Meritorious farewell: BRK boss Neumaier steps down after 40 years

Meritorious farewell: BRK boss Neumaier steps down after 40 years

In a warm farewell, Anton Neumaier, the long-time district chairman of the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) Freising, was honored and given a dignified farewell. After 40 years on the board, including 28 years as first chairman, Neumaier did not stand for election again. In a solemn ceremony, not only his achievements were recognized, but other deserving BRK employees were also honored. [Merkur].

Under Neumaier's chairmanship, the number of members of the BRK district association grew from 72 to an impressive 352. This impressive development shows the commitment and leadership strength of the outgoing chairman. Neumaier's successor, Martin Bengler, praised the outgoing chairman's achievements and appointed him honorary chairman, while district manager Albert Söhl praised the fruitful cooperation over the years. Neumaier presented Söhl with a Kastulus commemorative coin as a sign of gratitude.

Honors and awards

Some impressive honors were also presented during the farewell ceremony. Martin Ernst was awarded the Henry Dunant Medal in silver, while Wolfgang Wengert and Gerhard Weh received the BRK Medal of Honor in gold. In addition, Michael Pulcynski was presented with a gift, even though he is not leaving the district board. Special honors have been requested from the regional association for Neumaier and Pulcynski, but the details remain unknown for the time being.

These honors are not only recognition for those honored, but they also reflect the valuable work that the BRK does in times of crisis. The BRK Freising emergency services were particularly challenged during a flood event in June. [KV Freising]. A total of over 2,000 emergency services, including more than 500 volunteers, were deployed to support the population and set up care centers.

Volunteering as the foundation of society

The commitment of volunteers to the BRK is an indispensable part of society. Thanks to targeted training and further education, the volunteers are optimally prepared for the challenges that can arise during operations. BRK attaches great importance to ensuring that the tasks correspond to the individual strengths of the helpers, while at the same time giving them the opportunity to organize their time flexibly.

Neumaier himself described the close connection between the BRK and the district office as crucial for successful work in crisis situations. This was also made clear when the “Flood Relief 2021” medal and the Rhineland-Palatinate flood relief medal were awarded for the activities in the Ahr Valley. In his speech, District Administrator Helmut Petz praised the quick reactions and commitment of the BRK paramedics and described the Ahrtal disaster as a “flood disaster of unimagined proportions”. The work of the BRK impressively shows how important volunteer work is, especially in times of crisis.