Jefferson City and its partner city of Muenchberg, Germany, have been recognized for their relationship by a German-American friendship association.
In January, the Steuben-Schurz-Gesellschaft Association in Frankfurt, Germany, awarded Muenchberg Mayor Christian Zuber a certificate and prize of 1,000 euros for having the most successful German-American city partnership in its partner city relationship with Jefferson City.
Muenchberg became the city's partner city in 2004 to allow the flow of culture, ideas and people between the two areas of the world that are bonded together through their ancestors.
The city's Old Munichburg neighborhood was first established by a group of Muenchberg immigrants in the 1800s. But the name of the neighborhood was changed over time by English speakers who didn't understand the correct pronunciation. Both the Old Munichburg neighborhood and Muenchberg have many residents who share the same surname and family roots.
Muenchberg was up against 13 other finalists for the award and was selected by a 500-member directorate. In the application submitted by Muenchberg city staff, the historical background of each city was included, as well as the history of the partnership, the visits between officials and residents of both cities, and articles from the News Tribune and the Frankenpost, a Muenchberg newspaper, about the partner city relationship.
Gunnar Schanno, a spokesperson for the Steuben-Schurz-Gesellschaft Association, said the coverage of the partnership in newspapers in both cities was one reason behind the selection of Muenchberg and Jefferson City as the winner, as it's unusual for media to cover the German-American partnership.
The coordination between the two cities, the contacts between them and the media attention to the relationship were the primary reasons for the selection. Zuber, the Muenchberg mayor, was notified a few days before Christmas.
"That was a great moment for us," Zuber said. "We were celebrating all together in town hall."
In a letter to Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, Zuber wrote the prize of 1,000 euros would be invested in the development of the partnership, possibly in the development of a student exchange program. Tergin will present the certificate of award at the City Council meeting Monday.
After receiving the award, Zuber told the Frankenpost: "The award is not for me as a mayor, it is for the citizens of Muenchberg and Jefferson City who fulfill the partner city program with life. Even though there is that great ocean between our two cities, we have a wonderful partnership."
The Old Munichburg Association will hold a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Prison Brews to form the partner city committee and begin planning the next visit from residents of Muenchberg, which is expected at the end of September. The meeting is open to those interested in being part of the partner city committee.
Vanessa Schweinshaupt is a reporter in Muenchberg, Germany, who provided much of the information on the partner city award. Schweinshaupt is expected to visit Jefferson City this summer.