Staff Report

The 2005 National President of Ruritan, Jim McKinney, of Chattanooga will be visiting the Smithfield Ruritan Club at 6 p.m. Friday.

McKinney was installed as the national president of the nationally known community service organization in January 2005 at the group’s national convention held in Jacksonville, Fla.

McKinney retired after teaching 39 years in the Hamilton County/Chattanooga School System. He has been a member of the Harrison (TN) Ruritan Club since 1968 and has held numerous offices in that club. He has also served as the Cherokee District Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Zone Governor.

In 2001 he was honored with one of Ruritan’s highest recognitions – the Tom Downing Fellow. He was elected as a National Director on Ruritan’s Board of Directors 1998-2000, National Secretary 2001-2003, and in 2004 served as National Vice President of the organization.

Ruritan National is the parent organization of over 1,300 Ruritan Clubs serving 33,000 members in 25 states.

Ruritan National members are dedicated to creating a better understanding among people and, through volunteer community service, make America’s communities better places to live and work.

Ruritan members across the country represent a cross-section of the communities they serve. Since the organization’s founding in 1928, Ruritan clubs have donated millions of hours and dollars in the areas of fellowship, goodwill and community service.