Statement of the Supervisory Board and the Presidium of the Hanoverian Association on the press release of Ernestine Zwingmann on her renouncement of a renewed candidacy as Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board
Verden. The installation of new committees associated with the structural reform of the Hanoverian Association and, above all, new people who work in these committees in an honorary capacity to drive forward the necessary modernization and future orientation of the Hanoverian Association was and is a major challenge for an organization of this size. For the most part, the cooperation between the committees, the presidium and the supervisory board is characterized by professionalism and team orientation. Since the tasks and responsibilities of the individual committees are divided into different areas of competence and responsibility according to the statutes and rules of procedure on the one hand, and on the other hand the achievement of the strategic and operational goals of the Hanover Association can only be achieved through mutual exchange and understanding of each other's position, this sometimes results in conflicts within an organization. This, and how we as the Hanoverian Association have succeeded in recent months in establishing an efficient new committee structure supported by a positive atmosphere, is clearly illustrated in the editorial written by our Vice President in the November issue of DER HANNOVERANER.
However, the Supervisory Board and the Executive Committee of the Hanoverian Association must note with regret that the Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board, Ernestine Zwingmann, comes to a completely different conclusion in her own understanding and assessment of issues relating to the performance of duties, responsible accountability, cooperation and the associated required transparency. As she also expresses in her press release, her understanding of the function and tasks of the Supervisory Board chairmanship does not find a majority even within the bodies of the Hanoverian Association; in this respect, the step she has chosen not to run again at the Assembly of Delegates in January 2022 is a necessary and correct consequence. However, the Supervisory Board and the Presidium would like to jointly express that they will continue to pursue the chosen path for a positive development of the Hanoverian Association in close cooperation and mutual trust. The criticism publicly voiced by Ms. Zwingmann was discussed openly, unreservedly and self-critically by the members of the Supervisory Board and the Presidium in a joint meeting.
We are all too aware of the public impact generated by the press release issued by the Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board. However, it is also part of the understanding of a democratic society to accept this very personal approach chosen by Ms. Zwingmann. However, to derive connections and conclusions from this, as has already happened in individual comments, which impute a lack of willingness or ability to renew to the Hanover Association and its bodies, must be decisively rejected. It is self-evident that after almost 100 years of tradition, a reorientation of the Hanoverian Association still involves quite a few challenges - in terms of content and organization. In this context, constructive and self-reflective criticism is not only welcome at any time, but is also seen as a necessary impulse for our future-oriented work.
Supervisory Board Hannoveraner Verband
Hendrik Hüsker, Matthias Bug, Achim Schacke, Matthias Grupe
Board of Directors of the Hanoverian Association
Dr. Hinni Lührs-Behnke, Carsten Leopold, Matthias Klatt, Hergen Forkert, Harald Thelker, Dieter Meyer
