District Administrator Martin Stichnoth opened the gala and emphasised the central role that volunteers play in our society: "The citizens who are selflessly committed in our district are not only the social backbone of our coexistence, but also the cultural heart and moral conscience of our society."
Volunteers are involved in many different areas - be it as coaches in sports clubs, as conservationists or as committed guardians of tradition. They offer support to the elderly, the sick and the needy and provide assistance to aid organisations, groups for the elderly or disabled, the rescue service or the volunteer fire brigade. In the leisure sector, they make a significant contribution to cultural diversity. It is impossible to imagine our society without people who do voluntary work.
The gala provided a platform to honour 25 outstanding volunteers in various categories, including "Social", "Nature and environment/home care and culture", "Fire brigade and civil defence", "Sport" and "Special commitment". One Börde district badge of honour was awarded in each category.
Category "Social":
Mrs Angelika Haßmann, Petra Lüdke and Ute Bolze - Foster Children's Service
Mrs Sieglinde Falke, DRK Börde district association, Börde district senior citizens' council
Badge of honour of the district of Börde: Mr Torsten Winkelmann
Mr Winkelmann has been a member of the German Red Cross - Wanzleben District Association since 1 July 1992 and has been an honorary member of the association's board ever since. He was deputy chairman until 2014 and is now chairman of the district association.
Category "Nature and environment/home care and culture:
Mr Gerald Pomme - Angelverein Oschersleben/Bode und Umgebung e. V., Interessengemeinschaft Bode-Lachs e. V.
Mrs Sigrid Vorpahl, Mr Bernd Vorpahl - Holzhaustheater Zielitz e. V.
Mr Peter Baumann - Wolmirstedter Sportanglerclub 1926 e.V.
Badge of honour of the district of Börde: Frank von Ameln
Mr von Ameln has been a member of the "Roland" Haldensleben Poultry Breeders' Association since 1975 and Chairman of the Board since 1994. He has led the association for 30 years and is increasingly involved in youth work with other members. In kindergartens and primary schools, he shows children the development from egg to living chick with the hatchery project "From egg to chicken".
Category "Fire brigade and civil defence":
Mr Fabian Harsteln - Motorcycle squadron
Mr René Markowski - Johanniter Accident Assistance
Mr Bernd Alpert - DRK Kreisverband Wanzleben e. V., rescue dog squadron
Mr Marko Zimmermann - Druxberge marching band, fire brigade association Börde e. V.
Badge of honour of the district of Börde: Mr Klaus Glandien
Klaus Glandien has been a member and founder of the former "Traffic Awareness" working group - which later became the traffic watch organisation - for 50 years. He co-founded the traffic garden in Völpe in 1977 and has chaired the traffic watch organisation since it was founded. In 1990, he also co-founded the working group "Senior citizens as role models in road traffic in Helmstedt" and the "Welcome culture" working group in Oschersleben.
Category "Sport":
Mr Harry Bliss - Schützenverein Eichenbarleben von 1994 e. V.
Dr Hans-Günter Heinze - Neuenhofer LSV
Mr Ortwin Görke - Haldensleben Hunting Association, "Dachsburg" Shooting Club, Hunting Advisory Board and Hunting Examination Commission for the Börde District
Mr Ulrich Dürrmann - Barleber Shooting Association
Badge of honour of the Börde district: Mr Nils Zabel
Mr Zabel has been a member of the Osterwedding sports club since 1972. He is active on the club's board and is head of the football section. He has been looking after the youngsters in the sports club for 24 years and acts as a youth coach.
Category "Special commitment":
Mrs Sylke Kühling - District Seniors' Council
Mrs Anett Ranwig - Cafè International, integration guide, LKG Ohreland
Mr Hans-Ekkehard Stieglitz - Volunteer Coordinator, Integration Guide
Mr Karl-Heinz Wegsel - Mushroom consultant
Badge of honour of the district of Börde: Mrs Waldtraud Kerstan
At the age of 99, Mrs Kerstan is the oldest active mushroom consultant in the Saxony-Anhalt State Association of Mushroom Experts. She is one of only a few mushroom experts in the Börde district and draws on over 60 years of experience. Her tasks include counselling and support in the identification of mushroom species, both edible and poisonous, in order to avoid confusion.
The award winners were selected by a jury made up of representatives of the parliamentary groups in the district council, who scrutinised the proposals in detail: Mr Swen Pazina, Mr Wolfgang Zahn, Mr Klaus Mewes and Mr Bodo Zeymer.
"These people serve as role models, even if they often wish to remain in the background out of modesty. "At our volunteer gala, we would like to take the opportunity to put you in the spotlight and say thank you," continued District Administrator Stichnoth.
Although the award cannot compensate for the many hours that volunteers have put in for their dedicated work on a social, health, cultural or sporting level, it is nevertheless an important sign of appreciation and recognition.
We would like to thank all volunteers for their tireless efforts and look forward to many more inspiring projects in our district.