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ABOUT US

WHO ARE THE RURITANS?

We are a group of community minded citizens joining together to meet community needs while embracing the Ruritan motto of Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service. 

What do we do?

Ruritan’s purpose is to create a better understanding among people, and, through volunteer community service, make America’s communities better places in which to live, work, and raise families. Club membership represents a cross-section of the community in which the club serves and is not restrictive with regard to occupation, social-position, or any other specific criteria. We do this by organizing ourselves into several Community Service Committees, each with specific areas of interest. Every club member serves on one or more committee.

Recent Club Events

Girls and Boys Club Guest Speaker at January 2026 Meeting

Hal Smith, President & CEO of the Virginia Peninsula Boys & Girls Club, was guest speaker at…

New member at the ARC January Member Meeting

Abingdon Ruritan Club gained a new member at the January 12th Membership Meeting.  Michele Beck…

New member at the ARC December Member Meeting

2025 Abingdon Ruritan Club President Dean Marzocca initiated new member Addison “A J” Brown into Clu…

Abingdon Ruritan Club Volunteer of the Year Award

Rose Marie Smith, President of the Guinea Heritage Association, was awarded the Abingdon Ruritan Clu…

K9 Program at ARC

At the Abingdon Ruritan Club November Membership Meeting, all were treated to a fantastic program.&n…

Guest Speaker From Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Kyle DeGood spoke at the September Abingdon Ruritan Club Membership Meeting.  Kyle is Founder a…

New Member to Join the ARC

At the September Meeting of the Abingdon Ruritan Club, President Dean initiated new member Kelly Ric…

Supporting our First Responders

Abingdon Ruritan Club (ARC) recognizes this each year with a monetary donation to the Abingdon Fire …

Caring About Others

Abingdon Ruritan Club (ARC) continues to fight for those who have cancer and to those who spend coun…

Partners with Guinea Heritage Association

Abingdon Ruritan Club (ARC) Partners with Guinea Heritage Association which was established in 1995 …

Habitat for Humanity Restore

Abingdon Ruritan Club (ARC) supports Habitat for Humanity Restore.  Danny Privott, 2017 National Rur…

Helping Fight Cancer

Abingdon Ruritan Club (ARC) fights cancer.  For example,  there is a small hut located adjacent to t…

Girls and Boys Club Continuous Support

Abingdon Ruritan Club (ARC) is a strong supporter of the Gloucester Boys & Girls Club. Located a…

Supporting Food Pantry

Abingdon Ruritan Club (ARC) supports the Union Baptist Church Food Pantry.   Shown in the photograph…

Dolly Pardon Imagination Support

The ARC supports Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a world-wide effort to ensure children from the…

Supporting our Youths

Abingdon Ruritan Club (ARC) Supports Cub Scouts.  Danny Privott, past National President and current…

Circle of Friends Support

Abingdon (ARC) Supports Circle of Friends.  Mary Lou Privott, Past President of ARC, is shown presen…

ARC Members Meet on Ruritan Sunday

This past Sunday, May 18th, was the annual “Ruritan Sunday” throughout all Ruritan Clubs and Distric…

Ruritan Sunday

Ruritan Sunday

“Except for my family and church, Ruritan is most important to me.”
This expression is heard frequently when Ruritans meet and reflects the kind of persons that make up the membership of Ruritan Clubs. Most are solid citizens with deep religious convictions. When Ruritan started in Holland, Virginia on May 21, 1928, the leaders of that small community gathered with the hope that the fellowship at the monthly evening meal would lead to a spirit of goodwill between the “town folk” and the farmers; i.e. urban and rural. The motto, “Fellowship, Goodwill and Community Service” indicates a growth in the concept of the club purpose that caused its ideal to grow from the original fellowship to become the most active civic service organization in America in terms of service to the community.
Much of the community service provided by Ruritan Clubs
during their history has benefited churches; particularly small and beginning churches.
It is appropriate, therefore, that this day of worship be designated as “Ruritan Sunday” in honor of these thousands of dedicated persons who have given of themselves to make the churches stronger and the communities better places in which to live and
work.
CREATING THRIVING COMMUNITIES
ACROSS AMERICA

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