1. Commissioner Basic Training
Welcome!
Page 1 GCR 2005

2. A Few Items of Clarification
Prior to Basic Training
If you are not
registered as a
Commissioner,
please fill out one
of the registration
forms at this time.
Page 2 GCR 2005

3. a) Assuming you are currently registered in some
adult leader capacity, but not as a
Commissioner, go to the top left corner, under
ADULT APPLICATION, and add the word
“Multiple”. This will save your institution a $15
registration fee.
b) In the upper right, the District Position:
1) Unit Commissioner if serving one unit or ward.
2) Asst. District Commissioner if serving on multi-unit
or stake level.
3) District Name is Zion.
Page 3 GCR 2005

4. a) In the lower left, position code:
1) 80 for Unit Commissioner - serving one ward
2) 82 for Assistant District Commissioner - stake leader
b) Scouting Position: Unit Commissioner or Asst.
District Commissioner.
c) Please provide:
1) Email address.
2) Cell phone
Page 4 GCR 2005

5. Page 5 GCR 2005

6. a) If you are serving as a Primary Counselor and
have not previously registered:
1) Upper right – Pack, Unit Number, & District Position
2)Lower left – Position Code MC & 80
3)Scouting Position – Member Pack Committee & Unit
Commissioner
g) If you are serving as a Primary President
and have not previously registered:
1) Upper right – Troop, Team, Crew, Unit Number, &
District Position
6)Lower left – Position Code MC & 80
7)Scouting Position – Member Troop/Team/Crew
Committee & Unit Commissioner
Page 6 GCR 2005

7. Page 7 GCR 2005

8. h) One more thing: Disclosure/Authorization Form.
1) Sign and Date it.
Page 8 GCR 2005

9. More Clarification
Prior to Beginning
The sub-units (LDS Stakes)
are covering the cost of
these handbooks in Zion
District, allowing each to
have a copy of the
“Commissioner Fieldbook.”
Handout copies of the Commissioner Fieldbook
Page 9 GCR 2005

10. What is the relationship between
LDS Priesthood Leaders and BSA
District and Council volunteers?
Church members are always encouraged
to follow their Priesthood Leaders. We
hope that the Leaders are "up" on BSA
policies as they provide direction to those
under them.
District Staff people are responsible for
Training and Roundtable and are available
for help and clarification as needed.
Page 10 GCR 2005

11. What is the relationship between
LDS Priesthood Leaders and BSA
District and Council volunteers?
Church members are always encouraged
to follow their Priesthood Leaders. We
hope that the Leaders are "up" on BSA
policies as they provide direction to those
under them.
District Staff people are responsible for
Training and Roundtable and are available
for help and clarification as needed.
Page 11 GCR 2005

12. Where Do these Leaders and
Volunteers find their Policies and
Procedures?
Page 12 GCR 2005

13. Where Do these Leaders and
Volunteers find their Policies and
Procedures?
Page 13 GCR 2005

14. Where Do these Leaders and
Volunteers find their Policies and
Procedures?
Page 14 GCR 2005

15. District and Council
Representatives
Training and Roundtable presentations
are to be presented as they are found in
the BSA manuals.
What you will be introduced to in this
course has been a staple with BSA for a
long time and its implementation brings
positive results for leaders as well as
those at the center of all our efforts:
Page 15 GCR 2005

16. The Center of All Our Efforts:
The Boys and Young Men.
Photo courtesy of Tony and Kris Long.
Page 16 GCR 2005

17. Commissioner Basic Training
Part I of 4:
Why Commissioners?
Page 17 GCR 2005

18. Part I
Learning Objectives
• Know the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America.
• Know the mission of the council and district.
• Explain the four-function concept of council
and district operation.
• Describe the commissioner unit service role
and its relationship to supporting a unit in a
quality program.
• Describe the methods and steps of good unit
program planning.
Page 18 GCR 2005

19. Aims & Methods of Scouting
Aims:
Character Development
Citizenship Training
Personal Fitness
Page 19 GCR 2005

20. Aims & Methods of Scouting
Met hods
Boy
Cub Scouting:
Scouting: • Ideals
• Home & • Patrols
neighborhood • Outdoors
centered
• Advancement
• Parent
• Personal
involvement
Aims: • Advancement
growth
• Adult
plan
Character Development association
• The den
Citizenship Training • Leadership
• Ideals development
Personal Fitness
• Uniform • Uniform
• Activity
program
Page 20 GCR 2005

21. Aims & Methods of Scouting
Met hods Venturing:
Varsity: • Association
with youth &
Boy adults
• Advancement
Cub Scouting: • Ethical
• High
Scouting: • Ideals adventure & decision
sports making
• Home & • Patrols
neighborhood • Activities • Group
• Outdoors
centered • Service activities
• Advancement • Learn and
• Parent • Personal
• Personal teach others
involvement development
Aims: • Advancement
growth
• Adult
• Special • Recognition
plan programs & • Curiosity,
Character Development association
events exploration &
• The den
Citizenship Training • Leadership
• Leadership adventure
• Ideals development
Personal Fitness development • Leadership
• Uniform • Uniform development
• Activity
program
Page 21 GCR 2005

22. Missions of the…
…District
To organize and
support successful
units –Training & Council and District
Roundtable. achieve their purposes
And maintain BSA by fulfilling their Four-
standards. Function Plan:
• Membership/Relationships
Available to all youth of area.
…Council • Finance (FOS) $100/boy
Provide adequate funds for
To guide and A COUNCIL is a voluntary camps, stores, offices, and
support its districts. association of citizens professionals to work with you
and me – the volunteers.
which promotes the
Scouting program within a • Program
Maintain standards & policies.
geographical area.
• Unit Service
Serve chartered organizations.
Page 22 GCR 2005

23. The Commissioner Concept
The commissioner is the liaison between the local council and Scouting
units. The commissioner’s mission is to keep units operating at
maximum efficiency, maintain regular contact with unit leaders, counsel
leaders on where to find assistance, note weaknesses in programs,
and suggest remedies. The commissioner is successful when units
effectively deliver the ideals of Scouting to their members.
Page 23 GCR 2005

24. The Commissioner Concept
The commissioner is the liaison between the local council and Scouting
units. The commissioner’s mission is to keep units operating at
maximum efficiency, maintain regular contact with unit leaders, counsel
leaders on where to find assistance, note weaknesses in programs,
and suggest remedies. The commissioner is successful when units
effectively deliver the ideals of Scouting to their members.
A Commissioner
Mission: is Successful Effective
when Units are
Local Scouting Keep units operating
Council Unit Regular contact Deliver the
Effective Units
Aims of
Counsel leaders are ones
Scouting
Help fix problems that
Liaison
Page 24 GCR 2005

25. What is a Commissioner’s
Most Important Resource?
Page 25 GCR 2005

26. Our Most Important Resource Is
Page 26 GCR 2005

27. Our Most Important Resource
It Contains:
Commissioner Orientation
Orientation Projects
The Commissioner Concept
The District Commissioner Staff
Providing Unit Service
Your Commissioner Style
Be a Lifesaving Commissioner
How to remove a Volunteer
Counseling
Youth Protection
Unit Charter Renewal
Unit Commissioner Training
Resources
Self-Evaluation
Distinguished Commissioner Service Award
Page 27 GCR 2005

28. Discovering What
You Know (or Don’t)
We are going to take the 15 question
Commissioner Quiz.
We will also go over the answers.
Page 28 GCR 2005

29. Commissioner Quiz
The Unit Commissioner T or F
2.Reports to the District Executive. F
3.Must be an expert in training adults and youth. F
4.Is only concerned with reregistering a unit on time. F
5.Should be familiar with the official literature used by units T for
their program.
6.Only visits the unit committee on a regular basis. F
7.Must know the unit program planning process. T
8.“Sells” the unit leader on district and council functions as F a
primary responsibility.
9.Periodically communicates with the chartered organization T
representative to offer help.
T
10.Regularly attends Roundtables.
11. Guides the unit through the annual service plan. T
Page 29 GCR 2005

30. Commissioner Quiz
The Unit Commissioner T or F
2. Should earn the Commissioner’s Key. T
3. Attends monthly meetings of the district committee. F
4. Is not involved in the presentation of the unit charter. F
5. Must be familiar with the monthly program themes. T
6. Encourages assigned packs, troops, teams, and crews T
to earn the Journey to Excellence Award.
Page 30 GCR 2005

31. Commissioner Job Description
Page 31 GCR 2005

32. Commissioner’s Role
What are the five major roles of a commissioner?
See Commissioner Fieldbook, page 11
Page 32 GCR 2005

33. Commissioner’s Role
What are the five major roles of a commissioner?
• Friend
• Representative
• Unit “doctor”
• Teacher
• Counselor
See Commissioner Fieldbook, page 11
Page 33 GCR 2005

34. Review
We have learned about:
Aims and Methods of Scouting
The Commissioner Service Role
Thank you for participating!
Page 34 GCR 2005

35. Page 35 GCR 2005