In the News

It all began in late August 1972 when the Cubmaster lied to Peggy Reeves. Reeves was inquiring about having her oldest son, Danny Jr., join Cub Scout Pack 66 at Terrytown Elementary School, and the Scoutmaster agreed contingent on Reeves becoming a den mother. The whopper was that he assured her it was a job that would require only an hour of her time a week. It is Scout leaders who get the biggest laugh when Reeves says she believed him. Reeves told her story again Feb. 1 at the Cataouatche District of the Boy Scouts of America's 2003 Awards Banquet, where she received a 30-year Veteran Award for her service to Scouting. Reeves' roots in Terrytown and in Scouting run deep. She; her parents, Howard "HAC" and Clare Christensen; and four younger siblings became one of Terrytown's first 25 families when they moved here from Metairie in 1960. Her parents were involved in Scouting, and Reeves treasures her late father's Scout Handbook from 1920. Her mother still lives in Terrytown. And this is where Reeves and her husband, Danny Sr., the product of another Terrytown pioneer family, settled when they returned after a two-year stay in Puerto Rico with Union Carbide. The couple, who had met as members of Christ the King CYO, married in 1963, and had their first son in 1964. They came back just as Danny, Jr. became eligible for Cub Scouts, and so began his mother's and later his father's career in Scouting. The Reeves added to their family with Karen in 1965, Scott in 1977 and Jeffrey in 1980, and as each child grew in Scouting, so did Reeves' experiences in Scouting leadership. She has been a den leader coach, Webelos leader, Cubmaster, assistant Scoutmaster, Explorer post adviser, unit commissioner and district committee member. The New Orleans Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America states that Reeves "has always gone beyond the call of duty to assist with many district and council events." In 1998, the council presented Reeves with the Silver Beaver Award authorized by the National Council of the BSA in 1931 in recognition of untiring service to the betterment of youth in Scouting and in the communities.

She also has received the Tomahawk Bead Award and the Venturing Leader Award, as has her husband, and together they are involved now with Venture Crew 378 for boys and girls ages 14 to 20. Reeves said she is having so much fun with this group. She has the added bonus of having her daughter, Karen Meyers, in the group as an adult member and her granddaughter, Stacey Meyers, as a youth member. In keeping with its goals, the Venture Crew participates in all manner of adventures, such as camping, strenuous hiking and white water rafting. Reeves also has served on the staff at PowWow, day camp, spring camporee and commissioner's conference, and has received the District Award of Merit. She is a commissioner of the Key 3 on the New Orleans Area Council of the BSA. The other two commissioners of the key are the president of the board of directors of the BSA and top executive officer. The three oversee the 55,000 Scouts of the southeast Louisiana area. Reeves said she looks forward to many more wonderful years in Scouting and also to her other activities, which include traveling with the her Senior Olympics volleyball team, which won first place in Louisiana, to the national competition this summer. In 1997, the team took sixth place at the national level. Many will also know Reeves from her other volunteer works as a religion instructor at Christ the King Parish, as well as a CTK fair worker and booth captain, as a pottery and ceramics instructor for children, and as a volunteer at George Cox and Boudreaux elementary schools. Reeves' days are full, and all of the activity is done gratis for her family, faith, children and Terrytown. "I can't envision living anywhere else," she said. And she's right. Her involvement in Scouting does take more than an hour per week of her time, but she loves it.

 

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