Dim rs As New OdbcDataReader() can't asign because private

[Arc]

Try
            If Application("Connection") Is Nothing Then
                Dim mySQLConnStr As String = "Driver={MySQL};" & _
                                            "Server=209.61.188.54;" & _
                                            "Port=3306;" & _
                                            "Option=131072;" & _
                                            "Stmt=;" & _
                                            "Database=wildhorse;" & _
                                            "Uid=script;" & _
                                            "Pwd=php_script;"
 
                Dim cn As OdbcConnection = New OdbcConnection(mySQLConnStr)
                Application("Connection") = cn
                cn.Open()
 
                Dim cmd As New OdbcCommand("SELECT * FROM tblSpecialEvents", cn)
                Dim ret As Object = cmd.ExecuteScalar()
                Dim rs As New OdbcDataReader()' error
                Response.Write(rs.GetValue(0))
                If Not IsDBNull(ret) Then Application("Visitors") = CInt(Val(ret))
            End If
        Catch ex As OdbcException
            Application("Connection") = Nothing
            Application("ConnectionError") = ex.Message
        End Try

This says i cant assign rs as new OdbcDatareader becasue its in a private sub...? I dont get it... Also is 'Dim rs As New OdbcDataReader()' that what i should use to get data from a recordset? Or is there something in the command object i should use? Argg i'm so confused..