Chester, SC Rotary Club

10/19/2026

📚 Chester Rotary Club Weekly Meeting – October 6, 2026

The Chester Rotary Club welcomed Beth Grier, a special education teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in York County and wife of Chester Rotarian Brian Grier, who shared an informative presentation on the role of special education today.

Beth explained that special education is designed to meet the individual needs of students. Some students may need additional support in one subject while excelling in another, while others may need assistance in several areas.

She discussed how the process begins with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) tailored to each student's needs. Parents or guardians, special education teachers, and general education teachers all provide input to help develop a plan that supports the student's learning and growth.

Special education serves students from kindergarten through high school, with a variety of educational paths and outcomes. Many students graduate alongside their classmates, while others earn a certificate of attendance. Regardless of the path, the goal is to help every student develop the skills they need to become an independent, contributing member of the community.

Beth gave Rotarians a better understanding of the dedication, challenges, and rewards involved in special education and the importance of meeting each student where they are.

👏 Thank you, Beth, for sharing your knowledge and helping us better understand the meaningful work special education teachers do every day to make a difference in students' lives!

10/19/2026

❤️ Chester Rotary Club Welcomes United Way for 2027 Campaign Kickoff
📅 September 29, 2026

The Chester Rotary Club welcomed the Chester County United Way for its annual campaign kickoff, a tradition the club has proudly hosted for many years.

Chester Rotary President Trey Counterman shared his optimism for the year ahead, saying, “This promises to be another great year for the United Way with the help of partners like the Chester Rotary Club.”

Kristin Fairfax, Executive Director of the Chester County United Way, introduced guest speaker Laura Giles, Executive Director of the York County Council on Aging (YCCOA), a United Way partner agency that has been serving Chester County seniors since 2009.

👵 Supporting Seniors in Chester County

Although its name may suggest otherwise, the York County Council on Aging has been providing services to Chester County seniors for more than 15 years. Founded in 1968, the organization is committed to helping older adults remain independent and live safely in their own homes for as long as possible.

Services in Chester County include:
🍽️ Daily lunches at three congregate meal sites: Purity Presbyterian Church, Edgemoor Community Center, and Great Falls Presbyterian Church.
🚚 Frozen meal deliveries to approximately 45 homebound seniors.
🏡 Homemaker services that provide light housekeeping and help seniors maintain safe, clean homes.

The three congregate meal sites serve approximately 120–130 meals each day. Giles also shared that the Council is looking for volunteers to help deliver meals on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Giles emphasized that the organization would like to reach more seniors in Chester County and believes there is an unmet need in our community. United Way funding is especially important because it provides the Council's only source of local funding.

“Our main goal is to keep seniors living independently as long as possible,” Giles explained.

To learn more about services or volunteer opportunities, visit www.yccoa.com.

💙 United Way Campaign Update

Fairfax announced that 15 agencies have applied for United Way funding for 2027. Many of these organizations help meet basic community needs, including utility assistance, food, medications, and clothing.

This year's Chester County United Way fundraising goal is $200,000. Fairfax reminded Rotarians that donations stay local unless donors request otherwise, and donors may also designate a specific agency to receive their contributions.

The 2026 campaign began with two Pacesetter companies, Spratt Savings Bank and TruVista, whose early contributions totaled $26,487.88.

🏆 Congratulations to Spratt Savings and Loan, this year's Pacesetter Trophy winner! Ruth Ann Levister accepted the trophy on the company's behalf.

Thank you to Kristin Fairfax, Laura Giles, and everyone working to support individuals and families throughout Chester County. The United Way and its partner agencies make a meaningful difference in our community, and the Chester Rotary Club is proud to support their efforts!

❤️ Together, we can make a difference right here at home!

Story and photos courtesy of Brian Garner, special to the Chester Rotary Club.

10/19/2026

📚 Celebrating Summer Reading Success!

The Chester Rotary Club was also pleased to welcome the top readers from the Chester County Library’s 2026 Summer Reading Program! This year’s theme was “Unearth a Story,” and these two young readers certainly dug into their books!

🏆 Children’s Top Reader: Hudson Carrier

306,420 minutes of reading

That's an incredible 5,107 hours!

🏆 Teen Top Reader: Sidney Southerland

15,150 minutes of reading

That's 252 hours and 30 minutes!

The Chester Rotary Club was proud to present each winner with a check, and the Chester Health Care Foundation generously provided a gift card to each reader in recognition of their outstanding achievement.

Pictured are Librarian Katherine Powell, Sidney Southerland, and Hudson Carrier.

Congratulations to Hudson and Sidney on their amazing reading accomplishments! A special thank-you to the Chester County Library and the Chester Health Care Foundation for encouraging a love of reading and supporting our young readers. 📖👏

10/19/2026

🌎✈️ Chester Rotary Club – September 22, 2026

Travel Tips with Rotarian Tim Sharpe

Looking for vacation ideas without traveling too far? Last week, Chester Rotarian Tim Sharpe shared some wonderful vacation destinations within an easy flight from home!

Tim highlighted three unique destinations: Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Sedona, Arizona; and The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. From the beautiful coastline of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, to the striking red rock formations and desert climate of Sedona, to the rolling hills and mountains of West Virginia, each destination offers its own special scenery and welcoming people.

Prefer not to fly or take an extended trip? Tim also recommends Charleston, South Carolina, for a wonderful getaway closer to home!

Thank you, Tim, for sharing your travel experiences and giving us some great ideas for our next vacation! 🌴

10/19/2026

📚 Chester Rotary Club Weekly Meeting – September 15, 2026

Chester Rotarian and State Senator Everett Stubbs welcomed Kena Funderburk, Chairperson of the Chester County School District Board, as his guest speaker.

Mrs. Funderburk has served on the School Board for more than three years and shared how her professional background has prepared her for this important role. Her experience includes banking and mortgage lending, negotiating short sales, helping lead initiatives related to the Making Home Affordable Act, developing program guidelines at Fannie Mae, and her current position purchasing raw materials for Giti Tire. Throughout her career, she has relied on analyzing financial information, reviewing policies, and working through detailed reports and spreadsheets.

During her presentation, Mrs. Funderburk explained the many responsibilities of the Chester County School Board, including developing and reviewing policies, overseeing the work of the Superintendent, evaluating policy effectiveness, adopting the school district budget, approving salary schedules, employing professional staff, visiting schools, and keeping the community informed about district matters.

She also emphasized the distinction between the School Board’s governance responsibilities and the day-to-day operations managed by the Superintendent and her staff.

Thank you, Kena, for an informative presentation and for sharing your insight into the important work of the Chester County School District Board! 👏

10/19/2026

A big THANK YOU to everyone who purchased a duck, participated, and supported our Duck Derby Race! Your support means so much to the Rotary Club of Chester and will help fund service projects that make a difference right here in our community. ❤️

🏆 Congratulations to our Duck Derby Winners!

🥇 1st Place: River Beam – $100
🥈 2nd Place: George Whitesides – $50
🥉 3rd Place: Angela Boyd – $25

We appreciate everyone who helped make our first Duck Derby a success! Your generosity helps us continue serving our community and making a positive impact in Chester County.

🦆 We’ll see you next year for our 2nd Annual Duck Derby Race! We can’t wait to do it all again, so get ready for another fun-filled race for a great cause!

Thank you for helping us make a difference, one duck at a time! 💙💛🩷

10/08/2026

09/15/2026

Rotary Legislative Update 🇺🇸

On September 8, 2026, the Chester Rotary Club welcomed South Carolina House Representative Randy Ligon, District 43, serving Chester and York Counties, and Chester Rotarian, who provided an informative legislative update covering the past two years.

Representative Ligon discussed several important topics, including the $16 billion FY 2027 state budget, SCDOT modernization, an increase in the homestead exemption to $75,000, income tax cuts, and the Workforce Readiness Act.

He also highlighted funding that directly impacts Chester County, including $1 million awarded to the Chester County Sheriff’s Office and $280,000 awarded to The Gateway for an emergency shelter.

Thank you, Randy, for taking the time to share this important legislative update with the Chester Rotary Club and for keeping our community informed!

09/15/2026

📣 Chester Rotary Learns About the Capital Project Sales Tax Referendum

September 1, 2026, Chester County Administrator Brian Hester welcomed Jeremy Ward and Morgan Shirley as his guests to present a factual overview of the Capital Project Sales Tax (Penny Sales Tax) Referendum.

Chester County voters will have the opportunity to vote on the referendum on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Here are some key facts shared during the presentation:

🔹 Largest Capital Project Investment: This referendum represents the largest amount ever proposed for capital projects in Chester County.

🔹 Community Selection Committee: The committee that reviewed and selected the projects included Susan Kovas, Chair; Melvin Jackson, Vice Chair; Pam Temple, Secretary; Steve Bishop; Eddie Railey; and Ginger Sharpe, representing communities throughout Chester County.

🔹 Not a New Tax: The referendum is an extension of the existing Penny Sales Tax, with the funds dedicated solely to capital projects in Chester County.

🔹 100+ Applications Reviewed: The committee reviewed more than $100 million in project applications before narrowing the list to 23 projects, totaling approximately $30 million or more over the next 10 years.

🔹 County Council Approval: The project list was presented to Chester County Council, which could either approve or reject the list but could not modify it. County Council approved the list on June 15, 2026, for consideration by Chester County voters.

🔹 Projects Across the County: The proposed projects cover a wide range of capital needs throughout Chester County.

🔹 Funds Are Restricted: If approved, the money can only be used for the projects included on the approved list. Funds may also be used to address project cost overruns or potentially future Penny Sales Tax capital projects.

🔹 Accountability: Chester County will carefully monitor project budgets and expenditures to ensure the funds are used as intended.

For an interactive list and additional information about the proposed projects, visit the Chester County Capital Project Sales Tax website: https://chestercountysc.gov/cpst/

👏 Thank you to Brian, Jeremy, and Morgan for an informative program and for sharing information about both upcoming and previously completed capital projects in Chester County!

09/15/2026

August 25, 2026, the Chester Rotary Club was pleased to welcome District 7750 Governor Eric Krichbaum, a member of the Reedy River Rotary Club of Greenville, and Assistant District Governor Ryan Blancke from York, SC!

At noon, the Chester Rotary Board met with Governor Krichbaum and Assistant Governor Blancke to discuss past club projects, accomplishments, and future goals.

At 1:00 p.m., Governor Krichbaum shared an inspiring message focused on three important areas of Rotary: membership, fundraising, and communication, including the importance of using social media to share the impact of our club. When these three areas work together, they help create a club that is both fun and prosperous!

Governor Krichbaum closed with an important challenge for all Rotarians: “How can we create an even greater impact on our world?” 🌎

💡 Fun Fact: Did you know that most Rotary District Governors go through approximately four years of training and preparation before serving as District Governor?

Thank you, Governor Krichbaum and Assistant Governor Blancke, for spending time with the Chester Rotary Club and challenging us to continue making a difference in our community and beyond! ❤️💙