InsightDeutschland Weekend Town Hall
A Conversation with Idahoans about the German-American Relationship
Friday, March 8th
Zions Bank Building
8th and Main
Idaho & Snake River Rooms – 17th Floor
6:30 – 7:00 PM
Registration and Reception with Deutsches Essen und Getränke (German food and drink) Catering provided by Das Alpenhaus Delikatessen
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Welcome and Introductions
Screening of the German Film “Good-bye, Lenin!”
Nominated for a 2004 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, the movie is a comedy depicting the changes that took place with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
Post-Movie Discussion
Conversation with the German guests about the 30th Anniversary of the Fall of Berlin Wall
Saturday, March 9th
Boise State University Student Union
Bishop Barnwell Room
9:00 – 9:30 AM
Arrival and Registration (coffee/tea and continental breakfast provided)
9:30 – 10:00 AM
Welcome and Introductions
10:00 – 10:45 AM
“Germany: Who Cares?”
Using a TEDx presentation format, Alexander Kulitz, a Member of the German Bundestag (Parliament) and David Bieter, Mayor of Boise, will make the case why German-American relations matter and engage the audience in an interactive Q&A session.
10:45 – 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
“Saxony and Idaho: Comparing Two Regions of Technology and Innovation”
A conversation with Peter Nothnagel, State Ministry for Economic Affairs in Saxony, and Tom Kealey (tentative), Director of Idaho Department of Commerce.
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch Break (refreshments provided)
1:00 – 2:00 PM
“Germany and the U.S.: Shared Defense and Foreign Policy Goals?”
An exchange about the current status of the 70-year transatlantic alliance with Ricklef Beutin, former Chief of Staff to the German Foreign Minister and Visiting Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:15 PM
“The Immigration/Migration Debate in Germany and the United States”
An interactive discussion about how this issue is impacting domestic politics and the general public in both countries with Ines Pohl, Executive Editor at Deutsche Welle, Germany’s International Broadcaster, Steven Feldstein, Frank and Bethine Church Chair of Public Affairs, Boise State University and former Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of State, and Tara Wolfson, Director of the Idaho Office for Refugees.
3:15 – 3:30 PM
Break
3:30 – 4:30 PM
“I Think Germany is….True or False?”
An open forum for all attendees to share their thoughts and impressions of Germany and engage with the InsightDeutschland Weekend Town Hall speakers about their opinions and perspectives on these issues.
4:30 – 5:00 PM
Final Thoughts and Conclusion of Town Hall
5:00 – 5:30 PM
Networking and Information Gathering on Germany
The American Council on Germany (ACG) is an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit organization, founded in 1952, committed to strengthening German-American relations. To ensure these bonds remain strong, we believe it is critical to engage audiences across the U.S. in conversations and a genuine exchange of ideas about the transatlantic relationship, highlighting the deep political, economic, and social ties and shared issues that impact the citizens of our countries both globally and in local communities.
The Frank Church Institute was established in 1982 as the Frank Church Chair of Public Affairs at Boise State University, to honor the achievements and to carry forward the principles of one of Idaho’s most distinguished native sons, Senator Frank Church. Its mission is to promote civic engagement and understanding of public policy with a focus on foreign relations.
InsightDeutschland Weekend Town Halls is a project of the Year of German-American Friendship 2018/2019, a comprehensive and collaborative initiative funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, implemented by the Goethe-Institut, and with support from the Federation of German Industries (BDI). For more information on the initiative and the more than 1,000 projects that will take place during 2019, visit www.wunderbartogether.org.