September 13-16, 2011, to discuss the experiences and challenges of immigration, integration, and diversity, both in the United States and Austria.
The protection of human rights is a key component of Austrian foreign policy and Austria has been an emphatic and avowed proponent of the universality of human rights. The Austrian government has long held that human dignity and rights are anchored in all states and cultures, and that every person in the world is entitled to their inalienable rights and freedoms.
by Christian Prosl
Translated from the German original by Julia Analena Hollmann
For many years now, my Saturdays have belonged to my wife. However, every now and then I do catch myself rebelling against that precept, if only in my mind. I have the presumption to, even though I know perfectly well that I will never be able to get away with my revolutionary ideas anyway.
Most people who attribute to Austria the status of a cultural nation refer to Austria’s rich cultural heritage in all the different areas of culture, ranging from music to the fine arts and from architecture to film. This traditional basis of the country’s cultural wealth is being carefully cultivated and adapted to new forms of expression.
by Cecelia Porter
Terrific concert dedicated to composer Franz Liszt on two Brodmann concert grands by Eduard and Johannes Kutrowatz.
There were no empty seats in the Atrium of the Austrian Embassy when the virtuoso piano duo Johannes and Eduard Kutrowatz presented a concert on 30 September (2011).
The city of Vienna had the honor of hosting the 13th European Maccabi Games from 5 to 13 July, 2011. One of the five biggest international sporting events worldwide, the Maccabi Games consist of a series of regional sports competitions. Organized by the Maccabi World Union (MWU), they are the largest international Jewish sporting event.
The Austrian Chef Josef Schaunig attended the vocational school in Villach (Carinthia) in the 1960s, together with Wolfgang Puck. Since then he has traveled the world in his capacity as master chef, and is currently the Director of Food Operations for the cruise ship Ryndam of the Holland-America Line with its capable captain, the Dutchman Vincent Smit.
Allah in the Alps - a visit to Puergg
by Markus Reiterer
This story starts a long time ago. That is: some 1,000 years ago. At a time following the turn of the first millennium. Y1K – so to say. About the time, when New Mexico's Chaco culture experienced its climax and started its inexplicable descent.
It all depends on how you approach a place. You can rush it or you can take it slow, watch the beauty that surrounds you and take a deep breath. Perhaps you can pause for a second before you arrive – just have a look around you and enjoy the anticipation. Then you will take the final steps to your destination and – finally arrive, knowing that the time you will spend there will be your reward.
Copyright 1948 - 2011 | Austrian Press and Information Service | Washington, D.C.
All rights reserved.
Print Article