True to their habit of showing up late, that's what happened again. So, the food was a little late in being ordered. Ay 8 O'clock we started our party with the singing of a few Christmas Carols. They did a pretty good job of it too! Then the Pizzas arrived, so we of course we stopped and had a bite to eat.

We had an overnight. It was not in a Scout Camp - it was in the meeting room ay St. Jacobi. A mini version of a Troop overnight.
Five Scouts and three adult Leaders participated. The Scouts were: Marco Ferraro, Fermin Perez, Ruben Veliz, Adam Abdelaziz and Raymy Vasquez. LAdults were Walter Forst, David Fairhurst and Juan Ferraro.

We started after the Troop meeting ended. Marco bbrought his gaminng equipment and that with some snacks and a Pizza started the evening. We then had a Campfire Program around the blazing candlelight. Then it was off to bed - in tents, of course!

Saturday morning were were up and prepared a great Paancake Breakkfast. Since Adam and Juan had early appoinnntments we were packed up and off to home by 8:300am.

We returned to Site #12 in tents this year. It was a very cold weekend to be in tents, but we survived. At least it was mostly sunny both days. When not involved with the feast the Scouts had a good time with wide games and a hike.

The feast was a meal to remember. We roasted the twelve pound turkey over the open fire. There was Stuffing, Yams, Corn-on-the-Cob, Cranberry Sauce and warmed Italian Bread. Dave Fairhurst mad both Apple and Pumpkin Pies for dessert, so everyone had a slice of each. It took a number of hours to prepare and a lot of work for the food and for the wood for roasting the bird.

The Scouts were not very enthusiastic this year and it took alot of reminding to get any action if at all. It seemed that the schools started earlier this year too. So some were following another fundraiser. So sales were light, if at all. Prices were up as well. Local retailers had their own sales which made microwave popcorn really really inexpensicve compared to 'Trails End'.

The Calendar of meetings and events for the 2004 - 2005 season was reviewed. The role of the parent in support and success of Troop 350 was discussed. The first all-inclusive printing of standing policies of the Troop was distributed and discussed. Flyers for the upcoming events until the end of the year 2004 were given out. And a summary of the Troop committee organization and responsibilities was handed out with a request to consider becoming a registered member of the Troop Committee.

We have a Patrol that's re-organized - see who is here and who was a quitter. A Patrol Leader Election was held. Recruiting was start for replacement members.

Our own David Coleman, Troop Committee member, was a member of the staff at this year's National Order of the Arrow Conference at Iowa State University. He spent about two weeks in travel and participating at the Conference in Ames, Iowa.

The Order of the Arrow is the Honor Society of the Boyy Scouts of America. The National Conference is held every two years and gives its attending members many opportunityes for Fellowship, Training, Showmanship and just plain Fun. David was a Judge for the Indian Shows as well as an Instructor for one of the Native American Craft presentations. He was one of over a thousand people on staff to make this national event happen.

It was a long trip via Amtrak. Due to the freight Railroads maintanance projects all along the way the train was always late. But then it meant more time on the train for a person interested in railroading. It was first-class all the way. The meals in the Dining Car were very good.

During the week at Philmont the conference ent through many topics during morning and afternoon sessions. The evenings were filled with family programs susch as Western Night, Handicraft Night, Crackerbarrels with the Wannabe a Band doing favorite Oldies or Movie Night featuring that Disney favorite "The Scoutmaster".

The Scouts attending were Darren Thomas, Marco Ferraro, Justin Beltran, Adam Abdelaziz and Ruben Veliz. The adults were David Fairhurst the Troop Committee Chair and Juan Ferraro a Troop Committee member/ Also scheduled to go Walter Forst the Scoutmaster was sich and had to stay home.

The troop camped in tents and enjoyed the best weather for a campout in many, many years. It was almost perfect. And, there there few bugs as well. The Scouts found a day full of adventure on Saturday and again Sunday morning. All went well with one minor exception. Darren twisted and ankle on Satuday morning and was limited by what he could do.

A total of seven Scouts and four adults were in attendance. The Camp provided a nice campsite (#5) about halfway along the main road through the camp. Not far from water but far enough from the other Troops nearby. The tents were up on the platforms used for summer camp,

The weather on Saturday was great. It was mostly sunny. The temperature was warm enough so that jackets were not needed during the day. It cooled down overnight and sSunday with showers arriving during the night and lasting until midday. Actually it was a pretty good weekend weatherwise.

The highlight for most attending was our visitors. Thre are a few Bears nearby and they paid a visit on Satuday around mealtimes. We saw two or three adult Bears and maybe a total of four young ones. A little noise and they moved on. That will really be the memory that will stick with most Scouts. There was also the Wide-area Games on Saturday and Sunday and the Campfire as well.

Life Scout Marco Ferraro, Troop Committee Member Juan Ferraro and Assistant Scoutmaster Sergio Ferraro attended the Order of the Arrow's Brotherhood Day at William H. Pouch Scout Camp on Staten Island in April. The reason for a attending is to confirm their election into the National Honor Society of Scout Campers. They were elected in the past and by participating in the 'Brotherhood Day' activities and Ceremony they confirm that they accept the honor that their fellow Troop members bestowed on them.

It was the first breakfast since the passing of Stanley Alverio, a member of our Troop Committee and Webelos Leader of Pack 563, in March. We spent a few minutes remembering a fine Scouter.

Although six Scouts and three adults signed up only four Scouts actually made it to camp. We went to Alpine Scout Camp in Alpine, New Jersey for our annual Mid-Winter Cabin Overnight to Alpine.

Marco Ferraro, Darren Thomas, Raymy Vasquez and Adam Abdelaziz were the Scouts attending with the adults Walter Forst, David Fairhurst and Juan Ferraro.

We were in Highrock #7 Cabin. It has the usual three main rooms with small kitchen as most of the cabins in the camp have. Theree was a suprising amount of snow still on the ground. This made it more appealing.

The Scouts of course had a snowball fight or two, Bith within our scouts and with a few other scouts know to Marco from another tro troops. The Scouts also checked out the Pirate Ship and Fort as well as explored the local camp area.

The meals were typical. Soup and Cheeseburgers for Saturday Lunch, Rice and Chili with Jello for supper. Banana Pancakes and Turkey Sausages for Breakfast. We ended up with Soup and Hotdogs for Lunch Sunday before leaving for home. There were other things with each meal such as a drink, dessert and some side dishes. We really had enough to eat.

Then Ruben came in at ten minutes after six. Then Fermin entered after another twelve minutes and the tables and chairs started to move out onto the floor. Well it wasn't until the families started to arrive that Scouts and other members of the Troop arrived. Then things really moved.

We started the ceremony about twenty-fine minutes late, so we finally had Dinner a half hour late - but did that room ever look so good with so many people.

The estimate for attendance was about two dozen. and as we started the Ceremony there were twenty six. Add to that the still later arrivals and we ended the night with thirty four in attendance: nine Scouts, six adult Leaders and nineteen family members.

The abbreviated program went well and brought us back on time. The Scoutmaster spoke of how the Troop came to St. Jacobi and how it made it through the adult-less days of WWII. Then the explanation of current activities including the next camping trip, our Good Turn project and Summer Camp. We finished up with a Court of Honor for Awards to Raymy Vasquez, Ruben Veliz, Justin Beltran, Darren Thomas, Adam Abdelaziz and Fermin Perez. this ended the evening on a high note.

The Scouts Adam Abdelaziz and Nelvis Tolentino deserve a big 'Thank you' for signing up on time. But two Scouts a campout does not make.

Attending were Walter Forst, Scoutmaster(of course), David Fairhurst, Committee Chair, Stanley Alverio, Committee member, David Coleman, Committee member, Sergio Ferraro, Asst. SM, and Marco Ferraro, Senior Patrol Leader.
[Note - this was one of the last activities that Committee member Stanley Alverio attended before his sudden passing]

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The members of Boy Scout Troop 350 extend our heartfelt sympathy to the Cooleman Family on the passing of Daniel Coleman on June 21st