Rick Turner will be the guest speaker at the Allegheny Highlands Eagle Scout Dinner on Sunday, Jan. 8 at Saint Bonaventure University.

The Allegheny Highlands Council is planning to recognize its 2016 Class of Eagle Scouts on Sunday, Jan. 8 at Saint Bonaventure University. The dinner includes the 37 young men who distinguished themselves by earning the prestigious award this year, their parents and Scoutmaster, and key council leadership.

The affair will be at 1 p.m. at Doyle Hall, and an invitation is extended to anyone who is an Eagle Scout and would like to attend. Call the Scout Service Center during normal business hours to RSVP, at 665-2697.

“It is important for us to recognize these young men collectively, and individually as the cream of our crop,” said Curt Crandall, lead legislator in Allegany County, member of the organizing committee and an Eagle Scout himself. “This is a terrific event. We are looking forward to our keynote speaker, Rick Turner from Lakewood, New York. Rick is an Eagle Scout himself, and comes from a family of 6 Eagle Scouts, and is the President/CEO of the Matric Corporation. He is a terrific role model for this year’s class of Eagle Scouts.”

“This is also an opportunity for Eagle Scouts of all ages to assemble,” said Tony Evans, also a member of the committee and Youth Director for Cattaraugus County, and proud father of two Eagle Scouts himself. “Consider this an open invitation to any Eagle Scout to join this ‘Gathering of Eagles’ and ‘smell the smoke of the campfire’ again. We’d love to have you. Please, all Eagle Scouts, join us to rekindle kindred memories.”

The Allegheny Highlands Council serves over 4,000 youth every year in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties in New York, and McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania, and operates Camp Merz in Mayville and Elk Lick Scout Reserve in Smethport, Pennsylvania. They are the largest youth serving agency in the Twin Tiers.

To learn more about getting your son in the Scouts, or attending the event if you are an Eagle Scout from the past, call 665-2697 during normal business hours, or visit their website at  www.alleghenyhighlands.org.