08:21The meeting’s most issue was the ongoing delay in electing a new chair for the commission. This election has been postponed since January, primarily due to insufficient attendance to form a quorum. With the recent resignation of Tom Schmidz, who left to serve as a city councilor, the commission finds itself in a leadership gap. In his absence, members debated whether to wait for a full quorum to ensure fair representation in the election process. Suggestions included contacting absent commissioners to gauge their willingness to assume leadership roles, allowing the commission to move forward in May even if a full quorum is not present.

12:53In addition to the leadership concerns, the commission discussed the Hans Joseph Culture Exchange Program. Outbound intern Martha is scheduled to work in Danube from May 26 through August 15, assisting with an environmental event called “You Melt.” Plans for her second location are pending. Meanwhile, inbound intern Samuel Coups is set to arrive in New Ulm from September 2 through November 24. Samuel will work at Shell’s Brewery, exploring a career in brewing. However, his travel plans are complicated by concerns over European entry restrictions into the U.S. The commission is coordinating with Sister Cities International for guidance and is seeking host families to accommodate Samuel during his stay.

15:41The meeting briefly touched on other cultural initiatives, such as the German language day camp and the upcoming bratwurst stand events scheduled for June and August. Additionally, a report on a recent trip to Alm, Germany by the NARN delegation was postponed due to the absence of the group’s representative.