Blue Ash delegates take off for Sister City trip

City of Blue Ash officials and staff along with local education, healthcare, and business leaders, will continue an over two-decades-long exchange of educational and cultural experiences as they depart on September 9, 2022, for a trip to Sister City, Ilmenau, Germany. Ilmenau is located in the German state of Thuringia and has a population of 40,000.

The weeklong trip will focus on exchanging ideas and best practices in the field of healthcare. The delegates will take part in tours and discussions at Technical University Ilmenau, a hospital, local businesses, historic landmarks, and much more.

The group will also be celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the Sister City partnership. Blue Ash’s first visit to Ilmenau was in 2000, and the cultural exchange was cemented two years later with an official Sister City agreement.

“Since its inception, the Sister City Program has been an incredible way for our leadership team and our citizens to learn from one another,” said Blue Ash Mayor Marc Sirkin. “Over the past twenty years, our cities have worked together to create in-depth exchange programs for professionals and students as well as immersive learning opportunities for our business leaders and city staff.”

Past student exchanges have included UC Blue Ash, Sycamore Community Schools, and Ursuline Academy.

Sister City trips typically occur annually with alternating visits to Ilmenau and Blue Ash every other year.  Due to the pandemic, the most recent trip was in 2019 when delegates from Ilmenau visited Blue Ash.  Blue Ash has not visited Ilmenau since 2017.

This year’s delegation includes Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman, UC Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Blue Ash Fire Department Medical Director Dr. B. Woods Curry, UC Blue Ash Dean Dr. Robin Lightner, Moeller High School World Languages Department Chair Linda Zins-Adams, UC German Professor Dr. Deborah Page, Optometrist Dr. Deborah Wright, Blue Ash City Manager David Waltz, Blue Ash Economic Development Director Dan Johnson, Blue Ash Mayor Marc Sirkin, Blue Ash Vice Mayor Pramod Jhaveri, Blue Ash Council Members Jill Cole and Katie Schneider, Blue Ash Police Lt. Roger Pohlman, Blue Ash Fire Captain Lou Ernstes, and Blue Ash Executive Assistant Julie Kipper.

The delegates will return from Germany on September 16.

To learn more about the Sister City Program, click here.