Surprise party for three veterans of the Warnemünder Woche

Ingeborg Regenthal has at the 87th Warnemünder Woche for the 47th time, the parade through Warnemünde, which has been known as Niege Ümgang for 22 years. The deputy chairwoman and office manager of the Warnemünde Association has also been a constant for decades in the organization of the summer festival as part of the Warnemünder WocheAstrid Voß has also been active in the Warnemünde Association for decades, serving as its first chairwoman for 15 years. For 1 years, Jörg Bludau and his business partner, the KVS (Congress and Event Service GmbH) agency, organized the shopping mile and the summer festival program in the Kurhaus garden, working closely with the volunteers of the Warnemünde Association. Regenthal and Voß will not be running for re-election in the association's next board election, and 35-year-old Jörg Bludau is also retiring from active business. The trio was duly celebrated at the surprise party hosted by Silke Janz of NDR.

“Here are decades of experience and commitment to the area and the district of Warnemünde,” said Eva-Maria Kröger, Mayor of the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock, welcoming the three and thanking them for their exemplary, decades-long commitment to the Warnemünder Woche.

"Dear Inge, dear Astrid, dear Jörg, it has been a very special pleasure for me to work with you over the past 15 years and to hatch ideas. What was always important to all of us was Warnemünde, the people of Warnemünde, our holidaymakers and our guests. You have done wonderful things for them and made their stay unforgettable with the events for which you were responsible. You have ensured that Warnemünde was diverse, culturally and traditionally. You have held the flag high for Warnemünde and what makes it special, not only at the summer festival of the Warnemünder Woche“, said Matthias Fromm, Tourism Director of Rostock & Warnemünde, in his speech.

He praised the collaboration with the chairwoman of the Warnemünde Association, Astrid Voß, and thanked her for it: "Your reliability, warmth, and your eye for the essentials have always inspired us. You are always there when we need you, not loudly, but effectively, with a listening ear, a wise word, and sometimes even a finger on the sore spot. But that's what we appreciate about you – humanly, collegially, and professionally."

Addressing Ingeborg Regenthal, he continued: "You've been organizing the Niege Ümgang for an incredible 47 years, and you've been involved with the Warnemünde Association for over 30 years, and anyone who has worked with you knows how much passion and energy you put into every task. Your commitment is always driven by a deep sense of responsibility and admirable perseverance."

Fromm also had words of praise for Jörg Bludau: "You have shaped Warnemünde culturally and traditionally with all your ideas. For over 30 years you have been committed to and in Warnemünde with competence and creativity, you have brought ideas to life and developed visions and taken people with you. You have built bridges between generations, between topics and hearts. You have infected and carried many along. For that, my deepest thanks." He thanked all three for the good cooperation over the past years and presented them with a symbolic VIP pass for the upcoming Warnemünder Woche and a medal of honor.

State Secretary Ines Jesse conveyed the best wishes of Minister-President Manuela Schwesig and thanked Regenthal, Voß, and Bludau on her behalf for their outstanding commitment. She emphasized the importance of volunteer work in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and cited Ingeborg Regenthal and Astrid Voß as perfect role models. She thanked Jörg Bludau for the excellent support provided to volunteers through his event agency.

Angelika Gramkow, former mayor of Schwerin and board member of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Volunteer Foundation, had a surprise in store for the trio on the sofa. She presented Ingeborg Regenthal and Astrid Voß with the "Golden Volunteer Card MV," which recognizes and highlights particularly long-term commitment of at least 20 years to an organization. The card offers lifelong special benefits and discounts at 330 partner companies and 600 redemption locations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Finally, Uwe Heimhardt, a resident of Warnemünde and chairman of the Warnemünde Museum Association, thanked the three and presented each of them with a picture by the Warnemünde artist Sebastian Stave with motifs of the Warnemünder Woche.

This was followed by an atmospheric program of music and dance with the “Warnemünde Boys”, the Warnemünde traditional costume group, the shanty choirs “Sing Man Tau”, “De Klaashahns” and “Luv un Lee” as well as a joint final singing performance by all choirs.