Story posted Friday, June 19, 2009
Indian Grove Troop In Need Of New Scouts
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
A decision on whether or not to disband Cub Scout Troop 270 after 41 years of existence, based out of Indian Grove Elementary School in Mt. Prospect, will not be made until this fall at the earliest.
Dominic Gualtieri, senior district executive for the Northwest Suburban Council of the Boy Scouts, said a decision will not be made until the next school year begins in late August as the Troop waits to see if any new children sign-up to take part in the scouting program.
The first meetings of the new year are held in September. Enrollment numbers in 2006 reached 52, but decreased to 38 the following year; and currently stand at 21 kids.
Gualtieri said an open house was conducted last month for new recruits, but no one signed up. He said anyone interested just wanted more information about the organization.
"Anyone can sign up at anytime," said Gualtieri. "I have no interest seeing this pack go away, because it serves as a community function."
According to Gualtieri, the chances of Pack 270 disbanding depend on numbers this fall.
"If we get a decent amount of kids and interest from the community, we will keep it going," Gualtieri said.
Gualtieri said his goal to have between 6-10 first grade boys sign up this fall.
Of the 21 existing members, a majority of the membership is comprised of children in grades 3-5, with the remaining in grades 1-2.
Cub scout meetings are typically conducted three to four times a month, with a few less meetings during summer months.
Located on Wheeling Road in Mt. Prospect, Northwest Suburban Council of the Boy Scouts serves boys in Arlington Hts., Prospect Hts., Mt. Prospect, Wheeling and Buffalo Grove.
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