WHEREAS, Georg von der Gablentz has performed outstanding service over the years as he has directed the work of the German-American Dialog Center Magdeburg; and

WHEREAS, Georg von der Gablentz has been instrumental in working with leaders in Magdeburg and Nashville to create a viable Sister Cities program for the two cities; and

WHEREAS, Georg von der Gablentz has fully supported and assisted in the development of the “Alternative Service in Nashville” by recruiting young men to work a year at the Martha O’Bryan Center serving the young people at the Center instead of a year in the military; and

WHEREAS, Georg von der Gablentz has visited Nashville on numerous occasions in order to further the development of exchange programs between Nashville and Magdeburg for students, teachers, lawyers, city officials and other interested citizens; and

WHEREAS, Georg von der Gablentz worked with Magdeburg Mayor Lutz Truemper and Councilman Olaf Czogalla to have a beautiful half-mile pathway along the Elbe River named the Nashville Promenade and later came to Nashville to help Berdelle Campbell and Bob Bogen establish a Magdeburg Greenway through Germantown’s Morgan Park; and

WHEREAS, Georg von der Gablentz created the slogan of “A Tree for Nashville”, replete with posters and T-shirts, and personally came to Nashville where he purchased a live oak tree and presented it to Mayor Bill Purcell. They came out to Morgan Park where Mayor Purcell, President of Sister Cities Doug Berry, and Greenway officials took part in the planting of Georg’s personal contribution to the Magdeburg Greenway soon to be under construction; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to recognize Georg von der Gablentz as a “Botschafter fuer Nashville” . . . a distinguished ambassador of good will for the partnership between two sister cities in Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany and Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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

Section 1. The Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as recognizing Georg von der Gablentz for his outstanding contributions to our Sister Cities program for Magdeburg and Nashville, as well as commending him for his personal commitment to continuing a long-lasting friendship between the citizens of our two cities.

Section 2. That the Metropolitan Council expresses its appreciation to Dr. Uwe Kuester, Chairman of the German-American Dialog Center Magdeburg and a member of the German Parliament, for providing the resources and guidance for Georg von der Gablentz to carry out his effective programs for the Dialog Center.

Section 3. The Metropolitan Council Office is directed to prepare a copy of this Resolution to be presented to Georg von der Gablentz.

Section 4. 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: Carolyn Baldwin Tucker, David Briley

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Referred:	Rules & Confirmations Committee
Introduced:	May 1, 2007
Adopted:	May 1, 2007
Approved:	May 4, 2007
By: