August newsletter for RIAS alumni
The RIAS Berlin Commission has had a really busy summer with two programs in Germany in June (13 participants) and July (14 participants) and another coming up in mid-September (10 participants) as well as a major alumni get-together in November (30 participants) to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. On top of that, we’ve taken one German group to the US in March (14) and will be taking another in October (11).
We’re looking forward to seeing many of you at the big RIAS alumni reunion in San Antonio at the RTDNA EIJ on September 6 or the panel discussion on September 7, or in Berlin in November. Below are some of the alumni get-together highlights planned in the months ahead.
The good news is that the alumni network is growing and thriving thanks to your efforts. The bad news is that interest rates are low and getting lower, which means the endowment that funds most of what RIAS does earns less and less each year. The investment income has fallen by more than 60% in the last decade and there is no light at the end of the tunnel yet.
To keep the programs running and with as many participants as possible, we would really appreciate your support. Donations are hugely important and helpful in keeping up the numbers of participants. For every $4,000 donated by RIAS alumni, we’ll be able to add one more spot to the programs next year. So please join us in donating to the RIAS Berlin Commission. Here is the RIAS Berlin Commission account for tax-deductible donations in Germany: RIAS Berlin Commission, IBAN: DE72 1005 0000 1160 0155 50, Kennwort: “Spende” Here is the link for tax-deductible donations in the United States: https://www.rtdna.org/content/rias_german_american_exchange_program
Please let us know if you’ll be coming to San Antonio to the RTDNA EIJ. Our reunion will be held on Friday September 7 from 7-8 pm in the Travis A-B Room. We invite you all to an alumni breakfast on Saturday morning before the panel discussion at the RTDNA EIJ at 2-3:30 pm.
Here are some upcoming alumni events:
New York chapter – August 23 alumni get-together
Houston – August 31 – alumni get-together in Houston
San Antonio – September 6 alumni get-together at RTDNA EIJ convention at 7-8 pm in the Travis A-B room, September 7 alumni breakfast and panel discussion from 2-3:30 pm.
Brussels – September 16 alumni get-together with US fellows
Cologne – September 18 alumni get-together with US fellows
Berlin – September 21 – “blind dates” with US fellows meeting German alumni
Berlin – September 25 alumni get-together with US fellows
Mainz/Frankfurt – October 10 – Rhine-Main alumni chapter meeting with retired US general Ben Hodges
Washington DC – October 11 alumni get-together with German fellows
New York – October 18 alumni get-together with German fellows
Berlin – November 6, 8, 10 – alumni get-togethers with US fellows
