Rotary Club of Wheeling, West Virginia

06/10/2026

HUGE Wheeling Miners game this Saturday as they vindicate their only loss this season in a rematch with Columbus, Ga.! GM Chris Cipriani and head coach Chris McKinney spoke to Rotary this week about the team’s new iteration and how arena football is different from regular football (hint: it’s FASTER!). This Wheeling franchise is another exciting thing happening in our city and deserves support as the players put their blood, sweat, and tears into their success! Tickets are available at the WesBanco Arena box office. Game time Saturday is 7 pm.

Pictured from left are Coach Mac, Rotary President Jamie Crow, VP Nick Sparachane, Dominic Cipriani, and Miners GM Chris Cipriani.

05/28/2026

This time, he’s IN the photo!
This week at Rotary, we heard from David Allinder of IN Wheeling magazine. You’ve seen him behind the camera at local events capturing the changemakers, but today the spotlight was on him. He told us about how he created the magazine with the intention of focusing on a different theme each month and highlighting the people who live and work here. He also discussed his newest venture, a sugar-free, caffeine-free, basil tea.
Pictured are David Allinder along with Rotary President Jamie Crow and Vice President Nick Sparachane.
INWheeling Magazine

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

In her role with Easterseals Rehabilitation Center, Rotary Club of Wheeling President-Elect Betsy Bethel-McFarland paid a visit yesterday to nearby St. Clairsville Sunrise Rotary to talk about Easterseals and the upcoming free water ski show event June 7 at Wheeling Heritage Port, the Ohio River Splashtacular. Betsy noted she is a fourth generation Rotarian, and she will be the fifth Rotary president in her family — and the first female Rotary president in her family. Her great-grandfather, Otis O. Bethel; grandfather, Craig Bethel; and father, Robert L. Bethel all served as St. Clairsville Rotarians, while her brother, Clay, was a Barnesville Rotarian.

05/20/2026

We had an exciting meeting on Tuesday at WesBanco Arena! We presented Rev. Dr. Bill Wendell from the House of the Carpenter with a $500 donation for the nonprofit's backpack lunch program with Madison School. We are proud to support a program that makes such a difference for local children and families.

We welcomed Sami and Brian Campbell from the popup smoothie and acai bowl shop La Bowls (link in comments) to talk about their product, business philosophy, and expansion plans. La Bowls won a Wheeling Heritage Show of Hands contest and is looking toward next steps for a brick and mortar site in Wheeling. Brian and Sami are Wheeling Central grads and attended West Liberty and West Virginia University, respectively. Their focus on health and nutrition, combined with their community-mindedness and entrepreneurial spirits, are the foundation of success for La Bowls. We wish them all the best for continued success!

Finally, we completed our 2025-26 fundraiser for the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley's flood relief recovery fund by pulling the winners of our cash raffle! Congratulations to $1,000 winner Anthony Ruiz, $500 winner Lynne Exley, and $250 winner Bryan Ramsey!

05/12/2026

Our Tuesday lunch meeting took place at the American Legion Post 1 today, culinary home of our caterer, Chef Adam Luiso. We welcomed Executive Director Staci Stephen and community Engagement Director Laurie Conway from the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley. Laurie shared the local nonprofit’s extensive fundraiser schedule for the summer, which can be found on their website, unitedwayuov.org. Staci noted the organization completed allocations to its 25 member agencies recently, distributing $600,000 to help meet the needs of local residents. The United Way has been a leader in flood disaster relief following the June 2025 flash flooding in Triadelphia and Valley Grove, doing everything from mucking out basements to providing temporary housing to building bridges. For info on all their supportive programs, visit unitedwayuov.org. Thank you, United Way, for all you do!

Pictured are, standing, Rotary President Jamie Crow, left, and Vice President Nick Sparachane, and seated left, Laurie Conway, and Staci Stephen.

05/06/2026

Justin Miller, President of the Ohio County Country Fair Board of Directors, and Nancy Lewis, Board Member, were welcomed by the Wheeling Rotary Club to share insights about the Ohio County Country Fair. The fair, held annually during Oglebay Fest, will open on Friday this year, with free admission for families and children.