At the Dautphetal municipality’s 2026 New Year’s reception, figures from the worlds of politics, business and society gathered at the Elkamet Music Hall. As the host, the company provided the venue and technical support – a sign of regional solidarity and a partnership in action.
On 22 January 2026, the Dautphetal municipality’s New Year’s reception took place in the Elkamet Music Hall. Around the stage, which is normally used for internal events, numerous guests from the local administration, associations, businesses and the world of politics gathered to look forward to the new year together.
The evening began with an Elkamet promotional film, which provided an insight into the company’s work and values. The Roth Band then provided the musical entertainment for the rest of the evening.
Mayor Marco Schmidtke used his speech to emphasise community cohesion and economic self-reliance. With regard to current challenges, he urged the audience not to lose sight of climate targets and set out the evening’s motto: “There is no alternative to optimism!”
A highlight of the programme was the talk by Johannes Warth entitled ‘FAIRchange – or sometimes things turn out differently because of the way you think!’. The speaker discussed how to deal with change and how courage, optimism and fairness can help to actively shape change.
Frank Schmidt, Chair of the Local Council, emphasised that Dautphetal is a charming place with a warm spirit and a strong sense of community. He called for participation and dialogue on the issues that will shape the year 2026 – including local elections, economic development and the climate action plan.
To conclude, Friedhelm Nispel, Chair of the Dautphetal Trade Association, thanked everyone involved and looked forward to the new year with confidence. In his words: “Together, we have welcomed the new year – with confidence.” He expressed special thanks to Eberhard and Philipp Flammer for providing the music hall and for their support in organising the evening.
Elkamet supported the local community as host by providing the venue and technical support – a wonderful sign of our connection to the region.
As a company with deep regional roots, it is important to Elkamet to create spaces for people to meet and exchange ideas. Events such as these strengthen the community in Dautphetal and demonstrate how mutual support and openness contribute to the region’s development.
