Fort Wayne's Germanfest starts Sunday

The annual Germanfest in Headwaters Park at Fort Wayne is 3-10 June.

Germanfest began in 1981 and has grown to become a highlight of the summer festivals in Fort Wayne.

People come to Germanfest to sample the 'Essen, Trinken und Gemuetlichkeit' (Eating, Drinking, and a warm, wonderful time).

The Germanfest Committee of Fort Wayne is formed from the four German organizations that exist in Fort Wayne; the Fort Wayne Turners, the Fort Wayne Maennerchor/Damenchor, the Fort Wayne Sport Club, and the German Heritage Society.

OSHA & Your Hispanic/Latino Workforce

A conference on the Occupational Safety and Heath Administration (OSHA) and the Hispanic/Latino workforce is set for 13 June by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

Presenters are Bobbi Samples, SES Environmental, Health and Safety Compliance, and Juan Martinez, Group Dekko Services, LLC.

Targeted attendees are safety team leaders, human resource professionals, superintendents, foremen/leadmen from companies engaged in industrial, distribution or construction activities using workers with limited English proficiency or subcontractors who use these workers, should attend this important conference.

This conference is part of the Indiana Chamber's Safety Compliance Specialist Certificate Program, and will take place in the Indiana Chamber Conference Center, 115 West Washington Street, Suite 850 South Tower, Indianapolis, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday (13 June).

To register, click here.

Japan-America Society of Indiana Gala

The Annual Gala sponsored by the Japan-America Society of Indiana, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (19 June) with a VIP gathering, followed by a 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, and 8 p.m. program. Location will be the Indiana Roof Ballroom, downtown Indianapolis.

For information and reservations, email in English or in Japanese, or call 317:633-0123; reservations deadline 13 June.

Keynote speaker: the Honorable John M. Mutz; anniversary remarks: Tom Easterday, senior vice-president, secretary and general counsel for Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. Bridge of Friendship Award recipients: Hiromi Hemuki, director, State of Indiana - Japan Office, and Michiko Selby, original JASI volunteer.

Ganga-Kaveri: Hindustani-Carnatic Flute Fusion

Ganga-Kaveri Swara Laya Sammelana members: Vidwan Anoor Ananth Krishna Sharma (Mridangam), Vidwan V Umesh (Keyboard), Vidwan M K Pranesh (Carnatic Flute), Suramani Pravin Godkhindi (Hindustani Bansuri), Vidwan Arun Kumar (Percussion), and Vidwan S Madhusudana (Tabla).

A concert by Ganga-Kaveri of Hindustani-Carnatic Flute Fusion starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday (1 June) in the Clarion at the Waterfront, 2930 Waterfront Parkway West Drive, Indianapolis.

It's sponsored by the India Association of Indianapolis and Mallige—Indiana Kannada Koota.

Tickets are $10 for adults. Reservations form is here.

More information is available from Mrs. Mani Kote, 317:361-2930, and Uday Murthy, 317:585-1093.

Japanese-owned ATTC Expands

ATTC Manufacturing Inc. will expand its plant in Tell City. Ninety jobs will be added to the 340-person plant after the $49 million project is complete.

ATTC, an Aisin Group Company, manufactures precision brake, chassis and engine parts for Toyota, NUMMI, Nissan, Hino, and American Axle.

Global trade conference coming to Purdue

Changes brought on by global warming affect not only the weather, but also world economies. A conference sponsored by Purdue University will examine, among other topics, the economic impact of a rise in the Earth's temperature, reports the Purdue News Bureau.

The Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) Conference takes place 7-9 June in Purdue's Stewart Center, West Lafayette.

GTAP is an international network of researchers and policy-makers who analyze global environmental and trade issues. The network is centered at Purdue.

Another conference topic is the economic impact of international trade agreements.

The goal of the conference is to promote the exchange of ideas among economists conducting quantitative analysis of global economic issues. Particular emphasis will be placed on applied general equilibrium methods, data, and application.

Preregistration is required to attend the conference. More conference information is available at the GTAP Web site.

ABA signs media deal with Canadian firm

The American Basketball Association, an Indianapolis-based professional basketball league, and Toronto media company Caricom have signed a deal to create ABA Media.

The initiative, inked Tuesday (22 May), was launched to maximize potential of a variety of media opportunities for the league, including television, radio, Web streaming, podcasting and other technologies.

Paul Riley, a Toronto-based attorney who focuses in the areas of entertainment, sports law and business operations has been named Vice President of ABA Media. Riley also serves as the ABA VP of Business Development and represents ABA interests in Canada.

NOTE: The Ethnic Hoosier is unable to find any weblinks to a company named Caricom, a word more commonly used to refer to the Caribbean Community Secretariat -- abbreviated as CARICOM.

Foreign Policy for the People

An innovative program that's free and open to the public is planned for 1-2 June in the Old Centrum, 520 East 12th Street, Indianapolis. Registration is required (via email).

"Foreign Policy for the People" will be held 9 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Friday (1 June) and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday (2 June). It's sponsored by Citizens for Global Solutions and Provocate.org.

Discussants are John Clark, senior fellow, Sagamore Institute for Policy Research; Dr. Robert Geroux, assistant professor of political science at Marian College; Tom Glaisyer, Connect US; Dr. Michael Goodhart, professor of political science and women's studies at the University of Pittsburgh; Asma Lateef, director of the Policy and Programs Department at Citizens for Global Solutions, and William Ruger, Fellow, Liberty Fund, Inc.

Check the website item for more information.

GE Plastics Sold to Saudi Arabian Company

GE has announced the sale of GE Plastics to Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) for $11.6 billion, according to Inside INdiana Business.

The sale includes a facility in Mount Vernon, which employs more than 1,400 people and is the largest employer in Posey County. The purchase is expected to close in the third quarter of 2007, pending regulatory approval.

Delaware County lands a touch of Spain

According to Inside INdiana Business, a Spanish company has announced it will establish its first presence in the U.S. in Delaware County.

Miasa Automotive LLC will invest more than $1.4 million to locate its new production facility northeast of the City of Muncie at 3100 East, County Road 350 North, creating 12 new jobs.

Miasa Automotive LLC will manufacture gearbox components for New York-based Magna Powertrain, an international supplier of engine and driveline components to General Motors, Ford, Honda, Toyota and BMW.

Founded in Spain in 1968, Miasa (formally known as Mecanizados Industria Auxiliar, SA) designs, develops and produces gearbox components for vehicles through the casting and machining of light copper and aluminum alloy. The company, based in Pamplona, Navarra, currently exports its gearbox components, selector forks and transfer case actuators to Portugal, United Kingdom, France, Romania, Germany and Brazil.

"Invisible Children"

This Sunday evening (20 May) head over to the International School of Indianapolis for a free dinner and a showing of a remarkable film, "Invisible Children."

You can learn a lot more about why this interesting evening has the potential to be truly important here.

When: Sunday, 20 May, 6-9 p.m.
Where: Blackbox Theatre at the International School of Indianapolis, 4330 North Michigan Road, Indianapolis
Event is free.

Questions? Ask Catarina Campbell or 317:652-9880.

Daniels meets with head of Arcelor Mittal

Governor Mitch Daniels and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nathan Feltman met in London with Lakshmi Mittal, the president and chief executive officer of Arcelor Mittal, the world's largest steel producer, according to Inside INdiana Business.

The company employs about 10,000 workers in northwest Indiana and earlier this year announced $26 million in upgrades at its Indiana Harbor Works and Burns Harbor locations.

Keronite comes to Greenwood

During a stop in London as part of Indiana's trade mission, Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from Keronite, Inc., to announce that the company will open its first U.S. operation in Indiana.

According to Inside INdiana Business, the U.K.-based metals treatment company plans to invest $1.5 million in a new facility in Greenwood and create 25 jobs.

The company says its applications are used in many industries, but its Greenwood location will focus on the motorsports industry.

Keronite specializes in a high-tech treatment process that transforms the surfaces of light alloys into wear and corrosion resistant ceramics.

MS Fluid Technologies' products now in Brazil

Indianapolis-based MS Fluid Technologies has signed an agreement that will allow it to distribute products in Brazil and other parts of South America, reports Inside INdiana Business.

Rio de Janeiro-based ICQL Quimica Ltda. will distribute MS Fluid Technologies' line of advanced-technology forming lubricants. MS Fluid Technologies will also partner with ICQL at annual industry trade shows in Rio de Janeiro.

MS Fluid Technologies (formerly named Mid-State Chemical and Supply Corporation), in operation for more than 40 years, is a global company headquartered in Indianapolis that formulates solutions for manufacturing. The company develops and distributes specialty chemicals for the metal forming, metalworking, and metal finishing industries.

Indiana's trade mission to Germany and the United Kingdom

Inside INdiana Business reports that Governor Mitch Daniels will lead a 32-member delegation of government and business leaders on a trade mission to Germany and the United Kingdom. The delegation, departing tomorrow, is expected to have several high-level meetings with DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche and Arcelor Mittal Chief Executive Officer Lakshmi N. Mittal.

The group also plans to tour Toyota's F-1 research and development facility in Cologne, Indianapolis' Sister City. The chairman of the Indianapolis-Cologne Sister City Committee, Sven Schumacher, is traveling with the group to provide assistance.

Germany's capital investment in Indiana is $8.6 billion, while the United Kingdom's investment is nearly $8 billion.

In addition to Gov. Daniels and Mr. Schumacher, the delegation includes:
Nate Feltman, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
Chad Sweeney, IEDC
Stephen Akard, IEDC
Edita Ubartaite, IEDC
Michael Kruger, IEDC-Europe
Andy Miller, Indiana Department of Agriculture
Beth Bechdol, Indiana Department of Agriculture
State Senator Sue Landske
State Senator James Lewis
State Representative Matthew Whetstone
State Representative Dennie Oxley
Ben Ledo, Governor's staff
Jane Jankowski, Governor's staff

Members of the business and community delegation:
Marie-Christine Pence, Duke Energy
Melissa Reese, Ice Miller, LLP
Don Babcock, Northern Indiana Public Service Company
Michael Duff, The Reimbursement Group
Ed Simcox, Indiana Energy Association
Christine Keck, Old National Bank
Kyle Hupfer, ProLiance Energy
David Bramlage, Cole Hardwood, Inc.
Ray Moistner, Indiana Hardwoods and Lumbermen's Association
Kenneth Yerkes, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Frank Hoffman, Krieg DeVault LLP
Terry Anker, Matrix Global Partners
Gordon Hendry, The Indy Partnership
Jim Dinkle, Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County
Bill Nolting, Washington County Economic Growth Partnership, Inc.
Eugene McCracken, Lawrence County Economic Growth Council
John Sampson, Northeast Indiana Regional Marketing Partnership

Congratulations, John Clark!

One of "us" has been named a 2007 winner of a Cultural Vision Award by NUVO Newsweekly.

It's hard to imagine someone who's worked harder than John Clark (photo, at right, from NUVO) of the Sagamore Institute for Policy Research to make Hoosiers aware of the world around them.

Here's what NUVO has to say:

Located next door to a National Guard recruiting station on Indiana Avenue just south of Michigan Street are the annex office spaces of the Sagamore Institute for Policy Research. Stop in on any given day and you will hear a diverse mix of tunes wafting from the office of Senior Fellow John Clark. Gypsy music from the Balkans, Portuguese fado, bebop from Kansas City, Cuban salsa, a Mozart sonata or a current remix of a classic Beatles tune all figure into Clark’s eclectic taste for this universal language, an artform that moves human emotion by transcending time and political, religious, ethnic and national boundaries.

The power of transcendence is something Clark emulates with his superior intellect. Whether he is facilitating a public conversation with visiting journalists from Turkey, mayors from Israel and Palestine, or a group of high school students who have just viewed a current film about Iraq, Clark is a maestro in the Socratic method of engaging people in a meaningful exchange of ideas. Through intensive research Clark has also helped to inform a regional conversation about the impact of Hispanic immigration on Central Indiana.

John Clark is a major proponent of the notion of “glocalization,” or the power of trans-local partnerships, which he describes as a new model of public diplomacy and foreign aid. Central Indiana is rich with organizations and individuals that aspire to change the world through international outreach. International Center of Indianapolis, Franciscan Center for Global Studies, Christel DeHaan, Ambassadors for Children, IU-Kenya Partnership, Rotary, Kiwanis International [and the Nationalities Council of Indiana!!!] (to name only a few) — each contributes to a symphony of actors striving for the kind of sustained social change that occurs through an intimate, local-to-local exchange of people, talent, resources and goodwill.

Well-credentialed, Clark received his master’s and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, authored several books and published countless articles; he chooses to share his gifts with the community. “Provocate” is Clark’s latest enterprise designed to connect a needy world with those eager to serve. Visit his Web site at Provocate.org to learn about the plethora of local opportunities to become a more informed glocal citizen and join in the growing chorus of concerned individuals with a willingness to change the world by thinking out loud. —Charlie Wiles

A double dose of Korea next Wednesday

Two programs on Korea featuring the same trio of visiting experts take place Wednesday (16 May) in Indianapolis.

First up, a discussion about the Korean Peninsula, is 1:30-4 p.m. at the Sagamore Institute for Policy Research, 340 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis. Email or telephone John Clark, 317:472-9666, for reservations.

Clark says: "Although North Korea's nuclear program dominates the news coming out of the Korean Peninsula, it's not the only item worth heeding. In fact, Korean nukes may be just a side story, part of bigger economic changes taking place. These broader changes are of vital interest to Indiana. Discussing these developments will be several significant policy-shapers from the US and South Korea."

Participants are Lim Sang-Woo, Economic First Secretary, Republic of Korea Embassy in Washington DC; Robert Armstrong, Chief Economic Officer, Office of Korean Affairs, US Department of State; James Lister, Vice President of the Korean Economic Institute; Keonki Roh, Sagamore Institute Visiting Fellow (from Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy); John Clark of the Sagamore Institute will moderate the discussion.

"Some of the topics to be discussed," Clark says, "will be the new Korea-US Free Trade Agreement and what it might mean for Indiana's economy; possible outcomes of the 'Six Party Talks' over North Korea's nuclear weapons programs; energy security in Asia; Korean perspectives on the emergence of China as a regional and global superpower; the condition of North Korea's crippled economy; anti-American policies and attitudes in South Korea. This will be a great discussion for businesspeople and others interested in Asia's economy, foreign policy devotees concerned about the spread of weapons of mass destruction, humanitarian worried about the lingering famine in North Korea, and anyone who cares about the Bush Administration's relations with one of America's closest allies (and one of its most implacable foes)."

Later in the day, "The Future of Korea" is the topic for the last dinner meeting of the season for the Indiana Council on World Affairs and the Indianapolis Committee on Foreign Relations. The social hour starts at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the talk at 7:15 p.m. in the Marten House Conference Center, 1801 West 86th Street, Indianapolis.

For reservations and information, call 317:566-2036 or email C. Matthew Fox; note: all email reservations must have 'ICWA Dinner Reservation' as the subject.

The gathering is part of the Korea Economic Institute's The Future of Korea Series Program. Participants are: Lim Sang-woo, First Secretary, Economic, Embassy of the Republic of Korea; Robert Armstrong, Chief Economic Officer , Office of Korean Affairs, US Department of State, and James Lister, Vice President, Korea Economic Institute.

This panel discussion will cover many topics including the six party talks with North Korea as well as the KORUS Free Trade Agreement and economic development issues with the Republic of Korea. The Korea Economic Institute was established in 1982 as a not-for-profit educational organization. KEI focuses its efforts in the economic area but addresses all aspects of the relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea.

Suez to hold internal planning summit in Indy

Suez Environmental, the Paris-based utility that operates Indianapolis' wastewater plants, is holding a conference at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis tomorrow through Saturday to discuss internal strategy for the next few years, according to The Indianapolis Business Journal.

Suez, which runs the local plants through its United Water Services subsidiary, will host about 15 people from its local operations as well as sites in nationals including Algeria, China and Hungary.

The meeting was held in Paris last year. It is closed to the public.

The current 10-year contracts expire 31 December, and the city has issued a request for proposals to operate and maintain the wastewater treatment system.

Four companies responded to an initial request for expression of interest. In addition to United Water, they include:

• American Water of Voorhees, N.J., which is owned RWE AG of Essen, Germany


• CH2M Hill OMI Inc. of Englewood, Colo.


• Veolia Water North America of Houston

Proposals are due 21 May.

The new contracts will involve taking over management of the new $1.8 billion wastewater control system as stages of construction are finished.

The project, which began in 2001 and is to be finished by 2025, is expected to minimize raw sewage flowing into rivers during rainstorms.

IU wins grant to train future military officers in strategic languages and cultures

Indiana University has been selected to receive a two-year federal grant for $481,630 to provide strategic language and culture training to undergraduate students in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs, according to IU Media Relations.

The Institute of International Education (IIE), on behalf of the National Security Education Program of the U.S. Department of Defense, selected IU's ROTC Strategic Languages and Cultures Program to participate in this new initiative, which aims to improve the abilities of future military officers to speak and understand strategic languages and cultures. The languages covered by IU's program are Arabic, Russian, and the Central Asian languages Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Pashto, Tajik, Turkmen, Uyghur and Uzbek.

The co-principal investigators are Henry R. Cooper Jr., professor of Slavic languages and literatures, and Paul M. Foster Jr., director of the Center for Languages of the Central Asian Region and professor of Slavic languages and literatures.

Under IU's program, up to 25 ROTC cadets enrolled at IU or other universities will receive scholarships to study a strategic language and culture at IU's intensive summer language workshop, during which the cadets will complete a year's worth of training in eight-to-nine weeks.

After the summer workshop, IU's program will provide the ROTC cadets with additional funding to continue language and culture training in the 2007-08 academic year, either at IU, in language programs at their home universities, or through distance education courses provided by IU faculty.

IU's program, which will be directed by Gene Coyle, adjunct professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, provides innovative ways to help ROTC cadets shoulder the challenge of studying languages and cultures not typically taught in high schools. The program provides cadets with scholarships, intensive language training in small classes, individual tutoring, and activities designed to inform the cadets of the importance of strategic language and culture training for U.S. national security and foreign policy.

IU's new program was crafted by the Strategic Languages and Cultures Task Force, which President-elect Michael A. McRobbie created last fall to explore IU's opportunities to strengthen its connections with the U.S. Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security on language and culture education, training and policy. As home to a record-10 international research centers that receive approximately $16 million in Title VI funding from the U.S. Department of Education, IU is well situated to partner with U.S. government agencies coping with challenges posed by strategic language and culture education.

Purdue's newest president was born in Paris, France

An internationally recognized astrophysicist who is chancellor of University of California, Riverside, was chosen today (7 May) as the 11th president of Purdue University, according to the Purdue News Bureau.

The Purdue Board of Trustees, meeting on the Loeb Playhouse stage on campus, voted unanimously to hire France A. Córdova (right)and then brought her on stage to the music of "Hail Purdue."

According to MyHero.com, Córdova was born in Paris. Expecting a boy whom they planned to name Frederick III, France’s mother sewed little Fs on all the baby’s clothes. Named Francoise, Córdova later shortened her name to France.

The daughter of a Mexican father who attended West Point and worked in the U.S. State Department and a fifth generation Irish-American mother, France was the eldest of 12 children. She helped take care of her younger siblings from an early age and her sense of responsibility stayed with her for the rest of her life.

Córdova received her bachelor’s degree cum laude in English from Stanford University. She enjoyed Existentialist writers like Camus and Sartre. as well as Joyce and Eliot. During her junior year, she worked on an archaeological dig near a Zapotec Indian pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. Delving deeply into her Mexican heritage, she wrote a short novel and compiled recipes into a Mexican cookbook

Córdova, 59, has served at Riverside since 2002, coming from the University of California at Santa Barbara where she had been vice chancellor for research and a professor of physics for six years. Before that, she was the youngest person to hold the position of NASA chief scientist, working on projects that included the Hubble Space Telescope

Confucius Institute to open at IUPUI

The Chinese government has chosen Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) to locate one of its institutes that will help Indiana companies doing business with China.

IUPUI joins a select group of universities worldwide, including Oxford University in England, to get one of the institutes. The Confucius Institute will be supported by resources from IUPUI, Butler University and Indiana University-Bloomington.

A full-time director will be hired to coordinate institute programs across the IUPUI campus and the city to support a wide range of courses, workshops, programs, and other activities connected to Chinese language and culture. The interim Executive Director of the Confucius Institute is Dr. Zao Cheng (Joe) Xu of the IU School of Medicine. Ian McIntosh, of the Office of International Affairs at IUPUI, is the interim Associate Director.

There's more here.

Political Imaginaries in Latin America

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) at Indiana University Bloomington will hold a two-day workshop on the topic, "Political Imaginaries in Latin America: Reverberations within the Contemporary Left", beginning on Friday (4 May).

Participants in the workshop will include scholars and former activists from the U.S. and Latin America. The workshop will be held in the Indiana Memorial Union's Maple Room at IU Bloomington from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday (4 May).

On Saturday (5 May), the workshop will be conducted at the Four Winds Resort at Lake Monroe from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

This two-day event is free and open to the general public.

Sponsors for this event include The College Arts and Humanities Institute, Multidisciplinary Ventures Grant from the Dean of Faculties, Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies and LACS at the University of Michigan.

For more information, contact the CLACS office, 812:855-9097.

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies was founded in 1963 (originally as the Latin American Studies Program) as an umbrella organization uniting Latin Americanists from all campuses of Indiana University. Currently, there are approximately 90 affiliated faculty in 16 departments and seven professional schools who teach and/or conduct research on topics relating to Latin America.

SOURCE: IU Media Relations

Dow AgroSciences buys Austrian genetics firm

Dow AgroSciences, the Indianapolis-based agricultural arm of Dow Chemical Co., has bought some assets of Maize Technologies International of Neusiedl am See, Austria, for an undisclosed price, according to IBJ Daily.

Dow AgroSciences anticipates using Maize Technologies' genetics to improve corn grown in short seasons in Europe and the United States.

Middle East and North Africa Seminar

Learn more about doing business in the Middle East and North Africa at a seminar sponsored by the United States Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The half-day seminar begins with a continental breakfast and registration at 8:30 a.m. Friday (4 May) in Rawls Hall Room 1011, Purdue University, West Lafayette, and ending at noon.

Also included is a market overview on doing business with the United Arab Emirates.

Cost is $65.00 per person to attend. Register online. Information, Mark Cooper, 317:582-2300.

See event flyer for more.