Troop 150 experienced plenty of activity in 2017. Rich Bludgus, Ben Chan, Elias Csipkay, and Jared Dimock, four of our Eagle Scouts, left the youth nest. Mark-Anthony Demeno earned the rank of Eagle Scout and remains an active youth member. Jordan Waldman, Haris Alam, Laik Green, and John Flanders all completed Eagle Scout projects and are extremely close to earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Tommy Pitarresi and Matt Bost have presented their Eagle Scout project proposals to the troop committee, and I look forward to seeing their projects completed once the weather gets warmer. The remainder of our older scouts have all attained the Star Scout rank or Life Scout rank, and I am excited to see what other Eagle Projects are in store for Troop 150 next year. Troop 150 also welcomed an entire patrol of new scouts this year. Beginning in February, much more will be expected from the Phoenix Patrol as they continue to climb the Scouting ranks past Tenderfoot and being leading even newer recruits beginning in February. Troop 150 was also heavily involved in community service this year. Besides the Eagle Projects already mentioned, the Scouts have donated school supplies to areas of Texas devastated by Hurricane Harvey, donated money to areas of Puerto Rico devastated by Hurricane Harvey, collected Halloween Candy for the Ronald McDonald House, conducted a food drive for the Monmouth County Food Bank, collected Toys for Toys for Tots, cleaned Cranberry Road on multiple occasions, and caroled at John L. Montgomery Care Center. 

As 2017 comes to a close, I would just like to state how proud I am of everyone involved in Troop 150 for what we accomplished this year. I am also looking toward a busy future in 2018. It may very well be that most weekends will involve some sort of Scouting activity, whether it be an Eagle Scout project, a Troop community service project, swim tests for summer camp, weekend camping trips like Assateague, cabin trips, and canoeing, or daily trips discussed at the last PLC like Yankee Stadium. With a new year comes new Scouting adventures, and I look forward to enjoying them with all of you. 

Yours in Scouting, 

Alex Karn