Welcome to Finland and Savonlinna to the IFAJ 45^th Annual Congress!

The desk will open on Saturday, 8 September 2001 at 10am. There are signs to direct you to the reception desk . We recommend that you sign in immediately after arriving in Savonlinna, whereupon you will receive all the necessary congress materials.  

Hotelli Seurahuone contact information: Kauppatori 4-6, FIN-57130 Savonlinna (near the marketplace) 
Tel: + 358 (0)15 5731, Fax: + 358 (0)15 273 918; www.savonhotellit.fi/

Opening of congress

The program for the first day begins with the IFAJ Executive Committee lunch and meeting for its members. Transfer to the lunch venue departs from outside the front of Seurahuone at 12:45.

At 7pm there will be a Get Together Party at Wanha Casino, which is just a short walk from the hotel. The Casino is marked on the congress map in the hotel lobby. Finnish participants will also be in the hotel lobby at 6:45pm to assist in finding your way to the venue.

Transfers to Savonlinna

If you have signed up for the congress bus transfer to Savonlinna, signs (IFAJ – Transfer) in the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport arrivals hall will direct you to the buses. The buses will depart on 8 September 2001 at 8:30am and 2:00pm. We recommend that you sign up for either of the two departures using the email address below or by fax. Return transfers from Savonlinna will depart on 13 September 2001 at 7:30am, arriving at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport at approx. 1:30pm.

We have only made transfer reservations for those participants who have signed up and paid in advance. If you have not yet signed up for the congress bus transfer, but will be joining us, please notify us as soon as possible.

A separate bus transfer for those participating in the Russian excursion will depart from the airport on Thursday, 6 September 2001 at 6:30pm.

September weather in Finland

In Finland the weather in early September can be a rather chilly 8-15 degrees, possibly accompanied by heavy rain. Night temperatures can drop to just above freezing. On the other hand, if the weather cooperates, we can bask in full sunshine in temperatures of up to 20 degrees. We recommend that you pack a proper raincoat, sturdy and weatherproof footwear and a warm sweater. A hat and gloves might also come in handy.

Finns use a layering approach in their dress, i.e. several thin layers that can be removed or added depending on the conditions. Follow our tried and true advice: as long as your feet, hands, shoulders and head are warm and dry, you’ll do just fine in Finnish weather.

Dress code

Our evening programs are intended to be free and informal. In other words, comfortable, casual wear is just the thing for an enjoyable evening. However, the closing banquet will be an exception to this rule. In keeping with the rather regal atmosphere of the medieval St. Olaf’s Castle, we ask that you pack more formal attire (i.e. a suit), but avoid wearing high heels as the castle’s cobblestone floors might present problems. On Sunday and Tuesday we will go directly from the day to the evening program. On Monday, we will have a short break before the city reception. On Wednesday, we will have an approx. two hour break after returning from the excursions.

Especially for the excursions, we recommend that you wear sturdy shoes and weatherproof clothes.

Outstanding payments

Any outstanding congress fees must be paid when signing in, in cash or an internationally recognized credit card. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept personal checks.

Program and excursions

The congress program of events includes day-long excursions. The EKO and BIO excursions are similar in content. We are usually able to grant personal requests that are made upon signing up, but in some cases we may require guests to transfer from one group to another in order to keep group sizes optimal. If this should occur, we would greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

In order to ensure that the program and excursions go smoothly, we ask that you observe all set departure times and give ample notice for any changes in your own schedule.

Special dietary needs and physical limitations

If you have not already notified us of any special dietary needs or physical limitations that you might have, please do so at your earliest possible convenience.

Russian excursion

Departure for the Russian excursion is on 7 September 2001 at 7:30am from the front of  Hotelli Seurahuone. All participants on the excursion must have a Russian visa stamped in their passports and proof of valid travel insurance in compliance with the travel agent’s terms. Make sure to pack comfortable clothing, extra rolls of film and batteries. There will be soft drinks and snacks available on the bus for the duration of the excursion. We recommend that you begin taking lactic acid bacteria a few days before departure. You can view the excursion itinerary on our website as of 20 August 2001.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us, preferably by email at ulla-mari.sundelin@faba.fi, fax: +358 (0)9 857 06401 (until 5 September 2001) or mobile phone: +358 (0)50 511 0194.

Wishing you a warm welcome to Finland and Savonlinna!

Organizational Committee of the 45^th IFAJ Congress “Northern Dimension”

Ulla-Mari Sundelin                                                    Pirjo Kontio

General Secretary                                                  President