Short History of Mountain View Ruritan Club


L/R: Robert Hodges, Jane Joines, Jerry Sidden and Gary Wiles      (Photo 2008)

     Ruritan National chartered Mountain View Ruritan Club February 23, 1973 with a few young community men as leaders and members.  Later it was incorporated by the state of North Carolina.  Among the members was the first president James Prevette who was very instrumental in getting the club started. At the time he operated the Gulf Gas Station in Hays and was in contact with community people  on a daily basis.  Bill Reins, Wayne Roope, Royce Ellis, Tracy Walker and Rainer Wiles were some of the first members to get the club off to a good start.
     A highlight of the club is the fellowship of  the member families at the Annual Christmas Corporation Meeting to install the new officers for the coming year.  Ladies receive gifts purchased by the male members of the club and Santa Clause has been known to appear for the children.  Also the fall picnic and pool party is a highlight of the club.
     In 1977 Rainer and others in the club were instrumental in getting a Medical Center established for the community, which continues to be an asset to the community.  Two club members, Jerry Sidden and Jimmy Wiles are medical board members.  Many other valuable projects have been completed or continue year after year.  Among these are aid for the less fortunate, lifts and ramps built for the handicapped, sponsorship of an Independence Celebration, which was moved from the school yard to the Airport to include a Fly-In in the Celebration, Fruit Baskets delivered to the elderly at Christmas, Joe Adams was instrumental in starting an Easter Egg Hunt for the community children, Christmas gifts for needy school children.  Over twenty scholarship grants of five hundred dollars each given to North High School Students for education beyond High School, and financial aid to other organizations which includes The Scout Troops both boys and girls in the community and  school groups both Elementary and High School.  The first Independence Celebration held featured 10cent hotdog, as many as you wanted, traditional forth of July games for children and free cold watermelon.  The club  established a scholarship fund on the national level in the name of Rainer Wiles and is working on one in the name of Mountain View Ruritan Club.  Many of our students have applies for  Nation Ruritan Foundation Scholarships or Loans with success.
     Lots of fund raising projects had to be conducted to pay for all of the above including chicken cues, yard sales, golf tournaments, advertisement sales and donations to the club.
     Under the leadership of good officers and members the club  has earned  both National and District Awards in the five community services areas.  These are:  Business & Professions, Citizenship & Patriotism, The Environment, Public Service, and Social Development.
     At present the club is building a Ruritan Community Center near the Village Fire Department.  It is hoped that it will be completed this year 2005 and ready for use.  Thanks to and for the support of the community people this project  is almost completed.  A picture of the building is in the club brochure on the brochure page of this web.
     In 2004 the club applied for tax exempt status under section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and it was granted.  This makes  contribution to the club tax deductible under sections 170, 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the code.
     Over the thirty some years there have been more than 150 members, a high of 40 members on roll and a low of 14 members.  On this the thirty second anniversary of the club, there are 16 members on roll,  one is a charter member.

Ruritan National History and Mission
can be found on its website.
Check it out by clicking on links in menu bar above.

Top of Page