Elegant, entertaining, well-organized and well-chosen charity content - on Friday night 9 December 2011 some 150 guests, companies' Christmas parties, Rotarians with spouses and friends gathered in Hotel RadissonBLU Oulu to celebrate and raise funds to Nuorten Ystävät Tukkitien Työllistämiskeskus (the Tukkitie Employment Center of the Friends of the Young Association) to help them in supporting disabled young people and particularly to facilitate their first steps into working life and employment.

The charity funds were collected from the ticket sales income, line advertisements printed in the programme leaflet and lottery tickets during the event. From these sources the Gala generated a total amount of 4700 euros that was donated to Mrs. Marja Irjala, the Secretary General of Nuorten Ystävät. In her thank-you speech Mrs Irjala told the audience about the facts and feelings that their organization faces daily in trying to fulfil their challenging mission - to help young people to overcome their limitations and to become able to conduct active and productive life as fully-valued members of the human community. The contribution and support from local companies, Gala guests and RadissonBLU made this donation possible.

                 







                 
Presidents Anne Siira and Antti Nevalainen

The finely dressed Gala guests were pampered by the skilful and friendly staff of RadissonBLU Hotel, led by Mrs. Tarja Karvola, a Rotarian herself. The Gala music, in Frank Sinatra style, was provided by the famous TT Big Band, conducted by its maestro, Mr. Samu Forsblom. The Grand Gala was opened by Mrs. Anne Siira and Mr. Antti Nevalainen, the presidents of the two organizing clubs Oulu City Rotary Club and Oulu International Rotary Club. *Then followed an excellent three course dinner and good wine.* A joyful atmosphere with a murmur of lively conversation filled the room as the culinary pieces of art went down caressing gently the tastes of Gala guests. And finally the evening was rounded up by elegant movements on the dancing floor where the pace was set, of course, by the swinging rhythms of TT Big Band and its vocalists Ms. Reetta Jakkula and Mr. Juho Jormanainen.

Ballroom dance with TT Big Band and Reetta Jakkula

*During the days after the event,* the guests, Rotarians and others, exchanged impressions and memories on the Grand Christmas Gala and expressed their wish that the event, which combines solid human charity target and elegant entertaining swing in the best Christmas spirit, would become a new tradition in the Oulu Rotary community. Shall we celebrate again in December 2012?


The lottery ladies Venanzia and Maarit from Oulu City Rotary Club

Special thanks to the sponsor class of Oulu City Rotary Club at Luovi and our sponsors to make this fabulous event a great success.

Grand 2011 Christmas Gala was supported by: 100c, Asianajotoimisto Isoluoma, Asianajotoimisto PPV Lex Oy, EXFO-NetHawk, Fysiopalvelu Knuutila & Sarias,Kaleva, Kalevaprint Oy, Kylmänen Food Oy, Markkinointi-instituutti, Medipolis GMP Oy, Oulun Koru Oy, Oulun Lyseon lukio, Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio, Pretax Oulu Oy, RadissonBLU, Rokuan Kuntoutus Oy/Rokua health, Securi Oulun Lukko, Skanska Talonrakennus Oy and Triacle Biocomputing.