Inspiring people: Maria Hodes is the new head of the Vhs branch in Poing
Created: 09/17/2022, 06:30
By: Armin Roesl
Maria Hodes has been in charge of the Vhs branch in Poing since the beginning of September.
© Armin Roesl
As a teenager, Maria Hodes delivered Vhs programs in her home community, now the 43-year-old runs the Poing branch herself.
She wants to inspire people.
Poing – As a teenager, Maria Hodes delivered program booklets from the adult education center (Vhs) and hung up posters in Poing – her boss was Hildegard Petschik.
After more than 30 years in the service of the Vhs, she recently retired. Maria Hodes has been her successor as head of the Poing branch since the beginning of September.
"It's a great house and a wonderful job," says the 43-year-old after her first two weeks on the job.
And that in her own home community, where she grew up and has worked in the bilingual day care center of Kinderland for the last few years.
Where she knows a lot of people and where she feels comfortable.
Where she would like to listen to find out "what courses might interest the Poingers".
Poing: Vhs branch office for decades
Organizing and coordinating courses is one of the most important tasks for the pedagogue.
She is supported in this by Barbara Ehrenstorfer.
Wait a minute: Vhs branch Poing?
Poing has an adult education center?
"Many people don't know that there is a Vhs here," says Maria Hodes of conversations.
The title page of the program booklet only says "Volkshochschule Vaterstetten eV" - so that at first glance no connection to Poing can be made.
For decades, the Vhs main office in Vaterstetten has had (the only) branch office in Poing, which was managed by Hildegard Petschik from February 1, 1987 to the end of August 2022.
(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Ebersberg newsletter.)
In addition to the municipality of Poing itself, the branch also includes Anzing and Pliening.
In the current autumn/winter semester, a total of 161 courses are being held at various locations, reports Hodes.
The Vhs building at Friedensstraße 5, which opened in 2001, is the central location for administration and for many courses.
The courses at the head office in Vaterstetten are added to the overall programme.
Its member communities are Anzing, Grasbrunn, Pliening, Poing, Vaterstetten and Zorneding.
Info day on September 24th
The Vhs branch office in Poing (Friedensstrasse 5) is organizing an information day on Saturday, September 24th.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the rooms in the Vhs house can be visited, you can register for courses or make wishes for the summer semester.
Interested parties who want to offer a course themselves are also welcome at the information day, says director Maria Hodes.
Just like everyone who just wants to stop by for a coffee and/or a chat.
Back to Poing: health courses are the most popular, says Maria Hodes.
Of course, the offer is varied according to a Vhs, including art seminars, language courses etc. As in general, the courses are mainly attended by women, reports the director and adds with a little smile: "We will try to get more men in." Example with the seniors, for whom there is a separate yoga course.
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Not only to find out what interests the Poingers, but another important task for them is: "a lot of human interaction," says Hodes.
Talk to people, make contacts, also with other clubs and organizations.
"Show your presence," she says.
And at the same time motivate people to offer courses at the Vhs themselves.
"The nice thing about the Vhs is that enthusiastic people pass on their knowledge and inspire other people."
You can find more current news from the district of Ebersberg at Merkur.de/Ebersberg.
