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Las Cruces delegation returns from Nienburg; Sister Cities group seeks hosts for future visit
Summary
Members of the Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation reported on a June delegation to Nienburg (Germany) for that town's 1,000th-anniversary events, described student and cultural exchanges, and said they plan to invite Nienburg to Las Cruces next fall and to rebuild exchanges with Lerdo, Mexico.
Leaders of the Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation briefed the City Council on July 14 about a June delegation trip to Nienburg, Germany, and the foundation’s recent reorganization and outreach plans.
Elaine McKinney, president of the Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation, said the foundation has revived membership and governance after a decline following the COVID-19 pandemic. “We currently have 36 members,” McKinney told the council, and the foundation is updating bylaws, standing rules and a memorandum of agreement with the city. She said the foundation holds roughly $31,000 in its accounts to support exchanges.
Delegation activities: Councilors saw a short video and heard reports from delegation leaders about the trip to Nienburg’s 1,000th anniversary. Lisonbee (Allison) Smith, chair of the Nienburg affiliation committee, said the Las Cruces group participated in a parade, visited local waterworks and schools, and planted a tree as part of Nienburg’s goal to plant 1,000 trees for the celebration; the Las Cruces delegation’s tree was number 300.
Exchanges and next steps: McKinney and Mayor Eric Enriquez described long-standing exchanges between Las Cruces and Lerdo, Mexico (first sister-city affiliation formed in 1989) and Nienburg (the city27s second sister-city affiliation, formed in 1993). Delegation members said they would like to restore student exchanges with local high schools and asked the council to support hosting visitors. The foundation reported a plan to invite a delegation from Nienburg to Las Cruces next fall, likely in October or November; the visit would overlap with Las Cruces’s 250th United States observance, the presenters said.
Membership and governance: McKinney said the board revised its governance and improved reporting to state and federal authorities; the foundation also launched a new website. Delegation members asked the council and the community to recruit host families and volunteers to support visits and exchanges and to encourage community involvement in sister-city activities.
Council response: Several councilors thanked delegation members for their work and encouraged broader community participation, including Rotary and school-district leaders; Mayor Enriquez said he had discussed reviving exchanges with the school superintendent. Councilors described the trips as opportunities for cultural diplomacy and education rather than political advocacy.
Sources: Remarks and presentation by Katrina Godinez (community engagement), Elaine McKinney (Sister Cities Foundation president), Lisonbee Smith (Nienburg committee chair), and Mayor Eric Enriquez at the July 14 City Council work session.
Ending note: The Sister Cities Foundation requested a photo with the council and said gifts from Nienburg will be displayed locally; they urged community members interested in hosting to contact the foundation via its new website.
