The month-old Cyclones Ruri-teen Service Club at Elizabethton High School already has 48 members. Of about 20 students who ran for office at the September meeting, eight came prepared with speeches to run for president.
“This is a great group of kids who really just want to do good things in their community, in school and out. I look forward to seeing all the great things they will get accomplished, ” said faculty advisor Evie Lafollette.
The club will receive its charter in January and is in the process of gaining sponsors. The Unicoi Ruritan Club has made a verbal commitment to pay the fess for the charter and club dues to get the club started. Then it will sustain itself through fundraisers and donations.
Ruri-teen is a branch off of Ruritan National, and its is to create understanding among people and to better American communities through volunteer service.
“I think the biggest thing with this club is that we are completely open with what projects we can do,” said Lafollette. “So many clubs have various restrictions, but we can do whatever the kids see as a need.”
She said their first initiative is to do a field trip sponsorship program for kindergarten through 12th grade students that cannot afford to go on field trips.
“The school can’t pay for that, but we could sponsor them,” she said.
Students are forming committees to brainstorm for future projects.
“It’s the club’s decision on our projects; we’re really open,” said Lafollette.
Seven candidates were elected as officials: President Justin Cox, Vice President Vianna Isbister, Secretary Samantha Young, Treasurer Cara Silvers and Directors Sophia Peterson, Cory Fitzsimmons and Sienna Brown.
Members represent every grade, and two teachers sponsor the club: Lafollette and Meg Foster
Two members have attended the Ruritan Club meetings with Lafollette to learn about what they do and how their meetings are conducted.
“We’re already brainstorming, forming different committees and making goals so we can be ready to hit the ground running in January,” she said.
Lafollette’s family has been involved with Ruritan for years, and she firmly back the cause. Her father-in-law was the national president in 2000, and her husband, a Greeneville teacher, has been the National Ruritan of the Year. One of his students was a National Ruri-teen of the year, and she believes that one of her students will have this honor as well.
“Ruritan is local,” she said. “You raise money locally, serve locally and everything is where you are. I’m excited we’ve had such a good turnout.”