Gabriel Penfield, Irmo Town Council
Get Involved

Your voice in Irmo

The most powerful thing you can do for your community is show up. Here are 27 places to start, from town meetings to the clubs that meet every week. Missing one? Send it in.

  1. 1

    Meet town staff

    They handle the town's day-to-day work, from business licenses and code enforcement to parks and events. Ask questions and share what you'd change.

  2. 2

    Introduce yourself

    Say hello to council before or after a meeting, or use public comment.

  3. 3

    Speak early

    Ideas start as workshops and first readings. The earlier you speak, the more it counts.

  4. 4

    Serve on a board

    Boards and commissions shape decisions before council votes.

  5. 5

    Join a club

    Civic clubs are where neighbors turn ideas into projects.

Town government

Show up, speak up, or serve on a board. Apply for a town board through the town's online form.

Town Council workshop

When
1st Tuesday · 6:00 PM
Where
7300 Woodrow St, Irmo (Municipal Building)

Where ideas get discussed before votes. Also streamed on the town's YouTube channel.

Agendas →

Town Council business meeting

When
3rd Tuesday · 6:00 PM
Where
7300 Woodrow St, Irmo (Municipal Building)

Votes happen here. Sign up for public comment to speak for 2 to 3 minutes.

Agendas →

Planning Commission

When
2nd Monday · 6:00 PM
Where
7300 Woodrow St, Irmo (Municipal Building)

Reviews rezonings and development first. 7 seats, 3-year terms.

Board info →

Board of Zoning Appeals

When
3rd Monday, as needed · 6:00 PM
Where
7300 Woodrow St, Irmo (Municipal Building)

Hears variance and appeal requests. 5 seats, 3-year terms.

Board info →

Okra Strut Commission

When
2nd Tuesday · 6:15 PM
Where
7300 Woodrow St, Irmo (Municipal Building)

Plans the Okra Strut. Open to District Five-area residents. Volunteers: info@okrastrut.com.

Board info →

Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee

When
As scheduled
Where
Irmo

Recommends how hotel-tax money supports tourism and parks. 7 seats.

Board info →

Serve on a State Board

When
Openings year-round
Where
Statewide boards and commissions

Nearly 300 state boards, with about 390 open seats. Search by topic and see who fills each seat.

See open seats →

S.C. Advisory Council on Aging

When
Quarterly · 10:00 AM
Where
1301 Gervais St, Columbia

Irmo is in Area 4. The statewide At-Large 3 seat is open to any S.C. resident.

Council page →

Service and civic clubs

Rotary, Optimist, Lions, Toastmasters, Ruritan and woman's clubs that meet in and around Irmo.

Rotary Club of Lake Murray-Irmo

When
Wednesdays (not 5th) · 7:30 AM
Where
Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia
Facebook →

Rotary Club of St. Andrews-Columbia

When
Tuesdays · 1:00 PM
Where
Lizard's Thicket, 7569 St. Andrews Rd

Also runs public bingo Thursdays at 6 PM at Seven Oaks Park.

Website →

Rotary Club of Chapin Sunrise

When
Thursdays · 7:30 AM
Where
Crooked Creek Park, 1098 Old Lexington Hwy, Chapin
Details →

Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo

When
Fridays · 8:00 AM
Where
Steve Padgett Honda, 750 Western Ln, Irmo

Youth-focused service club.

Website →

Greater Irmo Lions Club

When
4th Monday (not May or Dec) · 6:30 PM
Where
Zorba's, 6169 St. Andrews Rd; call-in available
Website →

Richland Toastmasters #2500

When
1st & 3rd Thursday · 6:00 PM
Where
Lexington Medical Center Irmo, 7035 St. Andrews Rd; online too

Practice public speaking, a great first step before public comment.

Club page →

Chapin Ruritan Club

When
Check website
Where
117 Peak St, Chapin
Facebook →

Lake Murray-Irmo Woman's Club

When
Check website
Where
Irmo

GFWC club since 1961; scholarships and community projects.

Website →

St. Andrews Woman's Club

When
Check website
Where
Columbia / Irmo
Website →

GFWC Chapin Woman's Club

When
1st Tuesday · 10:00 AM
Where
St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, Chapin

Social at 9:30 AM.

Calendar →

Chapin Junior Woman's Club

When
2nd Tuesday · 6:30 PM
Where
Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church, 101 E Boundary St, Chapin
Meetings →

Veterans and fraternal

Legion posts, lodges and councils.

American Legion Irmo Post 174

When
1st Tuesday · 6:30 PM
Where
801 Piney Woods Rd, Columbia
Details →

Chapin American Legion Post 193

When
2nd Thursday · 7:00 PM
Where
102 Lexington Ave, Chapin

Dinner at 6 PM. Veterans breakfast Mondays 7:30 AM.

Website →

Boyleston Lodge No. 123 AFM

When
1st Thursday · 7:30 PM
Where
1310 Dutch Fork Rd, Irmo

Dinner at 6:30 PM.

Website →

Knights of Columbus Council 16903

When
1st Tuesday · 7:00 PM
Where
Our Lady of the Lake, 195 Amicks Ferry Rd, Chapin
Website →

Business and volunteering

Meet local business owners and help neighbors.

Greater Irmo Chamber Coffee Talk

When
Tuesdays
Where
Call (803) 749-9355 for time and place

Casual weekly networking.

Events →

Chamber Partner Luncheon

When
Monthly
Where
Call (803) 749-9355
Events →

Chamber Emerging Professionals Council

When
Monthly
Where
Call (803) 749-9355

For young professionals building local connections.

Events →

Irmo Outreach

When
Ongoing
Where
Irmo

Volunteer to help neighbors in need.

Website →

Neighborhood and nonpartisan

Your HOA and voter education.

League of Women Voters, Columbia Area

When
Events vary
Where
Columbia / Zoom

Nonpartisan candidate forums and voter education.

Website →

Harbison Community Association

When
Board meetings, check website
Where
106 Hillpine Rd, Columbia

Your neighborhood association is the closest level of government. I got my start on an HOA board.

Website →

Don’t see your group or event?

Send it in and I’ll add it.

Meeting times were checked in October 2026 but can change, so confirm with the group before you go. Know a group that should be here? Email Gabriel@IrmoSC.gov.
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