January 29 Meeting

 

At this week’s meeting we were joined by fellow Rotarians Louise, Lumi and Boyd from the Kitchener Club as well as Luke and James from the Laurier Rotaract Club. Our guest speaker was Rotary Exchange Student Sami Hartikaiken from Finland (more details on Sami’s presentation below). 

 

February 5, 2025 – District Governor Sohail will attend our lunch meeting

February 11, 2025 – Special 5 Club Meeting to be held at the Granite Club in Waterloo with Mark Crowell – Chief of Police to speak to our clubs.

February 12, 2025 – Regular Club Meeting Canceled in lieu of Feb. 11 5-Club Meeting.

March 31, 2025 – Special 5 Club Meeting with former Governor General of Canada David Johnston – visitwww.rotarykiwanistogether.ca for tickets.

 

President Mac invited Luke and James from the Laurier Rotaract Club to the front of the room for a special cheque presentation in support of the Laurier Rotaract Club’s Support with our annual Crown and Anchor Event. Members of the Rotaract Club helped to fill shifts on the second weekend of Oktoberfest and in support of their efforts President Mac presented their Club with a cheque in the amount of $1250.  Luke and James were very appreciative on behalf of their Club.

 

With a growing total pot of $303.50 both Brandon and Michelle (x 2) had an opportunity to find the elusive black marble, both failed miserably and the pot continues to grow.  

 

Our Guest Speaker was introduced by Boyd Pendleton – Rotary Club of Kitchener – Chair of the Youth Exchange Program.

 

Sami Hartikaiken is a 17-year-old grade 12 student from Mikkeli, Finland.  Sami has been in Canada on the youth exchange program for 5 months and gave a presentation about herslef and Finland.

 

Sami is an active person enjoying life in the outdoors and enjoyes activities such as snowboarding, hiking, crossfit and foraging for mushrooms with her father in the summer time. Sami has a younger sister and misses her family, however, technology and videocalls have helped her stay in touch. Sami is currently studying at WCI in Waterloo.

 

Fun facts about Finland:

The capital of Finland is Helsinki with a population of 650,000 people. Sami thought this was a big city until she recently visited Toronto!

Mikkeli where Sami is from has a population of 55,000 and is a bustling resort/cottage town in the summer time. Mikkeli is located on the largest inland lake in Finland.

 

Finland has been an independent county for 107 years and prior to that was under Sweedish control for over 600 years. Finish and Sweedish are both spoken in Finland with English also being taught in school. 

 

While Finish people are typicaly quiet and reserved, Finland has been voted the Happiest County in the world 7 times in a row. (Editors note: Perhaps by not saying the quiet things out loud and keeping unkind thoughts to themselves they remain happy and avoid drama, just a thought – Brandon).

 

A popular pass time includes relaxing in the sauna and then taking a cold plunge. Rumor has it in Finland there are 3.3 million saunas for 5 millon people! Despite being quiet and reserved, the Fin’s can get loud if they win Hockey games or other sporting events. 

 

Sami also highlighted some popular Finish food including reindeer (much to Everton’s surprise), along with small smelt like fish, baked goods and some very salty treats.

 

It was an excellent presentaiton by a remarkable young woman who will no doubt go on to do great things all supported by the power of Rotary and the Youth Exchange Program.