commissioners

What is a Commissioner?

Commissioners are council and district leaders who help Scouting units succeed. They coach and consult with adult leaders of Cub Scout packs, Scouts BSA troops, Explorer posts and Venturing crews. Commissioners help maintain the standards of Scouting America. Commissioners also oversee unit charter so that each unit reregisters on time with an optimum number of youth and adult members.

A commissioner plays several roles, including friend, representative, unit “doctor,” teacher, and counselor.

• The commissioner is a friend of the unit. Caring about a unit makes commissioner service successful. A commissioner who makes themselves known and accepted will be called on in future times of need.
• The commissioner is a representative. With so many unit leaders focused on serving youth members, contact with the council is limited. A commissioner serves as that council representative, supporting the ideals, principles, and policies of the Scouting movement.
• The commissioner is a unit “doctor”. Prevention is better than a cure, so commissioners work with units to make “health practices” a way of life, act quickly when issues arise observing symptoms, diagnosing the real ailment, prescribing a remedy, and following up on the patient.
• The commissioner is a teacher. Commissioners share knowledge with unit leaders to help Scouting and units prosper. They teach not just in an academic environment, but where it counts most—as an immediate response to a need to know.
• The commissioner is a counselor. As a Scouting counselor, commissioners help units solve their own problems. Counseling is effective 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.