Several successful sister cities exchanges have taken place over the years since the beginning of the relationship with Altenburger Land in Germany. German visitors traveling to the Western Piedmont area from Altenburger Land, have included government officials, physicians and other medical professionals, sports teams, bankers, school superintendents, judges, musicians and other artists.
2017
A Unifour delegation in company on two days during their visit of the Morganton Jazz Band‚ Centerpiece’, who gave two concerts (Burg Posterstein and Courtyard of Lindenau Museum), visited the partner region Altenburger Land in August of 2017.
Among famous landmarks in the Altenburger Land, they also visited the state of Thuringia’s most renowned medieval historic structure, the ‘Wartburg’, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located 92 miles west of Altenburg.
2016
A second visit by the commissioner Ms. Michaele Sojka took place under the motto ‘Education and Know How’, during the time of May 26-31, 2016.
The commissioner was accompanied by 3 young musicians from the Musikschule Altenburg, their music teacher Irmtraut Friedrich and the Altenburg Castle Organist Dr. Felix Friedrich, as well as the managing director of the Altenburger Klinikum Dr. Lutz Blase, who joined the delegation during his holiday with his wife. Highlights of the stay were the two over one hour performances by the musicians in the churches of Morganton and Hickory. The excellent acoustics in the churches and the extraordinary arrangements of the pieces — organ, piano, violin and accordion — made the concerts an unforgettable experience.
During the reception after the performance at Grace Chapel the commissioner awarded the long time WPSCA chairman Joachim Körner, his colleagues Mrs. Dana Lingerfelt and Mr. Oskar Dobereiner the ‘Medal for special Merit of the County’, for their outstanding commitment to the partnership between the two regions.
Also, during her stay, Ms. Sojka met among other people the mayors of Morganton and Hickory.
Another highlight was the inauguration of one of the several signs on the entrance roads of Hickory, reinforcing the mutual partnership connection between the county Altenburger Land and the Unifour.
After attending an elementary school in Newton, the commissioner reiterated her steadfast support promoting the student exchange programs in both regions.
The managing director of the Klinikum, Dr. Lutz Blase learned about the American Healthcare System during his visits of UNC Caldwell Memorial Hospital and Catawba Medical Center, and set himself the future goal of exchanging hospital trainees.
2015
With this visit the establishment of the partnership was revived – another visit of the band took place in 2015.
WPSCA chairman Joachim Körner, 8 pupils, 4 Lenoir-Rhyne University students and 2 teachers visited the district Altenburger Land.
Almost at the same time from June 28 – July 3, 2015 another Blue Grass Band “Strictly Clean & Decent” successfully performed in the county.
2014
Commissioner Michaele Sojka accompanied by the director of the Sparkasse Altenburger Land followed an invitation of the WPSCA and visited the partner region in September 2014.
2013
After almost 3 years of a ‘visit break’ the members of the Blue Grass Band ‘Carolina Wind Tour’ and the chairman of WPSCA Joachim Körner were welcomed as guests at the end of June 2013. The 7-day stay of the band became an unforgettable experience to many citizens of the Altenburger Land.
2012
On July 1, 2012 Commissioner Michaele Sojka took over the official duties in the district Altenburger Land.
2009
On the occasion of the October 2009 Financial Summit in Hickory, the commissioner and the director of the Sparkasse (like a savings- and loan bank) Altenburger Land once more spent time in the partner region.
2008
In September 2008, the English teachers of both the Wieratalschule Langenleuba-Niederhain and the Eichenbergschule Schmölln visited the partner region in order to advance the establishment of new school partnerships.
Also, during this visit the vice-president of Armaturenwerk GmbH toured Klingspor Abrasives, Inc. in Hickory.
2005
In October 2005 another visit to the partner region by the commissioner Rydzewski and members of the Administration took place.
2004
In 2004, more than 100 pieces of pottery and southern folk art from the private collection of Dr. and Mrs. Allen Huffman were loaned to the Lindenau Museum in Altenburg. An official WPSCA delegation accompanied the Huffman’s to Altenburg to oversee the pottery and folk art installation titled “Life in the South”.
From September 19 – November 14, 2004 Dr. Alan and Mrs. Barrie Huffman from Hickory presented their exhibition ‘Life in the South’ with works from their private collection ‘Southern Painting and Art’ in the Lindenau Museum. On the occasion of the opening, 5 members of the Western Piedmont Sister Cities Association stayed in the district.
2003
In 2003 the Association KONTAKT e.V. disbanded (dissolved), because the existing contacts with the partner region had become independent and the support of the association was no longer necessary. As a result of this, the Landratsamt (office of county commissioner) became our direct contact.
In the Late Spring of 2003, the president of the German-American Chamber of Commerce visited the county Altenburger Land and made it a Honorary Member of GACC.
In September 2003 the commissioner visited the partner region accompanied by the former head of the school administration, Peter Rieger, the headmaster of the Friedrichgymnasium, Frank Fache, and the student spokespersons of the Schmölln- and Meuselwitz Gymnasium (High School).
2002
A year later, in 2002, Commissioner Rydzewski accepted another invitation from the German Consul General in Atlanta to intensify contacts with the GACC.
2000
In 2000, WPSCA organized and the Hickory Museum of Art graciously hosted an exhibit of 50 pieces of unique artwork from the 1920’s and 1930’s that was generously loaned to WPSCA by the Lindenau Museum in Altenburg, Germany. The exhibit was open for 10 weeks and sixth grade students from the region had the opportunity to study the art in conjunction with their study of Europe curriculum.
Altenburg officials toured the Catawba Science Center and were so impressed by its operations that they invited its director to visit Altenburg to share his knowledge and expertise on renovating and developing similar programs for their own science center in Altenburg.
Several groups of businessmen from the Altenburger Land region have also visited multiple businesses within the Western Piedmont region over the years. They toured a variety of different businesses and spoke with economic development officials about future business investment and trade opportunities between Western Piedmont, North Carolina and Altenburger Land, Germany.
Angelika Eichhorn, Former Assistant to the Altenburger Land County Administrator, has also made several visits to the Western Piedmont region over the years to promote the Western Piedmont region and the Altenburger Land’s strong partnership. She has been hosted by many local and regional government offices and participated in various programs to learn more about their overall county operations.
In October 2000 county commissioner Sieghardt Rydzewski visited the partner region with a delegation of entrepreneurs from the district
As part of this visit, the first three months’ exhibition of the Lindenau Museum with works Conrad Felixmüller was shown in the Hickory Museum of Art and was very well attended
Right after this visit, the German Consul General Heinrich Peter Rothmann invited the Altenburg Delegation to Georgia and WPSC members to Georgia. In February 2001, the exhibition of the Altenburg Museum was shown for the second time in Atlanta. During this time, contacts were established with the German-American Chamber of Commerce (GACC).
1999
The year 1999 marked the beginning of the official school partnership between the Altenburger Lerchenberggymnasium and Hickory High School. Since, groups of students from both institutions have been visiting each other
Also, May 26 – June 1, 1999 the Kreissportbund Altenburger Land e.V. (District Sports Alliance) visits the Unifour with a delegation consisting of 13 soccer players (14-15 years old) and 5 adults for Athletic Sport Comparisons of youth representative who played against compatible age soccer teams in the Unifour area
1998
In January 1998, the new library in Hickory opened its doors and on this occasion an exhibition with typical products from the Altenburger Land: wool, coal, hand vacuum, buttons, sewing machine, work boots, playing cards (Skat) and printed posters.
The first exchanges between the administrations of both sides took place between July 27 – September 3, 1998 with Mr. David Hill, Caldwell County Human Resources Director as representative and continued February/March 1999 with Mr. Karsten Siegel, County Commissioner’s Administrative Assistant participating in the six week governmental exchange program observing local government operations in Hickory, Catawba and Caldwell Counties and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments through the Western Piedmont Sister Cities Association
In 1998, a government employee from the City of Altenburg visited the Western Piedmont region and spent several weeks working in local government offices within Catawba County, Caldwell County, The City of Hickory and The City of Morganton. Soon thereafter, a Caldwell County employee traveled to Altenburg and learned firsthand about their county’s regional operations. Later that year, a German musical group called Tippelbrueder traveled to North Carolina to perform three concerts alongside a local group of musicians called Puddingstone.
1997
English language course between May and July, 1997 with Prof. Gabriele Weinberger for those interested in the district.
A four-member delegation from Hickory including former Chairperson Mrs. Anne Davis and the concert pianist Mr. John Coffey, the first cultural ambassador of the partner region visited the county Altenburger Land in September 1997.
1996
In 1996, WPSCA sponsored a public exhibit displaying several historical artifacts from Martin Luther. Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina generously loaned WPSCA several religious paintings to be part of its historical exhibit as well. An authentic German organ concert was also held in conjunction with the exhibit.
In 1996, John Coffey, a local world-renowned pianist, represented the region as an ambassador to Altenburger Land. He accompanied an official WPSCA delegation to Altenburg and performed two concerts entitled “An American Plays Bach” at several German churches.
1995
The first contacts to Hickory by the Office of the Landrat (county commissioner) with Sister Cities took place at the beginning of 1995; in the same year the first visit of the Landrat (a.D. means außer Dienst, which means retired) and former BM (BM means Bürgermeister, which means mayor) of the city of Altenburg, Herrn Rolf Bräunig, in Hickory.
Activities with the partner “Unifour” region in North Carolina, consisting of the following four counties: Alexander,- Burke,- Catawba,- and Caldwell County since 1995.
June 1995: Return visit of eight members of the American Partner Organisation in Altenburg; this visit led up to a Mutual Letter of Intent to promote future partnerships, cooperation and meetings, especially in the fields of arts and culture, education, health and social services, churches, tourism, alongside sport and medicine, to continue this partnership on the basis (Microsoft Translator chose ‘…at the level of…) of social association
September 1995: Establishment (or foundation/founding) of the association KONTAKT e.V. (e.V. means eingetragener Verein, which means official association) in the county Altenburger Land
As a result, a wide range of activities developed:
English language course with a teacher of the Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory in May/June 1996 by Prof. Gabriele Weinberger for interested citizens of the district with active participation!
In the spring of 1996, a group of doctors traveled from Altenburg to Hickory, (Dr. Blüher, a heart surgeon and Dr. Wenneman, a cardiologist) toured Catawba Memorial Hospital and Glenn R Frye Hospital (Frye Regional Medical Center) to find out more about various hospitals in the partner region *
In March 1997 Commissioner Mr. Christian Gumprecht as the Chairman of the Association ‘KONTAKT’ revisited the befriended region for the official signing of the partnership agreement between the Unifour and the Altenburger Land.
This is the first ‘Region to Region Partnership’ under the umbrella of Sister Cities International .