By Bette
Tranum-Mallow
tribune correspondent
FOUNTAIN — Fountain Ruritan President Richard “Eugene” Tasker was elected as District Governor of Upper West Virginia Ruritan at the 56th annual Convention held Nov. 1 in Petersburg.
Tasker has held almost every office in the local club and several offices on the district level. He was invited by the late Jim Taylor, who was one of those instrumental in starting the Fountain Club, to join the Ruritan in November of 1981 and now has 27 years of perfect attendance.
Twenty-five clubs make up District 19 in the Upper West Virginia Ruritan , which includes Zones One, Two, Three and Four.
“It’s going to be a busy year,” Tasker said, “but I am ready for it. I want to visit all 25 clubs next year.”
He was installed by former National Ruritan President Joe Pancione, of Augusta Ruritan. Pancione said, “The motto of Ruritan is Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service. It is like a three- legged stool; if you remove one of the legs, it will not stand. We have to utilize all three and work together to make Ruritan work for our communities.
“I know Eugene Tasker will do a great job.”
After his installation, Tasker thanked those in attendance for their support and confidence in him.
“I especially want to thank my club for all their hard work and support,” he said. “My goal is to promote growth and new members. At present there are 25 clubs in Upper West Virginia, there are areas that could use a Ruritan Club.
“You only need 16 members to charter a new club,” he said.
“My motto is ‘Let’s make our Ruritan District shine in 2009’,” he announced.
Ruritan is a rural service club devoted to their communities. It is the desire of Ruritan Clubs and members to give those who need help in their communities and make them a better place in which to live.
If you are interested in joining Ruritan or starting a club in your community, you may call Tasker at (304) 788-0774. Fountain Ruritan meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the club headquarters on Headsville Road.
Tasker lives in Fountain with his wife Shirley, and they are the parents of three daughters and six grandchildren.
Fountain Ruritan’s Service Award winners at the Convention were: The Citizenship and Patriotism Committee, a Gold Award; the Environment Committee, a Gold Award; the Social Concerns Committee, a Gold Award; the Public Service Committee, a Gold Award; and the Business and Professions Committee, a Bronze Award.
“Each of these committees make up the Ruritan Club,” Tasker said. “It is their job to sponsor different functions and follow through with them. The fact that we received four of the highest awards possible shows you that they are working hard.”
Fountain Club will host the convention next year in November. Time and place will be announced later.
Officers for the coming year are Sonny Alt, president; Eunice Aldridge, vice president; Evelyn Johnson, secretary; and Ginny Abernathy -Mason, treasurer.
“Fountain would like to thank you for your support in the past and hope to see you at our fundraisers” Tasker said.
FOUNTAIN, W.Va. —
