Unit Commissioners are district and council leaders who help Scout units succeed.  It is the job of the Unit Commissioner to help units “Deliver the Promise” of Scouting.  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

   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.  Unit commissioners who make themselves 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.

How are Unit Commissioners selected?

   Unit Commissioners and Assistant District Commissioners are appointed by the district commissioner with the approval of the council executive board.

What resources are available for the Unit Commissioners?

   There are several resources to help the Commissioner successfully help his or her assigned Scout units.  Resources include:

• Basic Commissioner Manuals
• District Roundtable and the monthly Commissioners meeting
• The Commissioner—A newsletter for the council commissioner, the council
• Scout executive, and council professional advisor to commissioners
• Scouting magazine
• Commissioners at the Philmont Training Center
• National Meeting Presentations
• Other Commissioner Resources

Unit Commissioners should:

• Have excellent people skills
• Have a Scouting background or be fast-track learners
• Know and practice Scouting ideals

The duties of the Unit Commissioner are:

• Help each unit earn the Quality Unit Award
• Know each phase of the Scouting program.
• Stay in regular contact with assigned units — usually once a month.
• Work with unit leader for support
• Encourage adult leaders to take part in training and roundtable
• Facilitate on-time rechartering of units
• Work with the head of the Chartered organization of your units to describe the unit’s progress during the past year and to preside over the charter presentation ceremony

Would you be willing to provide unit service
so that the units
can “deliver the promise”?

Contact Us:

   If you have any questions, or if you would like to help provide the unit service our youth and leaders need and deserve, please contact the District Commissioner, Joe Bergeron, via email or at 513.524.3154.