SESCA History

President, Lee Poppe
Vice President, Cheryl Wason
Treasurer, Bill Kiehnbaum
Director, Laura Kiehnbaum
Director, Larry Rolison
Director, JoAnn Goiffon

President, Lee Poppe
Vice President, Cheryl Wason
Treasurer, Bill Kiehnbaum
Secretary, Laura Kiehnbaum
Director, Larry Rolison

Board of Directors, 2005

President, Lee Poppe
Vice President, Cheryl Wason
Treasurer, Bill Kiehnbaum
Secretary, Laura Kiehnbaum
Director, Mark Fischer

President, Gerry Wenner
Vice President, Tom Shepard
Secretary, Diane Dietz
Treasurer, George Lang
Director, Maureen Curran
Director, Lee Poppe

In 2003, the official SESCA partnership was signed by mayors Sandy Martin of Shoreview, MN, and Philipp Bohrer of Einhausen, Germany.

Over 80 members and distinguished guests attended SESCA's first annual meeting. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were officially adopted as well as a three-year strategic plan and budget. After the Officers and Board of Directors were elected, the meeting was adjourned and a number of cultural displays, events and festivities followed.

Deutsche Facts, a cultural education software program, was demonstrated and the Honorary German Counsel General, Dr. Heino Beckman, and Dr. Penny Hill of the Germanic American Institute spoke.

Sister Cities International Mission Statement:

Sister Cities International (SCI) is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between U.S. and international communities in an effort to increase global cooperation at the municipal level, to promote cultural understanding and to stimulate economic development. SCI leads the movement for local community development and volunteer action by motivating and empowering private citizens, municipal officials and business leaders to conduct long-term programs of mutual benefit.

In the winter of 2006, a Heidelberg University student from Einhausen stayed with a Shoreview family and interned at Turtle Lake Elementary School. She is currently pursuing a teaching degree in Germany and had great experiences in Shoreview and surrounding areas!

In October, 2005, SESCA coordinated host family stays for 30 Einhausen residents. The group arrived in Chicago, IL, and traveled through Wisconsin and southern Minnesota before completing the tour with family stays in the Shoreview area. During their stay in Shoreview, the group toured St. Paul and Minneapolis, were treated to a band concert by the Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band, traveled to New Ulm and Ft. Snelling and visited several shopping malls.

A young woman from Einhausen stayed with a family from Shoreview after forming a relationship via the telephone and emails.

Two Shoreview residents visited Einhausen and other parts of Germany in 2003. While in Germany they visited Hamburg, Bremen and Cologne in northern Germany and were in Einhausen for a week. While in Einhausen, they attended the Spring Festival for the Einhausen Partnership Club and a concert by the Einhausen MusikCorps community band. Mayor Phillip Bohrer had been recently re-elected and the residents were invited to attend his installation and swearing in ceremony and reception. They attended the Maifest (May 1st) Celebration. Maifest is a national holiday and is celebrated at the Fire Department where lunch is served by the members of the Fire Department and music is provided by the community band.

Einhausen residents attended the 2003 Slice of Shoreview and were guests in the Shoreview community for approximately one month.

The 6th annual German dinner was held on March 29, 2008, at the Klub Haus in St. Paul for the second year running. Musical entertainment was provided by the Bavarian Musikmeisters, a 25 member band specializing in German cultural music. Dancing and singing ensued!

The 5th annual German dinner was held on March 31, 2007, at the Klub Haus in St. Paul. The evening's entertainment was provided by the S.G. Edelweiss dance group which specializes in Bavarian/Austrian folk dancing. Audience participation in a traditional dance and a question/answer session were part of the festivities.

The 4th annual winter dinner was held March 11, 2006 at the Germanic-American Institute's Volksfest Haus.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Gerhard Weiss, spoke about Berlin's past, present, and future and presented a lovely slide pictorial of the city at various stages of history.

Dr. Weiss is a native of Berlin but moved to the U.S. in 1946. After service in the U.S. Army, he received a BA and MA at Washington University in St. Louis and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin (Madison). Dr. Weiss has received many honors including the Bundesverdienstkreuz erster Klasse (Federal Cross of Merit, First Class) of Germany and numerous American teaching awards. Dr. Weiss is now Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota. His research interests and publications cover German literature and culture and German-American studies.

The annual SESCA winter dinner event was held March 19, 2005, at the Shoreview Hilton Garden Inn. Highlights of the event included a welcome to Shoreview and speech by Minnesota State Senator Mady Reiter. The keynote address was provided by Coleen Rowley, former FBI Special Agent and Legal Counsel, who spoke on "Balancing Civil Liberties and the Need for Effective Investigation."

The SESCA German Winter Dinner was co-sponsored by the Minnesota International Center.

The Tagesausflug included a bike ride on the Root River Trail in Lanesboro, MN, food and a Amish community tour.

The annual SESCA winter dinner was held at the Shoreview Community Center. The catered dinner included a presentation by Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Ms. Eisenhower is a member of and participates in People to People International (PTPI), an organization founded by President Eisenhower. With PTPI, Ms. Eisenhower has traveled extensively throughout many foreign countries. PTPI missions include food distribution in developing countries and cultural and humanitarian exchanges. More information can be found on PTPI’s website at www.ptpi.org.

The second annual SESCA winter dinner was held at the Winzer Stube German Restaurant in Hudson, WI.

SESCA hosted a day trip bike ride on Minnesota's scenic Root River Trail. Participants dined in German style at Das Wurst Haus German Restaurant. The Tagesausflug bike trip was sponsored by Lanesboro's Das Wurst Haus.

PARTICIPATION IN OTHER EVENTS

Slice of Shoreview, 2007

German Consul General Reception, 2007

On March 20, 2007, members of the Board of Directors for the Shoreview Einhausen Sister City Association (SESCA) attended a reception for Wolfgang Drautz, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany. The reception was sponsored by the Minnesota Chapter of the German American Chamber of Commerce. The local chapter of the German American Chamber represents about 50 companies and individuals in the area with German-American business interests. At the event, SESCA was recognized by Dr. Heino Beckmann, Honorary Consul General, and Consul General Drautz for our contributions to promoting cultural exchange and people-to-people interactions with German citizens. Consul General Drautz indicated that with the decline in American military personnel in Germany programs such as ours are becoming increasingly important for the development of cross-cultural experiences.

Slice of Shoreview, 2006

SESCA participated in the annual Slice of Shoreview by operating an informational booth.

Slice of Shoreview, 2005

SESCA participated in the 2005 annual Slice of Shoreview by operating an informational booth.

Minnesota Sister City Conference, 2004Shoreview hosted the Minnesota Sister City Conference in 2004 at the Shoreview Hilton Garden Inn. The conference included presentations on marketing through websites and communities, funding opportunities and the economic impacts of sister cities.

Heritage Fest was sponsored by the Germanic American Institute, located in St. Paul, MN. It was Minnesota's largest German celebration. Heritage Fest included non-stop music, dancing, an air-conditioned Fest Halle, ethnic food & beverages, a mini parade, Fest Keg tapping, kinderfest activities, arts and crafts, and a unique gift shop.

SESCA participated in the annual Slice of Shoreview by walking in the parade and hosting an information booth. The SESCA "AMI" softball team also played.

SESCA participated in the annual Slice of Shoreview. SESCA's parade unit featured Einhausen guests and their hosts riding quadribent bicycles. SESCA members carried official flags and banners. SESCA also sponsored "Tour de Trails," a five mile tour of Shoreview's bike trail system. There was also a community softball game between "AMI's" (SESCA's home team) and the "AUSLANDERS" (the visiting team).

Deutscher Tag was a German culture and heritage event sponsored by the Germanic American Institute. This free event included music, food and dancing.

SESCA sponsored a special event with the Ostfriesen (East Frisian) Genealogical Society of America (OSGA). OSGA is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, with a mission to promote greater understanding about the East Frisian (Ostfriesische) area in northwestern Germany. On May 18, 2008, members of OSGA demonstrated the special tea service as performed in Ostfriesland (East Frisia) including a description of the culture and history for this daily activity. Tea and traditional baked goods were also a part of this event!

Drinking tea as a form of resistance or protest? The Ostfriesians have been a tea-drinking region for hundreds of years. In 1744 this northwestern corner of present-day Germany became a part of the Prussian nation. Frederick the Great tried promoting beer brewed in his territories. However, because of their long history of shipping and the East India Company, they were accustomed to importing and drinking tea (a mixture of Assam) and would have nothing to do with the beer from Prussia.

Ostfriesland stands as one of the first countries to operate under a democratic system. Long before the Middle Ages, representatives of the various areas of the country would meet at a sacred grove to elect leaders and to make and refine their laws. This practice led to a strong sense of independence. Their rural and agricultural economy, coupled with fishing seafaring and ship-building on the North Sea, produced a proud heritage of freedom and equality.

So, yes, tea (and not just for the female Ostfriesians) is a national beverage in Ostfriesland. The custom includes cream from their dairy cattle and Kluntje, rock-sugar to sweeten the deal, not to mention the pastries and other desserts accompanying the fun!

On December 1-2, 2007, SESCA sponsored a trip to New Ulm, MN to experience German heritage available here in Minnesota. The trip included a city tour of the Hermann Monument, Holy Trinity Cathedral, sites associated with the "Dakota Conflict of 1862" and the former governor John Lind's house. Performances at the Glockenspiel and by the Narren (traditional German masking group) were seen. Other acitivites included a tour of the Schell Brewery and shopping.

Participants in the summer of 2007 trip to Einhausen, Germany, and other areas presented pictures and memories.

SESCA and CETA Tours sponsored a trip to Einhausen, Germany, and surrounding areas on June 13-29, 2007. The tour began with family stays in Einhausen with local events in town and excursions to surrounding attractions. After departing Einhausen, the participants toured the Black Forest, parts of Switzerland, Oberammergau, Munich and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The final evening was spent re-visiting our friends in Einhausen.

Shawna Ebert, daughter of David and Allecia Ebert and a 9th grader at Mounds View High School, received a scholarship from SESCA.to attend Concordia Language Camps on April 21-22, 2007. Shawna was in Level 1 German and was very excited to have the opportunity to attend the camp. The camp is a total immersion experience and a way for students to practice their language skills and learn more about the culture. The weekend was also a state competition for all German students. They competed in speech, music, video and skits for prizes. The theme for the weekend was festivals and holidays. Her German teacher at Mounds View High School was Cheryl Wason.

In May 2006, SESCA presented a video made by Gerhard Gaertner of the Einhausen Partnerschaftsverein. The travelogue was a photographic and video diary of their travels in the Midwest. In October, 2005, 30 individuals from Einhausen, Germany, visited the U.S., traveling from Chicago to Shoreview. This travelogue depicted their experiences and memories.

Shoreview-Einhausen Sister City Association

Shoreview-Einhausen
Sister City Association