Erlangen celebrates: 80 years of Christian Nowak and new active cards!

Erlangen celebrates: 80 years of Christian Nowak and new active cards!

A special event will be celebrated in Erlangen on December 26th: Christian Nowak, chairman of the Anger/Bruck district advisory board, will join the venerable ranks of the 80-year-olds. Mayor Florian Janik has already sent the city's best congratulations, recognizing the long-standing commitment that Nowak has carried out as chairman of the committee since 2023. He was previously deputy chairman and has always advocated for the interests of citizens. This is a valued example of volunteer commitment in Erlangen that you can never hear enough about.

The city also distributed active cards to voluntary organizations and groups in an impressive campaign. A total of almost 1,000 cards were given to 460 groups to show appreciation for the diverse voluntary activities in the city. The Aktiv-Card, which is also available as an app, gives its holders discounts in many facilities, including the Margrave Theater, the city library and the city swimming pools. This is a wonderful opportunity to reward the valuable work of volunteers.

Background to the volunteer card

The Bavarian volunteer card, which the city is introducing to accompany the Active Card, is a further sign of recognition for civic engagement. It offers holders, among other things, discounts on major brands, free entry to state institutions and discounts at cultural and leisure facilities. Local providers such as swimming pools and restaurants are also included. The yellow-blue cards can be applied for digitally from September 1, 2023, further improving accessibility. A real advantage at a time when time is often in short supply!

The Minister of State for Sport and Volunteering also emphasized how important it is to make volunteer commitment visible. Millions of people make valuable contributions in various areas, from rescue to culture. In times of crisis, volunteers are often the first to help, and it is therefore important to support their work with appropriate framework conditions. Measures such as increasing the volunteer allowance and the trainer allowance are steps in the right direction. The federal government plans to reduce bureaucracy for associations and simplify the non-profit status check in order to promote commitment.

The ZAM in Erlangen

A highlight of urban development in Erlangen is the Center for Exchange and Making (ZAM), which was recognized as a “special place” by the German Institute for Urban Studies. This recognition highlights how important the exchange between citizens and the city administration is for vibrant urban development. The ZAM is an example of the initiative to actively promote civic engagement and strengthen dialogue.

In summary, the city of Erlangen is making significant progress in valuing and promoting voluntary work through these initiatives. A look at the website engagiert-in-erlangen.de shows that a lot of commitment and support is possible here. This means that Erlangen remains a place where volunteering is highly valued and the community comes together to overcome the challenges of everyday life together. One can only hope that this positive development will continue and that more and more citizens will get actively involved!