For 6 years, Bill Bevans served on the Board of Directors at NorthWoods Stewardship Center, first as member and most recently as President. It is in these roles that we have known Bill best.
It takes a certain kind of person to lead a Board of Directors, particularly for an organization that is located over a mountain, down a few long and winding dirt roads to a place that is literally in the woods, on the other side of the Kingdom. But Bill travelled this road and took on this role without hesitation. What more, he brought with him unwavering support, enthusiasm, and a strategy for charting a path to our future. He also brought his small pup Tess, who accompanied him on these journeys-he had a soft spot for small things with a big presence.
Many of the skills Bill employed as Board President were finely tuned through years of practice. My first go-round in the challenging strategic planning process at which Bill excelled took place at Bill and Judy’s Coachworks Farm. From this first day, it was clear to me that Bill believed in NorthWoods Stewardship Center. He believed in our mission, he believed in the land and community we worked for, and he believed in our staff-those of us who had been here since NorthWoods’ early days as well those of us who had just joined the team. Perhaps it was his years in Human Resources at larger companies that gave him the ability to see the benefits of both institutional experience and fresheyed perspective in mapping a course for the future.
Bill dedicated his career to helping organizations and the individuals within them reach their goals. It has only been in reflecting on his passing that I see more clearly his modus operandi; his strategy now seems perfectly clear. It almost seemed undeserved, the praise and faith that Bill bestowed on us. He was our Number One Fan, a constant source
of support and encouragement. He was truly delighted to share in the work we did, and to contribute behind-the-scenes to making that happen, whether it was by opening his home for a NorthWoods gathering, bringing in his talented wife for guidance on fundraising, or sharing and celebrating in the work we all like best – on the ground conservation and education.
In the end, his relentless praise and confidence achieved his goal. He helped set a high bar of success that we’ll aim for today and in the years to come. We are ever mindful of his words that it will take many hands, hard work, and a fierce commitment to the team, the organization, and the human and natural communities we work in.
We’ll do you proud, Bill. Thank you for all that you have given us. We are lucky to have had you on our team.
-Maria Young, Director of Education
Bill Bevans 1935-2014