Dear Members and Friends of the Houston-Leipzig Sister City Association,
Greetings and best wishes for the New Year from your 2014 President!
2013 was an exciting year under the leadership of Ute Eisele with highlights of our 20th anniversary celebration and the visit of the St. Thomas Choir. Ute, thank you for your efforts and devotion to our association.
2014 already has an important highlight: the 25th anniversary of the peace and prayer marches in Leipzig that led a month later to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism in former Eastern Germany. As you are planning your travel for 2014, please mark October 9 as an important date to be in Leipzig. We are planning an inspiring program around this day with the help of our partner organization in Leipzig. On the anniversary day itself, we will participate in the official program with the City of Leipzig. A few days before and after October 9, we will visit attractions in Leipzig not included in previous programs, mingle with our Leipzig friends, and re-visit places that we love. More information will follow soon. Nevertheless, plan to be in Leipzig at that time.
In Houston, we are planning inspiring events, too. Right off in January and in February our meetings will not be in our regular venue.
On January 14, which is a Tuesday, we will meet at 6:00 p.m. at the Houston Grand Opera for a Backstage Tour. Of course, we had to adjust to the work schedule and the timing of the Opera and the officials to make this event possible. Please, note this day and time.
The scene behind the scene of our opera is fascinating. I am particularly happy that in addition to the tour, the Dramaturg of the Houston Grand Opera Mena Hanna will speak to us and will also address the big event of Houston Grand Opera, the performance of Wagner’s Ring, the crowning of every opera house and a first time production of the Houston Grand Opera. The event at the opera takes about one hour, thereafter we will meet in a private room in a restaurant in walking distance; details will follow.
In February, we will enjoy another of the wonderful events at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston with our Board Member Dr. Helga Aurisch. This time we will meet at our regular day, February 20, the third Thursday in the month. Dr. Aurisch will take us into the world of French Impressionism, which is a great extension ofwhat we learned previously about the German Impressionists. More information will follow, please note the date.
I hope you like the start into our new program year and that we will have many interesting and informative get-togethers. We are a membership organization and should concentrate on what our members enjoy. Please let us know it you have special requests and we will follow up your suggestions for our program planning.
Last but not least, on this New Year’s day, I wish you a healthy, prosperous, and peaceful New Year,
Wolfgang Schmidt
2014 President
Houston-Leipzig Sister City Association
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