On June 7, 2019, Ambassador Wolfgang Waldner together with Economic Counselor Alexander Ehrlich-Adam celebrated the 20th anniversary of Frequentis USA, Inc. in Columbia, Maryland. The Austrian high-tech company Frequentis, headquartered in Vienna, designs and manufactures integrated voice communication solutions and related support products for civil air traffic control, military air defense, command and control, maritime search and rescue, and public safety applications. It also develops maritime safety of life at sea systems as well as military and civil command and control centers.

In celebration of its 50th anniversary the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles was honored at the California State Senate. On June 6, 2019, State Senator Ben Allen, chair of the Joint Committee on the Arts and chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus, presented a special resolution to Consul General Andreas Launer and his delegation on the Senate floor in Sacramento.

On June 10, 2019, Austrian Ambassador Wolfgang Waldner held a reception for the Austrian delegation to this year’s SelectUSA Investment Summit at his residence in Washington, DC. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross extended a warm “Welcome to the United States” to the 21 delegates, among them multinational industrial leaders, business partners and tech entrepreneurs, whose participation reflects their strategic focus on the American market.

On May 30, 2019, the Embassy welcomed some 50 high school students with their teachers from around the United States, Mexico, and Canada for a presentation on all things Austrian.

On May 23, 2019, students from Ross Elementary School in northwest Washington, DC gave their final presentation about Austria, their adopted country for this school year. They showed off all their hard work and dedication including a vocal presentation of our national anthem in German (!), a performance of a Viennese waltz, an original skit and a flute and piano recital (kudos to Otis and Ivan). #EmbassyAdoption #DCPublicSchools

To launch its 50th anniversary celebrations, the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles hosted a reception on May 15, 2019, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Guests included Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz, Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch, the Honorary President of the American Jewish Committee, Bruce Ramer, and many notable personalities from the Austrian-American community. Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck sent special dessert treats as a tribute to his home country Austria.

In August 2018, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) welcomed its first female memorial servant from Austria, Caroline Schenk for a yearlong voluntary remembrance service. Caroline was born in Graz and has spent her past year supporting the invaluable remembrance work of the USHMM with the Austrian memorial service – Gedenkdienst. #AustriansAbroad #NeverForget #AskWhy

On May 11, 2019, the Austrian Embassy in Washington, DC opened its doors to the public as part of the annual EU Embassies' Open House Day with this year’s focus on the nation’s strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainable energy. Indeed, Austria is a leader in recycling and recycling technology, and in addition, plastic shopping bags will also be banned in Austria as of 2020. Furthermore, about two thirds of Austrian electricity is generated via clean, renewable hydro-electric power. #EUOpenHouse #EUPix

In anticipation of Mother’s Day, the Embassy of Austria hosted an event on May 8, 2019, dedicated to the ever-changing faces of motherhood, which has evolved significantly in the 21st century: One of the biggest contemporary shifts in society is the fact that women between 35 and 44 are bearing more and more children, while the overall fertility rate in the U.S. has dropped to a historic low. The program featured Bettina Gordon-Wayne, author of The Joy of Later Motherhood, Laurie Fields DeRose Ph.D. from Georgetown University and Neil Ghosh, CEO of SOS Children's Villages USA. #MothersDay2019

On May 5, 2019, Director for Press and Information Thorsten Eisingerich welcomed thirty Jewish high school students from the DC metropolitan area for a briefing on the Embassy’s diverse tasks, the challenges of the job and life as a diplomat, on the Austrian Government’s leadership in Holocaust justice and the fight against anti-Semitism as well as the Austrian Embassy’s cooperation with Jewish institutions.

"Reconsider Austrian Wine. It' s not at all sweet. It’s not all whites, either. And there’s more than gruener veltliner." Meet the sommelier, who distributes selected wines from Austria in the United States, who distributes selected wines from Austria in the United States. 

From April 29 to May 1, 2019, Doris Bures, the Second President of the Austrian National Council (i.e. the Deputy Speaker of the Austrian House of Representatives), visited New York City to meet with representatives of the American Jewish community including American Jewish Committee (AJC) Board of Governors Chair Harriet Schleifer as well as Viennese-born Rabbi Arthur Schneier. After a visit to the Park East Synagogue, Doris Bures attended a reception for Austrian Jewish Holocaust survivors and their descendants held at the Austrian Consulate General in New York. In her opening remarks, she stressed “Austria’s historical responsibility to lead the fight against anti-Semitism.”

From April 11 to April 16, 2019, Austrian Federal Minister of Finance Hartwig Löger together with his delegation journeyed to the United States to engage in diplomatic meetings and promote Austrian businesses. #InvestInAustria #SoundOfFinance

From April 11-14, 2019, Bowling Green State University hosted this year’s Annual Conference of the Austrian Studies Association. The conference was jointly organized by Bowling Green State University (BGSU), Ohio, and the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Austria in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the BGSU - University of Salzburg Academic Exchange Program.

From April 14 to April 17, 2019, Austrian Federal Minister of Digital and Economic Affairs Margarete Schramböck together with her delegation traveled to New York City to engage in bilateral meetings with technology companies and promote investments in Austrian businesses.

From April 9 to April 13, 2019, Austrian Defense Minister Mario Kunasek visited the United States. He met with his U.S. counterpart, U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan at the Pentagon, and travelled to El Paso, Texas, to get an on-site impression about the border management.

The Austrian Fulbright Commission sponsors several young Austrian scholars who teach and study at U.S. universities. As part of its continued outreach, the Embassy connected with one of them at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro (UNCG).

Motherhood has evolved significantly in the 21st century. Join us for an engaging evening on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at the Austrian Embassy dedicated to the ever-changing faces of motherhood. Followed by a networking reception with Austrian wine and appetizers! #MothersDay2019

The opening night of “Lives Cut Short – Seeking Refuge During the Holocaust: The Fate of Ruth Maier” on April 4, 2019, drew more than 130 guests and included remarks by both, the Austrian Ambassador, Wolfgang Waldner, and the Norwegian Ambassador, Kåre Aas. As a special guest, the embassies welcomed Dr. Ann Altmann, Ph.D., whose father was cousins with Ruth Maier. #RuthMaier #HolocaustDiaries #AskWhy #NeverForget

The exhibition traces the journey of Ruth Maier (1920-1942), a young diarist who perished in the Holocaust. It is jointly presented by the Austrian Embassy and the Royal Norwegian Embassy and will be on view from April 5 through May 31, 2019, in the Atrium of the Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C. RSVP here to join us for the opening reception on Thursday, April 4! #RuthMaier #HolocaustDiaries #AskWhy #NeverForget