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In 2002, Blue Ash & Ilmenau made the Sister City partnership official. The "document" pictured was hand made by a German friend & is now framed & on display in Council Chambers.	Within the past five years, downtown Ilmenau underwent major renovation.	One of the many historic castles in the Ilmenau area.	Areas surrounding Ilmenau & throughout Germany are beautiful countryside.	A scene in downtown Ilmenau.
Another scene in downtown Ilmenau, showing quaint shopping areas.	Glass blowing displaying his technique.	This goats fountain sits in Ilmenau's downtown. The quote engraved translates to: "In Ilmenau the sky is blue ... there dances the goat with his wife.: Goats are somewhat of an Ilmenau "mascot."	This is a bronze statue of literary great Johann Wolfgang Goethe in downtown Ilmenau. Ilmenau is proud of the fact that Goethe did much of his writing while in Ilmenau.	Ilmenau & its surrounding areas have many beautiful historic churches.
A visit to a German hospital was one of the activities offered by our German hosts. Several delegates had medical backgrounds & were extremely impressed.	This is the Ilmenau City Hall (or "Rathaus" in German). It is one of their historic buildings in downtown Ilmenau.	This is the Ilmenau public high school (or "gymnasium" in German).	In 2002, Ilmenau dedicated a monument in memory of Ilmenau citizens who parished during the Halocaust.	This is the quaint restaurant at the top of Kickelhahn hill. Members of the delegation hiked up Kickelhahn, representing the highest point in the area.
Another scene in downtown Ilmenau, the hotel Lindenhof.	Just one of many scenic areas in Ilmenau. Walking is a favorite activity.	A craftsperson showing her pottery trade.	A residential area in the Ilmenau area sits alongside a small river.	In 2005, then Mayor of Blue Ash, Rick Bryan, presented Ilmenau Oberbuergermeister Gerd-Michael Seeber with an inscribed granite plaque in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the Blue Ash-Ilmenau sister city relationship.
In 2002, Raymond Walters College (then Dean Barbara Bardes pictured to the left) signed the official agreement of the partnership between Ilmenau Technical University (representative to the right) & UC / RWC. Several delegations from both communities have visited multiple times.	A scene from a nearby castle.	Oberhof, a town very near Ilmenau, is the site site for the German Olylmpic ski team.	The official agreement between Sycamore Schools & the equivalent Ilmenau public schools was signed in 2002.	Pictured above is a historic building in nearby Weimar, a larger town located near Ilmenau considered to be a major cultural center in Germany.
Several business meetings were held while the Blue Ash delegation visited Ilmenau. Fostering of business relationships is one goal of the Sister City relationship.	Another business meeting in Ilmenau with one of the Blue Ash delegations.	An historic church in downtown Ilmenau - St. Jakobus town church.	Another view of the St. Jakobus town church in downtown Ilmenau.	An historic building in downtown Ilmenau.
Ilmenau delegation members were in Blue Ash for the dedication of the City's north fire station.	In 2004, a popular band in Ilmenau, the Wilbury Clan, performed at the Taste of Blue Ash.	Ilmenau's the Wilbury Clan band on Blue Ash's Towne Square state.	Blue Ash police have given a demonstration of their canine units during each of the delegation visits.	Pictured are two Ilmenau business leaders with Mayor Jack Buckman during a recent visit to Blue Ash. Blue Ash hosted an "All-American" picnic in one of the park shelters for the group.
Joviality during the "All-American" picnic in the A-Frame shelter. Pictured L to R are Gerd-Michael Seeber (Oberbuergermeister), Chief Interpreter & Blue Ash resident Sal Wertheim, & then Mayor Rick Bryan.	During each visit to Blue Ash, the Oberbuergermeister & German delegation have visited the Veterans Memorial & have respectfully placed flowers.	The entire German delegation, with some Blue Ash friends, at the Veterans Memorial Park.	Each German delegation has visited the U.S. Air Force Base Museum in Dayton. This visit has proven to be a favorite for each delegation.