H*4109 Resolution, By Bedingfield
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE AUGUSTA ROAD RURITAN CLUB IN
 GREENVILLE COUNTY AND THE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY WORK OF ITS MEMBERS AND TO
 DECLARE SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015, AS "RURITAN SUNDAY" IN THE STATE OF SOUTH
 CAROLINA.

   05/05/15  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 6)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE AUGUSTA ROAD RURITAN CLUB IN GREENVILLE COUNTY AND THE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY WORK OF ITS MEMBERS AND TO DECLARE SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015, AS "RURITAN SUNDAY" IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for the significant impact of the Augusta Road Ruritan Club of Piedmont, located in southern Greenville County, and the members are pleased to learn that Sunday, May 17, 2015, is National Ruritan Sunday; and

Whereas, chartered on November 10, 1952, the Augusta Road Ruritan Club was instrumental in securing the South Greenville Fire Department fifty years ago, which has since grown to one of the largest in the State; and

Whereas, the club in Piedmont has provided scholarships for local students who desire to further their education, and the members help to sponsor a Daughters of the American Revolution scholarship, awarded annually to five students; and

Whereas, assisting local food banks, the club partners with them through food and monetary donations, and the members assist in sponsoring the Annual Easter Sunrise Service at Greenville Memorial Gardens; and

Whereas, the Augusta Road Ruritans have assisted such programs as Christian Release, Generations Group Home, and the John I. Smith Language Center in downtown Greenville; and

Whereas, a civic service organization made up of local clubs in urban areas, small towns, and rural communities, Ruritan National has nearly thirty thousand members throughout the United States, who work to improve more than eleven hundred local communities.

Since their inception, Ruritan Clubs have served America through fellowship, goodwill, and community service; and

Whereas, first chartered May 21, 1928, in Holland, Virginia, Ruritan has grown throughout the United States, becoming America's leading community service organization. "Ruritan" combines the Latin words for open country, ruri, and small town, tan, emphasizing the rural and small town nature of the early clubs; and

Whereas, club membership today represents a cross-section of the community which the club serves and is not restrictive with regard to occupation, social position, or any other specific criteria; and

Whereas, most clubs work locally with Future Farmers of America, 4-H, and other organizations that serve youth, and almost one in every three Ruritan clubs sponsors a Boy or Girl Scout troop. Unlike most civic service organizations, however, Ruritan rarely has national programs. Instead, each club seeks to relieve recognized needs within its own community; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciates the outstanding service of the Augusta Road Ruritan Club to its community and joins with the members in celebrating the legacy of Ruritans throughout the country on Ruritan Sunday, May 17, 2015. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Augusta Road Ruritan Club in Greenville County and the meaningful community work of its members and declare Sunday, May 17, 2015, as "Ruritan Sunday" in the State of South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Donna H. Poulton, President of the Augusta Road Ruritan Club.