The founding meeting of the Myyrmäki Rotary Club was held on 17 March 1975 at the Volvo premises. The initiative was driven by four Rotarians from the Vantaa club who were active in the Myyrmäki area. On that same day, Finland’s Vihtoris celebrated their name day, which inspired the Myyrmäki Rotarians to name their annual celebration Vihtori Day.
On 21 April, the largely silver-haired group of Rotarians and their spouses gathered to celebrate the club’s 50-year journey at Hämeenkylä Manor. Also present were our club’s and the Tikkurila club’s joint exchange student, Japanese Nonoka Yamada, together with Nina Paavilainen from her host family. Tikkurila club president Anja Vaaja and our district’s Assistant Governor Juha Merinen were also with us.
Before the performance by the Vaskivuori Upper Secondary School trio, Myyrmäki club president Pekka Kauhanen welcomed the Rotarians of the world’s happiest nation. In his historical review, Kauhanen shed light on the era in which the club was founded. The club was very much in tune with the times. At its very first meeting, it decided to acquire the latest technology: a typewriter. With it, the minutes of the first club meeting were typed in large letters: THAT IT IS FUN, THAT THERE IS MUTUAL TRUST, and THAT THERE IS ACTIVITY.
The highlight of the celebration was the appointment of Heikki Linna—who has been active in the club since 1977 and is truly one of its pillars—as an honorary member.
Another high point came from Jouko Peltola, who fondly recalled all he has gained from club activities and decided to donate 3000 euros to youth exchange operations.
The excellent food and arrangements left club members reminiscing about the celebration in many meetings afterwards.
