International Volunteer Day: City honours committed Chemnitz residents
To mark International Volunteer Day, the City of Chemnitz is honouring the voluntary work of Chemnitz citizens at a ceremony today. Mayor Berthold Brehm will present 13 volunteers with the DANKE-Card of the Bürgerstiftung für Chemnitz in the Council Chamber of the New Town Hall. Four others are presented with an honorary gift from the city, a so-called "Stadttaler". Jochen Schubert, co-founder of the Saxon Railway Museum and former chairman of the Richard Hartmann e.V. association, was honoured with an entry in the city's Golden Book in recognition of his many years of commitment.
With the DANKE-Card, committed volunteers receive discounts and special offers at municipal facilities, associations, institutions and organisations as well as in shops and at companies. These benefits can be discounts, vouchers or reduced admission prices, but also price reductions for educational and event programmes as well as unique experiences (guided tours, "behind the scenes").
The DANKE Card holders are selected and nominated by the organisations in which the volunteer works by means of a nomination form.
The following were honoured: Andreas Schlesiger (youth initiative "europa in chemnitz"), Ernst Gerhard Michalsky (librarian, Johann-Wolfgang-von-Goethe-Gymnasium), Natalja Bernhard (librarian, Albert-Schweitzer-Schule), Dr. Wolfgang Uhlmann (Chemnitzer Geschichtsverein e.V.), Kerstin Müller (Förderverein der Stadtbibliothek Chemnitz e.V.), Heidrun Funke (Notfallseelsorge, Caritasverband Chemnitz und Umgebung e.V.), Renate Zeibig (AG UNICEF Chemnitz), Lore Goldnau (AG UNICEF Chemnitz), Helga Görner (Kinder- und Jugendtelefon, AWO Chemnitz), Priska Behr (Freiwilligenzentrum, Caritasverband Chemnitz und Umgebung e. V.), Horst Süß (Chemnitz Children's and Youth Helpline, AWO Chemnitz).V.), Horst Süß (Chemnitzer Malgemeinschaft e.V.), Robert Schieck (DRK Kreisverband Chemnitz e.V.) and Hannelore Neubert (Haus der Begegnung, RAGH e.V.).
The following volunteers were honoured with the "Stadttaler" silver coin: Hans-Ullrich Buchwald, Rolf Kutzner, Ulrike Richter and Dr Thomas Schuler.
In addition to honouring the volunteers, Sabine Sieble, Chairwoman of the Citizens' Foundation for Chemnitz, will provide information on the importance of community foundations and Ina Platzer, Head of Department at the City of Chemnitz Social Welfare Office, on the topic of volunteering in the community.
The event will conclude with a guided tour of Chemnitz City Hall with tower keeper Stefan Weber.