Luciano Guidetti (Troop 138 Paramus) and Dominic Mosca (Troop 80 Park Ridge) attended the Paramus Mayor & Council meeting as part of their individual merit badge requirements. Luciano was finishing his Communications Merit badge that he started this past July at Camp Rodney in North East, Maryland. This is a required badge for Eagle Scout and is considered one of the harder ones to attain because of all the public speaking that is required. As part of the requirements, last week Luciano also planned, organized, and delivered a Campfire Event where he performed the duties of a master of ceremonies. Not bad for a 13-year old.
Dominic is from Troop 80 of Park Ridge. His brother is in Troop 138 in Paramus, so he is aware of the events and activities of this sister troop. He attended the council meeting in an effort to complete his Citizenship in the Community merit badge. Also a required Eagle Scout badge, it is also considered a difficult merit badge.
Both scouts were required to listen intently to an open debate at a public meeting and take notes to better understand the debated topic and processes involved. The topic being discussed and debated was the approval for Paramus to allow state licensed businesses to sell adult recreational cannabis in the borough. Currently, the borough allows medicinal cannabis to be sold.
The debate, which included comments from the public was quite robust as it covered morality and financial positions articulated by individual council persons and from the current medicinal cannabis provider in the borough.
Mayor LaBarbiera and the entire council took the time to welcome the two scouts and to explain the civil process of debate. They made the experience comfortable and worthwhile for the scouts to atfend.
What a great experience for these scouts that they will not soon forget. They will be able to refer back to this night in the future not only on their way to Eagle, but as they tackle life’s challenges both personally and professionally.
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