How We Met Bill
I dont know where the time has gone but it must be over 18 years ago when we first met Bill. Sheila and I got involved with Cub Scout Pack 50 as adult leaders and we heard about a monthly leader assistance program called Roundtable. It was the first Thursday of every month and that is where we first met Bill Doyna and Ron Phelps, The 2 nicest guys in the world and our mentors on the Scouting path.
We went to learn and they taught us with their relaxed style, experience, and funny stories from the front line. We immediately bonded with both men and especially Bill. Although we didnt know it at that first meeting, but our friendship with Bill would continue for years long after we would hang up our Scouter uniforms. Bill continued to teach, we continued to learn, and we all grew stronger in our need to deliver a great Scouting program. It seemed so much simpler then and it may have been, but every first Thursday of every month we went to Roundtable for learning, for fun, and most importantly for fellowship.
Over the years Bill would help us whenever we needed him, he would go to our Pack Meetings, our banquets, our Pinewood Derbies, and our summer events. He would be a fixture at summer camp at Camp Kingsley and Bill and Ron were experts running the big summer campfires. Sheila and I loved Bill as a friend and a mentor.
I remember one night a few years later at Roundtable, I told Bill and Ron that we kept going in Scouting because of them. They looked at each other and said that they kept going because of us and our commitment. It was truly a magical time from that point forward as we tried even harder to deliver the best program we could.
We got more involved in helping new leaders, training, and even assisting at Roundtable.
One of my very proudest moments was when I was asked to lead the 75th Anniversary Of Cub Scouting CampFire at Camp Kingsley and even prouder because Bill and Ron offered to assist me. Those guys were legends and together I thought we put on a great campfire on a beautiful night in front of Bullhead Lake.
Bill was my Wood Badge mentor and helped me work my ticket. It was so much fun and I went on to earn my beads as a Beaver just like Bill.
I could go on and on with great stories of Bill and Ron and our program and the experience and especially, the fellowship.
We will miss you Bill.
Posted by Steve Feldman
Wednesday November 1, 2017 at 10:00 pm