. Volume 13, Issue 1

Inside this issue:

President’s

Corner

2

Gemütlichkeit

2017

2

Membership

Reminder

2

Christmas Party

2016

3

Announcements 3

The Sister Cities Scoop Lichtenfels Vandalia Prestwick

January, 2017 Editor: Ann Kimmel

January’s

Gemütlichkeit

There will not be a Janu-

ary General Membership

meeting. Since the

weather is so unpredicta-

ble in January, the Board

has decided to be proac-

tive and cancel the Janu-

ary meeting. Stay home

and stay warm!

Charter Member Helen Tomski Passed Away

Sister Cities has lost another one of

its founders. Helen Tomski, age 94, passed

away Friday, December 9, 2016 at the Ma-

jora Lane Center in Millersburg.

Helen was a founding member of Sis-

ter Cities along with Walt Lakin, Marv Link

and Jeff Jordan. Helen was a hard worker

and had a good sense of humor. She

served as President of Sister Cities in 1980, 1984 and 1985 and visited

Lichtenfels, Germany several times. Helen was the chairperson for the

food booth at the Oktoberfest for a number of years and also served as

the chair of the funnel cake booth.

She was part of a group of Sister Cities couples who celebrated

birthdays by going to dinner once a month, then back to someone's home

for cake and funny cards. She delighted in getting the funniest

cards. Although she was single, she was a big part of the group. She al-

so fixed a really good New Year's Eve dinner for these same friends, fol-

lowed by cards and seeing the new year in together.

Helen was a founding member of St. Christopher Catholic Church

and was a longtime member of the choir. She was also active in a variety

of missions with the church including collecting and donating clothing to

those in need, the Great Books Reading Club in St. Chris Elementary

School and countless other mission driven projects. In her mission work,

she annually spearheaded a clothing drive (which often also had furniture

and appliances) for a depressed area in Kentucky. She arranged with a

moving company to transport it all to Kentucky. Helen took great pride in

donating her time and energy to those less fortunate than she.

Helen was a fixture in the Vandalia community and served as the

(Continued on page 3)

Check out Vandalia Sister Cities online at www.Vandaliasistercities.org Page 2

The Sister Cities Scoop

President’s Corner

I am looking at our 2017 schedule and it will be a busy year for us. The activi-ties includes our trip to Prest-wick, Scotland, trip to Lichtenfels, Germany, the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra’s visit to Vandalia in July and our Oktoberfest in Septem-ber.

I usually talk to some-

one from Prestwick or

Lichtenfels every day. Some

of it is business but mostly it

is just saying Hi to a friend.

Now is a good time to make

contact with your friends just

to say Hi.

Now is the time to

start thinking about our visit

to Prestwick and Lichtenfels

and start making plans. As

always, it is a good time. The

basket festival will be going

on while we are in Lichtenfels

and that is always a good

party to attend.

Yesterday I had a call from Erika Sorg in Lichten-fels. She wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

On a sad note, my host, Wolfgang Drenkard’s mother passed away a few weeks ago.

Harvey Kimmel

Membership Reminder

Reminder - it's time for 2017 dues. $20 for a family

(children up to age 18); $10 for a single (18 years and old-

er). Please fill out the form that is on our website and send

it along with your check made out to “Sister Cities of Vandal-

ia” to: Brenda Windel, 185 Ginghamsburg-Frederick Road,

Tipp City, OH 45371. I will also be at the February meeting

to accept dues. Thanks - and Happy New Year everyone.

Brenda

Gemütlichkeit 2017

Thanks to all who signed up to

either host or co-host the 2017

Gemütlichkeit each month. The

months of March, June, August

and November are still open. If

you would like to host or co-host

a Gemütlichkeit, please call or

email Ann Kimmel at 901-6031

or annkim49@gmail.com.

2017 Official Visit to Lichtenfels

The official dates for our visit to Lichten-fels is from September 13 through September 20. The reason we will be going in the middle of the week is because the Basket Festival is the weekend of the 15

th and we know how eve-

ryone loves the Festival. If you are interested in going, please contact Wayne Wright at 898-4518 or at waynesusie@earthlink.net.

2017 Official Visit to Prestwick

I received an email from President John Park inviting members of Vandalia Sister Cities to join members from Ariccia, Italy on a visit to Prestwick, April 4 through April 8. If anyone would like to join in the visit, please contact Harvey Kimmel 901-6032 or harkim@woh.rr.com.

Newest Member of Sister

Cities Expected to Arrive in

June

Kristin and Josh Cox are excited to

announce that they are expecting

their first baby. Their new little bun-

dle of joy is due on June 19, 2017.

Congratulations to you both!

Page 3

Peace thru People

Save the Dates

Board Meeting:

January 4 at 7:00 p.m.

Membership Meeting:

No Meeting in January

Meetings are held at the Vandalia

Senior Citizens Center located at 21

Tionda Drive S.

Happy January Birthdays!

Joe Kissel ....................... 1

Jack Shirley .................... 3

Carla Clark ...................... 6

Brenda Windel ................ 8

Nancy Pratt ..................... 9

Josh Cox………………... 9

Joe Tracy ...................... 19

Mark Shaner ................. 28

Sharon Starline ............. 30

Suzanne’s Sunshine

Report

Thanks to Suzanne Jordan, a little

sunshine was sent to brighten

someone’s day:

Charter member Helen Tomski has

passed away.

Thelma Karns has been in the hospi-

tal with pneumonia. She is currently

at Stonespring of Vandalia/Butler.

Wolfgang Drenkard’s (Germany)

mother passed away.

Please report news on our

membership to Suzanne at

898-2703.

Deadline for February’s Scoop articles is

January 21st.

Christmas Party 2016

A HUGE thank you goes out to Jean and Dave Miller

for hosting the Sister Cities of Vandalia annual Christmas

Party on December 16th at their home. A variety of heavy

appetizers and desserts was provided for the approximately

45 guests.

After everyone had eaten the delicious food and spent

time visiting, Dave

rounded everyone up

for a game of Jeop-

ardy which he had put together with facts about Germany.

Everyone had a great time trying to guess the correct an-

swers.

Thanks again to Jean and Dave for all of their hard

work and effort. It was a great evening of friendship and fun!

Check out additional pictures from the Christmas party

on our web page at vandaliasistercities.org.

Director of the Vandalia Senior Citizens Center for several years. On March 19, 2005, Helen

was honored for 25 years of service to the Citizens of Vandalia. She was named the City of

Vandalia Employee of the Year and was a finalist in the Top 10 Women of Dayton. Helen was

presented a Knights of Columbus Certificate of Appreciation for her many years of dedicated ser-

vice to the Vandalia community in 2009.

Helen was dedicated to her church, her community, her work and to her family. She will

be greatly missed.

(Continued from page 1) Helen Tomski