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Germany’s Oldest University Comes to America
Herzlich Wilkommen im HAUS!
It’s been a long time since 1386, but finally Ruperto-Carola has come to the New World. Following two years of intensive preparation and cooperation on both sides of the Atlantic, the University of Heidelberg has established itself on our shores. On October 11, 2008 the Heidelberg Alumni US (HAUS) was formally called into life during festive ceremonies in Ney York City. Present for the long-awaited event were dignitaries from the University, headed up by Rektor Bernhard Eitel, German consular representatives, colleagues from the Foreign Students Office, members of the Friends of Heidelberg, and numerous American, German and other Nationals who had studied, graduated, researched or worked on one side of the Neckar river or the other.
The inaugural meeting of HAUS was attended by more than 70 interested participants. Lively discussion of the organization’s structure and goals followed. Over three dozen stepped forward and completed the membership formalities. Many offered to serve on one or more of the initially proposed committees, i.e. Membership; PR/Marketing; Events; Development/Scholarships; Future Planning; Mentorship; Website/Newsletter. HAUS will serve as a clearinghouse for information about the University of Heidelberg in the US. We propose to offer networking opportunities for both former and future students and hope to establish scholarship and mentoring opportunities for the latter. We look forward to sponsoring regional events at which visiting scholars from the University may meet with interested alumni. And we hope to facilitate travel for those wishing to visit the alma mater once again. One such opportunity will certainly occur in 2011 when Ruperto-Carola celebrates its 625th birthday.
Since that very encouraging event in New York the number of new HAUS members has continued to increase. I am very pleased to welcome you to our growing membership. I would also be pleased if you would consider becoming actively involved in growing our HAUS. We are recruiting alumni with experience in the committees mentioned above.
Additionally, we have developed a survey to determine just what our new members would like to see their alumni club doing in the future. Please complete that survey contained in the attachment and share your thoughts with us.
Finally, we want to expand our HAUS in every way possible. The easiest and perhaps best method is to ask you to help us with that effort. You very likely have contacts from your time on the Neckar. You may have students, colleagues, friends who studied or worked in Heidelberg. Tell them about us. Feel free to forward this email to them.
Thank you very much for your interest in the Heidelberg Alumni US. I sincerely look forward to welcoming you one day in person.
For further information, please look at:
http://www.zuv.uni-heidelberg.de/AAA/alumni/ Link to the umbrella organization Heidelberg Alumni International
http://www.alumni.uni-heidelberg.de/haus/index.html Link to HAUS in German
www.alumni.uni-hd.de/haus/en/willkommen.html Link to HAUS in English
www.uni-heidelberg.de/alumni Link to the general Alumni Website of Heidelberg University
www.uni-heidelberg.de/presse/unispiegel - Unispiegel Universitaetszeitung
Please feel free to contact me directly.
Mit freundlichen Grüssen,
Dr. Albert Fink, Ph.D.
1021 Steele Street
Denver, CO 80206
303-377-1528
Albert.fink@alumni.uni-heidelberg.de
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