City prepares for Bundestag visit

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

NEW ULM -- New Ulm's 150th anniversary party is done, but city officials are getting ready for a special celebration next Tuesday.

The city will be hosting a visit from delegates of the 21st annual Congress-Bundestag Seminar, which is meeting next week in St. Paul.

First District Congressman Gil Gutknecht is chairing this year's seminar, which alternates between Germany and the U.S. In these seminars, members of Congress and the Bundestag, Germany's parliamentary governing body, and assorted government officials discuss heavy topics such as trade (the sinking dollar, foreign corporate ownership, and outsourcing), security (NATO's evolving role and the fight against terrorism) and global agriculture.

But between sessions, there's time for touring the Twin Cities, attending a Twins game, and have lunch with Garrison Keillor at Murray's Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis.

But Gutknecht wants his German guests to see the German enclave in his home district, and has arranged for an afternoon in the City of Charm and Tradition.

On Tuesday, Aug. 24, a busload of distinguished visitors will be arriving in New Ulm.

The guest list includes eight members of the Bundestag and high ranking ministers, six current members of Congress; half a dozen former members of Congress and the Bundestag; His Excellency Wolfgang Ischinger, German Ambassador to the United States; several vice presidents of U.S. and German corporations and trade offices.

It will be the biggest collection of German dignitaries and officials to ever visit New Ulm, but not the first. The city hosted a large delegation of German officials from Ulm, Germany in 1952 through the State Department, and the Ambassador from the German Republic to the U.S., Baron von Maltzahn, visited the city in 1927.

With the support of 3M and Kraft, the city has a grand tour planned.

The group is expected to arrive around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Schonlau Park, where they will be greeted, entertained and hear the 3 p.m. performance of the Glockenspiel.

Arnold and Ruth Koelpin will guide them on a tour through the city to the Hermann Monument, and on to the August Schell Brewery for a reception at the mansion.

At about 5:30 p.m. the group will be arriving at Turner Hall for a reception and social prior to one of the Turner Ladies's famous stuffed pork chop banquets.

Following some short speechmaking and exchange of gifts, the Concord Singers will entertain. The dignitaries are scheduled to leave about 8 p.m.

A limited number of tickets to the banquet are available at the Clerk Treasurer's office at City Hall, and at the Chamber of Commerce. The cost is $30.