As of: March 1, 2024, 5:02 p.m
By: Peter Schiebel
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This is how it is known in Starnberg: Helmut Kilian (with colleagues at the presentation of the 2019 program) has made the seniors' meeting a respected and popular institution.
He will stop in the middle of the year - and what will happen next is still unclear.
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The future of the Starnberg seniors' meeting is more uncertain than ever.
On Wednesday, March 13th, the Caritas Association invites you to an information afternoon about the current situation.
Chairman Jan-Peter Schacht wants to fight for its preservation with everything possible.
Starnberg
– There is even a successor.
If Helmut Kilian quits as head of the Starnberg seniors' club on June 30th of this year after three decades, then a woman would like to take over the position, which Jan-Peter Schacht, the chairman of the Starnberg Caritas Association, raves about in the highest tones.
“That’s a great woman,” he says.
“We are all really excited about it.” Things could continue seamlessly at Hanfelder Strasse 5 for the thousand or so seniors who use the service every year – if there wasn’t one big problem: the Caritas Association is lacking staff due to an increase in staff -, energy and other costs to ensure the continued existence of the seniors' meeting beyond 2024.
Since the misery became known shortly before Christmas last year, the situation has gotten even worse.
The Diocese of Augsburg has cut its support for the Caritas Association by 17 percent, says Schacht.
And the fact that Starnberg's city councilors approve the requested 75,000 euro grant is probably nothing more than wishful thinking given the city's budget situation.
“The seniors are also alarmed and don’t know what to do next,” says Schacht.
Information afternoon in the parish center
For them, the Caritas Association is offering an information afternoon on Wednesday, March 13th about the current situation of the seniors' meeting.
This begins at 2 p.m. in the Catholic parish center (Mühlbergstrasse 6) with coffee and cake.
Caritas wants to report on its work, give an insight into the future of the seniors' meeting and offer space for exchange, according to the invitation.
Third mayor Christiane Falk has confirmed her participation, explains Schacht in an interview with Starnberger Merkur.
Mayor Patrick Janik also wants to come to the appointment at around 5 p.m.
Registration for participation is possible by telephone at (0 81 51) 65 20 80 or by email at seniorentreff@caritas-starnberg.de.
Schacht wants to do everything humanly possible to maintain the offer.
“Senior work makes sense,” he says.
“It offers people participation, variety and solid structures.” The lunch table alone is of great importance to the participants.
However, the chairman is increasingly starting to think that this will probably no longer be possible without financial commitment from private parties.
He thinks less about charging entrance fees or participation fees.
“That is very difficult because the courses and offers are run by volunteers.” Rather, he hopes that foundations, wealthy people from Starnberg or other people will be found who want to keep the senior citizens’ meeting alive.
“We will drum, drum, drum and promote our idea,” says the chairman.
Caritas chairman: Problems not of our own making
Schacht emphasizes that the financial worries are not a home-made problem.
There are twelve Caritas associations in the Diocese of Augsburg, eight of which are loss-making.
What do you think the other four Schachts do better?
“Years ago you received large inheritances and transferred them to foundations.”
In Starnberg there is now at least a support association for the Caritas Association.
It emerged from the previous support group and has now been recognized as a non-profit organization by the Fürstenfeldbruck tax office, explains Schacht.
The board was made up of Uwe Rupprecht, Anton Modl and Ursula Freymadl-Kupfer.
“The solidarity with the support association is great,” says Schacht.
But: For example, the club is not allowed to pay for personnel costs for tax reasons.
Caritas is receiving encouragement from SPD Bundestag member Carmen Wegge, who recently took a look at the offer.
“The commitment of the full-time staff and especially the volunteers in the seniors’ meeting is impressive,” she explained afterwards.
“We should not underestimate the issue of loneliness in old age.
It would be dramatic for the situation of seniors if there were a closure here.
I really hope that the city of Starnberg will find a solution.”