Edith Peter is the new chairwoman of the Geretsried-Chamalières partnership.
The 67-year-old, former pastor's secretary and former SPD city councilor replaces Gerhard Meinl, who led the association for 16 years.
Geretsried - Because the annual meeting planned for January 22 had to be canceled due to the lockdown, the members elected the new board by post.
Out of 79 votes cast (out of 107 members), 77 went to the previous secretary Edith Peter.
Her deputy is Thomas Schmid, the new secretary is Vera Kraus.
Peter Taubert remains the treasurer.
Our employee Tanja Lühr spoke to Edith Peter about your goals and the future of the association.
Ms. Peter, how long have you been with the partnership and how did you get there?
Edith Peter:
I've been very Francophile from my youth.
During my Romance and English studies, I spent a few semesters abroad in Bordeaux.
There I learned French literature and history, to love culture and people.
By the way, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing had just become president at the time.
Back in Geretsried we had a French neighbor.
I heard about the partnership association from him and was immediately interested.
Together with my husband, who has since passed away, I joined.
He played tuba and trombone and was actively involved in musical exchanges with the Orchester d'Harmonie Chamalières.
After the death of the former mayor Heinz Schneider, I became his successor in the partnership committee, the extended board of the association, to which the incumbent mayor, the cultural advisor and other selected persons belong.
As my two children grew up, I became more and more involved in the town twinning.
I translated when the former managing director Yvette Sauer was unable to attend, and I made friends with Marie-Christine Béraud, the chairwoman of the partnership committee in Chamalières, and my resolute hostess Christiane.
Well, and now I have agreed to take over the chairmanship of the association.
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Edith Peter is the new chairwoman of the Geretsried-Chamalières partnership.
© Hans Lippert
These are the best prerequisites - especially because you speak French very well.
Edith Peter:
You know, language skills are helpful, but they are often overrated.
For example, my predecessor Gerhard Meinl, although he speaks a little French, speaks almost exclusively in English with his friend Louis Giscard d'Estaing (the mayor of Chamalières, editor's note).
Even when I visit each other, I always notice that after a short time you get on brilliantly without any language skills.
So that shouldn't be a barrier at all if someone wants to join our club.
At the moment, however, the club cannot do much due to the corona-related restrictions in both countries.
Edith Peter:
That is correct and very regrettable.
Some of the members keep in touch with their friends in Auvergne via email, Facebook, WhatsApp or - like me - by phone.
The Chamalièrers are wild on Facebook.
There is an intensive exchange of news.
A video conference with the committee in Chamalières is planned for the near future.
We will consider together what other meetings could take place this year.
The French were actually invited to the Festival of Cultures last spring as part of the Geretsried city anniversary. Should this be made up for in some form?
Edith Peter:
It would have been nice if a delegation could have come on May 1st this year.
The May festival with the setting up of the trees in the early morning would have been a lot of fun for the French.
But due to the uncertain situation we rejected this idea again.
There's no point in making grand plans right now.
First of all, the number of infections has to decrease significantly, or most of us should be vaccinated.
We hope to see our friends in late summer.
And what are your goals as chairman after the pandemic?
Edith Peter:
The student exchange, for me one of the most important pillars of the partnership, should continue as successfully as before.
In addition, I would like to involve the population on both sides even more in the town twinning.
Perhaps Geretsried could also publish a kind of newsletter like Chamalières.
Every week you can find out what's going on in the city, which events are taking place and what the clubs are offering.
Otherwise, I would like to develop new ideas together with my fellow board members here and over there as well as with the mayors.
I see myself as a team worker, and we're a great, motivated team!
valley
Read also: Mourning in Chamalières: Valéry Giscard d'Estaing is dead
