Willow Glen Scouting vets win high honor for volunteer work
Two Willow Glen residents were among seven local Scouting volunteers honored recently with a Silver Beaver Award, the highest recognition bestowed to a volunteer for their work in Scouting at the local level. Chosen by a panel of their peers, award winners from Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties were recognized at a Feb. 26 dinner.
After achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in his youth, Mike Catelani continued his involvement with Scouting as an adult when his son joined Cub Scouts by serving as a den leader in Pack 204. When his son joined Troop 220, Catelani became an assistant scoutmaster and eventually a scoutmaster. In that role, he pushed the Scouts to add more backcountry adventures to the troop's outdoor program, and guided more than 20 scouts to earn the Eagle rank. He also volunteered at the district level as both finance and district chair.
As a youth, Bill Jennings was active in Scouting at the national level, staffing Order of the Arrow conferences, National Jamboree and leadership seminars. In the Order of the Arrow he served as chapter, lodge and section chief. In addition to the Silver Beaver Award, Jennings has also received Scouting's Founder's Award and Vigil Honor, and he has been recognized as a Distinguished Eagle Scout.
Jennings' recent Scouting contributions include serving on the National Committee for Council Relationships, the local Diocese's Catholic Committee for Scouting and the Council's marketing committee, where he helped revamp the website.