The Annual Membership Luncheon took place on June 26, 2005 at the residence of Christiane and Niels Christiansen. The beautiful setting and the gourmet lunch prepared by Christiane contributed to a very congenial atmosphere.

After welcoming and thanking the board and the many members, Rosemarie Reisch, chairperson, rendered an overview of past and present events and programs emphasizing the success of the grand First Festival of Sister Cities of Los Angeles which took place on May 22, as well as the tree that was planted at the Berlin Forest on the occasion of the farewell of Consul General Dr. Hans Juergen Wendler. 

She mentioned how much everyone appreciated the support by the Consul General and his wife Gudrun throughout the four years of their stay in Los Angeles and indicated that Dr. Wendler intends to found a nonprofit organization "Friends of Berlin and Los Angeles" in Berlin in the near future. Mrs. Wendler suggested to initiate a student exchange between the two cities with the $2,000 that were left over from the project "100 Classrooms for Afghanistan" which she organized in 2004 with the support of our organization and the German Cultural Society. 
 
 

Rosemarie Reisch, Karin Memmert (Membership) and Detlef Guttke (Treasurer) were reelected for another term. Afterwards everyone was invited to render ideas and suggestions as to worthy projects and events as well as the upcoming 40th Anniversary of the Sister City Partnership.