     
Role of the Commissioners
Description of the Commissioners
Unit Commissioner
Roundtable Commissioner
Asst District Commissioner
District Commissioner
Commissioner Manuals
Commissioner Fieldbook for Unit Service
Commissioner Administration of Unit Service
Commissioner Helps for Packs, Troop and Crews
Commissioners
Commissioners are district and council leaders who help Scout units succeed. They coach and consult with adult leaders of Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, and Venturing crews. Commissioners help maintain the standards of the Boy Scouts of America. They also oversee the unit charter renewal plan so that each unit reregisters on time with an optimum number of youth and adult members.
Roles the Commissioner Plays
A commissioner plays several roles, including friend, representative, unit "doctor," teacher, and counselor. The commissioner is a friend of the unit. Of all their roles, this one is the most important. It springs from the attitude, "I care, I am here to help,what can I do for you?" Caring is the ingredient that makes commissioner service successful. He or she is an advocate of unit needs. A commissioner who makes himself known and accepted now will be called on in future times of trouble. The commissioner is a representative. The average unit leader is totally occupied in working with kids. Some have little if any contact with the Boy Scouts of America other than a commissioner's visit to their meeting. To them, the commissioner may be the BSA. The commissioner helps represent the ideals, the principles, and the policies of the Scouting movement. The commissioner is a unit "doctor." In their role as "doctor," they know that prevention is better than a cure, so they try to see that their units make good "health practices" a way of life. When problems arise, and they will even in the best unit, they act quickly. They observe symptoms, diagnose the real ailment, prescribe a remedy, and follow up on the patient. The commissioner is a teacher. As a commissioner, they will have a wonderful opportunity to participate in the growth of unit leaders by sharing knowledge with them. They teach not just in an academic environment, but where it counts most—as an immediate response to a need to know. That is the best adult learning situation since the lesson is instantly reinforced by practical application of the new knowledge. The commissioner is a counselor. As a Scouting counselor, they will help units solve their own problems. Counseling is the best role when unit leaders don't recognize a problem and where solutions are not clear-cut. Everyone needs counseling from time to time, even experienced leaders.
Description of a Commissioner
Selection process and criteria vary depending on the position.
Unit Commissioners are appointed by the district commissioner with the approval of the council executive board. Unit commissioners should—
Have excellent people skills
Have a Scouting background or be fast-track learners
Know and practice Scouting ideals
Roundtable Commissioners are appointed by the district commissioner with the approval of the council executive board. Roundtable commissioners should—
Be congenial and enthusiastic performers
Have the ability to recruit a roundtable staff
Have a good Scouting program background in the program for which they will run roundtables
Be a good planner
Assistant District Commissioners are appointed by the district commissioner with the approval of the council executive board. Assistant district commissioners should—
Be able to recruit and work through a team of unit commissioners.
Have excellent people skills
Have a broad Scouting background or be fast-track learners
Know and practice Scouting ideals
District Commissioners are approved and appointed by the council executive board, with the concurrence of the Scout executive, on the recommendation of the district nominating committee. District commissioners should—
Be widely respected in the community
Be an enthusiastic leader of adults
Have the ability to recruit a complete team of commissioners for their districts
Have the ability to guide and motivate commissioners to visit units regularly, identify unit needs, and help unit adults to meet needs
Be a role model of Scouting ideals
Commissioners must not be registered simultaneously as unit leaders. Some commissioners may be registered on a unit committee because they have a son in the unit or because of previous personal history in the unit, but their principle Scouting obligation should be with commissioner responsibilities. Commissioners may be currently registered in only one commissioner position.
Commissioner Manuals
Commissioner Fieldbook for Unit Service, No. 33621A
For All Commissioners
Consider this handy book the commissioner's best friend, the book every commissioner should own. It's packed with essential information on commissioner style, commissioner lifesaving, commissioner responsibilities, and dozens of other topics on providing unit service. It's the definitive reference on unit charter renewal
Commissioner Administration of Unit Service, No. 34128
For Council, District and Assistant Commissioners
This valuable tool guides district and council commissioners and their assistants (and their staff advisers) in leading a successful unit service team. It addresses the responsibilities of commissioner leaders and the people they lead. It details commissioner recruiting, commissioner training, commissioner evaluation, commissioner meetings, and many other topics. A new chapter highlights considerations in assigning units to commissioners.
Commissioner Helps for Packs, Troops, and Crews, No. 33618A
For all Commissioners
A practical how-to-reference book chock-full of handy tips on helping units upgrade unit program. It suggests specific commissioner actions to help unit adults meet specific program standards and objectives. This book also includes unit commissioner worksheets for packs, troops, and crews.
Administration of Commissioner Service, No. 34501
For all Commissioners
The new Administration of Commissioner Service manual will be available as a BSA Supply item in late March 2009. The online version is available for viewing now in PDF format. This manual has combined the previous editions of the Administration of Commissioner Service, Basic Commissioner Training, and Continuing Education of Commissioners. Some great additions have been made to the manual to support council-level commissioners and their support to districts, as well as some new sessions of commissioner training to be offered at all levels.
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Commissioners
