Sister Cities

The partnership between Jasper and Pfaffenweiler was established on May 23rd, 1985, by Mayors Jerome Alles and Fritz Gutgsell. It rests on the pillars of our common origin and heritage; our common history of families that emigrated in the mid-19th century from Pfaffenweiler to Indiana.

Since 1985, both communities have been striving for a lively exchange. Not only are family encounters important, but also other encounters, visits and finally the student exchange between the Jasper High School and the Faust-Gymnasium in Staufen.

On a supra-regional level and in diplomatic-political circles, the partnership enjoys a high recognition.

In March 2022 the partnership bodies of Jasper had a workshop on the question and planning of the use of private and public funds available.

In July 2022, a joint meeting of the Partnership Committees of Pfaffenweiler and Jasper took place as part of the celebrations of the 37th anniversary of the partnership. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Jasper German Club and Sister Cities of Jasper Inc.

It was a great session in which everyone thought intensely about the future of our partnership. The spirit of this session is the starting foundation of this declaration.

Table of Contents:

I     Preamble

II   Joint Partnership Meeting in June 2022

III The Ideas (Flip Charts)  

IV The Ideas structured and with guiding principles

V    Implementation

I Preamble:

As part of the anniversary celebrations 2022, we, the members of the partnership committees in Pfaffenweiler and Jasper, have exchanged diverse thoughts on the future of our Partnership.

We are very proud of our 37 years of a lively partnership with countless encounters.

We are aware that this partnership is a valuable part of our community life.

We not only want to maintain this partnership but strengthen and expand it.

Our Mission is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation between our partnership cities – one individual at a time, by developing lifelong friendships through person-to-person citizen diplomacy.

Our climate sustainability is being challenged by current practices.  Through our partnership we will support an environmental consciousness in our actions.  We will influence our partnership via creating a sustainable future through the actions of our responsible, well-informed citizens.

We would like to share our ideas for the future in this joint declaration.

We want to achieve these goals in regular conversations and meetings.

II  Unified Partnership Meeting

Attendees: Bürgermeister Dieter Hahn, Fritz Gutgsell, Carolin Horst, Karin Horst,

Dominik Klein, Annika Marschall, Diana Treyer, Fabian Wörner

Mayor Dean Vonderheide, Ross Halvorsen, Matthias Hilger, Stan Jochum, Darren

Patterson, Mary Leah Siegel, Paul Siegel, Max Verkamp

Itinerary for the combined Meeting on July 1st, 2022: 

1. Welcoming and Introduction of Itinerary

2. Short Introductions

3. Short Community Reports on Current Developments

4. The Future of the Partnership

   1. Brainstorming and Collection of Ideas with Flipchart

   2. Prioritizing the Ideas

   3. The first Attempt how to turn them into Reality

5. Student Exchange 

6. Miscellaneous

The focus of the meeting turned primarily to Itinerary Point #4.1:

The Future of the Partnership

Our Partnership is now in the fourth decade, marching in large steps towards the fifth. Assuming a human generation is roughly twenty years, we are approaching the 3rd generation. 

On our American side we are currently represented by the fourth Mayor helping to shape the partnership, while on German side we have the 3rd. 

The mayors are playing an important role, but the community is the driving force in reference to the development. Therefore, many young people are in the meantime also involved on both sides, thus the future is strong. 

But what is important to know, where we will be going together. Therefore, we have this point in the Itinerary. 

III • The Ideas (Flip Charts Not Included)

IV • The Ideas and Guiding Principles

Guiding Principal 1 • Sustainability of personal Contacts

We all realize, just building on personal encounters and exchanges is not enough to maintain our partnership continuously. 

We want to make the personal encounters and exchanges sustainable and find ways how these short-term contacts can be turned into long term relationships. 

For example, we envision:

• A common social media platform

• A circle of friends of former exchange students, Board Members and friends.

• Alumni-Group, exchanging and sharing knowledge and experiences

• Language Classes for Everyone 

• An information platform whom to contact for potential host families and contacts administered at each City Hall 

• How can we market ourselves and measure it? Surveys.

Guiding Principal 2 • Common financial Foundation  

We are aware, that the creation of ideas of our partnership will require a solid financial foundation. The approach in each community as of today has been different. 

We want to explore the possibilities of a financial pool and approach the various financial resources to support our mission: 

For example:  

International:

• Fundraising with Sister Cities International, Amazon Smile, Benevita, GAPP or Goethe Institute 

• State Department of USA and Germany / Embassies

• German Interiors of Education

National:  

• Community

• Creation of a Sponsorship Association in Pfaffenweiler, like Jasper has with their Sister Cities of Jasper Inc. 

• Eckerle Foundation, Dubois County Community Foundation, Claude and Martina Eckert Sister Cities Foundation   

Guiding Principal 3 • Exchange and Encounters 

We realize that in the past the many personal encounters from both communities and the High School Student Exchange were the foundation of our functioning partnership. 

We want to maintain the personal contacts and the student exchange and built upon them with additional Exchange formats. 

These formats can be very diverse just as the life of our communities. As examples we can envision: 

• An Exchange of artists and craftsmen started in the winter of 2021. 

• A culinary exchange

• An exchange of Educating Ambassadors from all levels of the education systems. 

• An exchange of culture especially music (music is an international language); 

• An exchange of governing administrations

• An exchange of professionals and apprentices (i.e. Cabinet Makers, Mechatronics, etc.)

• An exchange of clubs (soccer, fire brigade, club associations) and institutions  (i.e. Rotary Club, Medical etc.)

• An exchange of City Planning and Architecture 

• Homestay Program: One or two semesters at Gymnasium or High School, College or University.

V • Implementation
(How should we approach?)

The two Mayors virtually meet monthly to exchange their activities and projects. They are the connection for the necessary actions to implement these common ideas. 

The Pfaffenweiler and Jasper Partnership Commissions need to meet at least annually. 

During these meetings we would gain alignment on priorities, report and document our progress, and discuss where we need help and clear directions. 

Pfaffenweiler and Jasper, December 31, 2022