| Fulks Run Ruritan Club News Articles |
February 2012
The Fulks Run Ruritan Club met at the elementary school on Feb. 7. After a delicious dinner served
by the Willing Workers of Mountain Grove Church of the Brethern, member Shirley Bland introduced
her guest, Rev. Gary Boston, pastor of Mt. Carmel United Brethren in Christ Church. She also tallied
several dozen hours that members spent on transporting the elderly and other community services
during the past month. Rose Harper also reported on hours spent on helping at the school, the
recent rabies clinic, and at other events. Ralph Bolgiano tallied the number of household recycling
hours, and reported on the continuing profits going to the school from the sale of paper collected at
the Ruritan Park. Robert Brady announced that a chicken BBQ fundraiser for the club is scheduled
for June 2 and the Lawn Party will be July 25-28, and asked members to put those dates on their
calendars and plan to help out.
Board of Directors recommendations were discussed and approved: to sponsor a Broadway Bruins
Baseball game (date to be announced); to donate to the Collins Center for child advocacy in sexual
assault cases; to waive the bingo and card fee for J.C. Myers School to use them for a school
fundraiser; and to invite Jo Nylander Kyger to become a new member. Members cheered this last
recommendation.
School principal David Wenger announced that because school will be closed the first week in April,
the regular club meeting will be held on April 10th rather than the 3rd. Wilt Thomas reminded
members that their Costco dues of $27.50 will be coming up next month.
Treasurer Miles Turner reported on the cost of Christmas bags delivered to the elderly and shut-ins,
and gave the current balance. Shirley Bland introduced several volunteer members from the
Broadway Rescue Squad, Broadway Fire Dept., Bergton Rescue Squad, and Bergton Fire Dept.
These volunteers described their activities and answered questions from the group about soft
billing, the new practice of billing insurance companies but not patients for ambulance trips;
required training, which is extensive; and kinds of equipment. Because each squad and fire dept.
needs a large space to house their trucks, it is not possible at this time to consolidate rescue and
fire operations, but that may come in the future. Bland presented each of the four agencies with a
check for the club’s annual donation, President Clark Ritchie thanked all the volunteers heartily for
their efforts, and the club gave them a loud round of applause.
2011 Scholarship Award Winners Raising new flags at Ruritan Park
December 2011
The Fulks Run Ruritan Club met at Traditions Restaurant on Dec. 6 for the annual Christmas dinner.
After members and guests had enjoyed the meal, President Lena Custer called the meeting to
order. Robert Brady presented the Citizen of the Year award to Janna Blosser for her decades of
work running the Beauty Pageant at the Lawn Party as well as her help with other projects. He
presented the Ruritan of the Year Award to Lena Custer for her years of service to the Ruritan
mission, including serving as President several times.
Shirley Bland totaled the hours of helping people in the community reported by members, plus a
donation of four units of platelets. The school and the club combined donated 184 pounds of food
to the Bergton Food Pantry. Lena Turner described the Christmas bags to be packed for the elderly
and shut-ins, asked for volunteers, and set the date for Monday, Dec. 12 at 9:30 at the Park for
packing and delivery.
Treasurer Miles Turner reported that member Sandy Leary and family had donated a new American
flag to the Park. He also praised Sandy’s landscaping (she is a certified Master Gardener) at the two
gardens at the Park entrance and said she had saved the club $700 over the original estimated cost.
Lena Custer introduced John Case, currently District Lt. Governor and upcoming District Governor,
who installed the new officers for 2012: Directors David Wenger, Richard Brady, and Larry McNally;
Treasurer Miles Turner, Secretary Lena Custer, Vice President Larry Custer, and President Clark
Ritchie. Case urged everyone to consider the work done for Ruritans as more fun than work, with
laughter being part of the payback. He also mentioned that reservations for a bus to take Ruritans
to the national convention in Raleigh, NC in January are still being taken. This year, there is no late
registration fee, so members can decide to go without worrying about when to register.
Lena Custer announced that several club committees had received awards from National, including
gold awards for the Social Development and Environment committees. To end the meeting on a
festive note, Marcella Turner, Chair of the Fellowship Committee, pulled member numbers from a
box to award poinsettias and gift certificates as door prizes, and everyone was invited to take some
fresh fruit home.
2012 Ruritan of the Year - Lena Custer
November 2011
The Fulks Run Ruritan Club met at the school on November 1, 2011. The Nov. meeting is traditionally
Teachers’ and Ruritan Spouses night, so after a delicious chili meal served by the Youth Group of
the Mountain Grove Church, President Lena Custer asked member and school principal David
Wenger to introduce the faculty and staff who came as guests of the club. Wenger began by
thanking the club for its strong support since the school’s beginning in 1961. After his
introductions, the club gave teachers and staff a loud round of applause for their excellent work.
Members then introduced the several spouses who also joined the club as guests.
Lena Turner reported on the Veterans’ Day flag placement activity in cemeteries that she has
organized for many years, and asked for volunteers. Shirley Bland reported on hours spent
volunteering for transporting the elderly, the recent Hunters Safety course, and several recent
BBQs. Charter member Jim Custer, who absence was notable as he has never missed a meeting in
more than 50 years, was granted a leave of absence due to illness, and club members wish him well.
Treasurer Miles Turner reported on a new, 100 foot drain placed in the Park to drain water near the
horseshoe pit into the existing drain system, and pleasantly surprised the club with the news that
the bill had been cut in half by an anonymous donor. The club wishes to say a hearty thanks to that
generous donor! Turner also reported on the success of recent BBQs held to fund the club’s
annual donations to local fire and rescue squads.
Sue Funkhouser reported on four units of platelets and one blood donated and four hours of
volunteer tutoring at the school. She asked for a volunteer (preferably with beard, although lack of
one could be remedied) to be Santa at the school Christmas party. Ralph Bolgiano totaled 104 hours
of household recycling. He also reported that the ninth load of paper recycling (2.6 tons) had been
picked up from the Park and a check sent to the school. This has proved to be a significant, steady
income for the school, and the club thanks all community members who have been taking their
paper and cardboard to the club’s recycling trailer in the Park.
Bobby Blosser introduced George VanOrden as the program. VanOrden, who is a club member,
taught survival skills in the Marines and after retirement began his own business supplying survival
kits to the military and others who spend time in wild places. He explained that a survival strategy
encompasses four necessities: water procuring, food gathering, signaling, and shelter. He
described the contents of his very compact kits, which include dental floss for sewing, needles,
waterproof paper and pencil, foil, mirror, scalpel blade, water purifying tablets, fire-starting wicks
and tools, sterile bags to carry water, fish hooks and line, snare wire, compass, light, and many other
items including, of course, a Swiss army knife. To conclude the meeting he generously gave away
many of these items, delighting those club members who hunt, hike or backpack. The kits can be
reviewed and purchased at www.prosurvivalkit.com.
September 2011
The Fulks Run Ruritan Club met on Sept. 6 at the elementary school. Shirley Bland reported on
nearly 100 hours of service from members who transported sick and elderly people and/or
volunteered at such venues as the Rockingham County Fair, Bergton Food Pantry, Broadway Library,
and the school. Lena Turner reported that two units each of platelets and blood had been donated
in August. Ralph Bolgiano reported on 72 hours of household recycling and six hours of picking up
roadside trash. Larry Custer reported that he had purchased several head of livestock at the stock
sale on behalf of the club to support the young people involved in 4H and FFA. Clark Ritchie read
thank-you letters from these youngsters, and one of the guests at the meeting, retired Broadway
High School agriculture teacher Jim Hively, commended the club for its long and consistent support
for youth in agriculture.
President Lena Custer read a notice from the Bergton Food Pantry stating that the number of clients
had increased in recent months, and Shirley Bland, who volunteers regularly at the Pantry, reported
that more families from Fulks Run were now using it. The club voted unanimously to donate $100 in
addition to the quarterly donations the club began making in 2009.
There was a discussion about the possibility of reviving the fireworks for July 4th, which the club
had to drop two years ago due to the doubling of costs. Several members indicated that they are
continuing to investigate the options for having fireworks again.
School principal David Wenger reminded the club that the school recycles phone books. Guest and
antique car enthusiast Wayne Turner passed out plaques commemorating the car and motorcycle
show at the Lawn Party. Robert Brady announced that five more chicken BBQs will be held, and
particularly asked for help at the Oct. 1 and Oct. 15 events, which are for local fire and rescue
squads.
