Our History

1. The Beginning

Cincinnati’s culture has its roots in Europe and especially in Germany. German emigrants started to arrive in 1795 and in 1900 over 40 percent of the population came from that country. The connection with Munich began in 1853 when the “Münchener Missionsgesellschaft” generously supported the, heavily indebted, catholic community in Cincinnati. The Tyler Davidson Fountain, donated by a Cincinnati citizen and cast in Munich, has been the landmark in the center of the city since 1871. After the Second World War the German-American community in Cincinnati contributed thousands of dollars for the restoration of the “Alten Peter”and the “Frauenkirche” in Munich.

The first effort to establish a Sister City relationship between Munich and Cincinnati was made in 1951. In that year Cincinnati City Council passed a resolution to form a committee of citizens known as the Cincinnati City Affiliation Committee. The purpose of the committee was to create a connection with one or several Western European cities, and to select these cities. Based on our historical ties the committee informed City Council that it had selected Munich. The Cincinnati Mayor, Albert D. Cash, wrote to the Lord Mayor of Munich, Mr. Wimmer, informing him of this selection, and asking if Munich would be in agreement. He also suggested that a similar committee be formed in Munich.

Lord Mayor Wimmer subsequently informed Mayor Cash of Munich’s agreement and that they also had formed a committee. In spite of many smaller individual activities, this effort was not successful and no significant results were achieved.

In 1953 and 1954 another connection between Cincinnati and Munich was established by several special transatlantic Munich-Cincinnati broadcasts, aired on WLW, between Cincinnati Mayor Walton Bachrach and Munich City officials. Frederic N. Dittrich, the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Germany and publisher of the "Freie Presse", was the interpreter. The broadcast, received at Munich City Hall, was heard by German citizens on Bavarian Radio and through loudspeakers on the Marienplatz in the center of the city.

2. The Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee

In 1981 Auguste Kent, the Principal of the Tri-State German-American School, met with Munich Lord Mayor Kiesl and invited him to visit Cincinnati for the 1983 German American Tricentennial Celebration.

The unofficial Sister City partnership with Munich was revived in 1984 when a Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee was formed. The board of trustees of the committee consisted of: President Edmund Adams of the Frost and Jacob’s law firm; Vice President David P. Bitter President of the German-American Citizen League; Secretary Auguste G. Kent; Treasurer Eric A. Liebman; and Members John G. Banner, Wolfgang D. Eschenlohr and Joseph C. Kramer.

The driving force behind the 1984 revival of interest was Auguste Kent, who was born in Munich and visited her native city every year. She had enlisted Edmund Adams to head up the newly formed Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee. The Committee’s first two goals were to secure the cooperation of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and the Jewish Community Relations Council. Joseph C. Kramer, who was then the Chamber’s International Marketing Director, agreed to serve on the Committee. With the assistance of Mr. Liebman, the Jewish Community Relations Council resolved to remain neutral and not oppose the creation of a Sister City relationship with Munich.

One of the earliest examples of this renewed interest in the Cincinnati-Munich relationship was the effort of the Cincinnati Art Museum to open talks with Munich for the purpose of loaning art works to Cincinnati. As a result the exhibition "Munich Masterworks", 65 paintings of the 16th through 18th century from the "Alte Pinakothek", was seen for the first time at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

In April 1985 a delegation of the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee went to Munich and met at the Munich City Hall with Lord Mayor Georg Kronawitter and two of Munich’s City Council members. They discussed with the Munich officials the eventual formation of a formal Sister City partnership, which was to serve as a basis for increased business, educational and cultural exchanges between the two cities. The delegation consisted of: Edmund Adams and his wife Mary Louise; John P. Williams, President of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce; Joseph C. Kramer, International Marketing Director of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce; David P. Bitter, President of the German-American Citizens League and his wife Nancy; and Auguste Kent. Lord Mayor Georg Kronawitter encouraged the renewal of exchanges between the cities and proposed sending a delegation to Cincinnati.

In September 1985 two members of the Munich Parliament, Ingeborg Keyser, and Sepp Brunner, were guests of the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee for Cincinnati’s Octoberfest. Mayor Charles Luken received them.

In this year, groups seeing the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee's effort and interested in establishing their own Sister City relationships approached the Committee for guidance. That led to the creation of other Sister Cities. As of 1999 Cincinnati has seven Sister Cities. They are Gifu in Japan, Kharkiv in the Ukraine, Liuzhou in China, Nancy in France, Taipei Chien in Taiwan and Harare in Zimbabwe. In the fall of 1985 the Sister Cities Association of Greater Cincinnati was established as the umbrella organization for all of the Sister City Committees. Mr. Adams became the first Chairman of the Sister Cities Association and Mrs. Kent the Chairperson of the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee.

In September 1988 Munich Ex-Mayor Helmut Gittel visited Cincinnati together with Mr. Karl Auwärter, the official Munich City interpreter. Ex-Mayor Gittel presented a rare porcelain "Münchener Kindel" as a gift from the City of Munich. At the time of this presentation, Franz Joseph Strauss, Ministerpräsident of Bavaria, was the only other person to receive this symbol. Today the figure is exhibited in the Centennial Room in City Hall. The guests from Munich visited major industries, Procter and Gamble, Metalex, Krauss Maffei, General Electric, etc., toured Cincinnati and its surroundings, and attended several receptions.

3. The Official Sister City Relationship Is Established

In July 1989 the Lord Mayor of Munich Georg Kronawitter came to Cincinnati. Accompanying him were six key members of the Munich City Government including the three heads of the leading political parties. They were officially received by Mayor Charles Luken at City Hall and were guests at a formal dinner attended by Cincinnati City officials, leaders of the German-American community, and friends of the Sister City Association. In a whirlwind three-day tour they attended receptions at the Chamber of Commerce, at the Queen City Club and at the Celestial. They visited GE, CG&E, the Oldenberg Brewery and the "Verein der Donauschwaben". They toured urban development areas and the Greater Cincinnati Airport. All this activity paved the way for establishing an official Sister City relationship.

In September 1989 a 34-member brass band from Kraftisried, a 700-year-old village in Bavaria, came to Cincinnati to play at the Cincinnati Octoberfest. The band received an enthusiastic reception and performed at schools, colleges, and churches. During their stay they gave more than 20 concerts in and around Cincinnati. Since 1987 brass bands from Bavaria have been playing at the yearly Cincinnati Octoberfest. Every year Ute Päpke and Elmer and Jane Grossheim from the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Association have been arranging home stays for the band members as well as concerts in and around Cincinnati.

In the same month a delegation from the City of Cincinnati, consisting of Mayor Luken and members of the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee, visited Munich for the official Sister City signing ceremony in the “Alte Rathaus”. They were guests of the Lord Mayor of Munich, Georg Kronawitter, and the City of Munich for their Oktoberfest. The official signing of the Munich-Cincinnati Sister City document was on September 18, 1989. Afterwards Mayor Charles Luken and Auguste Kent entered their names in the "Golden Book" of Munich, taking their place alongside Kings, Queens, and Popes. Delegates were: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Luken; Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Adams; Mrs. Auguste Kent; Mr. and Mrs. David Bitter; Mr. and Mrs. Eric Liebman; Mr. and Mrs. Wolfgang Eschenlohr; Mr. and Mrs. John Banner; Mr. Bob Stevie; Mr. William Fackler; and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Grossheim.

In June of 1990 an 18-member delegation from Munich visited Cincinnati to sign the Munich Cincinnati Sister City document. The delegation included: the Lord Mayor of Munich, Georg Kronawitter, and his wife Dr. Hildegard Kronawitter; the Chief of Protocol, Mr. Karl Heinz Lindemeir; four Munich City council members; the President of Munich’s Jewish Community Organization, Mrs. Charlotte Knobloch; the Director of Munich’s Gasteig, Dr. Eckhard Heintz; and Mr. Karl-Heinz Schickhaus of the Richard Strauss Conservatory of Music with five of his students. Mayor Charles Luken and Lord Mayor Georg Kronawitter signed the documents on June 6 in the City Hall Council Chamber. Auguste Kent and Nancy Bitter had created a special Memorial Medallion for this occasion. Mr. Schickhaus and his students, a string quintet, performed at the official signing ceremony.

In September 1990, Ute Päpke, the Vice-Chairperson of the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee and her husband Hans flew to Munich. They visited the "Akademie der Bildenden Künste" in Munich and initiated a student and faculty exchange program between the Cincinnati Arts Academy and the "Akademie der Bildenden Künste". Also at this time the groundwork was laid for the planned "Cincinnati Week" in Munich and various businesses were contacted.

Exchanges between high school teachers, administrators, and students were started in late 1990. They were initiated and organized by Alice Thom from the Hamilton County Board of Education. The first group of 6 teachers from Munich visited between Christmas and New Year of that year.

For 1991 Auguste Kent and Ute and Hans Päpke had planned a "Cincinnati Week" in Munich. "Desert Storm" led to a postponement of these plans until 1992. The "Cincinnati Week" in Munich, from May 31 to June 7, was the highlight for 1992. Mayor Dwight Tillery and Quentin Davis, Cincinnati’s Director of Economic Development, joined 127 Cincinnatians in visiting Munich. The delegation included representatives from 14 companies who planned to explore new markets, 54 students from the School of Creative and Performing Arts plus their teachers, as well as Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Association members. The students gave two memorable performances in "the Karl Orf Saal" of the Gasteig, Munich’s cultural center. The audience included Cincinnati Mayor Dwight Tillery along with Munich City officials.

An elaborate display entitled "Cincinnati Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow”, designed, built and installed by Hans Päpke, was opened in the "Kassenhalle" at City Hall and was viewed by approximately 40,000 people. The display included a panoramic photomontage of the City of Cincinnati’s Bicentennial Celebration and displays from the Convention and Visitors Center, the Museum Center, the Art Society, as well as several Cincinnati businesses.

A month long display of exquisite Quilts, collected and arranged by Jane Grossheim, was opened in the Amerika Haus. Cincinnatian Conny Sullivan exhibited her photographic lightbox art at Munich’s distinguished Museum of Photography. For the business people display space was provided at the Gewerbehof. Agreement was reached between Old St. Mary’s in Over-the-Rhine and the “Alten Peter” in Munich to become Sister Parishes. The Cincinnati Committee for the Historical Preservation of Old St. Mary’s church presented a plaque to the “Alten Peter” to commemorate this event. Culinary events were featured, with Cincinnati chili prepared by Georg Fraundorfer from the Cincinnati Black Forest Restaurant, and Cincinnati pastry favorites baked by Gary Gottenbusch from Servatiis.

A group of 54 dancers, singers and musicians from Vagen in Bavaria came to Cincinnati from October 22 to 26, 1992. They performed at the Seasongood Pavilion, at the Oldenberg Brewery "Festhalle" and at Old St. Mary’s in Over-the-Rhine.

On October 20, 1992 the Chairperson of the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee, Auguste Kent, passed away following a car accident. This loss of the driving force of the Committee was deeply felt. As if having a premonition of her death, Mrs. Kent had asked Ute Päpke to take care of her funeral arrangements together with Mrs. Kent’s son Christopher. Her accomplishments were eulogized in a "Tribute to Auguste G. Kent", held on November 1, 1992 in the Hamilton County Memorial Hall. In addition to her family, Mayor Dwight Tillery and city officials, representatives of the Cincinnati German-American community, business and community leaders plus many of her friends and associates were in attendance.

4. The Munich Sister City Association of Greater Cincinnati (MSCAGC)

In December 1992 Hugo Schuhmacher was asked to be Interim Chairperson of the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee, with Ute Päpke Interim Vice-Chairperson, Larraine Freeland Interim Secretary and Eric Liebman Interim Treasurer. At this time the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee considered that they should become a separate entity, while still remaining under the Sister City Association umbrella, but having their own constitution and bylaws. Mr. Joe Goins was chairman of the committee to draw up the bylaws and Articles of Incorporation for the Munich Sister City Association of Greater Cincinnati (MSCAGC).

On March 15th 1993, following the acceptance of the new constitution, the MSCAGC held elections. The new officers were: Wilhelm Gottenbusch, President; Ute Päpke, Vice-President; Richard Herrlinger, Secretary; and Thomas Burger, Treasurer. A half-yearly Newsletter was published with Hugo Schuhmacher, Editor, and Neil Billman, Co-Editor.

1993 was the first year of Munich’s participation in Cincinnati’s annual Ault Park Flower Show in April. The Munich Park Board created an authentic alpine pasture, showed a video of Munich’s parks and gardens and demonstrated the art of flower arranging. All materials and flowers used for their display were brought from Munich, as at that time they were not available in Cincinnati. Since then the Munich Park Board has regularly participated in the Ault Park Flower Show with most flowers now also available in Cincinnati.

Five teachers from Munich schools visited Hamilton County schools in April 1993. A reciprocal visit of five Cincinnati teachers to Munich took place in June-July 1993.

In connection with the start of Delta Airlines inaugural direct flight to Munich, Munich’s Lord Mayor Georg Kronawitter and his wife Dr. Hildegard Kronawitter, came to Cincinnati June 1, 1993 for a two day visit. They were accompanied by the Chief of Protocol, Karl Heinz Lindemeir. Following a reception at City Hall with Mayor Dwight Tillery, they toured the city and met with business and banking people.

On March 27, 1994 six teachers from Munich visited Cincinnati for two weeks as part of the 1994 Cincinnati-Munich Teacher Exchange Program.

June 26 to 27, 1994 the MSCAGC was represented in Cincinnati’s "Day at Eden" with a booth serving authentic Bavarian "Wurst mit Salat". Helga Bucher, Principal of the Tri State German-American School, coordinated this effort.

For the Cincinnati Octoberfest in September 1994 a 14-member brass band from Ruderatshofen in Bavaria visited the city. In addition to their performance at the Octoberfest, they played in Columbus, Ohio, at Old St. Mary's in Over-the-Rhine, in parks and in several restaurants.

From September 17 to 25, 1994 a delegation of 20-members of the MSCAGC, headed by Wilhelm Gottenbusch, President of the MSCAGC, made a working visit to Munich. They were greeted by Lord Mayor Christian Ude. The US Consul General Patrick J. Nichols gave a reception for the group in the Amerika House. In establishing a close relationship between Cincinnati and Munich, the assistance of Munich’s Chief of Protocol, Karl Heinz Lindemeir, was particularly helpful.

During this visit Tom Burger established contacts with the President of the Munich Bar Association Dr. Wieland Horn to discuss the possibility of a lawyers’ exchange program with an objective to build bridges between the members of these two legal communities. Together with Joe Goins and Ute Päpke, he met with officials of the US Department of Commerce in Munich, as well as the Munich Chamber of Commerce, providing information on 15 local companies that have shown an interest in exporting to Munich. Ute Päpke, the Vice President of MSCAGC, met with organizers of the Munich Oktoberfest and with officials of the "Akademie der Bildenden Künste" in Munich. Dr. Kathy Wedig-Stevie, from the Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati and MSCAGC Membership Co-Chair, visited two Munich hospitals to explore the possibility of medical student exchanges. These contacts led to an active medical student exchange program. Bill Graves, Paul Tenkotte, and Bob Stevie visited Eichstätt University which started the University Student Exchange Program with Xavier University andThomas More College.

5. Activities Since 1995

In March 1995 a new board was elected with Ute Päpke as President, Thomas Burger as Vice-President, Ann Day as Secretary, and Barbara Gloeckner as Treasurer.

The student and teacher exchange picked up steam with 8 Cincinnati area students visiting Munich and 15 Munich students visiting with Cincinnati host families. The fifth teacher exchange between the Hamilton County Board of Education and the Munich School System saw 6 teachers from Munich's primary, secondary, and vocational schools visiting Cincinnati from April 8 to April 21, 1995. The primary purpose of these visits was to expose the participants to American family life and acquaint them with the school system of the host country.

Three students from the University of Cincinnati's International Engineering Program were placed in co-op jobs in Munich.

In April 1995 a delegation of 10 Cincinnati lawyers visited Munich. This organized visit by a group of Cincinnati lawyers resulted from the joint efforts of the Cincinnati Bar Association and the MSCAGC. The Cincinnati delegation reciprocated by hosting a group of Munich attorneys in Cincinnati during the week of October 9, 1995. This was the first time that lawyers from Munich had met with their counterparts in Cincinnati. In seminars and private discussions differences and similarities between lawyers and the practice of law in Munich and Cincinnati were explored.

In May 1995, the MSCAGC arranged a trip for students of the Musical Theater Showcase of the University of Cincinnati to Munich. The group of 10 dancers and singers gave performances at the Amerika Haus and at the Bavarian State "Musik Hochschule".

In June 1995, two faculty members of the Art Academy of Cincinnati and a student participated in an art exchange with the "Akademie der Bildenden Künste", Munich’s Academy of Fine Art. They exhibited "Works on Paper" consisting of 26 works by 17 students from the Academy.

From September 13 to 17, 1995 a 32-piece band from Kraftisried, a small village outside of Munich, visited Cincinnati and played during Cincinnati's Octoberfest. They also performed during the German Mass at Old St. Mary's in Over-the-Rhine and gave several concerts in parks and restaurants.

In September 1995, Prof. Dr. Henning Wiesner, Munich’s Zoological Director and Erwin Kufer, Managing Director of the Münchener Tierpark Hellabrunn (Munich's Zoo), visited the Cincinnati Zoo. The visit was arranged by MSCAGC’s Bill Gottenbusch. They were impressed by the quality of the Cincinnati Zoo, especially the Insectarium and the Jungle Trails.

The highlight of the year was the visit to Cincinnati by the Lord Mayor of Munich, Christian Ude, and his wife, Edith von Welser-Ude, from October 15 to 21, 1995. The Munich visitors were hosted by the Cincinnati Department of Economic Development, the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and the MSCAGC. The Munich delegation consisted of government officials, lawyers, business people, singers, authors, students and teachers, a crew from the Bavarian Television, and the Bavarian Promotional Pool (tourism). The Lord Mayor also brought his own entourage to wine, dine, and entertain his Cincinnati counterparts. The visitors were greeted at the airport by Cincinnati's Mayor Roxanne Qualls. They were guests at a luncheon given by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and visited the Tall Stacks Celebration. Mayor Qualls hosted the Lord Mayor and his entourage on a dinner cruise on board the Paddle Wheeler, Harriet Bishop, and presented the Lord Mayor with a key to the City of Cincinnati as well as an original "Tall Stacks" painting by Strowbridge.

Members of the Bavarian Promotional Pool (Munich Airport, Munich Hotels, Munich's Tourist Office, and various Munich travel agencies) conducted a workshop at the Omni Hotel for the tourism industry of Greater Cincinnati. At Thomas More College a panel of Munich business and community leaders, journalists and labor officials discussed "Doing Business in Germany", analyzing the new business climate and emerging economic trends. The 12-member Munich business delegation was comprised of small business owners and investors looking for opportunities to spark new economic relationships. Cultural activities took place at the Goethe Institute and a photo exhibit was displayed at C.G. & E's downtown building.

On October 16, 1995 the Munich Lord Mayor hosted a banquet at the Omni Netherland Pavilion Hall. Over 300 guests including officials from Cincinnati's city government, and members of the education, law, economic development, business, tourism, and German-American communities were treated to an evening of food and entertainment. The guests were served a gourmet meal with imported German beer and wine, and were entertained by the "Menzinger Stuben Sänger", presenting a selection of old Bavarian folk music, and by Cincinnati’s Pete Wagner Orchestra.  The "Sänger Gruppe" also performed at Old St. Mary's in Over-the-Rhine and at various restaurants. A Bavarian television crew filmed the activities for a documentary about Cincinnati. The visit showed that the cultural connections started by the Cincinnati-Munich Sister City Committee in the late 80's had progressed to creating economic development opportunities and business relationships for both Munich and Cincinnati.

Early 1996 the University of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky University signed a student and teacher exchange agreement with the "Ludwig-Maximillian Universität" which is the leading University in Munich. The MSCAGC was instrumental in establishing the initial contacts between the Universities during visits to Munich in previous years.

In April 1996 the Munich Park Board participated in the annual Cincinnati Flower Show in Ault Park. The Munich entry, called "The Munich Garden-Urban Atmosphere and Landscape", was a prize-winning design, and won wide acclaim among the visitors. Elke Kammerer, a professional of the Munich Park Board, gave flower arrangement workshops. Heribert Eichberger, a well known Munich expert, was a judge at the flower show.

In April 1996, five Munich photographers came to Cincinnati and participated in a photography exhibition at the Aaronoff Centers Weston Gallery called "Seen and Unseen".

Also in 1996 the MSCAGC sponsored high school and university student and teacher exchanges, an art teacher exchange, a visit of Munich’s school superintendent and the first police officer exchange.

In the spring of 1996, at the recommendation of Ute Päpke, the Senior Executive for International Business of Hofbräuhaus Brewery, Maximilian Erlmeier, came to Cincinnati to explore business possibilities for his company.

On October 7, 1996, Mayor Roxanne Qualls and a group of 55 government and education officials, business leaders and MSCAGC members started on a very successful, week-long, trip to Munich. Lord Mayor Christian Ude greeted the group at the airport. Mayor Qualls presented a gift of 52 pairs of "Walking Sticks” to the City of Munich for the Munich Zoo, and hosted a dinner prepared by Chef Kinsella from the Cincinnati State College Culinary Institute. The purpose of the trip was to open doors for Munich companies looking for opportunities in Cincinnati and for Cincinnati businesses interested in selling their products in Germany. Formal presentations were made to the Munich Tourism Board. Cincinnati Economic Development Department executives visited the Munich's famous Hofbräuhaus which is interested in establishing a "Restaurant und Biergarten” in downtown Cincinnati. Informative meetings were held with Munich companies interested in starting or expanding operations in Cincinnati, and Munich distributors were found for two Cincinnati companies.

The MSCAGC was instrumental in working out a cooperation agreement between the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and the Munich's "Musik Hochschule" which will provide the basis for the exchange of students, faculty and performing ensembles between these two internationally recognized schools.

Under the leadership of Ute Päpke, the President of MSCAGC, and her Board and Committees, there now are active exchange programs for students, faculty, and administration between:

• The Universities of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with the "Ludwig Maximillian Universität" in Munich.

• Xavier University and Thomas More College with the "Katholische Universität" in Eichstätt.

• The Cincinnati State College Culinary Arts Program with the Bavarian "Hotel Fachschule".

• The Cincinnati Art Academy with the "Akademie der Bildenden Künste" in Munich.

In April 1997, a new board was elected with Ute Päpke as President, Max Keck as Vice President, Ann Hemmer as Secretary, and Barbara Gloeckner as Treasurer.The Munich Park Board participated in the annual Cincinnati Flower Show in Ault Park with exhibits and flower arranging workshops in April 1997.

On May 1, 1997 the MSCAGC and the Bavarian Ministry Office for Economic Affairs with the help of the Export Assistance Center of the US Department of Commerce and the State of Ohio Department of Development conducted a seminar on "Doing Business in the State of Bavaria, Germany". Presentations were made by government and business leaders from both countries covering legal issues, research, marketing, partnerships, investments, shipping and customs. This business seminar was held at the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Services. It was a tremendous success with well over 30 Cincinnati companies represented.

During the last several years the MSCAGC has made a special effort to augment the cultural activities and exchanges with development of business ties between Bavaria and the Cincinnati region. An Economic Development Committee chaired by Ute Päpke was established. That this effort benefits all people living in the Tri State Region and is not restricted to the German-American community was recognized by the City of Cincinnati by appointing Ute Päpke Economic Business Development Consultant for the City to further intensify business relations with Germany.

In October and November 1997 noted Cincinnati Photographers exhibited their works at the Amerika Haus in Munich. The exhibition called "Seen and Unseen" provided an opportunity for a visual dialogue between Europe and the US on how artists perceive the world differently.

In September 1997 a 16-piece Band from Bad Bayersoien, a small village south of Munich, visited Cincinnati and played during Cincinnati's Octoberfest. They also performed at Old St. Mary's in Over-the-Rhine, and gave several performances in parks and restaurants.

Karin Ludwig, a representative from the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, visited Cincinnati in September 1997 to scout out sites for a possible Hofbräuhaus brewery, restaurant and "Bier Garten". The company is interested in a location on the riverfront, in the development project which will be built next to the new football stadium Hofbräuhaus beer was served in a special German beer tent during this year's Cincinnati Octoberfest. Hofbräuhaus beer is now being distributed by the Heidelberg Distribution Company in the Tristate.

During 1997 the MSCAGC arranged student and teacher exchanges, university level exchanges, attorney and police exchanges plus medical, law and business internships.

In February 1998 the MSCAGC conducted a seminar in Munich on "How to do Business in the USA". This was a follow up of the successful seminar conducted in Cincinnati May 1997. The seminar was led by Ute Päpke the President of the MSCAGC. The purpose of the seminar was to inform potential German investors from Munich and the State of Bavaria how to do business in Cincinnati and the State of Ohio. All presentations were made by experts from the US.

In April 1998 the Munich Park Board participated in the annual Ault Park Flower Show for the fifth year in a row. Professionals from the Park Board took part in the "Dramatic Table Setting" Competition and the "Professional Florist" competition. Helmut Ammer, the Director of the Munich Park Board, talked about the Munich park system and the ecological importance of these parks to the City of Munich and the surrounding areas. Mr. Ammer also met with Jack Wilson, the Director of the Cincinnati Parkboard to finalize plans for Munich's participation in the future "Theodore M. Berry Park" slated for the area east of the boathouse on the Cincinnati riverfront.

For the Munich leg of the 4th annual Lawyers Exchange Program, 10 Cincinnati attorneys and their families traveled to Munich in June 1998. For the Cincinnati leg about 20 Munich lawyers and their families traveled to Cincinnati in September 1998. One of the unique experiences of the exchange is living with host families. By living together participants are able to communicate and learn on a very personal basis. This results in an increased understanding of the differences in the two countries’ legal systems. They share information and perspective as well as build lasting friendships.

In May 1998 the Hofbräuhaus in Munich signed a letter of intent which states that the first Hofbräuhaus in the USA will be built in Cincinnati. Their site of choice is the riverfront and the possible time frame for opening is the year 2001. Hofbräuhaus beer was served in a special German beer tent during this year's Cincinnati Octoberfest, which was artistically decorated by Hans Päpke and his volunteers.

A Certificate of Appreciation, signed by Munich's Lord Mayor Ude was presented to the Citizens of Cincinnati which states "in recognition of the service of the Citizens of Cincinnati to preserve the Bavarian tradition and hospitality, the City of Munich assumes the role of godparent for the Octoberfest Cincinnati".

In April 1999, a new board was elected with Dr. Max Keck as President, Ingrid Thomas as Vice President, Nada Huron as Secretary, and Ann Hemmer as Treasurer.

6. The 10th Anniversary

At the annual meeting of the MSCAGC in March four Officers were elected to head the Association for the next two years. President: Dr. Max Keck. He has served as Vice President for the past two years, in addition to serving as “Chairman, University Level Exchanges” for the Association. Presently Dr. Keck is Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Xavier University Vice President: Ingrid Thomas. She has been associated with the MSCAGC for many years serving on various committees. Mrs. Thomas presently serves on the “High School Student Exchange Committee” and represents the Association at the overall Sister City Association of Greater Cincinnati. Mrs. Thomas is a Research Assistant at the University of Cincinnati’s Medical Center, Dept. of Surgery. Secretary: Nada Huron. She has been associated with the MSCAGC for four years participating in many different activities. Ms. Huron presently represents the Association at the overall umbrella Sister City Association of Greater Cincinnati. Ms Huron is a secretary at the Children’s Hospital Research Foundation. Treasurer: Ann Hemmer. She served as Secretary of the MSCAGC since 1996. Ms. Hemmer is Senior Assistant Manager at First Star Bank, Court Street office in Cincinnati.

Due to the efforts of Hans Päpke, a Cinergy, employee and MSCAGC member, the Association has received a Grant in the amount of $1,000 from the Cinergy Foundation Volunteer Incentive Grant Program for general operating support. Five officials from Munich, Germany, participated in the annual Ault Park Flower Show April 21 - 25. Leading the group was Mr. Horst Haffner, Munich City Council Member. He represented Munich Lord Mayor Christian Ude and participated in the Ault Park opening ceremonies. One of the purposes of Mr. Haffner’s trip was to finalize the plans for the participation of the City of Munich in “The International Friendship Park” which is to be located east of the Boathouse on the Ohio river front. Munich is willing to invest more than $100,000 for a pavilion in the park. Four members of the Munich Park Board participated in the Flower Show. They were led by the Director of the Park Board Mr. Helmut Ammer. Manning the German Flower Show Booth were Uli Rauh, Park Board City Planner and Landscape Architect, Mrs. Elke Kammerer, Park Board Supervisor and Mrs. Simon, also from the Park Board. The Munich Park Board flower display was part of the Market Place Pavilion Tent. Diverse themes were represented in this tent such as a small brew pub and a street of shops offering cut flowers. As part of this street atmosphere, the German Park Board created an authentic “German Flower Market” with diverse inventories of fresh flowers, potted plants and accessories presented in a beautifully decorated market atmosphere. The Munich Park Board participants were available for consultation concerning flower arrangements and floral accessories. For the Cincinnati Octoberfest in September a 15-member band named “Bernbach Musikanten Blaskapelle” came from Bavaria. The band performed during the Opening Ceremonies for the Oktoberfest, and during each festival day. They also performed in Cincinnati Parks and at Old St. Mary's Church. Arrangements for German bands to perform at the Octoberfest each year have been made by Elmer & Jane Grossheim, long-time members of the MSCAGC.

During the opening ceremonies for the Octoberfest Dr. Richard Schade, Honorary Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, presented the “Verdienst Orden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland” to Ute Päpke, a local Cincinnati resident. The “Verdienst Orden” is the highest civilian award from the German Government given only to a few people world wide who further a better understanding of Germany and German Culture in a significant way Ute Päpke was born in Hildesheim, Germany. She came to the U.S. in 1957 when her father joined a U. S. company. In 1961 she became a U.S. citizen. She is a translator, interpreter, and consultant for the Economic Development Department of the City of Cincinnati. Besides volunteering at the Cincinnati Symphony Music Hall, The Art Academy, Thomas More College and the Oktoberfest - Zinzinnati Committee, she has been a long-time member of the MSCAGC. She served as President from 1996 -1999 and is now Chairperson of the Committee on Committees and of the Economic Development Committee. The celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the official Sister City relationship took place in Munich October 2 – 6. A delegation of 134 people headed by Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls and Association President, Dr. Max Keck attended the ceremonies. The group consisted of government officials, educators, business executives, students and association members. The official Sister City relationship was established in July 1989 in Cincinnati and signed on September 18th in Munich. The massive amount of arrangements and scheduling for the trip were under the capable direction of Ute Päpke, immediate Past President of the Munich Association. In Munich many meetings and discussions were held by the delegation participants to further business, governmental, educational, cultural and exchange activities between Munich and Cincinnati. A 38 member choir from Xavier University in Cincinnati, led by Dr. Helmut Roehrig entertained at various locations throughout Munich during the Anniversary Celebration and performed for the guests at the dinner given by Lord Mayor Christian Ude of Munich. Members of the Choir are students at Xavier University, one of the oldest and best known Jesuit Universities in the U.S. The Choir has previously performed in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Their repertoire includes spiritual and secular composers from the Renaissance to the present. A banquet given by Mayor Qualls was arranged by Wilhelm Gottenbusch, owner of Servatii Pastry Shops and Georg Fraundorfer, owner of The Black Forest Restaurant. They presented an “American” dinner, complete with salad & stone crab, pumpkin soup, steak with corn, paprika and baked potato, topped off with a dessert of bread pudding with Kentucky Bourbon sauce. The over 200 German and American guests attending the banquet were entertained by 6 students from the Northern Kentucky University Tour Troupe accompanied by pianist Sergei Polusmiak and directed by Dennis Davenport. In addition to the meetings and banquets, the delegation was treated to a city tour of Munich that included a visit to the Nymphenburg Palace, King Ludwig’s summer Palace. On the last day of the Oktoberfest, reserved seats for over 100 delegation participants were provided by Hofbräu at their busy "Festzelt". Mayor Qualls and Lord Mayor Christian Ude joined the group to participate in the grand celebration. During the year teachers and students at both the high school and university levels participated in the annual exchange programs between Munich and Cincinnati arranged by the MSCAGC. Cincinnati attorneys visited Munich as a part of the Association's Attorney Exchange Program. Internships were arranged by the MSCAGC for medical students and government and business people.