Dear Rotarians,
Autumn has begun busily. Meetings, training sessions and club visits have confirmed that our district has many good ideas and motivated people. Now we must turn that energy into active clubs, membership growth and lasting impact.
In August, the first-ever Finnish club presidents’ roundtable was held in Tammisaari (Ekenäs). Presidents of Estonian clubs have held such meetings for years, organised by the district’s assistant governors. Finland’s first roundtable was made possible with the help of the training committee. Together we went through the key issues of the newly started Rotary year and shared experiences and ideas.
Tammisaari also hosted training for district leaders and assistant governors, which we organised together with the training committee. Our priorities are clear: club activity, membership growth, supporting The Rotary Foundation and, of course, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Rotary in Finland.
The meetings of Zones 16, 17 and 18 held in Palanga on 1–6 September brought together Rotarians from many regions. The DGE and DGN completed their training, and there were also workshops, the Action Summit and the entertaining Rotariada. Such meetings bring new knowledge, build connections and remind us that we are part of a large international Rotary family.
At the meeting of the organising committee for the 100th anniversary of Rotary in Finland, we reviewed the activities already under way and assigned specific tasks. The anniversary is approaching at breakneck speed. It is not only a milestone for the Finnish clubs, but a celebration for our entire district.
What will your club’s contribution to the celebration be? If you have good ideas for whom to invite as a speaker to the district conference, please let me know.
Club visits show the real life of the district
As governor, I have visited the following Rotary clubs in September: Haapsalu (14 Sep), Nõmme (15 Sep), Tallinna Vanalinn (16 Sep) and Viljandi (17 Sep). The visits continue in Estonian clubs in September, and in Finnish clubs in October and November.
In the clubs we talk about how to involve Rotarians more actively in club activities, retain existing members and invite new people to join Rotary. The most important question, however, is how to create lasting change both in our own community and in the world.
Our district’s membership is declining. Although new clubs are also being formed in Estonia this year, the number of Rotarians in the district as a whole has nevertheless fallen. This concerns us all. If clubs do not have enough active members, our ability to support communities, work with young people and contribute to The Rotary Foundation shrinks too.
That is why the district’s first large membership seminar will be held in Tallinn on 17 October, 10:30–13:00. We expect each club to send its membership committee chair, club president or secretary. The seminar will feature the zone membership coordinator, Venanzia Rizzi. The seminar is organised by Aune Past and the district leadership.
The programme continues on the same day at the Radisson Collection Hotel:
- 13:30–15:30 district autumn seminar;
- followed by the POLIO PLUS charity lunch and dinner (16:00–18:00);
- speakers include the Zone End Polio coordinator Mikko Lindeman and Irmeli;
- a charity raffle will be held in support of polio eradication.
Please mark 17 October in your calendar now.
POLIO PLUS – every contribution counts
Rotary has been fighting polio through the PolioPlus programme since 1985. Since then, cases of the disease have fallen by more than 99%, but the work is not finished: as long as polio exists in even one place in the world, children’s health is at risk everywhere. This is Rotary’s greatest shared story, and seeing it through to the end is the concern of us all.
I want to stress this clearly: POLIO PLUS and The Rotary Foundation are not the concern of individual donors alone. Contributions must come from all members, not just a few. Without The Rotary Foundation there is no grant, and without a grant there is no project. Please raise polio in your club and agree on how your club will contribute this Rotary year.
See you on 17 October in Tallinn at the POLIO PLUS charity lunch and dinner, which will also include a charity raffle. Come yourselves and invite your fellow club members! A week later, on 24 October, World Polio Day is marked – a good reason to talk about polio at your own club meeting too. We will look at Rotary Foundation topics in more detail at the Foundation seminars on 17 November in Helsinki and 18 November in Tallinn.
Club news from the assistant governors
Assistant governors know everyday club life best. Through them, your clubs’ news, suggestions and concerns also reach me – thank you for that! Some news this month:
- The Haapsalu Rotary Club met the governor at the Ants Laikmaa House Museum, where a tree was also planted (AG Veiko Viigipuu);
- Tallinn Hansa and Tallinn Reval invite everyone to a joint club meeting on 21 September at the Nordic Hotel Forum, where Katrin Isotamm will speak about the Eesti.ai initiative (AG Marit Mikson);
- The Nõmme Rotary Club celebrates its 90th anniversary on 9 October;
- AG Erkki Leego invites club members to the Rotary International Convention in Barcelona on 26–30 June 2027.
If your club has news you would like to share with others, please tell your assistant governor.
New topics and new opportunities
As governor, I have also launched the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) training. AI is increasingly affecting our work, communication and society, and Rotary too must learn to use its possibilities wisely. By my decision, Pert Lomp will take this area forward in the district.
See you on Saaremaa
On 19–20 September, the Baltic Sea Conference will take place at the Rannahotell on Saaremaa.
Key dates
Please mark in your calendar:
| Date | Event | Place |
| Sun 4 Oct 2026 | Silakkasoutu – charity rowing and walking event (3 Oct: Helsinki pre-day and joint dinner) | Helsinki |
| Sat 17 Oct 2026 | Membership seminar, 10:30–13:00 | Tallinn |
| Sat 17 Oct 2026 | District autumn seminar, 13:30–15:30 | Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn |
| Sat 17 Oct 2026 | POLIO PLUS charity lunch and dinner with raffle, 16:00–18:00 | Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn |
| Sat 24 Oct 2026 | World Polio Day | – |
| Sat–Sun 14–15 Nov 2026 | Estonian RLI training (Rotary Leadership Institute) | Pärnu |
| Tue 17 Nov 2026 | Rotary Foundation seminar | Helsinki |
| Wed 18 Nov 2026 | Rotary Foundation seminar | Tallinn, Kalev Spa |
| Tue 26 Jan 2027 | 100th birthday of Rotary in Finland | – |
| Fri 9 Apr 2027 | District spring meeting | Helsinki |
| Sat 10 Apr 2027 | District conference and gala dinner for the 100th anniversary of Rotary in Finland | Helsinki, Ritarihuone and Hilton Kalastajatorppa |
| Sat–Wed 26–30 Jun 2027 | Rotary International Convention | Barcelona |
Dear friends, the new Rotary year has got off to a lively start. The strength of our district depends on vibrant clubs, active members and the courage to seize new opportunities. Every club and every Rotarian can contribute to that.
The 100th anniversary of Rotary in Finland is approaching. Let us make it a celebration worthy of the whole district together!
See you at Rotary events and in our clubs!
Heldur Alles
Governor of District 1420
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