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. Volume 12, Issue 3
Inside this issue:
President’s Corner
2
Former Lichten-
fels Mayor
Passed Away
2
Where Are They
Now?
2
40th Annual Ok-
toberfest
3
2016 Youth
Exchange
3
Donald Coffey
Passed Away
4
Announcements 4
The Sister Cities Scoop Lichtenfels Vandalia Prestwick
March, 2016 Editor: Ann Kimmel
I was asked to say a
few words about my
dear friend Marvin
Link. Marv passed
away Thursday, Febru-
ary 11, 2016. He
fought a courageous
battle with heart com-
plications until he could
fight no longer. Marv
was the head of a
small group of four
people that is now
known as Sister Cities
of Vandalia
Inc. We would all gath-
er around his desk af-
ter hours when the
bank had closed work-
ing on finding a suita-
ble city to become our
Sister City. Many,
many months elapsed
Marvin Link, First President of
Sister Cities of Vandalia, Passed
Away
before we finally set
our sights on Lichten-
fels, West Germany. It
was through Marv’s
leadership that we
made it through this
process and eventually
were linked to this fine
city of similari-
ty through Sister Cities
International. Marv re-
tained his Presidents
position with our organ-
ization for another year
before he turned the
reigns over to other ca-
pable hands.
Marv was very involved
in several service or-
ganizations within the
city of Vandalia, so
many I cannot begin to
name them all. He
was recently recog-
nized by the Presidents
Club in Vandalia for his
years of dedica-
tion. Anytime I would
see Marv out and
about, I would always
visually check his shirt
pocket because Marv
was famous for selling
raffle tickets for one of
the service clubs he be-
longed to and he would
not take no for an an-
swer. Consequently, to
say hello to Marv would
always cost me
$20.00. If I happened
to be light on cash that
day, I would purposely
not make eye contact
with Marv. I am sorry to
admit that my friend.
I could go on writing
about Marvin but I was
asked to keep it short. I
could tell you stories
about after graduation
he hired me to come to
work with him at the
bank, or the day he took
me up flying and he
(Continued on page 3)
March’s
Gemütlichkeit
Dave and Jean Miller
have volunteered to host
March’s Gemütlichkeit. It
will be held at 591 Shad-
owood Dr., Vandalia.
Gemütlichkeit is held im-
mediately following the
monthly membership
meeting. All are wel-
come to attend.
Check out Vandalia Sister Cities online at www.Vandaliasistercities.org Page 2
The Sister Cities Scoop
President’s Corner
with Vandalia on October 22. If anyone would like to attend their 40th celebration, please contact Wayne Wright for the details.
I wish to send my thoughts and prayers to the Bogdahn family in Lichtenfels, to the Link family and the Coffey family.
We are still looking for members to serve on the Ok-toberfest Steering Committee. Please contact Kristin Cox if you are interested in serving.
Harvey
Former Mayor of Lichten-
fels has Passed Away
We have
just re-
cently
been in-
formed
that Fred
Bogdahn,
former
Burgermeister (mayor) of
Lichtenfels has passed away.
We would like to express our
condolences to all of his rela-
tives and friends. Bogdahn
held the office of mayor of the
upper Franconian county seat
of Lichtenfels from 1991 to
2002.
I received an email
from John Parks, President
of Prestwick Sister Cities and
they are inviting our mem-
bers to Scotland this sum-
mer. If you are interested,
please give me a call.
Within a month, two students from Lichtenfels will be here for three weeks. Please check our web page for the different events and call Kelly with an RSVP if you would like to attend and get to know our guests.
Lichtenfels is celebrat-ing 40 years of friendship
After returning from
the student exchange
in Vandalia, I gradu-
ated high school in
Lichtenfels in 2011.
Inspired by my time
in the US, where I
discovered my pas-
sion for intercultural ex-
change, I decided to
pursue a career in an international environ-
ment that would give me the opportunity to
work with people from different cultural back-
grounds and travel the world. To reach this
goal, I started studying international business
at the university of applied sciences in Dres-
den, Germany. In the course of my studies, I
spent 4 months in Nice, France, in 2013 to
practice my French language skills and extend
my international experience within Europe.
During my last semester, I performed an in-
ternship at the global headquarters of Tommy
Hilfiger. Situated in Amsterdam, the Nether-
lands, the international fashion brand Tommy
Hilfiger offers an amazing experience for ex-
pats bringing together multiple cultures from
all around the globe. Fascinated by the world
of fashion and the international working envi-
ronment of this American
based company, I accepted
the offer to stay as a full time
employee after the end of my
internship. Since then, I have
lived in Amsterdam for two
years.
The student exchange in
Vandalia influenced my future
path in many ways and I am
grateful to have had the
chance to make this amazing
(Continued on page 4)
Where Are They Now?
2008
2015
Check out Vandalia Sister Cities online at www.Vandaliasistercities.org Page 3
The Sister Cities Scoop
turned the wheel over to me. We attended college classes together, and he also taught me how
to drink scotch, would be just a few. I am sorry for not having the time to be able to do that.
Marvin loved the people of Vandalia and they loved him. On behalf of myself and all of
the Sister City members, I would like to extend my condolences to his wife Barbara and his chil-
dren that were so important to him.
I will close by saying Marv, your friendship will never be forgotten and I love you .
Until we meet again,
Jeff Jordan
(Continued from page 1) Marvin Link
40th Annual Oktoberfest
We are very excited to be
putting on our 40th Ok-
toberfest this year and in
typical Sister Cities fash-
ion, we want to make this
year a big party celebration! To ensure we
make this year special, we are focusing our at-
tention on food, beer, and entertainment.
The steering committee had their first meeting
last month and it was very evident that our
workforce to put the Oktoberfest on is dwin-
dling. To be able to focus our full attention on
the food, drinks and entertainment, it was de-
cided we will cut out some items. We will no
longer have a Kids Corner Tent or an Arts &
Craft Tent. We will also be closed on Sunday.
We realize these are some big changes and
welcome an open discussion. The March
membership meeting will be focused on dis-
cussing the changing landscape of the Ok-
toberfest. We would like to hear your thoughts
on the matter and any new ideas.
The steering committee feels a renewed sense
of excitement in planning this year's big cele-
bration and hope these updates encourage you
to join in the conversation. We look forward to
seeing you all at the March meeting!
Kristin Cox
2016 Youth Exchange
For 40 years, we have been creating
new friendships with people from Lichtenfels
and Prestwick. And for over 20 years now, we
have been meeting lifelong friends through our
youth exchange.
This year, we have two students com-
ing from Germany to spend time with our
American students. Annabell Stretz, 18, and
Julia Schutz, 16, will arrive in Vandalia on
March 10th and stay until April 3
rd. The host
students, in Vandalia, that we have chosen
are Tatum Ruiz, 16, Caroline Miller, 16, and
Lindsey Woodruff, 16. Tatum and her family
will host Julia. Caroline Miller and Lindsey
Woodruff and their families will co-host Anna-
bell.
In all the hustle and bustle of the year,
we sometimes forget the mission and the rea-
son behind our organization. Let’s take a mo-
ment to reflect on our core mission of fostering
global friendships. We all have a story to tell of
our friends from over seas and I would like to
encourage you to come share your stories
with Julia and Annabell. Our Welcome Dinner
will be held on Sunday, March 13th at The Lit-
tle York Tavern, at 6:00 pm. Keep checking
the website (www.vandaliasistercities.org) for
more updates to the Youth Exchange sched-
ule. Kelly Blakesly
Page 4
Peace thru People
Save the Dates
Board Meeting:
March 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Membership Meeting:
March 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Meetings are held at the Vandalia
Senior Citizens Center located at
21 Tionda Drive S.
Happy March Birthdays!
Nicole Scott ......................... 2
Arlene Setzer ...................... 2
Jim Joyce ............................ 9
Bobbye Areen ................... 10
Patricia Kammer ................ 10
Phyllis Crossley ................. 14
Don Hazel ......................... 15
Kathy Steck ....................... 15
Helen Maxson ................... 17
Caroline Miller ................... 19
Barb Ruhe ......................... 21
Cooper Davell ................... 21
David Kistler ...................... 25
Connie Starline .................. 26
Ed Rapp ............................ 27
Susie Wright ...................... 28
Suzanne’s Sunshine
Report
Thanks to Suzanne Jordan, a little
sunshine was sent to brighten
someone’s day:
Unfortunately, there are several
members to report on this
month. Please see the article
above and keep everyone in
your thoughts and prayers.
Please report news on our
membership to Suzanne at
898-2703.
Deadline for April’s Scoop articles is
March 26th.
experience in an early age. It did not only
help me to improve my language skills of
which I make daily use of today, but also en-
abled me to grow as a person, meet won-
derful people who have long become family
for me and greatly inspired my career
choice. I would recommend the student ex-
change to anyone I know, it's a great experi-
ence and I would like to thank the sister cit-
ies committee for offering this amazing op-
portunity!
Yvonne Boysen
(Continued from page 2) Where Are They Now?
Suzanne’s Sunshine Report
First President Marv Link passed away.
Donald Coffey passed away.
Wanda Clark is living at Hearth & Home in
room 212. She would love to have compa-
ny.
Bob Schaffner has undergone a vein
ablasion for his abnormally rapid heart rate
which could not be completed. There is a
chance that the surgery cured his tachycar-
dia but only time will tell. He is home and
resting comfortably.
Mary Devlin, our friend in Prestwick, is
starting a series of treatments for a continu-
ing illness. If you would like to send her a
card, her address is: Mary Devlin,
4 Manson Avenue, Prestwick, Scotland
KA91EZ
WWII veteran, an active member and past
president of the Vandalia Band Boosters, a
member of the Vandalia Lions Club where he
did extensive volunteer work for the Vandalia
Food Pantry and a member of Sister Cities.
Long Time Member Donald Coffey
Passed Away
Donald Coffey (93) passed
away on Sunday, January
3, 2016. Don leaves be-
hind his wife of 68 years,
Betsy, 4 daughters, 8
grandchildren and 5 great
grandchildren. Don was a
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