International Toast – Karis / Karajaa, Finland
• Karis club belongs to District 1420 and its club number is 9993
• Club is based in Raseborg Provence
• Meet every Tuesday 1800 – 1930 at the Restaurant Socis
• Reported to have approx. 45 memebers
• Founded on February 18, 1955 – sponsored by the then neighbouring town of Ekenäs Club
President Gustaf Knape
President-elect Lars Söderström
Past President Henrik Bilenberg
Secretary Lars Söderström
Club Manager Kåre Pihlström
Treasurer Markus Merenmies
Foundation Agent Markus Merenmies
Youth Exchange Mikko Sievänen
Program and Projects:
• Rotary Youth Exchange – Inbound and Outbound
• RYLA (Baltic)
• Slava Ukraini Project (2022):
The club picked up Ukrainian refugees to Finland by bus in summer 2022. The club received support for the project from local businesses and club members. To support the project, they have also erected a memorial forest in the centre of Karis.
• The Rotary Doctor Bank of Finland
The Rotary Doctor Bank of Finland is funded by all Finnish Rotarians.
The medical bank has operated in Tanzania since 2002 in the hospitals of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania. Volunteer doctors and dentists have been sent to Tanzania through the Medical Bank with the help of self-financing collected by the Finnish Rotary Service and development cooperation project support granted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Each year, volunteer doctors may be sent to Tanzania for six or more weeks. The work is unpaid, but doctors receive reimbursement for travel, a daily allowance and insurance. Doctors participate in the work of the hospital with available equipment, and also carry out educational work. In addition to the pleasure of humanitarian work, the participants have felt that they have gained experience that would not be possible in Finland.