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October 26, 1995


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Bud Rue Memorial draws a crowd of walkers

By TOM RUE

NARROWSBURG and MILANVILLE - About 40 people gathered in the parking lot of the Tusten-Cochecton Library and walked 10 kilometers upriver to Milanville on October 22. The third annual Walk for Social Justice, sponsored by the Upper Delaware Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (UU), was dedicated to the memory of Clyde "Bud" Rue, organizer of the walk-a-thon, who died during the 1993 walk.

In addition to UU members and supporters of the various charities, participants included Rue's children and grandchildren, as well as his brother, Dr. Robert Rue of Niantic Conn. Robert Rue said he made the trip from New England to honor his brother, and because they supported similar social agendas.

The youngest "walker" was 11-month-old David Rue, Jr. of Newtown, Pa., whose parents, David and Kathy Rue, took turns pushing his stroller up River Rd. The oldest was Jessie Fisher, 79, of White Mills, a longtime member of HFH and benefactor of the land for the first HFH house in Wayne County in 1993.

The evening after the walk Ann Rue, Bud's widow, said $2860 had been collected -- with many pledges not yet in. Ella Rue-Eyet of Ringoes, NJ said this total gave organizers hope that this year's revenues would exceed amounts collected in past years.

This reporter and wife Carmen also participated and collected pledges from generous donors. While the proposal to raise funds to benefit community organizations was Bud's, the suggestion in 1993 to hold a walk-a-thon was Carmen's, based on successes with similar events in Sullivan County, she said.

In February 1995, $1000 each was presented to four charities. This year's proceeds will be distributed in February 1996.

This year's 43 walkers was also up from last year's estimated 30 to 35, Ann Rue said. Sweeping back and forth to pick up the tired were UU fellowship president Joe Walker of North Branch and vice-president Jesse Ballew of Damascus.

Walker called the event "an appropriate tribute to Bud Rue."

Rue, then 59, died October 24, 1993.

Afterward, the fellowship resolved to hold similar events named in his memory. "It was started by Bud to address the social inequities he saw in the river valley," said Ann Rue.

"It's been continued as a tribute to his efforts and to keep alive the principles he held to be important," she added.

This year the UU fellowship designated a fifth beneficiary -- Habitat for Humanity (HFH) of Sullivan County.

Other target groups include HFH of Wayne County -- which Bud Rue founded in 1990; Interfaith Outreach United (IOU) of Callicoon; Victim's Intervention Program (VIP) in Honesdale; and the UU United Nations Office (UUUNO), a non-governmental organization which fosters the UU social agenda globally.

Before the walk, at a regular UU service in Milanville, representatives of the five groups explained their organizations' progress, including: Tom Hubers of IOU, Sandi Panchyshyn of Sullivan HFH; Pearl Hochstadt of Wayne HFH; Denise Gumble of VIP; and John Rue who spoke about the UUUNO and described the walk-a-thon as a demonstration of "faith with feet."
Donations to the Fund for Social Justice may be mailed to PO Box 123, Milanville, Pa. 18443.