The Richland Ruritan members met at the Calvary Methodist Church on the Midland Trail East on Oct. 13 to hear a presentation on the Covid-19 pandemic and how the economic shutdown in 2020 affected the national economy. The speaker, James P. Tate, is a personal financial advisor with IFA Wealth in Roanoke, VA.
In an effort to contain the pandemic and reduce its impact on the population and our healthcare system, many parts of the economy were shut down. Businesses were closed and people were thrown out of work. The government, in order to lessen the financial impact on people, instituted a unique set of stimulus actions. These actions included enhanced unemployment benefits, a moratorium on mortgage foreclosures and additional funding for health care facilities. As people became vaccinated against the virus, and the death toll decreased, the government allowed businesses to reopen. The recovery of the economy has been more confusing than its closing and economists, financial leaders and political leaders are struggling to rebuild the economy. The presentation focused on how the economy suffered as a result of the pandemic shutdown actions, and the state of the economy as it seeks to reopen.
The club business meeting included the announcement of a donation to Carnegie Hall.
The nominating committee presented a slate of officers for 2022. The following officers were elected by acclamation: President, Steve Harris; Vice President, Cliff Gillian; Secretary, Jack Tuckwiller; and Treasurer, Lucy Refsland. These new officers will be installed in December and take office in January 2022.
The Richlands Ruritans club meets on the second Wednesday of each month for a dinner meeting at the Calvary Methodist Church on Midland Trail East. The Ruritan Civic organization is a national network of clubs working together for a stronger America. The Ruritans’ focus is to support community services in small towns and rural communities across America. The Ruritans were founded in 1928 in Holland, VA, and celebrated their 93rd year last May. The Richlands Ruritans Club provides scholarships to local college students and 4-H campers and maintains Tuckwiller Park.
