Commissioner's Corner
Unit Commissioner Basic Training 2008
Date: May 10, 2008
Registration: 8:30 am
Training: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Cost: $10.00 per participant
Location: Trinty Lutheran Church, 100 Mahonong Street, Milton,
PA 17847
Registration Deadline: May 2, 2008
Flyer in pdf
The 2008 Commissioner's Training is open to all registered Scouters interested in more information in the following topics.
- Commissioner's Service Role
- Supporting the Units
- Unit Program Planning
- Commissioner Priorities
- Effective Commissioner Leadership
- Unit Visitation
- Unit Committee Function
- Quality Unit Operation
- Counseling
- District Operation
- Membership Management
- Unit Charter Renewal
- The Annual Commisioner's Service Plan
- Commissioner Lifesaving
Fee includes Lunch (Hoagie, chips and beverage), commissioner resource book, and training materials.
If you have any questions, please call or email Judy Coup, Susquehanna Council Commissioner or contact Jeremy Miller, Staff Advisor at 570-326-5121.
Commissioners—In
the Boy Scouts of America
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.
Commissioners are your unit's first line of help in Scouting. They work to get you the answers to your Scouting questions. There are a number of different types of Commissioners. Each unit (pack, troop, and crew) should have a Unit Commissioner. Your Unit Commissioner should be your unit's best friend as they help your unit be its best. There are also Roundtable Commissioners. These Commissioners develop and present the program and training at your district's monthly roundtable. To support the Unit Commissioners and Roundtable Commissioners, there is the Assistant District Commissioner (ADC). Each ADC provides support and backup help to the other Commissioners. The leader of the ADC's, the Unit Commissioners and the Roundtable Commissioners is the District Commissioner. The District Commissioner is your district's leader of the Commissioner Staff and with the ADC's, work to make sure your unit has the best possible Commissioner to help your unit's program. The District Commissioner is also one of your district's Key 3 (District Commissioner, District Committee Chair, and District Executive).
There are also council level Commissioners. The Council Commissioner works with the Council Committee for creating council level support through the total Commissioner Staff. This is done through the Assistant Council Commissioners that are assigned duties to support the Commissioners in the districts through providing Commissioner Training and Support.
An important note about Commissioners: Commissioners do not lead your unit (that's your job as a unit leader). They are a resource that you can call on to help you solve your Scouting issues and concerns in delivering the Scouting program to your unit's youth. If your Commissioner does not know the answer to your question, they know who to ask to get the answer for you as quickly as possible.