A resolution proclaiming the week of April 26 through May 2, 2004, as Magdeburg-Nashville Cultural Week.

WHEREAS, on October 16, 2002, this Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting a Sister City relationship between Nashville and Magdeburg, Germany; and

WHEREAS, on May 28, 2003, the Mayors of Nashville and Magdeburg signed a treaty establishing a formal sister city relationship between the two; and

WHEREAS, among the stated goals of that treaty were to support and further, to the mutual interest of our two communities, exchanges in the areas of economic development, tourism, culture and fine art, sports, public administration and education; and

WHEREAS, Otto von Guericke (1602-1686), engineer, philosopher and inventor, and a mayor of Magdeburg withal, invented the vacuum pump and conducted experiments in Magdeburg proving the existence of the vacuum; and

WHEREAS, the most famous of these experiments, known to science students all over the world, involved an attempt to have two teams of eight heavy draft horses pull apart sealed metal hemispheres; and

WHEREAS, the Adventure Science Center in Nashville has emphasized a creative, dynamic and interactive approach to science education; and

WHEREAS, on Saturday, April 24, 2004, at 1:00 P.M, at the Adventure Science Center, Mayor Bill Purcell will officially welcome Dr. Lutz Trümper, the Lord Mayor of Magdeburg, and Dr. Uwe Küster, Member of the German federal parliament, along with over forty other guests from Magdeburg and scores of citizens of Nashville, to a reenactment of the famous vacuum experiment and opening of the Otto von Guericke exhibition; and

WHEREAS, another famous son of the city of Magdeburg was the baroque composer Georg Philip Telemann (1681-1767), for whom the city’s conservatory is named; and

WHEREAS, the renowned Telemann consort, a four member Baroque music ensemble from Magdeburg, is coming to Nashville on April 22nd, and will play recitals of Telemann’s music on Sunday April 25th at the Blair School of Music of Vanderbilt University and on Wednesday April 28th at Belmont University; and

WHEREAS, the puppet theater of the city of Magdeburg, also justly acclaimed worldwide, has found an ideal partner in the Metropolitan Nashville Public Library, which has long provided enchanting puppet shows for Nashville’s children; and

WHEREAS, on Sunday, April 25th at 2:00 P.M., the Downtown Public Library will host the opening of the Magdeburg Puppet Theater Exhibit, a children’s performance of Rumpelstilzchen, and a program for all ages entitled “Historical and Modern Marionettes”, with further performances of these works to follow during the week of the 25th; and

WHEREAS, the City Parliament of Magdeburg has made a significant financial commitment to the significant financial commitment to the success of the cultural events above-described; and

WHEREAS, Sister Cities of Nashville, Inc., the Adventure Science Center, the Metropolitan Nashville Public Library, Blair School of Music of Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, and countless volunteers have spent untold hours planning the above events; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council recognizes and gives a heartfelt welcome and sincere thanks extended to the City of Magdeburg, its Lord Mayor, Dr. Lutz Trümper, the City Parliament, Dr. Uwe Küster and the membership and board of the German American Dialogue Center in Magdeburg, to the rest of the official delegation and to all artists, musicians, and other participants in the Cultural Week events, for their great contribution to the cultural life of this city.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing proclaiming the week of April 26 through May 2, 2004, as Magdeburg-Nashville Cultural Week.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Council Office is directed to prepare a copy of this Resolution to be presented to the City of Magdeburg, Germany.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: David Briley

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Referred:	Rules Committee
Introduced:	April 20, 2004
Adopted:	April 20, 2004
Approved:	April 21, 2004
By: