This is fantastic news! Super congratulations, Sir Tapani... And long live Finland!

Mawaki

Sent from BlueMail



On Dec 4, 2015, 21:54, at 21:54, Edward Morris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Hello everybody,        This Sunday, December 6th, is Independence Day
>in the Republic of Finland. It was on this day ninety-nine years ago
>the Eduskunta, the Finnish parliament, adopted a resolution declaring
>Finland independent from Russia.     As in many countries, Independence
>Day in Finland is a time of remembrance and celebration. Befitting
>Finland, it is a day both of formality and of understatement. In the
>evening families traditionally light two candles, one blue and one
>white, and place them in the windows of their homes. As a foreign guest
>in the country I was always quite touched by the simplicity and beauty
>of the celebratory gesture. A Presidential reception is held in the
>evening, the telecast of which traditionally is amongst the most viewed
>television shows of the year in Finland. Shadow events, often in the
>form of demonstrations and gatherings benefiting charitable causes,
>take place concurrently.     Independence Day is also the day honours
>are announced and presented. It is with great joy I want  to let all of
>you know that this year Finnish President Sauli Niinistö will be
>bestowing upon NCSG Chair Tapan Tarvainen the honour and title of
>Knight of the White Rose of Finland. The White Rose Order was
>established in 1919 by General Carl Mannheim, a man who is considered
>by many, myself included, to be the greatest Finn of all time. The
>Grand Master of the Order is the President of the Republic of Finland. 
>I know everyone joins me in congratulating Tapani for being chosen to
>receive this high honour in recognition of his service to his country
>and to the world. I suspect we are probably the only SG at ICANN to
>have an actual Knight as a Chair, further evidence of the exceptionally
>high quality of person one encounters in the NCSG. Congratulations
>Tapani and Happy Independence Day, Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää,  to all of
>our Finnish members and friends.        Best,     Ed Morris