Who We Are
The German-American Society of Celle
The German-American Society was founded in 1999 by the city of Celle. In response to requests from Celle’s citizens, City Director Martin Biermann invited the public to the New City Hall on November 30, 1999, where the association was officially established. That evening, a total of 60 people joined up. The goals and objectives of the society were outlined in its Articles of Association.
Board of Directors
Gunnar Jungclaus was elected as the first Chair. He was followed by Michael H. Schwarzkopf in 2002 († 2005), Reinhard Förster (2006–2024), and Jannis Timm (beginning in 2024).
The German-American Society of Celle is proud of its stability—and its achievements. The association is led by the Board of Directors (as of March 6, 2024): Chair Jannis Timm, Deputy Chair Linda Anne Engelhardt, Treasurer Dirk Heindorff, Secretary Peter-H. Holm, Auditors Jens Deckwirth and Reinhard Förster, and two additional board members: Anita Gödiker (Internet) and Susanne Reinike-Jungclaus (Tulsa).
f.l.t.r.: Reinhard Förster, Anita Gödiker, Jens Deckwirth, Susanne Reinike-Jungclaus, Linda Anne Engelhardt, Jannis Timm
Activities
The activities of the German-American Society of Celle cover a wide range:
- Civic support for the partnership established in late 2000 with the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, including joint video projects and conferences, reciprocal visits, facilitating various types of contacts, and providing personalized assistance to visitors from Tulsa.
- Maintaining connections with the U.S. Consulate General in Hamburg (information sharing, invitations).
- Supporting American scholarship holders in the Parliamentary Partnership Program.
- Monthly “Read and Chat” meetings on the first Tuesday of each month, featuring a reading circle (since 2014) and open discussions on American topics and society activities. Open to members and the general public.
- Hosting the annual “American Day” festival around July 4 for all residents of Celle.
- Hosting the annual Thanksgiving Day celebration at the Wietfeldt/Bennebostel farm for members, American friends, and invited guests on the fourth Thursday in November.
- Participating as a group in the Civic Brunch organized by the Celle Civic Foundation.
- Lectures and discussions focused on “American Politics and Society.”
- Planning and organizing visits to local institutions and businesses in Celle, as well as excursions to regional institutions for members and (especially American) guests.
Activities
The activities of the German-American Society of Celle cover a wide range:
- Civic support for the partnership established in late 2000 with the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, including joint video projects and conferences, reciprocal visits, facilitating various types of contacts, and providing personalized assistance to visitors from Tulsa.
- Maintaining connections with the U.S. Consulate General in Hamburg (information sharing, invitations).
- Supporting American scholarship holders in the Parliamentary Partnership Program.
- Monthly “Read and Chat” meetings on the first Tuesday of each month, featuring a reading circle (since 2014) and open discussions on American topics and society activities. Open to members and the general public.
- Hosting the annual “American Day” festival [link] around July 4 for all residents of Celle.
- Hosting the annual Thanksgiving Day celebration [link] at the Wietfeldt/Bennebostel farm for members, American friends, and invited guests on the fourth Thursday in November.
- Participating as a group in the Civic Brunch organized by the Celle Civic Foundation.
- Lectures and discussions focused on “American Politics and Society.”
- Planning and organizing visits to local institutions and businesses in Celle, as well as excursions to regional institutions for members and (especially American) guests.
