The good souls of SG Rodheim

The Wetterau Sports Honor Award 2024 goes to Helga and Wolfgang Lingenau, who have made outstanding contributions to SG Rodheim for decades. District council chairman Armin Häuser (l.) and district administrator Jan Weckler (r.) offer their celebratory congratulations. © pv

The SG Rodheim and the name Lingenau: They belong together. The married couple Helga and Wolfgang have been almost unconditionally committed to the SGR for decades. Now they are title holders.

With the commissioning of the Rodheim sports hall, including the newly laid football pitches and the clubhouse, in 2012, together with the recently deceased Ernst Gruner, they set a kind of monument for themselves. »This festival will stay with me forever. That was gigantic,” says Helga Lingenau. Her husband Wolfgang agrees with her. It was the former civil engineer who decided to volunteer over 2,000 hours for this project alone because SG Rodheim stopped accepting athletes due to inadequate and dilapidated infrastructure. Several years of planning resulted in Rodheim now being compared to Wetterau as a progressive and ultra-modern sports facility.

For this and many other projects and their almost daily voluntary work in the foreground and background as the soul and the engine, as club members say, of one of the sports clubs in the Wetterau district with the largest number of members, the couple from the Rosbach district was ceremoniously honored on Monday in the district hall The 2024 Wetterau Sports Honor Prize, worth 2,500 euros, was awarded. In front of a comparatively impressive backdrop. That was also an indication of the extraordinary work of the two. The 72-year-old has been a member of the SGR since 1983 and on the board since 1994. Most recently as deputy treasurer and assessor. As the “face of the office,” Helga managed membership growth from 1,000 to 1,800. The club currently has nine departments: from foot, basketball and volleyball, judo, athletics, rehabilitation and skiing, table tennis to gymnastics. Her 74-year-old husband has been a running club leader in the athletics department since 1987. He helped initiate the Rodheimer Volkslauf, which took place for the 32nd time this year and reached pre-Corona levels with 659 finishers.

From aha to wow effects

Wolfgang himself is a passionate and active runner. He came to running as a way to balance his job and volunteer work. “To this day, it’s the fitness program for me that helps me get through anything.” He appreciates “clearing my head.” He immediately wrote down aha effects for problems after training. His wife dedicated herself to Nordic walking for a long time, gave courses as an exercise leader and was in the gymnastics group. Helga also looks back fondly on hosting the German Trampoline Jumping Championships in Rodheim. “I thought that was really great.” Today, this sub-unit no longer exists in the gymnastics department – due to a lack of instructors. Wolfgang also associates the relocation of the beach volleyball facility with four fields and floodlights with positive emotions. »Our volleyball players were so happy. I will never forget that.” Overall, this feedback is her elixir of strength for the sometimes Sisyphean work. “When we come to the sports center and see that the three pitches and fields are well attended, we always have a smile on our faces,” both emphasize. It is confirmation that the planning was not based on needs.

And this at a time when a lot of things are changing in the club sports sector due to new sports, leisure activities are becoming fragmented and young people often prefer individual sports or the gym to clubs. “The advantage of a club over a fitness studio is that we live things together,” says Wolfgang. And sports clubs can also be an anchor point through this community. Especially for younger people and children. Especially after times of crisis like the corona pandemic. At the SGR, the trainers reported back that children revealed significant movement and coordination deficits. “That was frightening and it hasn’t really caught up to this day,” says Wolfgang and says: “Anyone who doesn’t feel fit should dare to join a sports club.” His wife also sees his parents in the group Obligation to show children about sports opportunities at an early age.

A commitment to club sports

She, who also started with the SGR because of her two sons who are active in sports, states that many young and working parents find it difficult to reconcile volunteering in sports, and on the other hand she also notices increased egotism in society. That’s why she emphasizes: “Voluntary work not only brings something for the general public, but also always something for those who get involved.” Wolfgang sees light at the end of the tunnel: “It’s not quite as black as it looks. But as a club you have to make a lot of effort to attract volunteers. The couple emphasizes the personal approach. Emails or calls at general meetings are unsuitable instruments. “It’s always a speech from a distance,” states Wolfgang.

How long do you want to stay involved? While Helga, as the oldest member of the board, wants to step back, Wolfgang is still enthusiastic about one project: the new building of the Ober-Rosbacher sports hall on Eisenkrain. A matter of the heart that, if implemented successfully, other generations of amateur and competitive athletes will be grateful for.

**Beyond the​ new sports ‌hall, what other initiatives undertaken by Helga and Wolfgang have⁤ had the⁣ most⁣ significant impact on both SG Rodheim and the ‍wider community, illustrating their dedication‌ to promoting‌ sports and fostering community spirit?**

## Interview: Helga and Wolfgang Lingenau – ‌Pillars of SG Rodheim

**Introduction:**

Welcome to World Today News. Today, we have‍ the‌ pleasure of speaking with⁤ Helga ⁤and Wolfgang Lingenau, the recipients of the 2024 Wetterau‍ Sports Honor Award. Their decades of⁢ dedication ⁤to SG Rodheim have left an indelible ‍mark on the club and the‍ community.

**Section 1: A Foundation of ‌Dedication**

* Helga and Wolfgang, congratulations on receiving this well-deserved⁣ award.​ Can you share⁤ what drew you to SG Rodheim ‍initially and what kept‌ you involved for so long?

*⁣ The article mentions your‍ commitment to the ⁤new SG Rodheim sports ‍hall​ in ‌2012. Can you elaborate on the challenges and rewards of that project, and what impact it had on the club‍ and ⁤the community?

* How has the experience of seeing the club ‍grow and evolve‌ over the years shaped your understanding of the vital role volunteerism plays in sports?

**Section 2: Navigating the Shifting⁤ Landscape of Sports**

* The⁣ article ‌touches upon the challenges facing club sports today. In ⁢your opinion, what are ‌the primary factors ‍contributing to these challenges, and how effectively are clubs adapting to them?

* You’ve spoken about the importance of the‌ “personal approach” when engaging with‌ potential volunteers. Could you elaborate ⁣on this and ‍offer suggestions ⁢on how⁤ clubs can ‌effectively attract and retain volunteers in⁢ a world increasingly dominated by digital interactions?

* Some people argue that ​the‌ rise ⁣of individual sports and fitness studios poses a threat to traditional club sports.⁢ What is your perspective⁢ on this, and‍ do you see opportunities for collaboration or synergy⁣ between these different models?

**Section 3: Looking Towards‌ the Future**

* What are your ​hopes and aspirations for the future of SG Rodheim? ⁤What do you see ​as the keys ‍to ‍its continued‍ success ⁢and impact ⁤on the community?

*​ What ⁢advice would you⁣ give to young people who are considering getting involved in club sports, either as athletes or volunteers?

* Wolfgang, you mentioned your ⁢enthusiasm for the new Ober-Rosbacher sports hall project. What excites you about this project, ⁢and‌ what potential does ⁢it hold for the future of sports in the region?

**Closing:**

Thank you, Helga and Wolfgang, for sharing your insights​ and stories. Your‌ commitment to SG Rodheim serves as an inspiration to us all.

**Note:** These are open-ended questions designed⁣ to encourage thoughtful responses and stimulate discussion. The interviewer ⁤should remain attentive and adaptable, allowing the conversation to ‌flow naturally.