The Rotary year 2023-2024 has reached the halfway mark. After passing the winter solstice, the amount of sunlight increases as we move towards spring. At this point in the year, in the role of the president, it is good to take a look at the autumn season and then look towards spring.
The Rotary Club of Rovaniemi has progressed according to the rotary’s annual theme “Create Hope in the World” and its own annual plan. In half a year, we have managed to rebuild the beloved Northern Lights Wicket together with the Rovaniemi Santa Claus Rotary Club, the townspeople and partners, participated in charity work at Rovaniemi’s Old Market by running Rotary Roulette, and collected a nice amount of donations in the End Polio Now fundraiser for charity. We also collaborated with the Kuusamo Rotary Club by selling great annual calendars, the proceeds of which we donated to polio fundraiser. For residents of Rovaniemi and those visiting the city, we have also maintained an open bookshelf in the Sampokeskus shopping mall, and we have taken care of the maintenance of the Rotary Forest Park.
Together Rovaniemi Rotary Club and Rovaniemi Santa Claus Rotary Club visited several great companies and communities in Rovaniemi. Thanks to LapIT, BRP Finland, Lapland District of the Finnish Red Cross and Rovaniemen Palloseura (RoPS) for the inspiring visits!
In the weekly meetings held by Rotarians, we have been able to hear current presentations from our own brothers and sisters as well as from guests they have asked to perform. I am especially happy about the arrival of three new Rotarians, Victoria, Antti and Matias, to our club.
We have shared more information about our activities and communicated on Facebook and on the www-pages in both Finnish and English. We have also provided information about our projects to local newspapers and the Rotary Norden magazine. Happily, our meetings have had guests from Singapore, Spain and Great Britain. We greeted our Italian brothers and sisters together with Santa Claus, which certainly offered memorable experiences even for the youngest members of the family.
Now is the time to calm down at Christmas time and continue with even greater enthusiasm in Rotary activities after the new year. In the spring, great weekly meetings await us, a visit by district governor Petri Keränen, company and community visits to the University of Lapland, Rovaniemi Airport, Norrhydro, Kunnon Paikka and the Kolpene support and expertise center. In addition, we will visit the Parliament with the Rotarians from Rovaniemi. In the youth exchange activity, we are preparing to receive an exchange student in Rovaniemi for the next rotaryseason and to send a young person from Lapland to the world. More information about the spring events can be found in our up-to-date event calendar: https://rotary.fi/rovaniemenrotaryklubi/en/news-and-features/events-calendar/
On behalf of the Rotary Club of Rovaniemi, I would like to wish you all and your loved ones a peaceful Christmas season! You are welcome to refresh yourself during Christmas at Northern Light Wicket on the banks of Ounasjoki, where you can meet both old and new acquaintances in the glow of the campfire. Thank you for the good cooperation in creating hope for the world – together we are more!
Manu Pajuluoma
President, Rovaniemi Rotary Club
On the eve of Christmas Eve, campfire on the Northern Lights Wicket
The basis of Rotary activities are local Rotary clubs, which bring together influencers to do good in their own community. As a Rotarian, you can implement meaningful charity projects near and far. You can find more information about us and our contact information on our website and Facebook:
https://rotary.fi/rovaniemenrotaryklubi/en/
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