Hi Tapani,

Congratulations! I look forward to working with you.

Joan
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On Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 4:49 PM, 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
>
>
>