Rotary 120 – joint anniversary seminar and evening party May 24th, 2025
Rotary turns 120 this year. We will celebrate the anniversary on 24 May 2025 in Tampere Hall. It will be a spectacular joint event of Finland, Estonia and Åland. We look forward to meeting you there with other Rotarians, their partners, and friends of Rotary!
The theme of the event is peace. It is one of Rotary’s seven key themes and unfortunately relevant now. However, peace is a fundamental prerequisite for us to do good in the world. Without peace, you cannot drill wells, promote literacy or support local economies.
The celebration day consists of a festive seminar and an evening party. There will be top-level speakers, friendship, good deeds, joy and great emotions.
Come and celebrate 120 years of Rotary – let’s make this the event of the century together!
The price for the event is 120 euros per participant.
The price includes the seminar and evening party with dinner.
Wine for dinner can be booked when registering.
Book accommodation separately according to the instructions below.
Join us!
Courtyard by Marriott Tampere City
Courtyard by Marriott Tampere City is a modern 4-star hotel in central Tampere, under the same roof as Tampere Hall and a few minutes from the Nokia Arena. When you make a reservation through this site, you will receive accommodation at a special price. The room rate includes a varied breakfast, taxes, free Wi-Fi and access to the well-equipped gym.
Confirm your reservation with a credit card (excluding Visa Electron) and your accommodation will be charged at check-in. You can change and cancel your reservation free of charge via your booking confirmation up to 24 hours before arrival.
If you want the rooms to be invoiced by the company, you can make the reservation normally via the website and send the booking’s billing information to our reception via email (info@courtyardtamperecity.com). Please provide billing information at least 3 weeks before arrival.
The offer is valid until April 23rd, 2025, and the number of reserved places is limited.
MAKE YOUR BOOKING VIA THIS LINK!
Scandic Tampere City
You can choose the desired room type and get an extra discount when paying for your reservation immediately upon booking.
The cancellation policy for an individual accommodation reservation depends on the booking type chosen by the guest. To confirm the reservation, the guest must provide the hotel with valid credit card information.
Rooms are available for booking, subject to availability, no later than 10 days before arrival.
Scandic Friends members should also check the available loyalty offers.
We offer guests a discount with the booking code EVNT.
MAKE YOUR BOOKING VIA THIS LINK!
Anniversary seminar and evening party 24.5.2025
Program
| 9-10 | House of Friendship construction | |
| 10 | Registration begins | |
| 11-12 | Brunch | |
| 12 | Opening of the event | |
| Music | Trio Vidal | |
| Greetings from the city of Tampere | ||
| Speech | President Stephanie A. Urchick, Rotary International | |
| Speech | Member of Parliament Pekka Haavisto | |
| Rotary’s work over the years around the world | Architect, Science Journalist, PDG Aaro Söderlund | |
| The top projects in Districts 1385-1430 including Finland, Åland and Estonia | Video | |
14.45-15.15
| Coffee break | |
| The UN’s situation in the world and cooperation with Rotary | Policy and Planning Officer Marina Toivonen, UN Peace Operations Unit | |
| Panel Discussion: The Future of Rotary | Stephanie A. Urchick, Suzan Stenberg, Christina Daous ja Jaana Koskela | |
| Speech | ||
| 17 | The seminar ends | |
| 19 | Gala dinner |
The program is continuously supplemented. We reserve the right to make changes.
The main language of the seminar is English.
Possibility of interpretation into your own language.
Speakers and performers
Pekka Haavisto
Pekka Haavisto is a Member of Parliament and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland. Pekka Haavisto is a peace negotiator and a defender of democracy and human rights. He is well-versed in foreign policy and international affairs. He has led an investigation on the environmental impacts of wars and represented the EU and the UN in crises around the world. Haavisto has also written numerous books. His favorite hobbies are literature, old Volkswagen “Bubble” cars and wooden boats.
Stephanie Urchick
Stephanie Urchick is a member of the McMurray Rotary Club in Pennsylvania, USA. She is currently the president of Rotary International for the 2024–2025 Rotary year. Stephanie has previously served as an RI director and as a Rotary Foundation Trustee. She has served in a variety of roles within Rotary, such as educator, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator and RI president’s representative. Stephanie has also held significant positions in Rotary’s Council of Law (COL).
Suzan Stenberg
Suzan Stenberg is a member of the Åre Rotary Club. She is also a member of the Rotary International Board of Directors for the period 2024–2026 representing zones 17 and 18. Suzan has held many positions within Rotary, including Membership Coordinator within the zone.
Aaro Söderlund
Aaro Söderlund is an architect who has had design projects all over the world. He is also a science journalist and many of his programs can still be heard on Finnish Broadcasting company’s YLE-Areena. Aaro has worked as a teacher at Aalto University. He has lectured around the world and worked as a field architect on archaeological excavations and has also made international television documentaries on archaeology. He is a councilor in the city of Pargas and a member of the Rotary Club in Nagu as well as a former district governor. His hobbies include walking, Stephen Colbert and history.
Marina Toivonen
Marina Toivonen works in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Police department and its Operational unit. She has been a police officer since 1985 and has 39 years of experience in senior positions but also experience in various areas of the security sector, including organized, financial and cross-border crime. In addition to her national career, she has a significant 15 years of crisis management experience in various international roles, including the EU and UN.
