Can- do and bee attitude get the job done
Jimmy Bristow, Ruritan National President
By Jackie Perrone jacper@juno.com

Jimmy Bristow

Jimmy Bristow is a West Columbia banker with a knack for slogans and logos. He found ways to use this talent while running for national president of Ruritan. "I didn't like the idea of running against somebody; we're just competing for the same position. It's all pretty political, and I needed to find a way for people to remember my name," he says.

The result: "Jimmy B. for V.P." (assuming the post of vice- president as forerunner of president). A bright yellow bee was attached to his campaign card, bringing along its connotations of busy, industrious, and effective.

The busy bee is now completing his term as president of the national Ruritan organization. He feels it has been a successful year and hopes his successor will have an even better one.

"Growth is of great importance to Ruritan," he says. "Ruritan was founded in 1928 as a link between rural and urban areas. After WWII, the clubs worked at the local level to help communities develop some of the amenities that were lacking. They helped establish things like fire departments and trash pick- ups.

"Every club chooses its own local projects. We provide as many scholarships as we can, and we sponsor youth teams in sports. We help Sistercare and the Oliver Gospel Mission, anywhere there's a need.

"I amazed my club by proposing my eight- year- - old son for membership. Bringing young people in is our way of ensuring these values are passed on to the next generation."His club, Pineview Ruritan, sponsored a club at Brookland- Cayce High School last March, the first such club in a high school. Already, they have done fundraising to provide teddy bears to Cayce and West Columbia police and fire departments, to be given to needy children.

With this goal in mind, he designed a Pass It On coin for members to use in recruiting. When he brings in a new member, he gives them the coin and requests a new one from national. The new member then seeks to pass on his coin to another new member.

Bristow likes the idea of being a Spark, also. "You can be the spark, which lights a fire to sustain the flame of Ruritan," he said.

Bringing women into the organization as well as young people dates back about 20 years. They now account for about a fourth of the membership, and in 2001, the national president was a woman. Six of the 21 national board members are women now.

Bristow says being president of this national service club has been "a roller coaster, and the best ride of my life." Now he's looking forward to a quiet year being at home with his family.