Rotary
International President D K Lee
Dong-Kurn Lee is Chairman of Bu-Bang Co., Ltd. and Bubang
Techron Co., Ltd., manufacturing companies in Seoul. A graduate
of Yonsei University with a degree in political science and
diplomacy, Lee currently serves as Trustee to the Busan College
of Information Technology and has served as past president of
both his high school and college alumni associations. He has
served as a Trustee to the bank of Seoul and honorary consul of
Italy in Korea. In 2005, he was appointed as International
Goodwill Ambassador by the President of the Republic of Korea.
Rotarian Lee joined the Rotary
Club of Seoul-Hangang in 1971 and has served RI as director,
treasurer, trustee, district governor and International Assembly
training leader. He also has served as regional Rotary
Foundation coordinator and zone and regional coordinator for
membership development. He is chairman of the Polio Eradication
Private Sector Initiative in Korea. He is a recipient of the
foundation’s citation for meritorious service. in 1996, as
district governor, Lee was recognized at the 87th RI Convention
as the winner of the ‘Calgary Challenge’ for the most successful
membership development efforts, chartering 32 new clubs and
adding nearly 1,800 new members, making his district the leader
across the Rotary world that year.
Lee lives in Seoul, Korea with
his wife Young Ja and has four adult children and four
grandchildren.
District
Governor Kenan J. Kern
A native of Statesboro,
Georgia, Kenan was educated at Statesboro High School and
entered the University of Georgia on an athletic scholarship. He
was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and directed staff
dependent swimming lessons during the summer sessions. He
graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1967 with a BS in
Recreation and immediately following his graduation, served
three years of duty in the U. S. Army as an Infantry Officer.
During 1969-1970 he served as a combat platoon leader and
Executive Officer in the 54th Infantry in Vietnam. Following his
active military service, he returned to his hometown and began a
professional career in Human Resources Management.
Following a 32 year career as a
corporate executive in Human Resources and Business Management,
Kenan founded The Kern Group, LLC.
Kenan first joined Rotary
International when he was inducted into the Rotary Club of
Abingdon, Virginia, in 1988. During his membership, he was noted
for his stage performances at the annual Rotary Frolics at the
state performing Barter Theater.
Upon relocating back to
Georgia, Kenan joined the Rotary Club of Savannah South in 1993.
He served Savannah South as a member of the Board of Directors,
and served three years as Editor of the club bulletin. In
1997-1998, he served as Club President for the Rotary Club of
Savannah South.
Kenan has been an active
supporter to District 6920 beginning in 1999 as Silent Auction
Chair for the District Conference. He served District 6920 as an
Assistant Governor for three years and followed that service by
serving as District Director for three years. He served as
District Conference Chair for the year 2002-2003 and 2007-2008
year. He has served as Aide de Camp for two District Governors.
The Georgia Rotary Student
Program has recognized his support to GRSP by naming him a Will
Watt Fellow and a Hue Thomas Fellow. Kenan has been a strong
supporter of The Rotary Foundation. He became a Paul Harris
Fellow in 1997 followed by becoming a multiple Paul Harris
Fellow. He was selected as the Rotarian of the Year in 2000-2001
from the six Rotary clubs in Savannah by the Rotary Club of
Savannah East
Kenan and his wife, Beth, have
been active leaders in the communities where they have lived in
Georgia and Virginia. Kenan has served in leadership positions
to the United Way in Statesboro and served as General Campaign
Manager in Washington County, Virginia. Kenan and Beth have
served in active lay leadership roles in Methodist churches in
Georgia and Virginia. Kenan served as a Scoutmaster for 12 years
in Statesboro with his home church, the First United Methodist
Church, and was honored as a Silver Beaver by the Coastal Empire
Council BSA. Kenan and Beth are members of the Skidaway Island
United Methodist Church. They are the proud parents of daughter,
Mary Beth Kern Haynes, son-in-law, Shane Haynes, and
grandchildren, Hayden, Emmaline and Arden who live in Effingham
County.
Rotary
Club of Effingham County President Karen Tanksley
Karen Tanksley was born in
Clarksburg, West Virginia. Her father was in the Air Force, so
she traveled quite a bit as a child. In 1963 her family moved to
Statesboro, GA. She is the oldest of six children.
Karen started her newspaper
career with the Statesboro Herald in 1972. She has worked in
almost every department. She was named administrative assistant
to the publisher and then later to the Regional Vice President
of Morris Newspapers. During that time she handled legal
advertising, newspaper in education programs, and then was given
human resources and payroll responsibilities for the southeast
Georgia properties. In February, 1999 Karen was promoted to
General Manager of the Effingham Herald and in October of 2002
was named Publisher.
While working in Statesboro,
Karen was very active in the community. She served as secretary,
vice-president and two terms as president of the Altrusa Club of
Statesboro and was named Altrusan of the Year in 1995. She
chaired the in-house United Way Campaign for the Statesboro
Herald for three years. She served on the citizen’s review panel
and on the board of directors of the United Way of SE Georgia.
Karen served on several committees with the Statesboro/Bulloch
County Chamber of Commerce.
Since coming to Effingham
County Karen served as the first chairman of the Effingham
Chamber Ambassadors and on the steering committee for the
Effingham Chamber of Commerce membership drive. She is a member
of the Effingham Women in Business. Karen currently serves
on the advisory board of the Effingham United Way.
Karen became a member of the
Rotary Club of Effingham County in November, 1999. She served as
treasurer for three terms and has been on the board for 6 years.
Karen is married to Steve
Tanksley and has one son, Jason and a grandson, Lane.
