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Revised 8/2016
Standing Committees are designed to enhance
the internal workings of the Ruritan club. The
Ruritan Club Bylaws lists the following standing
committees that are to be appointed each year by the
club president:
Fellowship Committee
The Fellowship Committee is responsible for promoting
fellowship among members, prospective members, and visi-
tors. This committee shall organize entertaining activities for
members, their families, and the community when sponsoring
a community service project.
The Fellowship Committee shall also provide appropriate
assistance and fellowship to members that suffer serious ill-
nesses or other misfortunes.
This committee should work closely with the Program and
Entertainment Committee and the Public Relations Commit-
tee in developing events that foster both internal and external
fellowship for the Ruritan club.
Suggestions
1. Encourage group singing at club meetings.
2. Show up to monthly meetings early enough to greet other
club members as they show up for the meeting.
3. Check with the Sergeant-At-Arms for any tasks that need
completing before the monthly meeting.
4. Assign themselves to specific parts of a meeting program.
For example, one member responsible for guest speakers,
another responsible for helping with meal preparation.
5. Encourage group prayer led by the chaplain at each meet-
ing.
6. Help with serving meals. Greet each member by name as
they come through the line.
7. Encourage home visitations of members who are ill or
otherwise absent from the club’s monthly meeting.
Program and Entertainment
Committee
The following pages offer guidance for these
committees and suggestions for successful plan-
ning. Additional guidance may be found in the Club
Bylaws.
Fellowship Committee
Program and Entertainment
Membership Committee
Finance Committee
Public Relations Committee
Standing Committees of a Ruritan Club
This committee is charged with preparing and arranging
programs or entertainment for all meetings. The Program and
Entertainment Committee functions at all meetings and affects
all members of the club. This section presents some guide-
lines to help organize the work of your committee and provide
some suggested program and entertainment sources. More
detailed information about the Program and Entertainment
Committee is provided in the committee brochure available
from your club president.
Sources of Speakers and Entertainment
1. Chamber of Commerce official.
2. County health officer.
3. Farm organization leader.
4. Minister or leading laymen in the church organization.
5. High school principal or local leader in recreation.
6. Superintendent of schools, PTA officer, school board member.
7. Scout Executive, FFA chapter advisor,
8. 4-H agent.
9. Law enforcement officer.
10. District engineer of state highway commission.
11. Member of the board of supervisors or town council.
12. Salvation Army, Red Cross, American Heart Association, etc.
13. Church musicians, school music or dramatic group.
14. Amateur entertainers.
15. Junior Women’s Club.
16. Magic clubs.
17. Sweet Adelines.
18. Comedian, possibly as speaker.
Suggestions
1. Plan a community celebration to commemorate the
founding of Ruritan or Ruritan Week, the week in which
May 21 falls.
2. Plan a celebration to commemorate your club’s birthday
or anniversary.
3. Vary programs each month, keeping in mind the needs of
the community and the yearly objectives of the club.
4. Arrange three months of programs in advance with spe-
cial events planned at the beginning of the year.
5. Announce the next month’s program at each meeting.
6. Keep your club reporter informed of your program and
entertainment plans.
7. Arrange for a short review of some part of the local club
bylaws at some meetings of the club.
8. Consider giving gifts of appreciation to special speakers
or entertainers.
9. Invite a member of the district cabinet or National Board
of Directors to present the program at a club meeting each
year.
Club