The anniversary year “40 years of town twinning Rheine – Borne” came to a festive close with a celebratory event at Borner Kulturhaus
Borne/Rheine. The anniversary year “40 years of town twinning Rheine – Borne” literally ended with a bang on Friday with a wonderful festive evening at the Kulturhaus Borne. The Borner partner committee had engaged the “Bigband 89”, which gave the program a beautiful setting with a swinging sound. The town twinning association of the city of Rheine was present with 50 members and guests. The common thread running through all the speeches was the observation that the links between the two cities have grown in many areas – but should also be expanded in the future.
The event began with a seven-minute video summary of the events of the anniversary year. Gerd Cosse had documented the many encounters and provided a musical accompaniment. A successful introduction to the program that followed.
Dennis Witt moderated the event.
Dennis Wilt, meteorologist and weather presenter on Dutch television, then elegantly hosted the evening. And he found a fitting comparison to the topic right at the beginning: “Climate and weather know no boundaries either”.
Bornes Mayor Jan Pierik
Bornes Mayor Jan Pierik spoke out in favor of expanding the networks within the Euregio, which also represented an important economic area. “The hopes that the founders had when they signed the partnership agreement have been more than fulfilled.
Rheines Deputy Mayor Fabilan Lenz.
The relationships between our two cities, the connections between the people in Borne and in Rheine, have become increasingly stable, reliable and close. We are partners without borders,” said Fabian Lenz, Deputy Mayor of the city of Rheine.
Christoph Almering (2nd from right) in a small discussion round with Fabilan Lenz (right), Dennis Witt and Jan Pierik.
Euregio Managing Director Christoph Almering pointed out the importance of the European elections next year. He described the European Union as the “greatest peace project of mankind”. The 2024 European elections are about “borders that do not divide, but connect”, said Almering in an interview with Dennis Wilt.
Benno Lucas
“Today we are also thinking about the bonds of friendship and cooperation in good harmony that we have built up over the years,” said Benno Lucas, Interim Chairman of the Borner Partner Committee. Together, we have achieved many incredible milestones. Mutual appreciation also includes participation in commemorative events such as the commemoration of the events of the Nazi pogroms in Germany and the participation of Rheinenser in Liberation Day in May. In challenging times, true friendship and solidarity emerge, “and we are proud that we have supported each other through thick and thin”.
Reiner Wellmann in conversation with presenter Dennis Witt.
Reiner Wellmann, Chairman of the town twinning association Rheine, recalled the many joint encounters. One special project was certainly the “Vriendenweg”, a cycle path that connects Rheine and Borne on two different routes. The path has become very popular and the feedback has been overwhelmingly very good. The connection to Borne is extremely lively. “That’s our experience: the town twinnings are the most lively ones that are shaped by the citizens themselves,” said the Rheinenser.
This was also confirmed by Gertjan Rozendoom (left), Chairman of the Borner Committee. “It is the contacts between people that fill a town twinning with life. He appealed for the anniversary to be used as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation with renewed energy and to face up to the challenges.
And the first projects were decided on during the festive evening: A larger group of senior citizens from Borne will visit the St. Nicholas market on December 10 in Rheine and make further contacts with Rheiner senior citizens’ groups.
Benno Lucas (right) had a little surprise in store for Clemens Schöpker. He presented Schöpker with a large bouquet of flowers and congratulated him warmly. This is because Schöpker has been awarded the town’s citizens’ prize this year for his decades of work on the board of the town twinning association Rheine.
And finally, a toast to the town twinning Borne-Rheine…