CLUB HUB: Fairchance Exchange Club celebrates 70 years of community service
Photo by Fran Zajac
Officers for Fairchance Exchange Club show plans for a new community building at the recent celebration of the club’s 70th anniversary. Pictured are (from left) Miles Baker, treasurer; Tony Budinsky, secretary; Chrissy Beissell, president; and Chuck Dean, president-elect. Photo by Fran Zajac
Fran Zajac
Officers for Fairchance Exchange Club show plans for a new community building at the recent celebration of the club’s 70th anniversary. Pictured are (from left) Miles Baker, treasurer; Tony Budinsky, secretary; Chrissy Beissell, president; and Chuck Dean, president-elect.
submitted photo
Fairchance Exchange Club recently celebrated serving the community for 70 years with projects that include Fairchance Community Park, ushering in the holiday season with Christmas lights, putting up flags for patriotic holidays, providing scholarships for students and highway litter clean up. Photo by Fran Zajac
Submitted photo
A historic photo displayed at the 70th-anniversary celebration of the Fairchance Exchange Club showed early members, including (from left) front row: Albert Kapalko, J.W. Goldsboro and Dr. Patterson; back row: Bob Wagner, Steve Takoch and Andy Togal.
Fran Zajac
A view of the Albert Kapalko Walking Trail at Fairchance Community Park. The park was an early project of the Fairchance Exchange Club, which is observing its 70th anniversary and continues to support the park.
Photo by Fran Zajac
Tony Budinsky, left, club secretary and a member since 1986, and Ronald Smith, a member since 1980, are pictured at the 70th-anniversary celebration of the Fairchance Exchange Club, which is dedicated to providing service for the Fairchance community. Photo by Fran Zajac
Photo by Fran Zajac
Tom Kapako, left, a member for 43 years, and Joseph Borytsky, former member, are pictured at the 70th-anniversary celebration of the Fairchance Exchange Club, which is dedicated to providing service for the Fairchance community. Photo by Fran Zajac
Fran Zajac
Veterans Memorial at Fairchance Community Park is one of many projects the Fairchance Exchange Club has undertaken in its 70 years of community service.
Chrissy Beissell, president, called the Fairchance Exchange Club to order as members recently gathered to celebrate its 70th anniversary of providing service to the community.
She noted how a group came together in 1946 to establish the club, saying, “Their legacy has lived on through the years” as club members strive to “Keep Fairchance, Pennsylvania, a great place to live.”
“We wouldn’t be here without all the members — past and present,” Beissell said.
The club’s 70th anniversary celebration took place in their building at the Fairchance Community Park where members meet every Thursday to socialize and make plans to benefit their community.
Those projects include creation of the Fairchance Community Park, putting up flags for patriotic holidays and Christmas lights during the holiday season, fundraisers for charities and scholarships for students.
Everything is accomplished with a sense of community spirit and dedication that attracts and keeps members.
Peter Mayola, who joined in 1986 and whose father was a charter member, said, “It’s just a good community organization where we try to help everybody.”
Secretary and past president Tony Budinsky, who also joined the organization in 1986, said he enjoys working to help the community.
Ronald N. Smith, a member since 1980 and a former president, commented, “It’s the fellowship and being able to provide things to make the community a better place, being able to help other members and children in the community.”
Smith explained the club grew out of the National Exchange Club, which has been in existence since 1917, according to its website.
According to the national website, the name “Exchange” was selected because the group wanted to exchange ideas and information with like-minded individuals about how to better serve their communities.”
The organization now includes Exchange Excel Clubs and Junior Excel Clubs for youths as well as Collegiate Exchange clubs and traditional Exchange Clubs, numbering more than 650 clubs and nearly 20,000 members throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Smith said the Fairchance Exchange Club was established by local businessmen but now includes members from a variety of professions as well as those who live outside Fairchance’s borders, including Beisell, who lives in Smithfield and has been a member five years.
“It’s the easiest club to belong to because everybody works together and it’s such a good group,” said Beissel, who became involved as her husband was a chiropractor in Fairchance.
Besides Beissell and Budinsky, other officers include Fairchance residents Chuck Dean, president-elect, and Miles Baker, treasurer.
A member for five years, Dean said, “It’s so active. We have good people. Everybody gets together and works. It’s good to see our accomplishments at the end of the year.”
And there are many accomplishments.
The Fairchance Community Park, located along Sheldon Avenue, was an early project of the club and is open year round. While the park was turned over to the borough, the club has continued to provide for it. The park includes two baseball fields, a playground, a canal that the club stocks annually with fish, a bridge, the Albert Kapalko Walking Trail and a veterans memorial, which was just completed in 2016. The park also attracts a variety of birds, including ducks and geese.
“There’s people on that walking path every day,” said Smith, who also noted use of the park by many people in the community, including youth ball teams.
In fact, the club is planning to construct a new community building at the park when the Sheepskin Trail, a hiking biking trail that will run from the Great Allegheny Passage in Dunbar Township to a trail system in West Virginia, connects with Fairchance.
The club is in the process of raising money for the building and is seeking donations and plans to apply for grants. Anyone who wants to donate can contact a club member.
Other projects include:
n Ushering in the holiday season with 70 Christmas lights for the town’s streets. The club purchased the lights and replaces damaged ones, and helps the borough put them on utility poles. Fayette County Career and Technical Institute in nearby Georges Township also helps by repairing some damaged lights.
n Spending hours putting up and taking down flags that line town streets on patriotic holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. The club marches in patriotic parades and passes out flags to youths.
n Helping with Fairchance’s annual Halloween parade and provides treats and costume prizes for youths.
n Providing annual scholarships for students in the Albert Gallatin School District.
Supervised youth physical fitness activities in the community.
n Participating in highway litter cleanup with Fayette County Career and Technical Institute from Big Six Road to Sycamore (Routes 857/119 crossing).
n Hosting an annual 5k walk/run fundraiser every May to benefit Fayette County Children and Youth Services.
n Hosting an annual fundraiser dinner dance every November to benefit the club’s projects.
Tom Kapalko of Fairchance has been a member for 43 years and has held all offices. His father, Albert Kapalko, was a founding member.
“I was in high school when I started putting up Christmas lights,” said Kapalko.
Former member Joseph Borytsky of Fairchance who came back for the anniversary dinner, continues to think highly of the club, noting, “They do a lot of good for the community.”
Asked what he liked about the club, Baker, a member for 27 years, said, “I think it’s giving back to the community. I think that’s what it’s all about.”