For pensioners, people in need of care or people with disabilities, the social association VdK is an important support in the fight for social justice.
But the association for Oberhaching and Sauerlach is now threatened with extinction because there is no one who wants to get involved in the board of directors.
VdK boss Walter Lederwascher is deeply concerned.
Sauerlach / Oberhaching
- Walter Lederwascher is not someone who can sit still for a long time. Squatting around and solving crossword puzzles - that is not enough for the chairman of the VdK local association Oberhaching-Sauerlach in the long run. “After I retired, I wanted a job,” says the now 70-year-old. He played the zither for almost 60 years until it was no longer possible for health reasons. But what was possible: standing in front of people and giving speeches. “I like to be on stage,” he says.
No question about it: Walter Lederwascher is a doer.
He worked as a designer for bridge construction.
Grab it, plan - that is definitely his world and he has been the head of the VdK local association since 2010.
Successful: The number of members has doubled since then, currently according to Lederwascher there are exactly 555 (see box).
So he did something right: music events, readings, approaching people, but also hitting the table with his fist from time to time.
"I'm a kind of solo entertainer here in the local association."
It takes a lot of commitment and idealism
Solo entertainer is his passion and at the same time his biggest problem. When Walter Lederwascher says “solo entertainer”, he always means lone fighter. As chairman, he has tried to take care of everything so far: The Sauerlacher attends meetings of the district association and supports his treasurer Christa Quirmbach. He distributes certificates of honor, attends funerals of VdK members and maintains contact with local politics. A broad field that requires a lot of commitment and idealism. You have to want that.
The local association had a significant increase in membership under his leadership, but the interest in getting involved here tends towards zero.
The “fun society” is also to blame for this, says Lederwascher.
“It's too much for those who are still in their jobs.
The others don't want to commit themselves. ”For many people, leisure time is more important than voluntary work.
A new board is to be elected next year
It is not for nothing that the invitation to the annual general meeting, which is to take place tomorrow in the Hachinger Hof in Oberhaching, says: "We are urgently looking for honorary members for the board, so that the continued existence of the local association is secured." "15 members have already died this year," says Lederwascher. A new chairman, if not the entire board, is to be elected on April 30th next year. So time enough for someone to take over Lederwascher's position. Certainly not an easy task that you can accomplish in passing.
Support is needed.
Lederwascher naturally offers his potential successor help and support, and he would like to continue working for another four years.
“You can't get used to this area in six months.
That takes some time. ”And just sit around, that's nothing either.
Volker Camehn