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