Annual events and important dates for branches

2026

January

• Branch Board Constitutive Meeting: Organizing the board for the new year. 
  • Announce elected officials via the Ossi system. Also, attach the meeting minutes to Ossi.
  • Prepare financial documents for the performance auditors (e.g., add voucher numbers to receipts according to account statements by now at the latest).
  • Prepare the draft of the annual report.
• Friend Mediator meeting: Jan 17, 2026.
• National Trainer Days: Jan 17–18, 2026.
• Health Point info webinar for volunteers: Jan 22 (see Oma Red Cross).
• Basics of Health Point activities: Jan 25, Helsinki.
• Deadline for the first application round of the Folke Bernadotte Memorial Foundation grant: Jan 19.
• Branch info for the Valentine’s Day campaign: Jan 29, 2026, 5:30 PM–6:30 PM (see Oma Red Cross).
• Applications for merit badges must be submitted by Jan 31.
• "Welcome to the Red Cross!" introductory evenings organized in the early part of the year.

February

• Submit financial documents to performance auditors by early February at the latest (receipts, statements, financial data forms, balance sheet, P&L, audit report forms, board minutes, spring/autumn meeting minutes, and the draft annual report).
• Campaign – Valentine’s Day: Feb 2–15, 2026.
• Big Training Day: Feb 7, 2026.
• Trainer training in Swedish starts: Feb 5, 2026 (register by Feb 2 via your own district).
• Red Cross Evolves: Commenting on the draft Strategic Alignment begins in early February. Workshops organized in districts Feb–March.

March

• Complete the annual report before the spring meeting.
• Branch spring meetings to process the annual report and financial statements must be held by March.
  • Post-Meeting Tasks: Submit financial data, P&L, balance sheet, and auditor's report to the district. Originals remain at the branch; copies go to the district.
• Campaign – Anti-Racism Week: March 16–22, 2026.
• Youth General Assembly: March 28–29, 2026.
• Red Cross Evolves: Comment period for the Strategic Alignment draft ends March 31, 2026.

April

• District Annual Meeting: Held by April at the latest.
• Resource Trainer training: Sat April 18, Tampere.

May

• Campaign – Red Cross Week: May 4–10, 2026.

June

• General Assembly: June 6–7, 2026, Rovaniemi.

July

August

• "Welcome to the Red Cross!" introductions and evenings for those interested in volunteering.

September

• Campaign – Hunger Day: Sept 10 – Oct 10, 2026. Box collection: Sept 24–26, 2026.
• Trainer training starts (apply via your district; schedules and info available online).
• Big Training Day: Sat Sept 13.
• Applications for merit badges and medals by Sept 15.

October

• Prepare for the autumn meeting (e.g., agenda, activity plan, and budget for 2027).

November

• Branch autumn meeting and election of officials for the following year by November at the latest.
• Budget and activity plan approval.
• Enter election results into OSSI. Attach the autumn meeting minutes, activity plan, and budget.

December

• Board Constitutive Meeting: Held in either December or January.

Continuous Self-Study Courses:

• "Welcome to the Red Cross" induction (available on Oma Red Cross).
• Basics of Data Protection in Volunteering (available on Kompassi, see online courses).
• Diversity in Volunteering (available on Kompassi).