Dear AmCham members, partners, subscribers and friends,
The weekends of May were exceptionally busy, with multiple important events.
On the evening of the 23rd, there was a banquet hosted by Kevin Wester, the President of ‘Luxembourg Adventures with Kevin Wester’. Kevin is also a consultant who specializes in arranging for American citizens with Luxembourg ancestry to gain dual nationality by being granted Luxembourg citizenship. 66 Americans came with Kevin to Luxembourg for this tour and to participate on Sunday in the Octave March carrying an Our Lady of Luxembourg tapestry which this American community has donated to the Catholic church in Luxembourg. 200 people joined this evening Gala which was held at the Hotel Parc Alvisse on the road to Junglinster.
Nicole Bintner, the current Luxembourg Ambassador to America, and Cardinal Hollerich both joined the Gala with Luxembourg Ambassador giving a powerful speech about the strength of the partnership between the US and Luxembourg. This message was echoed by Mike Ansay, the Honorary Counsel of Luxembourg for Michigan and Wisconsin in his video speech online from the USA.
I was pleased to sit with Geoff Thompson and his wife (Chronicle.lu), Ray Manes, Executive Director of MUDEC and his wife along with Stephanie Shaheen and her husband from Miami University and Stephania Stakiotis and her husband from the US Embassy. Please see the article and photos from the Chronicle.lu here.
On Saturday 24th was held the Memorial Day commemoration at Hamm cemetery which featured a military aircraft fly by from Ramstein Air Base, presentation of floral bouquets by US and Luxembourg government organizations, as well as private sector organizations including AmCham, the American Women’s club and Democrats Abroad. US Chargé de Affaires Michael Konstantino made a great speech as did Sasha Baillie representing the Royal Family, Defense Minister Yuriko Backes, Fernand Entgin from the Chamber of Deputies, Marc Thewes from the Council of State, and Brigadier General Troy Havener from US Armed Forces Europe. Please see the excellent article and photos from Chronicle.lu here.
We are working hard on a summer Polo event (with Gala Tent dinner) and Summer Golf tournament. Please join us for these events!
Likewise, we are very pleased to be relaunching our Newcomer Orientation events to help new arrivals in Luxembourg to “learn how the game is played” so they can fit in, thrive and prosper.
We have been doing these newcomer orientation courses for 15 years but stopped during Covid. I am very pleased Amazon is supporting our Tools for Luxembourg Committee to relaunch these classes. We plan to present these classes three or four times a year at no cost as a public service, as had been our custom. The first of these classes will be held at the Amazon Headquarters on Blvd Kennedy in Kirchberg on the evening of 13 June. Please find the details here and please tell any newcomers you know about this free public service event.
I am honored this week to present our feature interview with Stéphane di Carlo, the Managing Director of EGB Group. Stéphane and his company are next generation leaders in Luxembourg, running a terrific innovative design and interior decoration company which creates living and working environments that are stylish, healthy, environmentally conscious and which constitute motivational environments for clients and staff. In his private time, Stéphane is also an avid jogger and health fitness person participating in (and winning) many marathons in Europe and the USA! Please enjoy reading this interview to get to know Stéphane and his team and to become acquainted with his well-thought through philosophy of designing for better living!
My respect and kindest regards,
Paul Schonenberg
Chairman and CEO
AmCham.lu