At a recent luncheon meeting, the West Chester Golf and Country Club (WCGCC) was recognized with a Partner Award by our club. President Catherine presented the award to Joe Dugan, WCGCC Board president, who accepted the award on behalf of the country club. In presenting the award, Friedman said “The Rotary Club honors the WCGCC for its outstanding dedication to community service, unwavering commitment to excellence, and longstanding partnership.At a recent luncheon meeting, the West Chester Golf and Country Club (WCGCC) was recognized with a Partner Award by our club. President Catherine presented the award to Joe Dugan, WCGCC Board president, who accepted the award on behalf of the country club. In presenting the award, Friedman said “The Rotary Club honors the WCGCC for its outstanding dedication to community service, unwavering commitment to excellence, and longstanding partnership.
Catherine Friedman turned over our club leadership to Kyle Rheiner at a gala induction that nearly blew us away! A significant storm, with rain, lightning and high winds hit the deck of the West Chester Golf and Country Club, where we hold our annual auction in conjunction with our presidential induction. Thankfully, the club staff hurriedly recovered our auction items that were blown around the deck, and repositioned them neatly on tables inside. It’s doubtful that any of the other 34,000 Rotary clubs around the world, holding inductions, had such a lively experience!
Rotarians and friends gathered recently to assist a new to our club non-profit, Pedals for Progress (P4P). The organization’s mission is to empower sustainable economic development by recycling bicycles from the United States, and shipping them to marginalized people in the developing world.Stepping up to help recently, under the club leadership of Mac Neilon, were from left) Mark Sammarone, Mac, Gary Hewitt, Jeff Cantwell, Rotary friend Rick Waltz, P4P leader Alan Schultz, and new Rotarian, Tom Rowlands. This team worked on 43 bicycles that will be shipped to Guatemala.
The last weekend of April brought multiple opportunities for club members to don their Rotarian At Work tee shirts and volunteer in multiple ways.The Annual Marshall Square Park Clean-up Project found over 20 folks, which included family members and friends joining club members, with gloves, rakes, wheelbarrows and other tools in hand to clean the popular park. Donuts and beverages provided early morning treats for hungry volunteers. Afterward, many of the folks headed down the street to Bob and Sue Rogers home where the Rogers provided a delicious barbecue as they have generously done in past years.
At a Daily Local News Accepts Partner Award recent luncheon meeting, President Catherine Friedman presented the club’s very first Partner award to the Daily Local News (DLN). Bill Rettew, longtime DLN photographer and journalist, accepted the award on behalf of the DLN. Participating in the presentation along with Friedman, were Cathy Palmquist, Communications Committee member, and Jeff Cantwell, Communications Committee Chairman.In presenting the award, Friedman said “The Rotary Club proudly honors the DLN for its outstanding dedication to community service, unwavering commitment to excellence, and longstanding partnership. The DLN has partnered with our club in publishing numerous photos and articles of the club’s activities and events, enabling DLN readers to learn of important activities, and the support of Rotarians good works near and far”.
As we know, there are Rotary clubs all around the world. Sometimes we learn about them before we travel, and if the day and time work out, we may even plan to visit them.Anne and Joe Driscoll, very active members of our West Chester club, unexpectantly came upon one of these other clubs. On their recent 10 day East Indies Cruise, their trip took them to Tortola, Puerto Rico, where they found a Welcome sign pole announcing the Rotary Club of Central Tortola.
Diana Liberi was the top winner in the annual Super Bowl Pool that attracted numerous Rotarians, family members and friends to take a chance at picking the game winners. But the real winner was our Rotary Club of West Chester for whom the pool brought in $1,200! Mac Neilon is the organizer and promoter of this popular fundraiser each year, and makes sure that every box on the chart is filled by game day. 
Our Rotary family always enjoys opportunities for getting together, and what a stunning location to do so for our holiday party this year than at the home of Glenda and Skip Brion! Lovely holiday decorations and warming fireplaces filled every room, providing many comfortable places to gather. The photos of the party tell it all!
For more years than most can remember, members and friends of the Rotary Club of West Chester have spent one entire Saturday in December ringing bells for the Salvation Army, one of SA’s major fundraising events. And this year was no different, just colder, as 24 members and 6 Passport members kept the bells ringing and thanked shoppers for donations at the Amish Market and Shop Rite grocery store.
Adding to the sparkle of our Rotary float, which received first place in the Non-profit Division of the West Chester Christmas Parade, a handful of Rotarians waved to appreciative crowds along the streets from atop the impressive float. In addition, between 30 and 40 Rotarians marched alongside the float dressed in bright red and green costumes, waving red and green pompoms. Along with their red and green attire, Chuck Heckenberger and Connell O’Brien (walking at each end of the banner held by marchers) were handsomely attired in colorful kilts. As one marcher commented, “It was cold, but fun!”
Michelle Venema and Andrew Stump were the designers and producers of our club's entry in the Borough of West Chester's annual Christmas Parade.
Having not participated in the parade itself for a number of years - we've decorating flagpoles, provided parade marshals and such previously - this year Michelle and Andrew spearheaded the float project which turned out to be a prize-winning vision!
One of the longest running traditions of the Rotary Club of West Chester is the Tuesday Before Thanksgiving gathering at the Side Bar in the Borough of West Chester. This annual gathering seems to be the kick-off for the upcoming holiday season for club members as they gather to socialize before the numerous holiday events.
As part of Chester County History Center’s “Season of Lights,” our club added to the festive display with a “Rotary Around the World” decorated Christmas Tree. We were invited to decorate a tree by one of our club members, Pachy Banks-Cabral, who also happens to be the development director at the History Center. 
Even though the annual, popular October Chili Cook-off was hosted by Fiorenza’s Food For Friends (4F) instead of our Rotary Club, and the footprint for the event was smaller than in the previous 21 years, an estimated 11,000 chili lovers managed to spend a beautiful fall afternoon eating chili in the Borough of West Chester. A dedicated group of Rotarians even managed to prepare a huge pot of healthy, hearty, one-pot Quick Turkey Chili, named 4-Way Hi-Test Chili for which the chili loving crowd awarded it second place in the non-profit organization division for the People’s Choice Award contest. Thanks to our cooks, Diana Liberi, Rich Murray, Jeff Cantwell, Charles Streitwieser, and newer member Connell O’Brien, who stirred up the tasty fare. Rich’s wife, Katie and their son brought the makings to the Providence Church, which gave generous use of their commercial kitchen for our chili preparation.
One of our outstanding Rotarians, Mac Neilon, was just named the 2023 Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce at its annual banquet, and presented his award by Chamber President Katie Walker! Numerous fellow Rotarians attended the banquet in his honor.
One of our newest club members, Miranda Reilly, volunteered to attend the West Chester University (WCU) annual Volunteer and Non-profit Fair on campus. Along with Jeff Cantwell, Miranda answered questions, explained Rotary, locally and internationally, and passed out informational brochures to about seven students who stopped by our table during the afternoon.
With funds generated by last year’s Chili Cook-off, grants were awarded to nine non-profits by the Community Philanthropic Committee (CPC) on behalf of our Rotary club.Grant recipients included (front row, from left) Glenda Brion, Community Warehouse Project, Heather Robino, Parish Hall Kitchen, Jacquie Finnan-Hemmer, A Child’s Light, Kara Todd, Believe and Achieve Foundation, Kathleen Sanger, Home of the Sparrow, and (standing from left) Christine Scott, CPC Co-coordinator, Kenneth Winston, Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center, Ken Hutton, Housing Partnership of Chester County, Don Neimetz, North Star of Chester County, Catherine Friedman, Rotary Club President, Courtney Zimmerman, Bournelyf Special Camp, and Rob Malone, CPC Co-coordinator.
Rotarians from our club, headed up by our Rotary Day of Service coordinator, Mac Neilon, including Joe Driscoll, Patty Jefferis, Melissa Baxter and Katie Martin, returned to the project C.U.R.E. warehouse at Dansko in West Grove recently.This was the second time our club members helped out at the C.U.R.E. warehouse this year. Several helped out at the collaboration of the four area Rotary clubs in April.
Play Ball!Kate Diffenderfer, Doug Meis and Melissa Baxter were among the Rotarians from District 7450 who attended this year's annual Philadelphia Phillies baseball game to raise funds for our international program, PolioPlus.
Rotarians sold over 500 tickets to the game, which entitled our District Governor Francy Cross to throw out the first ball. Not only did eight dollars of every ticket sold go to PolioPlus, but the game provided an opportunity for Rotarians throughout the district to participate in this shared fellowship activity with Rotarians from other clubs. And, the funds raised are matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation! A win win for all!
Thanks to Phil McFadden for capturing this fun photo for us.
Predictions of rain prompted the Melton Center to move their annual Community Day inside on Sunday. There was a brief downpour the last 30 minutes of the event (we DO need rain!) but it didn't deter a large crowd of people from turning out for this popular event. Our club was well represented by Charles Streitwieser, Melissa Baxter, Steve Brown, John Schwab, Gary Hewitt and Jeff Cantwell. Although our assigned table was in a hallway, we had good neighbors with the NAACP and Natural Lands Trust.Thanks to Jeff for capturing these photos at the event.
Rotarians are having so much fun golfing and snacking with each other that our club "Golfing Guru," Steve Quigley, arranged a second day of golfing recently at the Downingtown Golf and Country Club. Pictured with Steve at a recent outing are Anne Driscoll and Glen Sweet. The weather cooperated, and along with the great fellowship of this event, it was a "Fabulous Friday!"according to one golfer. Might we expect another golfing outing if the weather cooperates?
At our recent presidential induction gala, District 7450 Governor Francy Cross not only inducted our new club president, Catherine Friedman, she also inducted the board, comprised of new and continuing board members. “Your club believes in you,” she said before asking for their commitment to their offices.After the induction, past club presidents lined up for our annual tradition of passing the gavel.
Rich Murray turned over the club presidency to Catherine Friedman at a memorable gala and induction last week. Over 34,000 Rotary clubs around the world are also doing inductions this time of year. Newly elected District 7450 Governor Francy Cross conducted the induction, telling Catherine, “Your election is an expression of the confidence placed in you by your club members.”
A number of Rotarians gathered early in June for a day of fun and fellowship, organized by our West Chester club's "golfing guru," Steve Quigley. It was a beautiful day to be out on the golf course at the Downingtown Golf and Country Club, where Rotarians always look forward to golfing together. Following a perfect weather day for the activity, the golfers stayed around for food, beverages and more fellowship. Thanks to Anne Driscoll for arranging for this photo.
Rotarians joined hundreds of residents, businesses and organizations as they marched in the parade on Sunday celebrating the 225th Anniversary of the Borough of West Chester. Despite the cloudy skies and cool weather Sunday, over 30 bundled up Rotarians, carrying Rotary banners and wearing Rotary garb, showed up for the parade.
It was a busy weekend for our club in terms of activities and visibility. It started off on Saturday morning when a large group of Rotarians descended on Marshall Square Park in West Chester to help with mulching. Volunteering at Marshall Square Park has become an annual project for our club. Under the direction of our service coordinator, Mac Neilon, over 20 Rotarians participated, which included several family members. President Rich Murray, for example, brought his son. What a great way to begin getting our youngsters involved in charitable service activities!
Nearly 20 Rotarians from the four West Chester Rotary Clubs, Sunrise, West Chester Passport, WEGO and our club, collaborated on a Rotary Day of Service at the project C.U.R.E. warehouse of Dansko in West Grove. Rotarians from our club, headed up by our Rotary Day of Service coordinator, Mac Neilon, included Jeff Cantwell, Katie Martin, Phil McFadden, Steve Bayles, Melissa Baxter, and new member, Mark Lucas.
Mailing Address:
Rotary Club of West Chester
PO Box 743
West Chester, Pennsylvania 19381-0743 USA
West Chester Rotary meets every Thursday at Noon at the
West Chester Country Club,
West Chester Country Club,
111 West Ashbridge Street,
West Chester, PA USA
West Chester, PA USA
Programs begin at 12:20pm