Tapani Rahko

Tapani Rahko from Jarvenpaa, Finland, was elected to serve a two-year term as a director of The International Association of Lions Clubs at the association’s 90th International Convention, held in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 2-6, 2007.

Director Rahko is a retired colonel and chief of the internal audit for the Finnish Defense Forces.

A member of the Jarvenpaa Jean Sibelius Lions Club since 1988, Director Rahko has held many offices within the association, including club president, zone chairperson, region chairperson, district governor, multiple district youth exchange chairperson, multiple district long range planning chairperson, multiple district MERL chairperson and council chairperson. He also served as youth exchange seminar chairperson and a member of the Elections Committee at the 2001 International Convention and chairperson of the Nordic Council Chairpersons Group. He has been involved with the 2000 Lions Senior Leadership Institute, Europa Forum presentations, Nordic Convention presentations and seminars, and is the current leader of the multiple district development project, “Lionism in Modern Society.”

In recognition of his service to the association, Director Rahko has received numerous awards, including the 100% Club President Award, two President’s Appreciation Awards, a Club Officer’s Award, Club Lion of the Year, the 100% District Governor’s Award, a Medal of Merit, two District Governor’s Appreciation Awards, a Region Chairperson Award, two Achievement Awards, a Zone Chairperson Award, five District Chairperson Awards, two International President’s Leadership Awards, six International President’s Certificates of Appreciation and the Youth Exchange Top Ten Award. He is also a Melvin Jones Fellow.

In addition to his Lions activities, Director Rahko is active in numerous professional and community organizations. He is Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland; Knight, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland; recipient of the Medal for Military Merit; and a member of multiple reserve officer organizations. In the past he was a fighter pilot, flight instructor, air cadet course leader, Combat School teacher, officer in MOD (medium range planning), researcher and lecturer in Military High School/Faculty of Leadership, sector leader in Defense Staff Planning Division/Leadership and Administration Sector, chief of the Internal Audit of the Defense Forces and a member of several development projects in the Defense Forces.

Director Rahko and his wife, Helena, also a Lion and Melvin Jones Fellow, have three children.

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