Many congratulations Tapani. Naveed - On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 2:49 AM, 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 > > >