Building International Understanding – My Year as National Representative 2025–2026
The new operational year began under a new single-district structure in Finland. This marked a significant organisational change, as the former IW Finland National Governing Body became a District Governing Body. Implementing the reform during the previous term was an extremely demanding process, and at the same time my second term as National Representative began within this new structure. However, the organisational reform also clarified responsibilities and enabled me to focus even more fully on the duties of the National Representative without the additional responsibilities belonging to the President of NGB.
My year as National Representative had already begun at a fast pace during the previous term due to the preparations for the upcoming European Meeting through international Zoom meetings. In September, I attended the European Meeting together with my deputy. International meetings are far more than official sessions — they are opportunities for encounters, cooperation, and building mutual understanding. After the meeting, I prepared a report, as I have done following other international meetings as well. I have always considered it important that the content of these meetings is conveyed to our members as accurately as possible through both words and photographs. In this way, the knowledge and experiences gained from international activities benefit our entire membership.
A central part of my year was maintaining communication with IIW and sharing international information with our members. I translated and communicated current international matters and continued to maintain the connections built over the years with Inner Wheel friends across Europe. International understanding is often built through small but continuous connections — messages, discussions, meetings, and cooperation.
I also attended all district board meetings. As a member outside the board, I had the right to attend and speak, which enabled close involvement in district activities and the opportunity to share both national and international information with the board. Most meetings were held virtually, yet cooperation with the board remained open and constructive throughout the year.
During the year, I gave presentations in clubs and district meetings about international Inner Wheel activities. Through these presentations, I hoped to strengthen awareness that Finnish Inner Wheel is part of a broad international community. My latest district meeting presentation focused on the theme “The UN and IIW,” highlighting our organisation’s connection to international influence and service. This operational year was strongly marked by IIW’s OtW campaign. I transferred the leadership of the campaign to the National Deputy Representative, my future successor, while continuing to actively support the campaign through communication and participation. This also allowed me to concentrate on other international responsibilities.
In addition, I clarified the overall responsibilities of the National Representative by synchronizing them with the IIW annual calendar. I also prepared detailed guidelines for the selection process of the National Representative and Deputy, and these guidelines were followed carefully when choosing my successor and her Deputy. One of the responsibilities of the National Representative was also to take care of the required documentation for the Board Director candidate nominated by the District and submit it to IIW. In this, we were highly successful: during this operational year, Inner Wheel Finland gained a representative on the IIW Governing Body as Board Director. In summary looking to the future, it became even more important within the one-district organization to emphasize the role of the National Representative and this connection to IIW — to make the chain of responsibility and reporting clearly understood.
The year also included deep sorrow. The serious illness of the District Chairman cast a shadow over the board’s work, and in the spring we received the sad news of her passing. The loss touched us all deeply. I had the honour of accompanying our Chairman on her final journey and placing a white rose upon her coffin. Later, at the district meeting, the chairmanship was officially passed on to her successor. I had the honour of placing around the new Chairman’s neck the chain of office of our new district, which had not previously been used. It was a deeply symbolic moment: responsibility, trust, and hope for the future were passed on at the same time.
Towards the end of the year, I wrote an article for the IIW Magazine about my own leadership journey. In addition, I completed all the duties assigned by IIW to the National Representative during the operational year. I also had the pleasure and honour of attending the 50th anniversary celebrations of two Finnish Inner Wheel clubs and delivering speeches on international understanding. These celebrations reminded me of the strong traditions and sense of community that continue to thrive within Finnish Inner Wheel.
As the operational year now comes to an end, I am ready to pass the chain of office of the National Representative to my successor. Along with it, I wish to pass on patience, openness, understanding, diplomacy, and the ability to foster both national and international cooperation — together with the joy and enthusiasm that support success in this important role.
The values of Inner Wheel are built upon friendship, service, and international understanding. They are best achieved together.
Together, we are stronger.
Thank you all!
Eve Pylkkänen, P&NR NGB (2024–2025), NR District 138 (2025–2026), Inner Wheel Finland