Peak Creek (NC) Ruritan Club
Who?
- Who are the Ruritans?
- The first Ruritan Club was chartered May 21, 1928, in Holland, Virginia. Since that first club, Ruritan has grown throughout the United States of America, and in doing so, has become “America’s Leading Community Service Organization.”
- Tom Downing of Suffolk, Virginia, and Jack Gwaltney of Holland, Virginia, are known as the co-founders of Ruritan. Gwaltney and Downing recognized the need for an organization where community leaders could meet and discuss ways to make their community a better place in which to live.
- The name “Ruritan” was suggested by Daisy Nurney, a reporter for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot newspaper, and the club’s charter members unanimously adopted “Ruritan” as the organization’s name. The word is a combination of the Latin words for open country “ruri” and small town “tan,” interpreted as pertaining to rural and small town life.
- Who are Peak Creek Ruritans?
- We are a local group doing good in our community. We have fundraisers to help local students with scholarships to trade schools.
- Peak Creek Ruritans, founded in 1984, is open to adults of good character and integrity who are dedicated to community service, regardless of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation.
- Our Primary Officers for 2026
| Office |
2024 |
Type |
Responsibilities
|
| President |
Bryna Grig |
Elected |
Runs the organization
|
| Vice President |
??? |
Elected |
Assists and fills in for NG
|
| Immediate Past President |
??? |
(Earned) |
Assists and fills in for President or Vice President
|
| Secretary |
Erika Grig Darden |
Elected |
Records minutes, files paperwork, receives communications
|
| Treasurer |
??? |
Elected |
Keeps financial records; receives and disburses funds
|
| Director - Year 3 |
??? |
Appointed |
???
|
| Director - Year 2 |
??? |
Appointed |
???
|
| Director - Year 1 |
??? |
Appointed |
???
|
What?
- Ruritan is a civic organization whose purpose is to create a better understanding between rural and urban people and through volunteer community service, create a better place in which to live and work.
- The motto of Ruritan is Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service. Club membership represents a cross-section of the community. Ruritan is available to all persons regardless of race, religion, age, national origin, handicap, political affiliation or sex.
- Unlike most civic organizations, Ruritan rarely has national programs. Rather, each Club surveys its own community as to the needs of that community and then works to meet some of those needs. A large number of clubs work locally with FFA, 4-H and one in three Ruritan Clubs sponsor Scouting. Other local Ruritan projects include scholarships, community watch, recreation, Little League, athletic programs, anti-litter campaigns, and help to the sick and needy.
- Ruritan members receive from the Club what they put into it. The great sense of camaraderie and fulfillment in the community service fills the hearts of those who make the commitment to attend their Club meetings regularly and serve when and where needed.
When?
Peak Creek Ruritans meets the first Monday of each month at 6:00pm for a pot luck supper.
Where?
- Where do we meet?
- We meet at the Peak Creek Ruritan Community Center, 7026 NC Hwy. 88 East, Laurel Springs, NC 28644
