Lecture in English by Björn Potulski, M.A. Theatre Studies, Germanic Philology and Politics. Björn Potulski is a German theatre director staging the whole of the Old Testament as a series of contemporary productions, and is the leader of an initiative to form a veritable European Theatre in Malta.

Björn Potulski is of the opinion that our social and cultural behaviour may be considered a walking in footprints. In this regard, the Old Testament Theatre Project aims to stage a major source of European identity. As a work in progress, the ongoing project shall be the roadmap to the foundation of a veritable European Theatre. From 2008 on, seven professional companies from all over the European continent shall contribute to a regular common program. The Old Testament Project is produced in cooperation with these future members of the European Theatre, thus the lecture will present the vision of the project and shall provide an insight into its aesthetic and organisational challenges.  (www.the-old-testament.eu).  

Members and their friends are welcome to attend.  The Lecture Hall is air-conditioned.
 

Gesprächsrunde - Veranstaltungsabende 2007

Unsere Gesprächsrunden erfreuen sich immer größerer Beliebtheit, und wir setzen sie mit den hiernach aufgeführten Diskussionsleitern/Innen und Themen fort. Die Teilnahme für Mitglieder des Deutsch-Maltesischen Zirkels ist kostenlos. Jeder erste und dritte Mittwoch im Monat ab 18.30 Uhr. 

01. Aug.            Ingrid Kidder              Ist Tierschutz eine Notwendigkeit?
15. Aug.            Maltesischer Feiertag, keine Gesprächsrunde
05. Sept.           Olaf Rieck                  Die Theaterlandschaft in Deutschland
19. Sept.           Günter Schlichte         Erfahrungen mit dem Euro in Deutschland
03. Okt.             Deutscher Feiertag, keine Gesprächsrunde
17. Okt.             Veranstaltung  „Toteninsel“, keine Gesprächsrunde
07. Nov.             Ute Ruppert-Hung      Matthias Brechtl – Ein moderner Dürer? 

We are glad to announce that the German-Maltese Circle is in the process of transferring its databases with Books, Videos, DVDs, CDs, Audio Cassettes, Films and Games found in our Library, online, so that you can browse through these lists from the leisure of your home or office.  Initially we are launching the CD's Database and the Videos/DVD Database online.  These are state-of-the-art databases complete with pictures of the front covers, synopsis of contents and other relevant information on each item.  You can access these 2 databases from this link:
 http://www.germanmaltesecircle.org/OnlineLibrary.htm 

Please note that this service is available for paid up members only and hence, you need to apply for the User Name and for the password to access this information.  Just send us an email with your full name and membership number and we will forward your user name and password.

The German-Maltese Circle wishes to recruit a part-time data entry clerk on a temporary basis.  The selected person should be computer literate, with a knowledge of German at least up to ZD level and willing to work mornings from Monday to Saturday.  Those interested should send in an email to vsammut@germanmaltesecircle.org attaching a CV.

Monday, 23^rd July at Messina Palace – The presentation of the winning plans and designs on the modernisation of The Circle’s Bar & Restaurant by students from the Akademie für Betriebsmanagement Möbelbau und Innenraumgestaltung of Freiburg.
 

For more pictures on the event click here.

Simon Alden 
General Manager of Bavarian Technology Systems, Malta
Vice-President of the German-Maltese Circle
Interviewed by Ingrid B. Kidder

Simon Alden was elected Vice-President of the German-Maltese Circle at the beginning of this year becoming the youngest member of the present Committee. The company in which he is serving as General Manager, BTS, is a corporate member of the German-Maltese Circle, and so it is about time to give our members a chance to get to know him a little better. 

Simon was born in Sliema in 1963 where he grew up together with his three brothers. He was a student at St. Aloysius College and studied Business Management at the University of Malta. Later he attended the KS Graduate Business School at St. Gallen in Switzerland, where he obtained a post-graduate Diploma in Marketing as well as from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK. Currently, while being in charge of the factory in Malta he is endeavoring to complete his MBA studies in Switzerland. 

The first money - Lm 5 - he proudly earned at the young age of 17, still a school boy, when one of his elder brothers asked him whether he would stand in for the dishwasher who was sick, for one night at a restaurant. Smilingly, he narrated that this experience made him definitely decide that his future career did not lie in this direction, so the classical “American Dream” would not work with him. During his studies at the University of Malta at a time when the “student-worker” scheme was still in operation, students worked for six months and studied for the other six months every year. His work phases were spent working for his sponsor - the Accounts Section of the Treasury Department, “which”, so Simon says, “was a very valuable experience in many ways.”    

But as Simon was attracted much more to the private sector, Simon terminated his contract with the Government to accept a marketing position offered by the Alpine Travel Group. There he was responsible for promoting Malta abroad as a travel destination particularly in relation to the conference and incentive travel sectors. This involved much overseas travel, mostly to the UK, in order to attend specialised exhibitions such as World Travel Market and Confex.    He enjoyed his work, yet, weekends belonged to the profession and not to private life. Additionally the first Gulf War led to a loss of business and a 3-day working week, highlighting the vulnerability of this sector to global events. So when the opportunity arose, he moved to MIMCOL – Malta Investment Management Company Limited – as PR and Administration Manager, being involved with the process of rationalisation of Government Investments. This included the role of Company Secretary and Operations Manger for the controversial Fort Chambray project as well as a directorship at INTERPRINT Ltd. 

In 1995 efforts were made to merge MIMCOL with the MDC – Malta Development Corporation;  and in the wake of this Simon was offered to set up an office in Germany, as well as develop and implement an investment promotion strategy targeting German-speaking countries. During this time he also held the position as  Commercial Attaché to the Maltese Embassy with seat in Munich. 

And all this with a very modest knowledge of German! Actually, his first exposure to the German language happened in 1981 when after finishing school he sailed with German scouts on a big yacht for two months around the Mediterranean, taking in the Greek Islands and Israel. Although his companions would speak English to him, amongst each other they would of course converse in German, which installed in him the wish to take up this language. Well, he got as far as buying a book “Teach yourself German…”, which alas was soon lost amongst the other activities.   Now, with the posting in Munich this language question became a serious challenge. Consequently he attended a two months’ super-intensive course at the Goethe Institute in Munich and continued to refine his skills, today even enabling him to translate the technical material for his factory.    

After eight years in Munich one of his clients, the owner of a Bavarian company decided to go ahead with setting up a manufacturing plant in Malta, and in turn offered Simon Alden the position as General Manager with a brief to establish and run the factory. As is usual with such decisions, with one happy and one sad eye, the family moved back to home grounds at the end of 2004, where Simon has established several flourishing production lines for the company. 

In 1990 Simon married Doranne, a painter and photographer. They have two children, a boy aged 16 and a daughter who is 13. When the whole family moved to Germany to a small village on the shores of the Starnberger See in 1996, both children learnt German very quickly, attending Bavarian pre-school and school. However, whereas one has lost the language following the return to Malta, the other continues to learn the language through regular attendance at the German-Maltese Circle. As a loving father he shares some special hobbies with his children. He goes SCUBA diving with his son and plays and teaches the guitar to his daughter, who also sings contemporary and classical pieces.   

Wichtige Informationen zur Ausstellung von Reisepässen ab dem 01. November

Zum 01.11.2007 tritt ein neues Passgesetz in Kraft. Dieses sieht u.a. vor, dass in deutschen Reisepässen (bordeauxroter Einband) auch Fingerabdrücke auf einem Chip gespeichert werden müssen.  Auf Grund technischer Probleme bei der Umsetzung der neuen Vorschriften kann die Botschaft Valletta ab dem 01.11.2007 voraussichtlich für mehrere Monate keine Anträge zur Ausstellung von Reisepässen entgegen nehmen. Vorläufige Reisepässe (grüner Einband) und Kinderreisepässe sind hiervon nicht betroffen.  Wir raten Ihnen, vor dem 20.10.2007 bei der Botschaft Valletta einen neuen Reisepass zu beantragen, falls Ihr jetziger Pass vor Mitte 2008 abläuft.  Wer bei der Botschaft Valletta nach dem 20.10.2007 einen neuen Reisepass beantragt, wird voraussichtlich zunächst nur einen vorläufigen Reisepass (Gültigkeitsdauer maximal 1 Jahr) erhalten können. Dieser vorläufige Reisepass berechtigt nicht zur visumsfreien Einreise in die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika. Bitte geben Sie diese Informationen auch an andere Deutsche in Ihrem Freundes- und Bekanntenkreis weiter!  Für Rückfragen steht Ihnen die Botschaft unter der Telefonnummer 21 336 520 zur Verfügung.
 

Other Notices

The German-Maltese Circle is increasing its contact with its members directly via the use of emails.  Most members are already being informed of important notices and of events immediately and reliably via email.  We believe this to be another efficient service to members.   

Enrolment for the new 2007-2008 German language courses for adults are expected to open beginning of September. Full information about these courses will soon be available on our website www.germanmaltesecircle.org and will be mailed to all members. 

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