On the occasion of the visit of the President of the German Parliament, Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert, in Minnesota, Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed Friday, the 6th of May 2011, German Language Education Day in Minnesota.
Almost 40% of Minnesotans can claim German ancestry, and the teaching of German in Minnesota high schools has a long tradition. However, with budget cuts at our schools, German language programs throughout Minnesota are threatened, and with that the future of German language proficiency among our college graduates.
Considering that Germany is the largest European export market for Minnesota, and German companies rank third in foreign direct investment and employment in Minnesota, the ability of our future leaders in business, arts, science and technology to relate to and engage with Germany is of some importance to Minnesota.
Bundestagspräsident Lammert decided to visit Minnesota to lend his support to the efforts of local organizations to raise funds for Minnesota schools that offer German language programs, and for their teachers and students. On May 5, he delivered the keynote address at the 2011 Gala of the Minnesota Chapter of the German-American Chamber of Commerce.
“Prof. Dr. Lammert’s visit to Minnesota is very exciting,” said Christa Tiefenbacher-Hudson, the German Honorary Consul in Minneapolis and Managing Director of TripleInk. “As President of the German Parliament, the Bundestag, Prof. Dr. Lammert holds the second highest political office in Germany. His visit promotes relations between Minnesota and Germany and focuses attention on the importance of fostering the German language skills of young Americans.”
For more information about the Proclamation, visit the website of the Minnesota Secretary of State at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=9&recordid=4193.
For more information about the German Consul in Minneapolis, visit www.tripleink.com/german-consul/.
About TripleInk
TripleInk is a multilingual marketing communications agency that works across languages, cultures and borders to provide insightful strategies and meaningful translations to companies who want to reach US ethnic and international markets.
With a multinational, multidisciplinary client services team in Minneapolis and a worldwide network of independent creative, linguistic and technical communications professionals, TripleInk has a virtual global footprint. The agency is an operating company of Martin|Williams, Inc., which belongs to the Omnicom Group.
To find out more about TripleInk, please contact Christa Tiefenbacher-Hudson, Managing Director, at 612.342.9790, or email us.