RURITAN – WHAT IS RURITAN?

Community Service

Unlike most community service organizations, Ruritan rarely has national programs. Rather, each club surveys the needs of its own community and then works to meet some of those needs. Nearly all clubs work locally with youth organizations such as FFA, 4-H and Scouting. Many clubs provide and supervise community recreational centers, sponsor little league and other athletic programs, sponsor anti-litter campaigns, help the sick, the needy, and provide a wide range of other activities to help improve their communities.

The Community Service Committees are standing committees in all Ruritan Clubs across the Nation. Our success will be determined by our determination, dedication, and persistence to serve our community.

History

The first Ruritan Club was chartered May 21, 1928, in Holland, Virginia. Since that first club, Ruritan has grown throughout the United States of America, and in doing so, has become “America’s Leading Community Service Organization.”

Tom Downing of Suffolk, Virginia, and Jack Gwaltney of Holland, Virginia, are known as the co-founders of Ruritan. Gwaltney and Downing recognized the need for an organization where community leaders could meet and discuss ways to make their community a better place in which to live.

The name “Ruritan” was suggested by Daisy Nurney, a reporter for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot newspaper, and the club’s charter members unanimously adopted “Ruritan” as the organization’s name. The word is a combination of the Latin words for open country “ruri” and small town “tan,” interpreted as pertaining to rural and small town life.

How was McCullers Ruritan started?

McCullers Ruritan club was sponsored by the West Edgecomb Ruritan Club near Rocky Mount. McCullers was chartered in April 16, 1953, with 41 charter members. The club has provided one Ruritan National President, U.L. (Buddy) Lee. Also three National Directors have come from McCullers Ruritan; U.L. (Buddy) Lee, James Arvin, and Dewitt King.

First meetings were held at Sauls Barbecue, formerly 401 Seafood. The present building was constructed in 1956 with the first meeting being held in November of that year. About 1980 the club purchased six acres of property on Fanny Brown Road to be used as a recreational area and possible future club house site. The property presently has two baseball playing fields for youngsters.

How are McCullers Ruritan club activities funded?

McCullers Ruritan Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes fellowship, goodwill, and community service within the community. The Ruritan club is the only active civic club in the community. Club activities are funded by membership dues, membership dues, building rentals, donor contributions, investment dividends, and barbecues.

The club has two barbecue events each year to cover club facility expenses and support community service activities. These events occur on the last Friday in March and September. All the food is freshly prepared on site. Most club members participate as well as numerous volunteers.

The Club facility, which includes a kitchen, can be rented for social activities like parties, receptions, reunions, and meetings of homeowner associations (HOA’s). A local church also rents the building for Sunday morning services.

Members pay annual dues to cover Ruritan National dues and the cost of meals at monthly meetings.

What type of community activities are supported by the McCullers Ruritan?

In a typical year, the McCullers Ruritan Club hosts two pork BBQ fundraisers, one in March and September. Profits allow the Ruritan Club to support support various community

service projects. Notable uses of funds include:

• Small scholarships for local college students.

• Construction of handicap ramps for the elderly or infirm, and financial assistance in paying for materials.

• Wake County Sheriff’s Expansion of K-9 dog patrol and drug team.

• Financial support for the Garner Elite softball team for girls. Team members are high school girls who aspire to play softball in college.

• Adopt-a-Highway trash collections twice annually on Ten–Ten Rd.

• Maintenance and upgrades of two little league baseball fields located on Fanny Brown Road. Fields are used by teams with kids 12 years old and under.

• Donations to Hospice of Wake County, Hand of Hope, and the Wake County Food Bank.

The Ruritans look forward to many years and expect another great year assisting our “small town”! The McCullers Crossroads neighborhood knows that Ruritan makes their community a better place in which to live.