Gillespie wants to revive NMI Boy Scouts program

Gillespie

Wayne Gillespie is attempting to revive the Boy Scouts program in the CNMI and is asking members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce for any assistance in completing his goal. The scouting program in the CNMI existed in the 1970s as part of the Honolulu-based Aloha Council.

Hawaii, American Samoa, the CNMI, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau are part of the Boys Scouts of America’s Aloha Council, which has the largest geographical area of the Scout Movement.

Gillespie, who is also a pastor of the local Salvation Army, said he wanted to have two to three units up in a couple of weeks so he could help organize a summer camp before the opening of the school year.

“Hopefully, I would be able to charm or encourage some businesses here in my attempt to resurrect the district. I plan to have at least one or two [Boy Scouts] units here in the CNMI,” said Gillespie, who was the Saipan Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting’s third speaker at the Kanoa Resort’s Seaside Hall yesterday.

He said that the Scouting program teaches the youth to maintain good morals, ethics, and how to make critical and honest decisions that they could use for the rest of their lives. Volunteers will also be needed once the units are organized.

“That’s why I’m asking local businesses, institutions, or churches for their help in organizing new units. Generally, we need four troop leaders but two is okay for Cubs and Boys Scouts. Women are also welcome to volunteer,” said Gillespie.

“We have volunteers before but the problem is they got busy with work and some with their businesses. We will also need Merit Badge counselors since there’s a large variety of badges that can be awarded to the scouts,” Gillespie added.

He said that it would not be a problem if the volunteer wasn’t a scout. “It’s not a problem if you have not joined the Scouting Movement or did not become a scout. The kids need adult supervision and that’s one of the roles of a scout leader.”

Volunteers, however, will be subjected to a background check to see if they are an alcoholic, a drug addict, or have other criminal offenses.

Gillespie said that it would only cost businesses or other sponsors a little amount in helping would-be scouts. “Scouts usually pay for their own membership and camping fees, and buy their own uniforms. But it would only cost you very little amount.”

“The [Aloha] Council allowed us to have our own uniforms as long as we follow the colors blue and yellow for the Cub Scouts. You could go to the local seamstress to make the uniforms or have T-shirts where you could put your business logo with the troop number at the back.”

The CNMI Scouts, once formed, can also help in the Marianas Visitors Authority’s Beautify My Marianas campaign with beach cleanups where they could earn $100. “They could also help in various community projects,” added Gillespie.

Century Travel president David M. Sablan is one of the first members of the Scouting Movement in Micronesia when he was still in Guam, while Marianas Variety publisher Laila Younis-Boyer is a former Girls Scout.