Sister City Newsletter Winter 2006

News
www.lynchburgsistercity.org
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE:
Mourning
a
Friend
German
Sister City
Update
Report from
Annual
Membership
Meeting
Salon de Thé
April 19th
Local Students
to Visit
Our New
Sister City
Making Friends
through
Sister City
Renew Your
Membership
Other
Upcoming
Events
Lynchburg Joins Rueil-Malmaison in Mourning
Former Mayor Monsieur Jacques Baumel
by Frank Fritt and Bill Goodman
Press release from Mr Patrick Ollier, Deputy and Mayor of
Rueil-Malmaison, Sister City of Lynchburg, Virginia:
“The loss of Jacques Baumel leaves a great vacuum.
This man contributed so much to the history of our
country during the Resistance and throughout the 5th
Republic. A man of courage, of great political lucidity,
and always imaginative Jacques Baumel marked deeply
the life of the Gaullist movement and consequently of
our country. Completely identified with the town of
Rueil Malmaison which he led for 30 years, his loss
plunges the population into immense sadness as so
much of his relationship with her was cordial and even
affectionate" declared Patrick Ollier.
The body of Jacques Baumel lay in state in the
Richelieu Salon of City Hall, Tuesday, February 21
from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. A formal state service will be
held at the church of St. Louis des Invalides in Paris on
Wednesday or Thursday, Feb. 22 or 23. The church is
often referred to as the Dôme des Invalides, the site of
the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. Burial will take place
at the family’s home in Normandy near Honfleur later in
the week.
He is survived by his widow, Mme Louise Baumel, who
has made several visits to Lynchburg with delegations
from our sister city.
Tribute was paid by the
French Minister of
Defense Michele
Alliot-Marie, President
Jacques Chirac and
numerous other
French
government
officials.
Winter 2006
Mr Baumel with former
Lynchburg mayor James
Baumel received
Whittaker; proclamation
the highest honors
signing in Rueil 1996
bestowed by the
French government. He was made an Officier de la
Légion d'Honneur and Compagnon de la Liberation,
décret du 27 décembre 1945 and received the Croix de
Guerre 1939-45 and the Médaille de la Résistance.
Mayor Baumel of Rueil Malmaison and Mayor Jim
Whitaker of Lynchburg signed the proclamation making
the two cities officially sister cities in Rueil Malmaison on
July 4, 1996. The most recent exchange involved Firemen
from Lynchburg and Rueil Malmaison. In January, 2004,
Mayor Baumel honored the Lynchburg Firemen in a
ceremony at the theatre Andre Malraux in the presence of
hundreds of citizens of Rueil-Malmaison, including the
Mayor-elect, Patrick Ollier, and Michelle Marie Alliot,
France’s Minister of Defense.
Glauchau, Our New Sister City in Germany
by Manfred Mibus
Glauchau, our new Sister City, is in the State of Saxony
in what was East Germany until the fall of the Berlin
Wall. Today the people in that area are enjoying their
freedom, and visitors from the West can experience this
city which was founded in the 13th century.
Mr. Fletcher Burton, Consul General of the United
States, was of assistance in bringing our two cities
together. While visiting Glauchau, he learned of that
city’s interest in connecting with a city in the US. Mr.
Burton knew that Lynchburg had been looking for a
Sister City in Germany for quite a while. With the help
of Manfred Mibus, a Lynchburg resident of German
descent, the first contacts were made in 2003. The
“chemistry” was great right from the beginning.
On May 22, 2005, during the visit of Count Georg von
Schoenburg-Glauchau, his wife, the Countess
Madeleine von Schoenburg-Glauchau, and the Catholic
priest, Michael Sanders to Lynchburg, the Proclamation
was signed at the residence of Frank Britt, first
President of Sister City Lynchburg-Plus.
Mayor Carl B.
Hutcherson, Jr.,
former mayors, Pete
Warren, James
Whittaker, Vice
Mayor Joan Foster
and members of
Sister City Lynchburg
– Plus witnessed the
signing.
Lynchburg Mayor Carl B. Hutcherson
with Count and Countess von
Schoenburg-Glauchau
The Proclamation reads:
Whereas, the Sister City program was established to
foster greater friendship and understanding between
peoples in countries around the world: and
Whereas, the citizens of Lynchburg, Virginia, USA and
Glauchau, Germany, in the state of Saxony, have
expressed their willingness and desire, through their
respective councils, to become Sister Cities: and
(see Glauchau, Page 3)
Volume 6, Issue 1
Page Two
Salon de Thé
1799, and she died
in that same house
on May 29, 1814.
A Ladies Tea presented by Sister City
She is buried in the
of Lynchburg Featuring a Lecture by
little church of
Françoise Watts
Rueil Malmaison,
“Revealing Joséphine: A Study of
Lynchburg’s Sister
Her Correspondence (1782-1814)”
City. What is left of
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Joséphine’s
Yancey-Suhling House (c. 1857)
from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
correspondence
Italianate
antebellum, built for William T.
700 Pearl Street on Historic Diamond Hill
contains about six
Yancey as a rental property. The Italianate
Cost of this event: $35
hundred and fifty
details were added after 1901 when the
letters which have
On April 19, the ladies of Lynchburg will have an
house was remodeled by tobacconist
W. G. Suhling.
opportunity to learn about the private Joséphine and been compiled by
Mr Bernard
enjoy a delicious afternoon tea in the beautiful
Chevallier, Curator of La Malmaison. In our age of the
parlors and dining room of this lovingly restored
Internet and the telephone, which leave so fewer traces,
Italinate antebellum house (the Yancey-Suhling
reading Joséphine’s letters gives us the privileged access
House), built c. 1857. Mary Kathryn and Bill
to the intimate Joséphine. It is revealing and often
McIntosh will kindly open their home for us on this
indiscrete. Beyond the public figure, how much fun it is to
occasion. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the
period furnishings along with walls, hand painted by discover the woman underneath!”
Mary Kathryn, herself.
This is an occasion not to be missed: the charming
Françoise revealing the intimate thoughts and expressions
In this beautiful setting, Françoise Watts of Randolph
of an Empress in this exquisite setting. Bonus: a delicious
Macon Women’s College, will present a lecture on the
tea!
letters of Joséphine de Beauharnais, wife of Emperor
Napoléon Bonaparte. To quote Françoise, “She was the Call or e-mail Mary Babbitt (384-0959 /
grande dame of France during the first Empire. She
[email protected]) for details or to make reservations.
lived at La Malmaison, a house that she had bought in
Admission will be limited to 50 attendees.
by Mary Babbitt
www.lynchburgsistercity.org
MISSION STATEMENT
“Promoting peace through
mutual respect,
understanding &
cooperation--one individual
at a time”
Sister City
Board of Directors
2005-2006
Mari White Smallshaw
President
Christine Kennedy
Vice President
Mary Babbitt
Secretary
Diane Garber
Treasurer
Manfred Mibus
Past President
Frank Britt
Martha Faesi
Marjette Glass
Bill Goodman
Pegeen Griessmayer
Tom Johnson
Hugh Jones
Maryvonne LaParlière
Kathryn Pumphrey
Scott Robert
Françoise Watts
Newsletter
Published Quarterly
by
Sister City of
Lynchburg-Plus
Editor
Barbara Batchelder
[email protected]
Sister Cities Members and Area Dignitaries
Get a Look at the Past and the Future
by Christine Kennedy
Sister Cities held their annual reception on January 16.
Members and dignitaries enjoyed a slideshow
highlighting past events and trips. Members reminisced
as they viewed the trips
to Rueil-Malmaison and
numerous visits from
French dignitaries. They
also commented on the
progress as they watched
the proclamation of our
new German Sister
City--Glauchau, being
Lynchburg City Council Members signed.
To increase our membership;
To become a conduit for
meaningful professional and
cultural exchanges; and,
To create awareness of who
we are and what we do.
From left: Board Members
Pegeen Griessmayer; Meg
Cosby, and Christine Kennedy
Kennedy commented that in
order to carry out these goals, the organization must
“Focus, involve its members and publicize its events and
successes.”
Christine Kennedy,
President-Elect, outlined
the goals for the
upcoming year based on the strategic plan that the board
adopted in 2005. She called the evening “a night to
reflect on the past and vision toward the future.” She
went on to say that the board wants Sister Cities of
Lynchburg to be a well-known, effective organization,
building global awareness and beneficial, meaningful
relationships through international exchanges and travel
opportunities.
The board will focus its
energy on providing
events and will involve its
membership in as many
opportunities as possible.
Events will be publicized
internally, through the
newsletter and email
L to R: Sister City members Frank communications, but also
by utilizing local media to
Britt, Meg Cosby and Thèrése
Namenek with City Council Member highlight our exchanges
Ceasor Johnson
and events. Finally,
Kennedy and other board
members asked members and dignitaries to get excited
with the board and join them as they head into the future.
Sister Cities strategic plan has three very basic goals:
Won’t you join with us in 2006?
Ceasor Johnson and Jeff
Helgeson attend annual meeting
Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus Newsletter
Winter 2006
Page Three
Making Friends through Sister City
by Mary Babbitt
When Pat Doyle asked if
Terry and I would house
members of a group that
would be visiting from
Rueil in May, 1999, we
had no idea that saying
“yes” would transform our
lives. We knew little about
Rueil-Malmaison at that
Brigitte Flajollet and Mary Babbitt time beyond the fact that it
was Lynchburg’s Sister
City. That we were members of Alliance Française, and
I spoke a little French, led Pat to think we might be
open to the experience. We didn’t hesitate to accept.
Our guests were two older ladies, Jacqueline Le
Chevalier-Courouble and Yvonne Everne. It was love at
first sight. They were adorable. We enjoyed their visit
immensely and were sad to see them leave. We
exchanged addresses and promised to write. Jacqueline
and I kept in touch, and she repeatedly asked me to
visit.
In November 1999, I flew alone to Paris, where I was
met by Jacqueline and her daughter, Brigitte Flajollet. I
was feeling rather awkward, as I had never met Brigitte
or her husband, Jean-Michel. Moreover, after I arrived
Glauchau (continued from Page 1)
Whereas, Lynchburg, Virginia, and Glauchau, Germany
will work to promote knowledge, understanding
inspiration for current and succeeding generations: and
they informed me that it had been decided that I would
stay in the home of the Flajollets.
I need not have been concerned. They treated me like a
dear relative that they had not seen in a long time. I was
feted with Champagne, 'macarons' from Ladurée, and
Brigitte’s wonderful foie gras. During that trip, Brigitte
and I discovered that we both enjoy painting - she in oils,
I in watercolor, home decorating, cooking and golf. We
went shopping in Paris and discovered that we like the
same types of shops and restaurants – and that we both
irritate our families by walking too fast.
Since that visit, there have been several others. Brigitte
and Jean-Michel have visited us in Lynchburg, and we
have returned to France on several occasions. Jacqueline
calls herself my French mommy. When relations between
the French and Americans have been difficult, we have
had a different perspective. Like family that we may
disagree with, it doesn’t change our feelings for them.
As I write we are planning our next get together. In early
April, Brigitte and Jean-Michel will be in Florida to play
golf with French friends. Afterward we will meet them in
New York City for a few days, where, as Brigitte says,
“We will speak Franglaise.”
Randolph-Macon
Woman’s College
Rose Computer
Rotary Club
of
Lynchburg
Thomas A. Johnson
Furniture Co.
Virginia School
of the Arts
Making friends, here and abroad, has been the primary
benefit of Sister City Lynchburg – Plus for Terry and me.
Local High School Students to
Visit Glauchau in April
by Manfred Mibus
Whereas, Lynchburg Virginia, USA, and Glauchau,
Germany will cooperate in cultural, educational,
professional, and personal exchanges, providing
international experiences to broaden our perspectives
for the well-being of the inhabitants of each of our
cities.
In April, a group of six students from E. C. Glass and
Heritage High Schools will travel to Germany during
Spring Break. The students are: Meredith Haskins, Ria
Fyffe, Jeremy Dunn, Karl Speer, and Danny Harner from
E. C.Glass, and John Paul Malec from Heritage. Two of
the students’ mothers, Beth Dunn and Lynne Malec, will
Now, therefore, by this official declaration, signed under accompany the students on their trip. The group will
depart Lynchburg for Frankfurt, Germany on April 12th.
our hand on Thursday, the 22nd of May, 2005 in
Upon arriving in Frankfurt, they will be met by our
Lynchburg, Virginia, we declare that Lynchburg,
Glauchau Sister City partners. The group will stay in
Virginia and Glauchau, Germany are now joined as
Glauchau (a four-hour trip from Frankfurt) with German
Sister Cities.
host families. We wish all the participants a safe and
successful journey.
A group of students from Glauchau will visit Lynchburg
in October, 2006.
Below: Sister City members
celebrate the proclamation signing
Above from l to r: Former
Lynchburg mayors Pete Warren
and James Whittaker with Mayor
Carl B. Hutcherson
IN GRATEFUL
APPRECIATION
TO THE
FOLLOWING FOR
THEIR IN-KIND
DONATIONS:
Left: Manfred Mibus
looks on as Count von
Schoenburg-Glauchau
signs the Proclamation
Renew Your
Membership
It’s that time again! If you
haven’t renewed your
membership to Sister City
of Lynchburg-Plus, or
haven’t yet joined, won’t
you take the time to do it
today? Membership
contributions support
Lynchburg Sister City’s
continuing efforts to build
relationships with our
existing and future sister
cities.
Use the form on the last
page of this newsletter to
renew your membership or
join today.
Remember, your
membership contribution is
tax deductible!
Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus
is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization.
Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus Newsletter
Winter 2006
Non-Profit
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UPCOMING EVENTS
SCI Lynchburg-Plus to Invite
Rueil Mayor and Curator to
Lynchburg
Board of Directors Meeting - March 20 at R-MWC
SCI Lynchburg-Plus Hopes to Welcome Our Sister City HOGs!
The State Harley Davidson Convention
will be held in Lynchburg on June 22 - 24
of this year, and Sister Cities of
Lynchburg-Plus is inviting Harley owners
from Rueil- Malmaison, France and
Glauchau, Germany to attend.
Involvement in the Harley Owners Group,
or HOGs, is popular worldwide! The
local HOG chapter is very enthusiastic
about receiving foreign guests and
hosting them in their homes.
The convention will highlight much of
what Central Virginia has to offer, with
rides each day to places like the D-Day
Memorial, Appomattox, Blue Ridge
Parkway and Smith Mountain Lake, and
nighttime activities at Friday Cheers and
Cattle Annie's.
Sister Cities of Lynchburg-Plus has
invited Mr Ollier, Deputy and mayor of
Rueil-Malmaison, and Mr Chevallier,
curator of Malmaison, to visit our city in
October, in conjunction with their visit to
the 225th Anniversary Celebration of the
Victory at Yorktown. We plan many
exciting activities for their visit. Look for
more details soon!
We're excited that this opportunity will
create some new friendships and benefit
our region both culturally and
economically!
If you're interested in helping organize
either of these exchanges, please contact
Mari Smallshaw at 846-3242 or
[email protected].
YES! I/WE WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF LYNCHBURG SISTER CITY-PLUS!
Enclosed is my TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION. Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
(Corporate) $2,000, $500, or $250 !
(Patron) $100 !
(Family) $35 ! (Individual) $25 !
(Student) $15 !
Please renew my membership !
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Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus
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Lynchburg, VA 24503
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Winter 2006