Introduction

Hi!: This is Bill Cooper, a scouter with nearly 61 years in scouting.
I have received the Merit Award, the Silver Beaver, the SM Merit Award
and recognition for other things. I was never a cub scout. However, as
a boy, I did start going to boy scout meetings when I was only 9 years
old. When I became 12 (the age requirement back then) I joined up with
Troop 9 of Alameda, CA. Just before my 15th birthday I made First Class
and no merit badges. However, I did manage to make Eagle shortly after
my 17th birthday and before I knew what was happening I was in the
Army. I was with the 7th Infantry Division on both Leyte, in the
Philippines and Okinawa, another island a couple hundred miles south of
Japan.
After the war, I continued my education at the University of
California at Berkeley, majoring in Business Administration and also
continued my scouting in Alameda with Troop 9. After graduation I went
to work for my father for a few years in furniture and appliances. I
also found time to marry the sweetest little girl in the world who I had
met while at Berkeley. Married almost 47 years, blessed with two sons
who both made Eagle. Each has 2 children of their own. The oldest
grandson just entered second year webeleos.
After leaving my dad's business I went to work for Montgomery Ward
in Oakland and stayed with them as a group merchandise manager for the
catalog until I retired in 1985 at the age of 60. Shortly after getting
married we moved from Alameda to Orinda, CA. I found out that picking
up hitch hikers can be dangerous. One day shortly after moving to
Orinda I picked up a young boy who wanted a ride. I asked him if he
were a scout and he said yes but his troop wasn't much fun. The last
two outings had been called off for lack of cars or adults. So I found
out where and when he met and the following week I showed up to help out
if I could. A couple of weeks later I was the only adult at the
meeting, the scoutmaster had quit and before I knew it I was the
scoutmaster. Sound familiar? That was 43 years ago. I've been SM all
of this time except when my kids were in the troop. Several others took
my place then.
I've been an assistant cub master, roundtable chairmen,
commissioner, camporee and scout-o-rama chairman. I've been to 2
Jamborees, Philmont several times and also to the Florida Sea Base and
Northern Tiers. Besides taking the troop to summer camp
almost every year, I've been on at least 25 pack trips with them. I've
also taken the troop to Hawaii several times and to Alaska and Canada.
I'm proud of the 117 scouts who made Eagle, one with 13 Palms(not my
son). The troop membership is around 65. With 10 scouts turning 18
this year and new boys joining up at this time I will only give an
estimate. I do know that we always have more scouts in High School than
Grammar School. We have 6 Venture groups going strong. Although I don't
completely like the new scout patrol concept, it does work and it has
been a tremendous resource for acquiring new ASM's. I have at least 40
of them, more than half of which are either in college or no longer have
a son in scouting. Seven are women.
The troop this summer is doing the horseback Cavalcade at Philmont,
a 5 day raft trip on the Klamath River, a 50 miler in Yosemite, canoeing
at Northern Tiers Canoe Base, scuba diving down in Mexico, spelunking in
several California caves and two weeks at summer camp. For the last 8
years we have had over 60 nights of camping each year. We have an
excellent web site at : http://members.aol.com/troop237
We have always been supportive of FOS or whatever name you choose to
call it. Last year we finally went over the $10,000 figure for the
first time and expect to do the same this year. (well over $9,000 and
waiting for a matching amount from one family's employer which will get
us over the top.
Needless to say scouting has become a way of life for me. My
scoutmaster was still around when I received my 50 year pin and
commented to the audience that I'm still taking more out of scouting
than I'm putting back in. Funny but true. As long as I have my health
or as long as the troop committee will tolerate me I plan to keep going
on in scouting. I guess I've gone too long on this introduction but I
love scouting and hope you share the same feeling. Thank you. YiS
Bill Cooper

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