September 27, 2008 - "30 years of progress" was the theme at the GACC South's extraordinary 13th Annual Gala. The Chamber celebrated the milestone anniversary in high style at the Intercontinental Buckhead Atlanta with around 500 friends - their members, sponsors, colleagues and associates in the German-American business community whose support made that progress possible. The city of Stuttgart, Stuttgart Airport, Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart Marketing and Baden-Württemberg International were the 2008 Gala partners.

Throughout the evening Gala attendees had the chance to bid on more than 100 items donated by the GACC South's extraordinary network of charitable member and associate companies. A portion of the proceeds of the Silent Auction will benefit the Habitat for Humanity's International House project, which is being built in partnership with the GACC South and the Consular Corps of Atlanta.

Dr. Wolfgang Schuster, Mayor of Stuttgart, addressed the sold out crowd gathered in the Intercontinental's candlelit ballroom at the start of the gourmet dinner. The mayor was followed by Dr. Axel Nitschke, Deputy CEO of the DIHK, who discussed the progress of the GACC South over the last 30 years, and Dr. Eike Jordan, Chairman of GACC South, who fondly recalled the GACC's beginnings as well as highlights of the past three decades.

Following dinner, a little dancing and the close of the Silent Auction was the drawing for the GACC South's 2008 Smart fortwo passion cabriolet raffle. The winner was Mr. Klaus Krämer of Rovema Packaging Machines LP. All proceeds of raffle ticket sales go to the International House build.

Attendees of the Gala included many influential members of the German-American business community in Atlanta and Stuttgart including the German Consulate General Dr. Lutz Görgens, Mr. Kwanza Hall of the Atlanta City Council and representatives of the city of Stuttgart and the region. Wine was sponsored by "Weingut Herzog von Württemberg" and imported from the region. Decorations were provided by Tulip.

We express our sincerest appreciation to our Gala sponsors as well as all those who joined us Saturday, September 27, to celebrate three decades of progress. We look forward to seeing you again at events throughout the upcoming year as well as at the 2009 Annual Gala.

Please click here for Gala 2008 photo gallery.