Club History

The Chapin Sunrise held its first organizational meeting January 5, 1995 at the Chapin Baptist Church. Lexington Rotary Club voted to serve as the sponsor club. Al Berry, Past President of the Lexington Rotary Club and Mack Branham, Past President of the Columbia Rotary Club discussed plans including prospective charter members with the District Governor, Roy Kaple and Lexington Rotary President, Bert Dooley. The first provisional meeting was held January 19, 1995 at Goodfella’s Restaurant.

On February 23, 1995 Rotary International chartered the club with 32 members:
Robert Ballentine, Marcia Ballentine, Al vin Berry, Jennie Branham, Mack Branham, Robert Broadwell, Jimmy Denning, Wayne Dominick, William Dukes, James N. Edwards, Annie Epting, Jim Gordon, Norman Hair, Arthur L. Jayroe, Jr., Deavors Jeffcoat, James W. Johnston, Margaret Jones, Kenneth W. Kelly, Charlie Kirby, Dallas Manis, Robert Montgomery, Larry Mosely, Scooter O’Cain, John S. Oswald, Jr., Al Potter, Jim Ratliff III, Gary Tapp, Lewis Wessinger, John Winfield, John Wrenn, Keith Wright, Bill Zeigler. Al Berry served as the first president of the club.

Al Berry served as first president of the club and under his leadership established officers, by-laws, and sponsored the first golf tournament that raised $5,500 for club projects (We have averaged over $11,000 from this fund-raiser each year since 2000).

Mack Branham was the second president of the club. The club established a College Scholarship Award, and began a program to recognize a Student each month from Chapin High School for outstanding academic leadership. Fireside Chats were begun. Bob Ballentine became the first member to become a Paul Harris Fellow as well as a Benefactor. The club grew to 45 members.

In 1996 the club began the Chapin Interact Club which is a club as big as our own in 2007. In 2001 we began the Dictionary Project at Lake Murray Elementary and Chapin Elementary School for third grade students. In 1997/8 we began a relationship with the local Alternative Academy recognizing a Student of the Month. In 2001/2 we took a leading role in the building of a local food pantry building for “We Care”. We provided construction advice, labor, and donating a $10,000 matching fund grant. The club started Adopt a Highway litter clean up as a project. The Club began holding an annual Christmas Tree Trimming Party at the Generations Nursing Home. In 2001/2 our club grew by 32%. In 2002/3 the Club purchased a rotary street clock for downtown Chapin as a part of our Centennial Celebration. In 2002/3 the Club became a 100% Paul Harris Sustaining Member Club. In 2002/3 John LaFond was awarded the Assistant Governor’s Service Above Self Award, and Paul Wieber was selected District 7770 :Secretary of the Year.”

In 2004/5 Mack Branham, a member of our club, became District Governor.

The Club has an international connection. We have hosted group study exchange groups every year since we started from Japan (1996), Equador (1997), Argentina (1998), Germany and Colombia (2000/2001), Sweden (2002), Wales (2006). We have sent groups/members to other countries as well: Colombia (1998), India (2005).

Past Presidents are:
Al Berry (1995), Mack Branham (1995/6), Lewis Wessinger (1996/7), Annie Epting (1997/8), Skip Fink (1998/9), Claude Schumpert (1999/2000), Jim Johnston (2000/2001), John LaFond (2001/2), Joe Herndon (2002/3), Richard Kennan (2003/4), George McConnell (2004/5), Hank Fisher (2005/6), Laurie Grooms (2006/7), Thomas Gore (2007/8). Ben Sloan is the President-Elect for 2008/9.