Bridge-New Year reception with celebrity guests

CASTING-WETZLAR (rg / guardian / ger), The large wedding hall in the Hotel Köhler in Gießen was occupied at the traditional New Year's Reception of the German-American Club "The Bridge" Gießen-Wetzlar until the last seat. Guest of honor this society event in casting this time was the Minister of State in the Federal Chancellery, Prof. DR. Helge Braun MdB. The guests, including Vice-President Wolfgang Greilich Landtag, who traveled from Berlin President of the Federation of German-American Clubs Jacob shot, Giessen City Council Chairman Egon Fritz, the Wetzlar City Council Karl-Heinz herbs and other guests of the Bundeswehr, friendly partnership clubs, Associations and charities had listened attentively what the Minister for new information from the Federal Capital under the title "Germany's challenges 2016" brought. Musically entertained the singer-songwriter Eva Saar Bourg with their own songs for the heart and soul, guests.

Bridge-President Roger Schmidt walked in his welcoming inter alia, the current protracted refugee movement a. The euphoria of last summer, the disillusionment follower, could be observed in view of the non-declining numbers of refugees and events. The policy still looking for the right answers. Europe must now find a way out of an economic interest grouping towards the political community, to this to master all. A jolt to extreme opinions should be reported. Concerns should be taken seriously. "A democracy must be contentious. Right then, when it comes to the stock and the peace of the community, would have their representatives shall adopt courageous and sometimes unpopular decisions, he said and appealed to the unity of the actors in Berlin and Brussels with a clever policy.

State Minister Brown recalled in his speech to the common challenges mastered after the peaceful revolution and the reunification of Germany. Our country stands to this day on a stable economic foundation. However, the developments went fast today. Be in June 2015 nor Greece have been the number one topic among citizens, it was replaced by the refugees. He emphasized the long political lines, which would need a good compass in governance. "Our children are today's decisions in 50 Rate years positive. "He underscored the motivation thereof. Germany should also still live in prosperity and freedom. Europe play a decisive importance. Germany was compared with its 80 Million inhabitants of the global players, as China, India and the US "tiny". Internet giants, like Google try to develop self-propelled cars currently. "If we are not fast, then it comes to us as Nokia, the after market leadership in the mobile market today is no longer relevant. ", he admonished. The German middle class had to network and join forces, to thereby create its independent digital world for markets. The 450 Million inhabitants of Europe, the round 20 speak languages, also are facing large unified markets with India and China, each alone well over 1 Billion people are home. Large trade zones created there already. Europe must stick together and hit the right point with decisions. "It can not go to the correct curvature of a banana there." The fear of many German before the free trade agreement with the United States he would therefore take. And the collaboration with the secret services of the United States have an important dimension, because without this cooperation it would have given a great stop in our homeland, He recalled the uncovered Sauerland Group, the attacks would have planned in a larger dimension than in Paris. "We need this cooperation to our security." Germany's commitment to the Bundeswehr Tornados in Syria show, that much alters and in the military field of application. Each country wear in this networked security concept with its capabilities, as in the fight against IS, the desired success of. The foreign policy was changing. The United States as the most important transatlantic partner are still needed, with the German-American friendship as the basis. With the NATO partners wished to combat immigrant smuggling, with the aim of reducing the refugees.

That can be a largely successful integration of migrants, for the VDAC President Jacob campaigned shot with the example of the USA. There you have indeed a lot but many things right, and we learned in spite of different religions and beliefs in a community to learn from each other and to live together wrong. His recommendation to the constant of change in society: Not afraid, much more manage change, because they had themselves decided.

Vietnam-Vortrag beim Brücke-Stammtisch im Hotel Köhler

CASTING-WETZLAR / MEDIUM HESSE (rge/ger/rg), Beim Stammtisch des Deutsch-Amerikanischen Klubs „Die Brücke“ Gießen-Wetzlar, der in diesem Jahr seinen 65. Gründungsgeburtstag feiern kann, gab es nicht nur einen interessanten Vortrag zum aktuellen Thema „Good morning, Vietnam! – 40 Jahre Frieden – Aufbruch mit Kultur“ sondern auch finanzielle Unterstützung in Form einer Spende in Höhe von 300 Euro für das Familienzentrum für krebskranke Kinder Gießen.

Im Hotel Köhler konnten dieser Tage deren Hausleiterin Beate Steinmüller und ihre Mitarbeiterin Angelika Ortmann die Spende von Brücke-Präsident Roger Schmidt und der für Social Events zuständigen Brücke-Aktiven, Evelyn Schmadel entgegennehmen. Die beiden im Familienzentrum engagierten Frauen warben vor den Brücke-Mitgliedern für ihre Hilfseinrichtung, die in einem Haus in der Friedrichstraße 30 beheimatet ist. Schon in der Vergangenheit hatte die Brücke das Familienzentrum finanziell unterstützt. Auch waren Mitglieder, wie die Familie Schulz, viele Jahre dort persönlich aktiv. 10 Familien werden dort derzeit beherbergt, während die erkrankten Kinder in der Kinderkrebsstation im Universitätsklinikum behandelt werden, wurde informiert. Die Anwesenheit von Mama und Papa hilft den Kindern beim Behandlungsprozess sehr, so die Leiterin. Drei Mitarbeiterinnen sorgen dann für die Familien, die nicht nur aus Deutschland sondern beispielsweise bis aus Neuseeland nach Gießen zur Behandlung ihrer Kinder anreisen. Sie dankten den Brücke-Mitgliedern für die Unterstützung. Bei dem sich an die Spendenübergabe anschließenden Stammtisch-Vortrag informierte Brücke-Präsident Roger Schmidt über Kultur und Leben in Vietnam. Dabei zog er einen geschichtlichen Bogen vom damaligen Kriegsende des Vietnam-Krieges am 30. April 1975 mit dem Abzug der letzten US-Truppen aus Saigon, der darauf folgenden nationalen Vereinigung von Vietnam, der Wiederaufnahme der diplomatischen Beziehungen mit den USA im Jahr 1995 und der darauf folgenden wirtschaftlichen und kulturellen Öffnung, die bis heute nicht abgeschlossen ist.