“Successful, fun, memorable, amazing!” said President Kyle commenting on our club’s Designer Bag Bingo held recently at the West Chester Area Senior Center.Over 150 people, a complete sellout of Rotary members, along with their families and friends, even some members from other West Chester Rotary clubs, were welcomed by Kyle to enjoy an evening of togetherness and fun while wining, dining and playing bingo. The event was made very entertaining by Jordan Johnson, our bingo caller from JEJ Entertainment, and our own Rita “Vanna White” Brouwer-Ancher, who modeled the designer handbags.
The West Chester community has begun holding numerous events as spring arrives, and our Rotary Club has taken advantage of the opportunities to be visible, and show our support for the many organizations that sponsor the events.
Rotarians helping with cleanup at Marshall Square Park has been an annual activity of our club for many years. This year, due to the diligence of one of our newer members, Tom Rowland, we recruited several West Chester University (WCU) students to help us.
Fiorenza’s Food for Friends, also known as F4, was introduced as the newest recipient of the Community Partner Award by the Rotary Club of West Chester at a recent luncheon meeting at the West Chester Golf and Country Club. Introducing the fourth recipient of the award, Rotarian Jeff Cantwell, who was on the team that selected F4, explained that the Community Partner Award is given quarterly to a business that supports the efforts of the Rotary club, and the Rotary motto, Service Above Self.
In addition to his active involvement on several committees, and participation in numerous activities of our club, Randy Lindel recently received a special award for service to District 7450. At a recent Thursday lunch meeting, Rotary District 7450 Foundation Committee Chair and Past District Governor Peter Mardinly of the Media, PA Rotary Club, awarded Randy the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service. This is a prestigious annual award honoring individual Rotarians for outstanding active service to The Rotary Foundation. It recognizes hands-on involvement in program or grant development rather than financial contributions. Only one member per district is eligible annually. 
Our Rotary club is known for supporting area charities by raising and donating thousands of dollars, as well as participating in activities to benefit the charities. 
offered their lovely home for a January party, and it turned out great! About 64 partygoers, Rotarians and their spouses, girl and boyfriends, gathered for delicious appetizers and numerous yummy desserts at the Hall’s roomy and comfortable home.
Recently, members of the Rotary Club of West Chester did something that reminds us exactly why Rotary does what it does. We took some of our Rotary Club Trifecta funds (formerly 50/50) and bought pizzas for the Westside Community Center. Those delivering and accepting the pizzas included (from left) Courtney Martinez, Executive Assistant at Westside, Mike Louis, Incoming Rotary President, Emily Johnson, Program Director at Westside, Kyle Rheiner, Rotary Club President, and Diana Liberi, Rotary Club Treasurer.
Rotarians turned out again in record numbers to help ring bells at the Salvation Army red kettles at the Amish Market and at Shop Rite. Fourteen members helped out at Shop Rite and 16 helped at the Amish Market, helping raise over $5,000 for the Salvation Army, reports Katie Martin, bell ringing organizer.
Miranda Reilly, who took on the leadership of preparing our Rotary float for the West Chester Christmas Parade, had lots of helpers, many who helped out several days in a row! Although our float did not win an award as we did last year, our float was beautiful, and reflected our Rotary values.
For the lucky members who purchased ”A Night in Paris” dinner during the live auction at the presidential induction earlier this year, it was a special evening indeed! Hosted by Catherine Freidman, Deb Sparre and Phyllis Dunn at Catherine’s comfortable home, it was an evening to remember.
Over 35 Rotarians gathered the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving at the Side Bar in the borough of West Chester for our annual “Tuesday Before Thanksgiving” gathering.
At their recent annual meeting at the Desmond Hotel, the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) honored the Sammarone family as the 2024 Citizens of the Year, and Home of the Sparrow (HOS) as Community Service Organization of the Year!
Among the 30 or so trees decorated by area organizations at the Chester County History Center is our club’s Rotary Around the World tree. Like last year, the History Center features its Season of Lights display, and we again accepted the invitation to participate.
It wasn’t like the first 20 plus years of the Chili Cook-off when our club put on the Chili Cook-off in the Borough of West Chester, with up to 10,000 attendees from near and far, 45 to 50 costumed chili teams, lots of vendors, a kid’s zone (masterfully handled by Christine Wildauer), and eventually a “Pepper Drop.” But we have been at the cook-off since two years ago when we turned the cook-off over to the non-profit, Fiorenzo’s Food For Friends (F4).
Chester County Rotarians recently rappelled to raise funds for the Philadelphia Outward Bound School (POBS) program. Charles Streitwieser, strapped in rappelling gear, his son Charlie, along with Michael Karwic, represented our club and participated in a recent event. Along with Rotarians form the Sunrise and Passport clubs, and two honorary Rotarians, they rappelled off a 30-story building at 2 Commerce Square in Philadelphia. Members of our club have participated previously in these rappelling events.
At a recent luncheon meeting of our club, we awarded our third Community Partner Award to Blue Dog Printing and Design. Steve Brown, a special friend of the awardees, explained what the Community Partner Award is, then said, “I've been a Rotarian for 38 years, and a member of this club for almost 9, and I can say, without qualification, Bill and Debi Friedmann, owners of Blue Dog, have given more to this club, in time, talent, and treasures, than anyone I've ever known in all those years!! And I'm not exaggerating.”
Miranda Reilly and Tom Rowland (man behind the camera), newer members of our Rotary Club, represented our club at the recent West Chester University (WCU) Career Fair to let students know about Rotary, its mission and service activities, volunteer efforts and events. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the two WCU graduates visited with students, answered questions, handed out informational materials about Rotary, and invited students to a Thursday noon luncheon meeting with us at the West Chester Golf and Country Club. Through the years, our club has welcomed a number of WCU graduates to our club, several even taking leadership roles!
The months-long excitement and activity surrounding our club’s 4-Way Raffle is over, but the funds, all of which ended up going to area non-profits, will benefit needy folks for many months – even years!
Our Rotary Club recently received recognition from Rotary International, a Club Excellence Award. Current club president, Kyle Rheiner, at a recent luncheon meeting, presented the award to Catherine Friedman, who was president of the club in the 2024-25 program year, providing outstanding leadership, directing and overseeing the activities of our club. Our club is one of just five clubs of the 54 in our 7450 District to earn this award! Other clubs who also earned the award are Chester, Chestnut Hill, Glendale-Abbington and King of Prussia.
For the 13th year in a row, the Rotary Club of West Chester has donated school supplies to the West Chester Area School District (WCASD), this year joined by two other area clubs.. “One of the club goals on our strategic plan this year is to mesh with other clubs often,” said Kyle Rheiner, president of the Rotary Club of West Chester.
Our club finally received its award as the Best Non-profit Float in the 2024 Christmas Parade by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber’s recent Christmas in July networking event at 9 Prime. Michelle Venema and Andrew Stump, float co-chairs, were there to receive the statuette, along with about a dozen club members, including outgoing club president, Catherine Friedman, and newly inducted president, Kyle Rheiner. Santa even popped in to express congratulations to the Rotary Club!
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.
The last weekend of April brought multiple opportunities for club members to don their Rotarian At Work tee shirts and volunteer in multiple ways.