Congrats Tapani! best, Marie-laure On Sun, Dec 6, 2015 at 8:37 PM, Joan Kerr <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi Tapani, > > Congratulations! I look forward to working with you. > > Joan > > <https://www.avast.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> This > email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. > www.avast.com > <https://www.avast.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> > <#151778d0de7d24ad_DDB4FAA8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > > 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 >> >> >> > >