Chronology

2008

May 2008 – Official visit in Nashville

Early May of 2008, the spokesman for the German-American Dialogue Center, Georg von der Gablentz, went to Nashville for an official visit. There he met with the new Mayor Karl Dean. He also met with the director of the Martha O’Bryan Center, to continue the good cooperation between them on the project of the last five years “Other Service”. With the director of the “Preston Taylor Ministries” Association he arranged for the implementation of the already sealed project Civil Service Year.

May 28th, 2008 – 5 years of city partnership Magdeburg-Nashville

On Wednesday the 28th of May, 2008, the city partnership between Magdeburg and Nashville celebrated it’s five year anniversary. At a small ceremony, the new Other Service workers for the 2008/2009 term were announced. US General Consulate Mark D. Scheland, Magdeburg’s Mayor Dr. Lutz Trümper, and Dr. Uwe Küster were among the honored guests. Jonas Tonn of Magdeburg was named as the worker for the 5th term. The ceremony also announced the start of a new city partnership project – the civil service year for young women. Along with the Other Service, this is another way to intensify the friendships between the cities. The 17 year old Magdeburger Lea Grupe was also announced to the public. She will be the first female alumna of the civil service year, and will work at Nashville’s “Preston Taylor Ministries” as a guidance counselor for youths.

June 2008 – Visit from Prof. Joel Dark and Tennessee State University students

June 11th to the 15th, 2008, Prof. Joel Dark led a student delegation from the Tennessee State University of Nashville on a return visit to Magdeburg. Prof. Joel Dark and the Nashville Students visited Magdeburg within the scope of their course “Germany and the U.S. Civil Rights Movement”. They met and attended seminars with students of the Otto-von-Guericke University. They visited the parliament of Saxony-Anhalt and spoke with Parliament President Dieter Steinecke.

June 21st, 2008 – Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir from Nashville comes to Magdeburg

The Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir from Nashville, on its European Tour, gave a concert in the Magdeburg Cathedra with the cathedral’s choir. A ceremony for over 100 participants and guests was held at the end by the German-American Dialogue Center and the Church.

July 2008

Our member Julia Küchler finished her internship with our partner organization „Sister Cities of Nashville“.

July 10th, 2008 – Relay Transfer – Other Service in Nashville

At a press conference at the “Hyde”, Maximilian Berrens, worker for the Other Service, handed over the position to the new worker Jonas Tonn. He also reported with help of photos, etc, of the work he provided during his year in Nashville.

August 2008 – Begin of the Other Service in Nashville

The new worker Jonas Tonn began his Other Service at the Martha O`Bryan Center in Nashville.

August 2008 – Goodbye Lea Grupe

On August 14th, 2008, Lea Grupe officially said goodbye. She began her civil service year at the „Preston Taylor Ministries“ in Nashville on August 25th, 2008.