International Volunteer Day: City honours committed Chemnitz residents
To mark International Volunteer Day, the City of Chemnitz honoured the volunteer work of Chemnitz citizens at a ceremony today. Mayor Barbara Ludwig presented twelve volunteers with the DANKE-Card of the Citizens' Foundation for Chemnitz in the City Council Chamber of the Town Hall. The long-standing commitment of seven other volunteers was honoured with an entry in the city's Golden Book.
The following citizens were honoured by the present laudators, including Christoph Magirius and Dr Ingrid Mössinger, for their entry in the city's Golden Book: Günther Gottfried Hermann Schmidt (former cantor and organist at St Peter's Church and church music director), Ingrid and Dr Stephan Scholz (Die Freunde der Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz e.V.), Ingrid Heering (Weisser Ring e.V.), Gisela Höhnel (Adelsberger Senioren e.V.), Carsten Sternkopf (Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk, Ortsverband Chemnitz), Peter Thieme (Wanderclub 1951 Chemnitz e.V.).
With the DANKE-Card, committed volunteers receive discounts and special offers at municipal facilities, clubs, institutions and organisations as well as in shops and at companies. These benefits can include discounts, vouchers or reduced admission prices, as well as discounts on educational and event programmes and one-off experiences.
The DANKE Card holders were selected and nominated by the organisations in which the volunteer works by means of a nomination form.
The following were honoured: Gisela Schindler (AWO Kreisverband Chemnitz und Umgebung e.V., Kita "Haus Sonnenschein"), Hannelore Kynast (AWO Kreisverband Chemnitz und Umgebung e.V., Sozialstation Nord-West), Rita Bayer (Caritasverband für Chemnitz u.U. e.V., assisted living), Monika Kroker (SLH Chemnitz Association, "Gleis 1" community centre), Petra Lory (Chemnitz City Library Supporters), Christine Schmidt (Stadtmission Chemnitz e.V., Arche Noah" kindergarten), Magda Goldstein (Bürgerinitiative Chemnitz City e.V.), Maik Walther (Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk, Ortsverband Chemnitz), Valentina Bermane (Internationales Engagement Chemnitz e.V.), Brigitte Heymanns (Hospiz- und Palliativdienst Chemnitz e.V.), Jens Boyens (AWO Kreisverband Chemnitz und Umgebung e.V., Children and Youth Helpline) and Günter Kuhne (SV Chemnitz/Harthau e.V.)
In addition to honouring the volunteers with a speech by Mayor Barbara Ludwig, Sabine Sieble, Chairwoman of the Chemnitz Community Foundation, spoke about the importance of community foundations. The event was accompanied by music from the municipal music school.