Volker Poes celebrated his 40th anniversary of service on August 1, 2023. In a ceremony, Lord Mayor Frank Frühauf, colleagues and staff representatives congratulated the long-serving Chairman of the Idar-Oberstein City Council on this special day.
Prior to his employment with the municipal administration, Poes served eight years as a soldier in the German Armed Forces, which is taken into account in the length of service. On August 1, 1991, he was employed as a master mechanic at the municipal building depot, where he looked after the facility's numerous vehicles and equipment. As he was strongly committed to the interests of his colleagues, Volker Poes was elected to the city council's staff council in 1997 and was deputy chairman of the committee. In 2009, he finally became Chairman of the Staff Council and as such was released from his duties at the building depot. He remained Chairman until 2021, after which his former deputy Susanne Becker took over as Chairman following the staff council elections. Volker Poes and Iris Rüßler-Görg are now her deputies. Poes is still partially released from his duties for his work on the staff council and is also responsible for occupational health and safety at the building depot.
Mayor Frühauf paid tribute to Volker Poes' many years of commitment to both the building depot and the municipal staff council. "As a member and chairman of the staff council, he was very committed to his colleagues and was always interested in the further development of the municipal administration." The input of the staff council was very important for the management of the authority. This was also emphasized by Wolfgang Petry, Head Clerk. He praised the good cooperation with the committee, although there were naturally sometimes conflicting views. Petry also pointed out that Poes enjoyed the trust and recognition of his colleagues in his role. This was because he always achieved excellent voting results in the elections.
Gerhard Baum, head of the construction depot, thanked the jubilarian for the good cooperation and for helping to shape change at the facility. In his work, Poes has always come up with good ideas. For example, he once designed the irrigation system installed on the Unimogs at the construction depot himself.
Susanne Becker and Iris Rüßler-Görg also paid tribute to their colleague's many years of commitment to the Staff Council. "He is an enrichment for the committee," said Rüßler-Görg. As someone who does not come from a traditional administrative background, Volker Poes quickly familiarized himself with the work of the Staff Council, emphasized Susanne Becker. "In the course of our work, we drilled a lot of thick boards together."
Poes looked back on the not always easy work as Chairman of the Staff Council. "You often have to put your finger in the wound, which is often not pleasant." As you are also confronted with the private fates of colleagues, being involved in staff representation is sometimes very stressful.
Finally, Mayor Frühauf presented the jubilarian with a few gifts and a certificate of thanks from Minister President Malu Dreyer. His thanks and good wishes for the future were gladly accepted by those present.