TOP AWARD-Erik Mayer, longtime Scoutmaster of Culver City's Troop 113, has been awarded the highest medal the national Boy Scouts of America gives to those who have provided service to the Scouts. From left to right is Hugh Travis, a regional Scout official; Mayer's mother, Carol; Erik Mayer and West Los Angeles Advancement Chair Larry Lynch.
By David W. Myers
Contributing Editor
Erik Mayer, one of Culver City's most active volunteers in community-oriented events and organizations, has been honored with the prestigious "Silver Beaver Award" by the Boy Scouts of America.
Mayer, age 45, has served as Scoutmaster of Culver's Troop 113 for 21 years. He is also one of the driving forces behind the city's Community Emergency Response Team, commonly called "CERT," and works full-time as a youth-development counselor at the Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services facility in West Los Angeles.
"Through his work with the Scouts and other community organizations, Erik has positively affected countless lives," said Richard Marcus, incoming chairman of the Scout's sprawling Crescent Bay District that starts in Malibu and encompasses the entire West Side.
"To call Erik a 'pillar of the community' would be a vast understatement," said Marcus, the former Culver City mayor who received a Silver Beaver of his own in 2008.
The Silver Beaver is the highest award issued to an adult leader in scouting. Only a handful of them are presented each year by the national BSA, citing Scoutmasters and other troop leaders "of exceptional character who have provided distinguished service" for troop members and the overall community.
Those leaders cannot nominate themselves for the award. Instead, they must be nominated by at least one anonymous third party and eventually approved by members of BSA's National Court of Honor.
Recipients usually don't even know they have been selected until the awards are handed out at an annual regional ceremony, which took place last Thursday at the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills.
"I'm honored and very grateful for this award," Mayer said. "Troop 113 is a great group of kids, teenagers and devoted volunteers."
The troop is also one of the most active groups in Southern California. With their stated mission "to prepare young people to make ethical and moral decisions over their lifetimes," the boys learn valuable skills at their weekly Tuesday meetings at the recently renovated Scout House on Culver Boulevard, go camping nearly once every month, and take part in several community events each year.
Boys between the ages of 11 and 17 are welcome to join. Registration information can be obtained by calling Erik Mayer at (310) 202-0113 or by sending an email to scoutmaster@bsatroop113.org.
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