Association of German-American Clubs
| Association of German-American Clubs V., Federation of German-American Clubs (VDAC) |
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|---|---|
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| legal form | Umbrella organization |
| founding | 1948 |
| Seat | Wiesbaden |
| Chair | Sigrid Behnke-Dewath (President), Klaus Gühlcke (Vice President) |
| Members | 23 clubs |
| Website | www.vdac.de |
The Association of German-American Clubs e. V. ( VDAC ), English Federation of German-American Clubs , is an association founded in 1948, to which 23 local clubs in Germany belong. The VDAC is committed to promoting German-American international understanding and maintaining transatlantic relations. The projects include student and youth exchanges.
history
In 1946, Merle A. Potter, Captain of the US Army, founded the “Bad Kissingen Cosmopolitan Club” together with Louis Ferdinand Prince of Prussia, the first German-American friendship club, which was banned after a short time due to the ban on fraternization . Potter was transferred to the military government in Ansbach . After the hope speech of US Secretary of State James F. Byrnes on September 6, 1946, the policy of non- fraternization was lifted by Military Governor Lucius D. Clay , who then commissioned Captain Potter with the establishment of German-American friendship clubs in the American zone.
In September 1947, Major Potter invited the clubs, which had now been founded, to a joint meeting in Heidelberg for the first time. In a telegram, General Clay greeted the delegates with the following words: "Democracy can only grow through friendship, understanding and unreserved discussion, and the military government permits American and German leaders to meet in informal, sociable gatherings."
In June 1948, the second conference took place in Bad Kissingen, in which 17 associations, including two women's clubs, took part. It was decided to found an umbrella organization with the name “FEDERATION OF GERMAN-AMERICAN SOCIAL DISCUSSION CLUBS”.
At a meeting in Munich in May 1949, the association was renamed "FEDERATION OF GERMAN-AMERICAN CLUBS" (Association of German-American Clubs). This designation is still valid today. In 1957 the student exchange program “A Bridge across the Atlantic” was initiated, which serves the purpose of intensive international understanding between the young generations of Germany and the USA. In 1958, German-American youth work was included in the association's program, which enables young people between the ages of 14 and 18 to go on study trips to the USA and Germany.
In 1980 the VDAC awarded the Lucius D. Clay Medal to John Jay McCloy for the first time . The medal is awarded annually on the German-American Day in October to personalities who have made a contribution to German-American friendship. Today the association has 27 member clubs and has contact offices in Washington, New York and San Francisco.
Projects
Student exchange
Since its inception in 1957, the student exchange has made it possible for over 2,700 young Americans and Germans to study on a scholarship across the Atlantic. Every year around 25 German students go to the USA, while around 25 young Americans come to Germany. 19 American and 22 German partner universities are participating in the program. For former exchange students, the VDAC Alumni e. V. a network and the opportunity to get involved.
Youth program
A youth program has been taking place since 1958. Seminars and study trips, the so-called “homestay program”, are organized and organized for young people between the ages of 14 and 18. The aim is to develop mutual understanding and tolerance. Securing peace, freedom and justice is conveyed to the young people as a further goal.
VDAC magazine "Gazette"
Information from the clubs and news about German-American friendship can be read regularly in the "Gazette". The magazine is the official news platform of the VDAC.
German-American Day
The celebrations around the German-American Day each year honor the special historical and friendly relations between the USA and Germany. Personalities who have made an outstanding contribution to deepening German-American friendship will be awarded the Lucius D. Clay Medal . The winners include Angela Merkel , Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Thomas Reiter .
Honorary Board
The following personalities belong to the honorary board of the VDAC:
- Kurt Beck , former Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate
- Philip D. Murphy , former Ambassador of the United States of America to Germany
- Georg Friedrich Prince of Prussia
- Werner Weidenfeld , Center for Applied Policy Research
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Clubs - Official Website ( Memento of the original from March 16, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Association of German-American Clubs. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ↑ About us - New website ( page no longer accessible , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Association of German-American Clubs. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ↑ The development of the association - official website ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Association of German-American Clubs. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ↑ Timeline. Information material from the Association of German-American Clubs.
- ↑ Information on the scholarship - official website ( Memento of the original from August 17, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Association of German-American Clubs. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ↑ Youth Program - Official Website ( Memento of the original from March 16, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Association of German-American Clubs. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ↑ Gazette Online - Official Website ( Memento of the original from March 16, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Association of German-American Clubs. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ↑ Overview: Recipient of the Lucius D. Clay Medal, 1980–2011 - Official website ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Association of German-American Clubs. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ↑ Honorary Board - Official Website ( Memento of the original from February 24, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Association of German-American Clubs. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
