|
The working seminar was opened by Mr. Talvitie, Head of Structural Policy from The Association of Finnish Local Authorities |
| Kuusamo Presentation was held by Anneli Nuutila, Municipality of Kuusamo | |
|
Mr Robert Shotton, Head of Unit, Europen Commission DG XVI.B.4 gave his insights about Information Society, its implications and structural policy. |
| Mrs Auli Strandh, Senior advisor from Federation of Swedish County Councils presented the LOCREGIS-project | |
 |
Dr Heinrich Wedral, Director of Office of European Affairs, Government of Burgenland, presented the Information Society Projects in Austria |
| and Mr Gunnar Hedborg, IT-Strategist from Swedish Local Authorities, the strategies in Sweden |  |
 |
As well as Mr Antti Rainio, the Counsellor from Ministry of Finance concerning the IS strategies in Finland |
For the first evening there was something disturbing in the agenda..outdoor activities. The guidance was very simple: Put on all you think you'll need, and then some. All the courageous enough were seated to two busses. In the bus someone asked about the bears. Well, the bears are dormant during the winter, so the real issue were the wolves (not werewolves, just wolves)...
After 25 minutes of bus-driving we arrived to the end of our journey. Little concern was caused as there seemed to be
 We were welcomed by Finnish Music which entertained us all through the evening (later even some Russian music as well). Some guests even joined in the end... |
|
 |
The evening was lighted apart by the lights, also by the Moon, which was kindly provided by the organisators. Maybe next time they remember to get the aurora lights as well. |
 |
Our main source of light and warmth was though the fires made of kelo, which is wood from the tree dead but still standing. It's very dense and burns and burns and burns... |
| Out of Heikki's look, you can see that there must be something serious. Possibly Ulla is telling about the pack of wolves, she saw, or something even worse. Despite our detective work we haven't been able to resolve what is the problem. The work continues... |  |
 |
Not only light and warmth, but body needs some fuel. We were fuelled by reindeer soup, warm juice and some cookies and doughnuts. |
| Eating was easier using a portable table, as Mr Talvitie demonstrates in his camouflage suit |  |
 Some people even were shining in the dark... A peaceful shot of a peaceful situation in a peaceful environment |
|
 |
Another scene from the evening |
| But everything has to end sometime, so...back to the busses and to more populated place in our Information Society |  |
| Agendum |  |
| Agriculture on Internet |  |
| Northern Central Finland Information Highway |  |
| Co-operation project Torsby |  |
| GMOA |  |
| Internetix |  |
| DINE PM |  |
| Koillismaa Information Network |  |
| IT-Blekinge |  |
| LEVI/MeHu |  |
| PAIDEIA |  |
 |
Mr Antti Rainio made a presentation about what are the various levels of Information Society |
| NetNews |  |
| Matve |  |
| AC-Direkt |  |
| Northern Finland Information Highway |  |
| REN |  |
| Service Shop |  |
| Torsby hospital |  |
| Terve |  |
| Video on demand |  |
One of the most important aspects in LOCREGIS-project are
best practice criteria, which were presented by Mr Manuel Cigot,
Managing Director, Arco Consulting.
Nobody could have taken the risk of disturbing the highly immersed groups, so there is not a picture about them.
 |
Pekka Takala, Director of Telecom Finland shared with us his visions and observations. Modestly he stated that our telecommunications infrastructure is the best in the world and attributed it to the free competition between telecommunications service providers in Finland. |
| After his presentation we were blessed with a musical enjoyable experience. |  |
 |
Ms Outi Anttila from Municipality of Kuusamo gave more in-depth inforamtion and presentation over Koillismaa Information Network. |
 |
The drinks promoted green values. |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Mr Jose Cotta, Head of Unit, European Commission, DG XIII.A.6 expressed his insights concerning Information Society and its implications and effect in regard with Regional Policy.
 |
Mr Kurt Vander Ecken, Mr Thanassis Chrissafis from DG III, Mr Louis Lengrand, Arco who was acting as a chairman, Mr Jose Cotta from DG XVI and Mr Johann Binder, LOCREGIS had a round table discussion concerning European content of best practice criteria. |
 |
 |
Mr Gunnar Hedborg, IT-Strategist stated the best practice criteria from a local viewpoint.
Mr Johann Binder from WiBAG told about best practice
criteria and core projects
Mr
Thanassis Chrissafis presented European initiatives supporting
regional Information Society.
Mr Esko Hurme, Advisor, the Association of Finnish Local Authorities discussed core projects and Information Society strategies.
Mr Heikki Lunnas, Senior Advisor from Finnish Local Authorities presented the next steps of LOCREGIS.
Mr Juha Talvitie, Head of Structural Policy unit, the Association of Finnish Local Authorities closed the seminar.