Thanks so much for letting us know about this Ed, as I know the ever modest Sir Tapani would not have advertised it. My Finnish is absolutely zero but I would like to tune in and watch the ceremony anyway, if you have a link. Congratulations Tapani, we are proud to be led by you! Stephanie Perrin On 2015-12-04 16:55, Mark Leiser wrote: > Congratulations indeed! Fantastic and befitting Honour! > > Mark Leiser, BS, LLB (Hon) | PhD Candidate | University of Strathclyde > | Faculty of Humanities and Social Science | The Law School l Centre > for Internet Law and Policy | Room GH806 | Graham Hills Building | 50 > George Street | Glasgow G1 1QE | Tel. +44 141-548-2493 > > Email <mailto:[log in to unmask]> |Bio > <https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/courses/gradschool/studentprofiles/markleiser/> > | Twitter <http://twitter.com/#%21/mleiser> | LinkedIn > <http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=189149411&trk=tab_pro> | > Google+ <https://plus.google.com/u/0/105289982691060086995/posts> > > > > On 4 December 2015 at 21:49, Edward Morris <[log in to unmask] > <mailto:[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 > > >