Burtscheider Citizens' Association
The Burtscheider Citizens' Association is a registered non-profit association based in Aachen . It was founded during the Kulturkampf as the Catholic Burtscheid Citizens' Association on October 20, 1876 in Burtscheid . In addition to the parish of St. Johann, the founding members were well- known Aachen / Burtscheider personalities such as chaplain Werner Baehren and the Burtscheider councilors Bernhard Klausener and Joseph Hansen.
Goals, ends and means
The areas of activity of the Burtscheid Citizens' Association were political, social and church activities in the town of Burtscheid, which was still in existence at the time (has belonged to Aachen since 1897).
Anyone who was at least 25 years old and Catholic and belonged to one of the following professional groups could become a member: Middle civil servants , independent master craftsmen , members of an independent profession or the commercial middle class .
Originally the Burtscheider Citizens 'Association was a citizens' initiative against Bismarck's culture war laws . Together they wanted to fight against the underemployment resulting from these laws. The citizens' initiative produced a successful forerunner of the employment office (today the Federal Employment Agency ), which supported many in their search for a job or apprenticeship. But other social issues were also clarified with the help of social experts.
The citizens' association also set up a people's kitchen to taste the poor and needy.
Due to the many charitable sub-organizations and activities, the BBV quickly became increasingly popular with many Burtscheid people as “De Heere va Botsched” ( Öcher Platt for: The Lords of Burtscheid).
The organization, exercise and structure of the association were severely impaired by the Second World War, and only very slowly got going again after the war. From this point in time (1960), it was also decided to convert the previous goals of social commitment to maintaining a cultural, sociable and entertaining basis. Tours, visits and lectures were carried out.
Until 1969, the Burtscheid Citizens' Association was purely a men's club. To date, women have been denied membership. From 1969 there was a radical change: women were allowed to join, just as the word “catholic” was deleted from the club name and people of all denominations were allowed to join the club.
Organization, structures and administration
The association is a sociable association with a chairman. Furthermore, there are many administrative posts within the association such as the treasurer etc.
There have been eight different chairmen since 1876:
- 1876–1881 Bernhard Klausener
- 1881–1887 Friedrich Stein
- 1887–1921 Alfons Klausener
- 1921–1930 Hans Rühland
- 1930–1950 Franz Birken
- 1950–1971 Josef Bültmann
- 1971–1988 Emil Claessen
- 1988–2008 Bruno Käfer († 2008)
- 2008–2014 Hermann Schorn
- from 2014 Frank Rehberg