By Richard Stephens
Professional scouter Corwin Gollmer and Dr. Diane McGinnis hosted an organizational meeting at the Beatty Community Center on Dec. 10 as part of an effort to revive the Boy Scout program in Beatty.
A portion of the meeting was attended by Beatty High School drama students who were rehearsing in another room. Two additional scouting officers from Las Vegas also participated.
Town advisory board member and former scout leader Erika Gerling complained that the children at school had not known about the meeting. She said none of the teachers or the principal had heard about it.
McGinnis said there was a plan to send out a flyer from school, but it has to be approved by the superintendent’s office first.
Gerling repeatedly criticized Gollmer. She said that he was jumping the gun. “I don’t see how you can get a pack started without a committee organized,” she said.
Gollmer said that he is willing to come out to Beatty three times a month to help run meetings. He said he is looking for adult leaders to fill a range of positions, all the way from committee chairman to merit badge counselor.
He said that the program has simplified in recent years and is easier to administer.
“Beatty has to be invested in this,” said Gerling. “They need to be committed for years.”
The social organization of the Beatty Volunteer Fire Department has come forward to serve as the sponsoring organization, and a very Nevada-appropriate pack/troup number of 777 has been assigned.
Eventually, after offering to fill any position Gollmer needed, Gerling left, saying, “I’m getting negative. I’ll leave and the rest of you can be positive.”
The Cub Scout program is for boys in first through fifth grades. Boy Scouts is for boys age 11 and having completed fifth grade. The Venturing Program is open to boys and girls who are at least 13 and have completed 8th grade, and they can participate until age 21.
Parents who would like their children to be involved and adults who would like to serve as leaders may contact Corwin Gollmer by e-mail at <a href=Eaglescout85@msn.com.
