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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.
Click on an
insignia below to find your unit commissioner:
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