Our bi-monthly blood drive was held at Bonsack Baptist Church on November 24. A total of 38 units were collected. This included three first time donors. Twenty volunteers from the Bonsack/Blue Ridge Ruritan club worked to make this a successful drive.
Bonsack / Blue Ridge Ruritan Club sponsored blood drives for 2009 collected a total of 25 gallons.
The next blood drive will be held at Bonsack Baptist Church on
January 26, 2010 from 2:00 - 7:00 PM.
Mary Lou Lewis is received into membership . Looking on are Bob Kilpatrick, President,
Jim Lewis, Vice-President, and Membership Chair Lou Rader
January Meeting
At the January meeting the budget for 2010 was approved with enthusiam for the year ahead and its plans for community service in 2010. The year got off to a good start when Mary Lou Lewis was received into membership. Mary Lou is the wife of club vice president Jim Lewis. The highlight of the meeting was the presentation by Jim Ruhland of the Ruritan Unrestricted Library Loan for Young Kids (RULLY Kids) program. Under the leadership of Jim Ruhland, the club has developed this unique program to loan books, unrestricted, at the Blue Ridge Public Library. The books will be loaned to pre-K children ages 3-5. No library card is required to check out these books. These books will not be inventoried in the library system; loaning of the books will be on the honor system. The objective of the program is to provide easy access to books for all pre-K children. The program is designed to generate interest in books and reading in children prior to entry into kindergarten. The starting date for the RULLY Kids program is June 2010 to coincide with the library's summer reading program.
October Meeting
At the October meeting, Book Barns were presented to representatives of Herman L. Horn Elementary School and Masons Cove Elementary School. Including the Book Barn already delivered to Bonsack Elementary School, a total of 213 man-hours were put into the construction of the three barns, each of which cost $300 to build. Funds were provided by Roanoke County Farm Bureau. Club members working on these barns were Lou and Corky Rader, Larry Perdue, Howard Timmons and Bob Kilpatrick. Over $300 of agri-business books provided by the Osborne Book Company and Bonsack Blue Ridge Ruritan Club.
Special Guests at the October meeting included Joe Murray of the Roanoke County Farm Bureau, Peggy Stovall and Susan Brown of Herman L. Horn Elementary School, Ashley McCallum of Masons Cove Elementary School, and Megan Seibel, Womens Committee Chair and Treasurer of the Roanoke County Farm Bureau.
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Jim Ruhland presents the RULLY Kids program to the membership for approval.
December Christmas Dinner
The December meeting was held in the Bonsack United Methodist Church
Family Life Center. The club was treated to a concert by the William Byrd Jazz Band. The music was lively and the
performance was exceptional. After a delicious meal the business of the evening was attended to. Outgoing President Marshall Minter presented a Presidential Award to Esther Wray for exceptional service to the club for
2009. Business and Professions
chair Jim Ruhland awarded the Ruritan Youth of the Year to Kevin Minter and
the Ruritan of the Year Award to Bob Kilpatrick. Former National President
and club member Corky Rader installed the newly elected officers, Bob
Kilpatrick, President, Jim Lewis, Vice President, Linda Smelser, Secretary,
and Larry Perdue, Treasurer.
Lou Rader receives Community
Service Award for Citizenship
and Patriotism Committee
Corky Rader installs 2010 Officers
Esther Wray receives a Special Presidential Award for exemplary
service in 2009
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November Meeting
Our November meeting was a planning meeting for 2010. All committees met to plan projects and budget needs for 2010. Our special guest was Botetourt County Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle who was presented with Rudy Bears for children
in crisis situation s in his jurisdiction.
