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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.
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.
Resources for Commissioners
- NEW! Unit Commissioner Fast Start—This new online fast start training is an
orientation designed for all commissioners to learn about the job responsibilities for a
unit commissioner. This ‘fast start’ training is designed to be taken by all commissioner
within the first few weeks of agreeing to be a commissioner. Other training opportunities
will be provided by your local council and district to support your job as a commissioner.
This is only the introduction of your new position in Scouting. You should also take
other training courses shared in the Commissioner Fieldbook, working directly with your
local district and council commissioners.
- The Commissioner—A newsletter for the council commissioner, the council Scout
executive, and council professional advisor to commissioners
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.
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.