Annual Report for the 2023–2024 Term

Our association has now been active for 40 years. In the 2023–2024 term, 68 members paid their membership fees. The number of honorary (lifetime) members is 10.

The Board comprised eight members. Leena Pääkkönen served as Chair, Raija Pääkkönen as Vice‑Chair, Marika Kyllönen as Secretary, and Merja Pääkkönen as Treasurer. Other Board members were Heikki Kotamaa, Heikki Pääkkönen, Markku Pääkkönen, and Pasi Pääkkönen. Board meetings were held on 20 August 2023, 17 November 2023, 16 January 2024, 17 March 2024, 21 May 2024, and 19 June 2024. Meetings were primarily conducted remotely.

Our accounting has been handled by the accounting office P. Piirainen. The Auditor was Asko Pääkkönen, with Jaakko Pääkkönen as Deputy Auditor.

Events and Activities:

15 July 2023: Participated in the annual summer festival at Mujejärvi, Nurmes.
23 July 2023: Held our statutory Annual General Meeting on the shore of Kelloperä in Kuhmo.
Late summer–spring: Organized three excursions to various cultural sites in Kuhmo and its environs, per the Action Plan:
- 20 August 2023: Picnic at Huuhilonkylä Barn in beautiful sunny weather.
- 9 December 2023: Musical trip to see Kainuun ikihonka in Hyrynsalmi.
- 23 March 2024: Skiing and snowmobiling excursion to Vuosilukulampi in Ylä‑Vieks.
Maintained contact with other Kainuu family associations and participated in the oak grove maintenance at the Kainuu College in Mieslahti, Paltamo (established 2021).
Continued upkeep of the old family barn at Huuhilonkylä: regular lawn mowing around the barn and installation of a snow fence in November to protect the front wall from plow snow. Despite heavy snowfall, the barn roof remained intact.

Communications:

Sent the traditional autumn letter to members at the start of the term, and a second letter at the end of May with details of the summer event.
Maintained our website and the Pääkkönen family tree on Facebook. The website (built on Squarespace) is at www.paakkosensukuseura.fi. The family tree on MyHeritage is managed by Asko Valli.
Ordered and sold merchandise bearing the association’s logo.

Action Plan for the 2024–2025 Term

1. Maintain communication among family members and disseminate current news via autumn letters, the website, and Facebook.
2. Collaborate with other Kainuu family associations and continue participation in the oak grove maintenance at Mieslahti, Paltamo.
3. Care for the barn structures and grounds at Huuhilonkylä, including protection against heavy snow loads.
4. Support genealogical research and broaden our collective family knowledge as opportunities allow.
5. Offer members opportunities to attend cultural events.
6. Organize a hiking trip in the Pitkänkangas forest area in September 2024.
7. Hold the next family reunion at Ylä‑Vieks in July 2025.

Budget for the 2024–2025 Term

Income

Membership Fees: € 1 200
Participation Fees for Family Reunion: € 600
Surplus from previous term: € 500
Total Income: € 2 300

Expenses

Catering at Family Reunion: € 700
Program costs at Family Reunion: € 600
Postage: € 300
Accounting fees: € 200
Excursion refreshments: € 100
Newspaper advertisement: € 100
Production of new merchandise item: € 300
Total Expenses: € 2 300