American Field Service USA (AFS) Gala “Celebrating the Journey” at the residence, New York,
October 27, 2005

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to welcome you to this private reception preceding tonight’s AFS-USA 2005 Gala “Celebrating the Journey”.

Since I just arrived in New York this summer and we moved into this residence only a couple of weeks ago, I am very happy that the first event we are hosting is this reception tonight together with the AFS. You are here because you care about the American Field Service and support its work in a very meaningful and generous way.
I would like to welcome especially tonight’s honorees:

Dr. Helmut Panke, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW and a former AFS exchange student in New Hampshire.
I met Helmut Panke yesterday for the first time and I was impressed, not only by his brilliant English but also his vision, his ideas on global business relations. I am certain that it was his stay in New Hampshire which lay the grounds for both.

Mr. Edwin R. Masback, Jr., AFS Life Trustee and a former World War II AFS volunteer ambulance driver. I very pleased to have you with us here tonight.

I would like to recognize our keynote speaker, Germany’s Ambassador in the United States, Mr. Wolfgang Ischinger, a former AFS exchange student in Illinois. And I probably don’t tell you a secret, when I say that he is one of the most, probably the most respected carrier diplomats in the German Foreign Service, somebody our young colleagues look at with admiration seeing in him an example to follow.

The American Field Service plays a highly recognized role in educational youth exchange and intercultural learning. Germany especially will not forget that after World War II the American Field Service gave young Germans an opportunity to come to the United States and experience a democratic society at work. Today, AFS Germany each year brings 600 students from all over the world to Germany, and hundreds of young Germans go abroad each year.

As someone who unfortunately never participated in an AFS exchange program, but who was born as a German in India and started elementary school in the Bronx, allow me to say that I wholeheartedly support the AFS vision to enable young people to become global citizens and good global neighbours.

I am happy that so many of you whose much appreciated support helps to make this vision come true are here tonight. Thank you very much