The Marysville man who served as organizer, tour guide, interpreter and cultural liaison for the mayor and two city councilmembers on a recent visit to China was named the city's Volunteer of the Month. Mayor Jon Nehring presented the award to Noah Rui at the March 25 City Council meeting. 

Rui accompanied Mayor Nehring, Councilmembers Mark James and Steve Muller, and the councilmembers' wives on a trip to Marysville's Friendship City of Yueqing, China, in mid-February. The mayor and councilmembers paid for the trip out of their own pockets; no city funds were spent. During the trip, the Marysville group visited well-known destinations in eastern China including Beijing and Shanghai in addition to Yueqing, Rui's hometown. 

"Noah's work was absolutely indispensable," Mayor Nehring said. "He worked full-time early morning through late night arranging most aspects of this trip including the important official duties as well as the day-to-day necessities such as transportation and food. The trip would not have been possible without Noah and this became very obvious from the moment we arrived." 

Rui volunteered countless hours over several months starting in mid-2017 making arrangements and advising the Marysville group on cultural expectations and decorum. He previously helped form the Friendship City relationship with Yueqing and organize two trips to Marysville by Yueqing government and business officials in 2015 and 2017. 

Marysville established a Friendship City relationship with Yueqing in 2014 to promote educational and economic opportunities and cultural awareness.  When the Chinese delegation visited Marysville in 2017, they discussed local government issues with Mayor Nehring, Councilmember Muller and city department directors before touring the city's water treatment facilities. 

Rui has lived in Marysville for 13 years. He and his wife, Rachel, have four children.