What else is there to define us?

Recognition for Civic Engagement July 3, 2024 Page 1 of 2 State Secretary for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia Representative of the State to the Federal Government Ms. Ute Hannemann Invitation to Berlin on the occasion of your award within the framework of the European-Active Civil Society Dear Ms. Hannemann, as Representative of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, I would like to congratulate you most sincerely on your award within the framework of the European-Active Civil Society. Voluntary engagement holds us together as a society and is of great importance to the State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia, especially in challenging times like these. As a token of my appreciation and the appreciation of the State Government, I would like to invite you to a four-day visit to Berlin as part of the Representatives' Visitor Program. From October 21 to 24, 2024, we can welcome up to 50 outstanding volunteers from North Rhine-Westphalia to Berlin. ... I look forward to welcoming you to Berlin. Sincerely, Dr. Mark Speich

Everything began with Ernst Bayreuther (Minden) and Richard James (Sutton). At the official municipal level, the so-called Wilmersdorf Circle (Berlin-Wilmersdorf/Germany, Apeldoorn/Netherlands, Gagny/France, Gladsaxe/Denmark, Minden/Germany, and Sutton/Great Britain) was formed in 1968, and shortly thereafter, the puppeteer Richard James set off to explore the new twin town of Minden. There he met the arts teacher Ernst Bayreuther, who immediately welcomed him warmly and introduced him to the town on the Weser River. A return invitation to Sutton quickly followed, which Ernst Bayreuther and Eva Kutschera gladly accepted. Both received a warm welcome from the people of Sutton. A town twinning association (STTA) had already been established in Sutton, dedicated to cultivating friendly relations with the new twin towns. "Why doesn't Minden have a twinning association yet?" – this was the question Bayreuther and Kutschera were confronted with. They both took this to heart and, upon returning to Minden, began looking for like-minded individuals. At that time, it took seven people to found an association in Germany. These were soon found: Ernst Bayreuther, Wilhelm Gribow, Wilhelm Hucke, Ingrid Hucke, Eva Kutschera, Erich Watermann, and Monika Watermann. And so, on September 14, 1979, the GeFIS (Gesellschaft zur Förderung Internationaler Städtepartnerschaften) was officially established with the aim of fostering and developing existing and new friendly relations with Minden's twin towns, initially focusing on educational, sports, and artistic endeavors.

Our friendships. Our friendship with "The Suttoners" has existed almost as long as GeFIS itself. The troupe, led by Robert Hamilton and Shaun Hughes, makes English musicals, lighthearted and serious plays understandable and accessible to German audiences. From "Camelot" and "Oliver!" to "The Crucible", "King Lear", "The Beggars' Opera" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream", the actors have made us laugh and cry over the years. This year, they were joined by DRACULA.

Unsere Partner. Nach 28 Jahren "nix als Theater" nahm die Tucholsky-Bühne Minden die Suttoners mit offenen Armen auf, als wir einen Spielort suchten. Jetzt, zum dreißigjährigen Jubiläum, durften wir wieder dabei sein. Es ist ein sehr spezieller Ort mit einer offenen, warmen Atmosphäre (wenn es nicht gerade schüttet). Unsere englischen Freunde haben sich trotz himmlischer Dusche sehr wohlgefühlt und wir uns auch. www.tucholsky-buehne.de