BONNIE KORENGEL
District Governor 2011-12


Bonnie joined the Rotary Club of Kennett Square in 1994, soon after joining a CPA practice in Kennett Square. As with most Rotarians, her motivation was to “give back” to the community where she worked and lived. She became a charter member of the Rotary Club of Longwood in 1997 when a group from the Kennett Square Rotary Club chose a breakfast meeting.

Bonnie became “hooked” by the international aspect of Rotary when she and her Rotarian daughter attended the International Convention in Chicago, celebrating the centennial of Rotary in 2005. Bonnie and her daughter were preparing for their year as presidents of their respective clubs, 2006-2007. Bonnie is proud of the fact that (as far as anyone could tell), this was the first time in Rotary history a mother-daughter team had shared concurrent presidencies. As she saw and experienced the Rotary world through the international convention, she became a Rotarian. It was also fun for she and her daughter to return to their home state of Illinois.

Bonnie has been impressed with both clubs of which she has been a member, how the clubs seem to make Rotary work so effortlessly, work shared by almost all the members; egos, for the most part, parked at the door, and a true commitment to make life better for someone, while at the same time bonding with Rotary buddies and having great fun.

Bonnie has worked closely with the clubs in Area 9 as Assistant Governor, conscious of how different, yet similar, each club is. During their travels, Bonnie and her husband Mike have attended Rotary meetings in this country and in foreign lands. They have found that similarities are stronger than the differences, and been warmly welcomed, usually leaving with a funny story. Bonnie’s home community of Kennett Square is one of diversity; Rotary’s challenge is to become diverse in its membership too and work through the political and historic boundaries that appear to separate us.
Professionally, Bonnie is a Certified Public Accountant, principal in Umbreit, Korengel & Associates. She describes herself as a mother of three, mother-in-law of three, grandmother of seven. She has served on several boards of non-profit organizations and her church; she has been on the guiding staff at Winterthur Museum for many years, appreciating antiques and the special place of history and preservation in this part of Pennsylvania. Bonnie is a Paul Harris Fellow. Bonnie looks forward to meeting more of her fellow Rotarians in District 7450 working together to answer the challenges of Rotary in this time and in this place.