Here - LEF 2016

Welcome to LEF 2016 Destination Estonia............................................. 3
One Country, Many Stories ..................................................................... 4
Location – Pärnu...................................................................................... 5
Orga-team ................................................................................................ 6
Leo Europa PreForum 2016 ..................................................................... 9
Friday.................................................................................................... 9
Saturday ............................................................................................... 9
Sunday ................................................................................................ 10
Registration and Prices ...................................................................... 10
Leo Europa Forum 2016 ..........................................................................11
Program Highlights .............................................................................11
Social Activity – Let’s Do It @ LEF 2016 .........................................11
City Trips ..........................................................................................11
Pre-program @ Stockholm ................................................................ 12
How To Get There? ................................................................................. 13
Accommodation – Strand SPA & Conference Hotel
................. 14
Good To Know ........................................................................................ 15
What To Bring? ....................................................................................... 16
Contacts .................................................................................................. 16
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Dear Leos,
Estonia is a unique country – full of myths, fairy-tales and folk songs. Now, please sit down and take a
cup of hot tea, because I want to tell you the story of our Leo Europa Forum.
It all began in 2008 in Cappadocia, the second time the Estonian delegation was at LEF. Although we
were still young and green LEF participants, some people already approached us with the question:
“When will LEF take place in Estonia?”. The spark in our minds was lit but it did not yet ignited in the
Estonian Leo and Lions community.
In the Estonian fairy-tales there are no dragon-slaying knights or flamboyant princes on white horses.
Our hero is an old barn-keeper, who waits, watches, calculates and only acts when the time is right. So
did we! Years went by, we went from LEF to LEF, gathered some more ideas, got more LEF experience
as well as developed in both our personal and professional lives. Until the last morning of LEF 2013 in
Finland. LEF had made a full circle in Europe and was heading back to Turkey and Germany. Again. Leos
were waiting for something new and different. It was time for Estonia and us to step up to the plate.
Two months later in 2013, we presented the idea of LEF 2016 in Estonia to our Lions Governors’ Council
and at our Leo National Convention. And this time the spark landed in the right haystack! The idea
settled and spread like fire. Couple of weeks ago I was at our Lions district board meeting, listening how
our PDG and PID was presenting the idea of Lions Europa Forum 2019 in Estonia with words: “If our Leos
can, then we can. Come on, let’s do it!”
It does not happen often that Estonians come out of
the forest and gather but when it happens, then we
do it with unforgettably great emotions and spirit.
Hereby I want to invite you all to be part of the first
chapter of our LEF 2016 story – the Leo Europa
PreForum! We want to write this chapter together
with all of you, dear Leos. Only you can make our
story complete!
Thank you all for sharing the excitement about our
LEF and for all the support that makes us motivated
to carry on. Just keep retelling our story in your
countries and see you soon in Pärnu!
Yours sincerely,
Marite Promvalds
LEF 2016 President
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For the first time ever, Leo District 120 Estonia is
organizing the Leo Europa Forum (LEF). We invite you
to LEF 2016 Destination Estonia!
Estonia is located in Northern Europe, bordering
Russia and Latvia with Finland just across the Gulf of
Finland. Although we do not have real mountains or
deep valleys, the landscape is diverse including sandy
beaches, virgin forests, meadows and bogs, number
of lakes and more than 2200 islands. As nearly half of
Estonia is covered in birches, pines, aspens and more,
it is one of the most densely forested countries in the
world.
Estonians are one of the longest settled European
people, whose fore-bearers lived on the south-eastern
shores of the Baltic Sea over 5,000 years ago. Time
and time again, we have been ruled by foreign
powers. We will not tell you the long and complex history of the country, we will only say that it has
been very eventful and we have lived in an independent Estonia for a rather short time. Most of the
orga-team members were born in the Soviet Union or straight after the disintegration of the union in
1991.
There are only 1.34 million people living in Estonia from
whom 69% are Estonians and 26% Russians. Although
most of Estonians are at least bilingual, we still treasure
our own language highly. You just have to when your
language has words like terviseks, asjaajaja, öötöö,
jalalaba and täieõiguslik.
Although most European Leos know about Estonia, not
so many have actually been here. At LEF 2016
Destination Estonia we want to show you what our
small country has to offer. Estonia has a rich heritage
and colorful history which have built up the strength
and the Nordic temperament of the Estonian people. It
is a small country with the backdrop of untouched and beautiful nature but still offers the feel of a
European metropolis. Estonia has developed into one of the leading countries in e-services, innovation
and entrepreneurship without losing track of valuing our traditions.
Simply put - one country, many stories.
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LEF 2016 Destination Estonia will welcome you in the south-western part of Estonia at our beautiful
Summer Capital Pärnu. The sunny seaside city has been a well-known resort for already 175 years and is
still a very popular tourist attraction. Pärnu has a beautiful long beach, green parks, clean air and
delightful views.
The history in Pärnu region actually dates back as long as 11 000 years making it the first settlement area
in Estonia. Pärnu is still a true pearl for architecture and history. The city itself was established 1251 and
became one of the rich vibrant Hanseatic cities during medieval period.
Pärnu is an adorable small city in Estonia which truly comes to life in the summer and become the capital
of the country. There is a popular Estonian saying that if you have not seen your friends during the year
you will meet them all in the summer in Pärnu! This makes it the perfect spot for our LEF holiday!
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Marite Promvalds | President | [email protected]
Sille Sarap | Vice President | [email protected]
Karin Künnapas | Vice President | [email protected]
Kaisa Jette Särekanno | Program Manager | [email protected]
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Triin Eamets | Secretary | [email protected]
Silvia Kinger | Treasurer | [email protected]
Liina Eamets | Social Activity Coordinator | [email protected]
Kadri Kabanen | Estonian Night Coordinator | [email protected]
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Kristel Torop | City Trip Coordinator | [email protected]
Jaanika Lill | Sports & Activity Day Coordinator | [email protected]
Rainer Rooma | City Trip Coordinator | [email protected]
Jürgen Jõgeva | Webmaster | [email protected]
Raiki Kalda | Sponsorship | [email protected]
And many volunteers!
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Leo Europa PreForum 2016 will take place on January 22-24, 2016 at Pärnu, Estonia. Here is an overview
of the program planned for LEPF 2016.
Time
Friday – January 22
Saturday – January 23
Breakfast
Sunday – January 24
Breakfast
Morning
Estonian Winter Activity
Final meeting
Arrivals & Check-in
Lunch
Afternoon
ILO/DL meeting, workshops
Check-out and departure
Dinner
Tour of the hotel
Evening
Dinner
Pärnu City Tour
Welcome Party
Beach Party
Friday
On Friday, we welcome all of our friends across Europe in Pärnu. In the evening, the DLs, ILOs and all
other interested participants will get a tour of the hotel to see where we will be spending LEF 2016 in
the summer. The evening continues with a welcoming party with a few surprises in store.
Saturday
The first half of the day will be spent outside at Maria Talu
where we will have a nice stroll in the wintery nature, drink
some hot wine and learn a few crafts. Hopefully also enjoy
a ride on the sleigh if we are lucky with snow. The location
is important as we will be returning there for the Estonian
Night during LEF 2016.
In the afternoon the ILO council and DLs will have their
meetings and will join the rest of the participants in
workshops.
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After dinner we will get a bit different view of Pärnu. All we can say right now is that do not expect a
regular city tour with a lot of numbers and historical facts. Expect a tour with a slight twist. You don’t
want to miss it!
As we are in the Summer Capital, the theme for the evening is Beach Party. Find your most colorful
summer dresses, short shorts, put some flowers in your hair and sunglasses to protect your eyes and
let’s try to heat up the Summer Capital in the winter.
Sunday
The last day of LEPF 2016 will start with a long breakfast
followed by final meeting. We will tell you what to expect at
LEF 2016 and also the future LEFs and other Leo events can share
their updates.
Then it is time for many hugs, maybe some tears and many
farewells until August 13 and the start of Leo Europa Forum 2016.
Registration and Prices
Normal registration:
November 1 to December 27, 2015.
Price €200 (payment by December 27, 2015).
Late registration:
December 28, 2015 – January 5, 2016.
Price €240 (payment by January 5, 2016).
Please note - the number of participants for LEPF 2016 is limited and your registration is complete when
we have received your payment. If you need further information considering the payment, please
contact us via [email protected].
Account details:
MTÜ LEO EUROOPA FOORUM 2016
IBAN EE182200221062257528
SWEDBANK AS
Liivalaia 8, 15040 Tallinn
SWIFT/BIC: HABAEE2X
The transfer has to be made free of charge for us. Cancellations will be dealt with individually. If you
need further information considering the payment, please contact us via [email protected].
Accommodation at LEPF 2016 is in double rooms. If you wish to stay with a special roommate, please
indicate so in the registration form. If you wish to stay in a single room, please write to [email protected]
for price and details.
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LEF 2016 is taking place August 13-20, 2016 at Pärnu, Estonia. We will tell you more about the program
at LEPF 2016. Here are a few highlights to mention.
Program Highlights
Social Activity – Let’s Do It @ LEF 2016
Let’s Do It! is a civic led mass movement which began in Estonia during 2008 when 50,000 people
gathered to clean up the entire country in just five hours. By today, the movement has spread to 112
countries where communities are organizing clean up actions to leave a cleaner environment for
themselves and the future generations.
At LEF 2016, we will get our hands dirty at a beach near Pärnu and will clean up the strip from the
garbage left there during the summer. Valgerand beach strip is a popular location among locals, but not
that well known by tourists yet. Nevertheless, garbage has a bad habit of accumulating. In cooperation
with the local government we will try to fix it, spend a day together outside and hopefully inspire you
to organize similar clean up actions in your home countries.
City Trips
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia and one of the city trip
destinations during LEF 2016. The city is located in the northern
coast of Estonia with only about half a million citizens but it is the
largest in the country. Medieval Tallinn Old Town, one of the best
preserved Hansaetic town centers in the world, is under UNESCO
world heritage protection. We will walk around the cobblestone
streets and see houses dating back as far as to the 11th century,
show you the more modern side of the city as well as offer you
different options to discover the story of Tallinn.
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Tartu
Tartu, the University City on Emajõgi river, is the other option for a
city trip. It is called the City of Good Thoughts and has the largest
population of students in the country, thus the city is always alive
with interesting and new events to entertain you. Tartu is Estonia’s
second largest city and also the oldest one in the Baltic States – first
mentioned in 1030. Tartu has always been the intellectual capital of
Estonia. Our world famous Song Festival, Estonian Theater and
Estonian State are all initiated there. Also, our oldest and largest
university is located there.
Viljandi
Viljandi is an ancient hilly city in South Estonia topped by
impressive ruins of a once-powerful Livonian Order castle
which makes it the perfect destination for a half day trip
at LEF 2016. Cobbled streets, ancient oak trees and a
beautiful lake conjure up a very special atmosphere. A visit
to Viljandi means greenery, ancient trees, impressive
hilltop ruins of a powerful Hanseatic castle, winding
cobbled streets and a beautiful lake. Viljandi is also the
capital for our folk music enthusiasts and the home of the
biggest folk music festival in Estonia.
Pre-program @ Stockholm
The pre-program organized by Swedish Leos in
Stockholm, Sweden will take place on August 10-13, 2016.
The program will take include a traditional Swedish
Midsummer celebration, getting to know Stockholm and
the Vasa museum and obviously evening entertainment
with Leos. In the end of the pre-program, you will all take
a party boat to Tallinn to join LEF 2016.
The age limit for the pre-program is 20 years due to the
Swedish alcohol law. Further details on price and
registration will be published on our homepage and
Facebook.
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By airplane
Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport has direct air
links to numerous cities, including the
nearby Baltic capitals, Riga and Vilnius. It is
also easy to fly in direct from Amsterdam,
Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin,
Frankfurt,
Gothenburg,
Hamburg,
Helsinki, Kiev, London, Moscow, Munich,
Oslo, Paris, Prague, Stockholm, St.
Petersburg and Warsaw.
We will have a free shuttle from Tallinn
airport and the ride to Pärnu will take
approximately 2h. Shuttles from Tallinn
airport are planned to leave at 11AM, 4PM
and 9PM. Shuttles back to Tallinn airport are planned to leave Pärnu at 5AM, 9AM and 1PM. The shuttle
times can change according to the demand based on registered participants’ flight times.
You can also fly to Riga International Airport in Latvia. Shuttle from Riga airport costs €45 and the ride
from Riga airport is about 3-4h to Pärnu. Shuttles from Riga airport are planned to leave at 12PM and
8PM. Shuttles back to Riga airport are planned to leave Pärnu at 5AM and 1PM. Also the shuttle times
from Riga airport can change to facilitate the flight times of participants’.
By car
Pärnu is located next to the ViaBaltica highway and it’s hard to miss. The distance between Tallinn,
Estonia’s capital, and Pärnu is approximately 130 kilometers or about 2 hours by express coach or car.
By boat
If you are arriving from Finland or Sweden with a ferry,
you will also be provided shuttles to Pärnu. When
choosing your boat time, please keep in mind the shuttle
times above. The pick up from the harbor is about 15
minutes before the planned shuttle time at the airport.
If you have any further questions, please contact us at [email protected].
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With beautiful views and close vicinity to the beach, Strand SPA & Conference Hotel will fulfill our LEF
dream. Strand SPA & Conference hotel wears its **** mark proudly. The hotel has a total of 187
comfortable rooms, most of them with a beautiful view of the sea as well as 18 conference rooms. Lahe
Hall, our main party location, is located on the fifth floor of the hotel with a beautiful panoramic view of
the Gulf of Pärnu. The hotel is a non-smoking hotel, smoking is allowed outside of the hotel and inside
a special room at the Lahe Hall. All visitors can use the SPA facilities to their liking during the whole stay
at LEF. The hotel also has a minigolf, lobby bar and offers various treatments for additional cost.
All the rooms are supplied with:
air conditioning
a TV set 32''
telephone
coffee and tea making possibilities
mini bar
hair-dryer
bathrobes
internet
In addition to its great location, Strand also attracts people with its interesting history, because the
building was initially built as a boarding house for the Russian Information Agency APN in year 1985 and
at that time it was a mysterious institution, closed to the ordinary public. The hotel and rooms have
been renovated continuously, lastly in 2011.
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Minimum Age. The minimum age for participants is 18. In order
to participate, you have to turn 18 before August 13, 2016.
Smoking. Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the hotel.
Smoking inside restaurants, bars and clubs is strictly prohibited
in general in Estonia. There will be smoking areas outside and a
special smoking room in the party area.
Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi is available in every part of the hotel. The hotel
also provides an internet terminal in the lobby.
Water quality. Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Estonia.
Estonian weather. The weather in Estonia can be tricky and a bit
unexpected. We will keep you updated before both LEPF and
LEF on what to expect. Nevertheless, you can also check what
they predict for Pärnu on various sites.
Money. Estonian national currency is the Euro (€). Cash is
available from cash dispensers (ATMs) with your credit or cash
card. The hotel and most places also accept payment by card.
Emergency Situations. In case of emergency call 112.
Official documents. Estonia is part of the EU, so for most of you
your personal ID will be enough. For visitors from outside the EU a passport for identification as
well as a visa will be required. If you need extra documents please contact us.
Electricity. Estonia has standard Europlug electricity at 220V and 50Hz. It is compatible with
most plugs used throughout Europe (except e.g. UK)
Parking. Parking is free for the hotel visitors.
Damages. Please note that you are responsible for any damage you cause and everything that
happens in your hotel room.
Extended stay. It is possible to book rooms before and after LEPF 2016 if you wish to have a
longer stay with a discounted price in Pärnu. Please write to [email protected] for details.
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The weather in Estonia can be tricky. As we like to say – it is like a
woman, who cannot make up her mind! We will keep our Facebook
page updated with the weather predictions, but advise you to check
them also yourself.
Some important things to bring during LEPF:
On Saturday, January 23 during LEPF we will spend a considerable time
in the open air outside of the city. The activity will also include some
walking, be prepared to walk in nature and in the snow. Bring
appropriate clothes and footwear to keep you nice and toasty. Also, in
the evening we will have a tour of the city which involves walking
outside in the city of Pärnu. Thus, please be prepared to go outside into
the Estonian winter for a few hours and make sure you are warm!
The theme for the party also on Saturday, January 23 is – Beach Party!
This means summer dresses, shorts, bikinis, sunglasses, anything and
everything you would wear to a beach party.
We do not have specific country contact persons. For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact
us on our general e-mail [email protected] or via personal e-mails as noted above in the orga-team
section.
Get all the latest updates from www.facebook.com/lef2016 and www.lef2016.org.
Pictures copyrights: photos.visitestonia.com, www.puhkaeestis.ee, flickr.com
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