EUREGIO MEETINGS

The close relations between Osnabrück, Münster and the Low Countries stems not only from the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 but enhanced historically with the strong economic connections and interweaving of urban and cultural features. At the same time the development potentials in Euregio between the towns and communities and especially the main centres of Osnabrück, the Twente Region and Münster were embossed. The successful development of the Airport Osnabück/ Münster expresses the common potential of the Lower Saxony commercial region including Osnabrück and Münster.

The Cities of Osnabrück and Münster combined, in 1989, with the combi-towns of Enschede/ Hengelo to found a close supporting coalition in the Town Network of “Städtedreieck”. Besides the calling for a cultural exchange was the overriding aim to develop common potentials and strengths within a European Framework of counties, regions and countries. The organisation of the co-operation is chaired alternatively from within each of the leading towns and cities. Currently the community of Hengelo has the leading role in “Städtedreieck”.

The idea of cross border activities and cultural exchanges involving Masonic Lodges was born many years ago. It has been fostered every year since by changing chairmanships of Dutch and German Brethren and in later years with a more international flavour of English, Irish, Scottish and since the last Saturday in the month of March with Welsh participants.

The organisation for the Euregio Lodge meetings 2006 was taken over by the WM of de Troffel in Hengelo, W Bro Jack Baas. The following Lodges are amongst those participating:-

• Loge De Troffel, Hengelo
• Ludwig zum flammenden Stern, Burgsteinfurt
• Müffelmann zur Treue, Münster
• Zu den drey Balken, Münster
• Keys of Münster, Münster
• Zum hellen Licht, Hamm
• Zum Goldenen Rade, Osnabrück
• Doric Lodge, Osnabrück

Follow this link for the latest profane Euregio info:-

http://www.euregio.de/cms/publish/content/showpage.asp?themeid=23

On the invitation of W Bro Jack Baas, Doric 886, under the leadership of WBro Klaus Schäpering formed a team in Almelo at De Bleekkirk and performed, on Sat 25th March 2006, an initiation in the English language and followed that with a traditional Festive Board including Raffles.

Photos of the Meeting in Almelo including a map of the Euregio Region showing the major towns and the triangle.