Mayor Kathleen Backer sits behind her desk at City Hall. As one of New Ulm’s most prominent senior citizens, Backer thinks it is important mentor the next generation.

NEW ULM – In 2022, Kathleen Backer was elected mayor of New Ulm, a position that has made her one of the most prominent senior citizens in the community.

However, even before being elected, Backer was one of the most active seniors in the community, both through her professional work and volunteerism.

Backer admitted that outside of official duties, she often does not think about her status a mayor.

“I am so proud to be a resident of New Ulm and have the honor of serving as mayor is just the icing on the cake,” she said.

In addition to her duties as mayor, she continues to volunteer with the Brown County Historical Society. She previously served as BCHS executive director. She still assists with grant writing for BCHS and oversight. She will even work as a volunteer at the Kiesling house for the butter and sauerkraut making demonstration.

“That part of volunteering is so heart warming,” she said. “People come in and want to hear about this heritage chores. They talk about why they came to New Ulm to visit. That’s why I still donate my time.”

Backer gives her time to help different organizations with fundraising and strategic planning.

“I think it is important to have nonprofits supported by volunteers,” she said. “My years working as BCHS executive director made it clear how important volunteers can be.”

For her, volunteering and helping the community has always been important her. One of her first volunteer roles was working on the county fair board.

“I recall sharing my disappointment with a fair board member with how poorly the facilities were being maintained for 4-H members,” she said. The board member she complained to suggested she join the board. She was the only woman on the board at the time, but she jumped at the opportunity.

“It was just natural for me,” Backer said “I had a voice and I was interested in assuring that we were considering the best interest of the young 4-H members.”

From there she became involved with other civic activities, including serving on the New Ulm Public School Board in the 1980s and eventually working with the Brown County Historical Society.

“Part of my earlier success was other people affording me the opportunity for success,” Backer said. She joined the fair board because a member invited her. She said there were many people in her life who helped mentor her and that’s something she tries replicate in her life.

“It is very important to help grow the next generation of leadership,” Backer said. In fact, one of her primary duties as New Ulm Mayor is helping find the next generation of leaders.

The New Ulm mayor is tasked with finding individuals to fill the different positions on city commissions and boards. When running for mayor one of her goals was fostering the future leadership of the community and engaging younger people to serve the city.

“I think a lot of young people do not understand that they can serve on city commissions as long as they live in the city limits,” she said.

Backer confirmed that no specific education or financial backing is needed for people who want to volunteer their time with the city.

“If you have the will, are interested, you have the qualification to serve,” she said. “You don’t need to defer to seniors in the community.”

Backer said the city does have an application process for anyone who want to serve on the commission. The goal is to match the individual to correct commission or board.

Backer said she was adamant that seniors need to help mentor the next generation of citizens and sometimes that includes letting go and letting new blood take over. However, that does not mean seniors must disengage.

Backer said does not ever plan to officially retire. At age 79, she still wants to keep growing and having new experiences in life.

“It is important to remain engaged and give back,” she said. She believed there were plenty of nonprofits that could use the support of senior citizens.

“There will always be something to do,” she said. “If I wasn’t in the mayor’s chair I would be out there doing something. If you have expertise to share, why not donate that expertise.”

Backer said she would like to eventually take classes at South Central College to learn website design and maintenance as well as graphic design. She said these skills are valuable to nonprofits who do not have the money to hire someone to do this for them.

She said another benefit for senior volunteering is it helps reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

“Getting involved helps with self-fulfillment.”

Backer said it has brought her a lot of personal joy to give back to the community.

“I’ve been blessed with a happy spirit and good health,” she said.