BONSACK/BLUE RIDGE RURITAN CLUB
About Us
Located at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Bonsack/Blue Ridge Ruritan Club serves Botetourt and Roanoke Counties.
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The initial meeting of the Bonsack Ruritan Club was held on May 22, 1952. The meeting was called to order by Allen Thomas. A slate of officers was elected, Allen Thomas, President, John D. Seibel, Vice-president, Herbert Hale, Secretary, and E. L. McDaniel, Treasurer. Twenty men signed the charter on June 19, 1952. The club met at Bonsack Methodist Church from 1952 to 1967 when the congregation of the church moved into a new building. The club held its meetings at Seibel Brothers Farm Equipment building until they purchased the old Methodist Church building to renovate it into a community center in 1969. The building was operated as Bonsack Community Center until it was sold in 1987. Since then the club has met at the Bonsack United Methodist Church. After the Blue Ridge Ruritan club disbanded in 1991, the Bonsack club invited the active members to join them. On June 1, 1993 the name was changed to Bonsack/Blue Ridge Ruritan club.
Other notable dates in the history of the Bonsack/Blue Ridge club:
1982 Bonsack Ruritan member James (Corky) Rader was elected to the office of Ruritan National President
1991 the first female member, Lou Rader, was initiated into the club.
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The initial meeting of the Bonsack Ruritan Club was held on May 22, 1952. The meeting was called to order by Allen Thomas. A slate of officers was elected, Allen Thomas, President, John D. Seibel, Vice-president, Herbert Hale, Secretary, and E. L. McDaniel, Treasurer. Twenty men signed the charter on June 19, 1952. The club met at Bonsack Methodist Church from 1952 to 1967 when the congregation of the church moved into a new building. The club held its meetings at Seibel Brothers Farm Equipment building until they purchased the old Methodist Church building to renovate it into a community center in 1969. The building was operated as Bonsack Community Center until it was sold in 1987. Since then the club has met at the Bonsack United Methodist Church. After the Blue Ridge Ruritan club disbanded in 1991, the Bonsack club invited the active members to join them. On June 1, 1993 the name was changed to Bonsack/Blue Ridge Ruritan club.
Other notable dates in the history of the Bonsack/Blue Ridge club:
1982 Bonsack Ruritan member James (Corky) Rader was elected to the office of Ruritan National President
1991 the first female member, Lou Rader, was initiated into the club.
The Bonsack/Blue Ridge club is heavily involved in service to the local community, from sponsoring regular blood drives to picking up trash on local highways, from awarding college scholarships to reading to students in a local elementary school. Members work with the Ronald McDonald House, Rescue Mission (homeless shelter), and RAM House, and support the D-Day Memorial. We donate food to the local food bank and funds to the Hunters for the Hungry program.
2011 Club Officers
President - Jim Lewis
Vice President - Jim Frazier
Secretary - Linda Smelser
Treasurer - Mary Lou Lewis
Vice President - Jim Frazier
Secretary - Linda Smelser
Treasurer - Mary Lou Lewis
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Jim (Corky) Rader passed away on Wednesday, December 8, 2010. Corky was a member of the Bonsack/Blue Ridge Ruritan Club for 56 years. As a Ruritan, he served in all district and national offices including that of Ruritan National President in 1982. As President, his motto was "Plant a seed for Ruritan". He served in the Korean War and was a lifelong member of Bonsack United Methodist Church. He retired in 1989 from the US Postal Service as a supervisor after 24 years of service. After his retirement he was an active volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Toys for Tots, and the National D-Day Memorial. He was a devoted husband and father of two girls. But Corky will forever be remembered for his involvement in the Ruritan Club. Among his many positions in Ruritan, Corky served as National President (1982), National Vice President (1981), National Secretary (1977-79), Foundation Trustee (1973-76), Board of Directors (1964-67), He is credited with forming 14 clubs. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
