ScoutingSeptember 2002


Learning to Help Unit Leaders Succeed

By Robert Peterson

Commissioners—a unit leader's best friend—hone their skills and gain inspiration at an annual council conference.

For many people the title "commissioner" brings to mind the official who runs a professional sport, like the Major League Baseball commissioner, or a person serving at a top supervisory level in government, like the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.

A Scouting commissioner, however, serves not from on high but from wherever the action is, being a combination of adviser, counselor, information and idea resource person, and cheerleader. His or her job description boils down to one essential goal: Do whatever it takes to help unit leaders succeed in effectively delivering the ideals of Scouting to their members.

An annual council conference or college for commissioners provides a variety of opportunities for training, fellowship, information, and inspiration. Last February, 100 commissioners, bearing such titles as unit commissioner, roundtable commissioner, district commissioner, and council commissioner, gathered at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., for this year's commissioners conference of the Theodore Roosevelt Council of Long Island's Nassau County.

Keynote speaker for the conference was BSA National Commissioner William F. (Rick) Cronk. Focusing on the problem of "lost units," he stressed the importance of monthly commissioner visits to help prevent any threat to the health of a pack, troop, or crew.

A district commissioner in action

Making such visits—during which a commissioner provides encouragement, advice, and program tools to unit leaders—can be habit forming.

Just ask Rough Rider District commissioner Vito Deliso, who had served as a unit commissioner for four years. Now, as one of the district's "Key 3" (along with the district chairman and district executive), he focuses on recruiting new commissioners and providing training, supervision, and motivation for his commissioner staff.

But Deliso still goes regularly to unit meetings throughout his district. "I'm not required to do that," he said, "but it's like anything else, whether at work or in Scouting. You need to know what's going on."

Both Deliso and his wife, Terry, have been devoted to Scouting since 1994 when their son joined a Cub Scout pack. "We're out almost every night on Scouting business," said Terry, whose varied duties include serving as a unit commissioner.

Vito Deliso's people skills are celebrated in the Rough Rider District. "He's a wonderful leader who inspires people," said council commissioner Stephen R. Herman. "He's also a facilitator—a diplomat—who knows how to bring the various factions of the district together, and that's a great skill."

Deliso is also a highly successful recruiter. As a result, the Rough Rider District averages one commissioner for every 1.9 units, compared with the council end-of-the-year ratio of one for every 2.6 units. (Both district and council far exceed the national average of one commissioner for every 4.8 units.)

The opportunity to recruit new commissioners is one reason he continues to visit units, Deliso said. "When visiting a pack, for example, I look for experienced Webelos Scout den leaders whose boys are graduating into troops."

The best candidates are leaders who "have enthusiasm, commitment, and dedication to the program, plus Scouting experience," he explained. "Enthusiasm and dedication are important because, if you really believe in the program, you're going to go the extra mile."

However, Deliso won't approach current Scoutmasters for commissioner service. "Scoutmasters are off-limits," Deliso explained, "because they're too busy and their job is too important."

Learning opportunities

At the conference, commissioners learned what the Internet can—and can't—do for them from Robert Koch, council commissioner of neighboring Suffolk County Council. Koch described the resources available on a variety of Scouting-related Internet sites. He explained the benefits and draw- backs of using e-mail, online message boards, and mailing lists for exchanging information, and how to promote Scouting with digital pictures and greeting cards.

But he also warned that "a 100 percent digital commissioner will fail. The personal touch is critical at all commissioner levels."

Scouters William Maron, Tom Liddy, and Ray Greenspan told the commissioners about the BSA's national Strategic Plan for 2002-2005, developments in leader training, and the new Wood Badge course for all adult leaders.

At the breakout sessions led by Michael Chirillo, Janice and Raymond Pomerico, and David Barkstedt, commissioners considered how they could help their packs and troops earn Quality Unit status, the ingredients for "a menu for success" at roundtables, or the elements for effective Venturing crews. Some topic choices included how to become a more effective leader, conducted by Austin Cannon, Louis Korosy, and Fred Troll, and a problem-solving exercise on such questions as sex discrimination, charter renewals, and camping on private property.

Another session, how commissioners can help to ensure that units aren't lost, was led by William Russell. Called "Unit Retention," that session's title would have been appropriate for nearly all the breakouts because, as National Commissioner Rick Cronk had urged in his keynote talk, "our focus is on no lost units."

Robert W. Peterson is a Scouting magazine contributing editor.


Some Commissioners Go to College'

In some local councils, an annual commissioner conference takes the form of a "college of commissioner science." The substance is the same as any other commissioner conference format, but the "college" trappings and references predominate.

A typical weekend college of commissioner science will offer a variety of fun-filled activities and workshops, which Scouters can complete on their way to earning a "bachelor's" degree in the first year, a "master's" in the next year, and a "Ph.D." later.

"Master's theses" and "doctoral dissertations" are completed on a wide variety of subjects, which can range from using the Internet as a Scouting resource to the Webelos-to-Scout transition, to how a district can utilize honor campers who are members of the Order of the Arrow.


Avoiding 'Lost Units'

In his keynote address at the Theodore Roosevelt Council's annual commissioners conference, William F. (Rick) Cronk, the national commissioner, explained why a unit commissioner's role is so vital in preventing "lost units."

BSA membership in 2001 included 3.35 million youth in packs, troops, and Venturing crews, Cronk said, plus 1.2 million adult volunteers—"people like you and me, moms and dads, grandparents, and next-door neighbors." And summer camp attendance in 2001 hit an all-time record at 1.2 million.

But Scouting also loses "about 500,000 Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts a year—500,000 Scouts who vote with their feet and never return," Cronk said. "That's a horrible loss."

Some of those "lost" Scouts may have moved and joined another unit in their new home, he said. But the BSA also loses about 10,000 units a year, and "lost units don't move, they just disappear."

Cronk urged unit commissioners to set a goal of having no lost units.

"Unit commissioners should be visiting their packs and troops at least once a month, just to observe and look for telltale signs of a deteriorating program," he said. And, of course, to provide encouragement, tips, and program tools to unit leaders.

—R.W.P.


Many Roles, One Mission

Commissioners serve as liaison between the local council and Scouting units, with a mission to keep units operating at maximum efficiency. Within a council, a volunteer Scouter can serve as a commissioner in several capacities, with varying duties and areas of responsibility.

Unit Commissioner. Regularly visits and works with unit leaders and unit committees to assure unit success.

Assistant District Commissioner. Assists in fulfilling the duties of the district commissioner by guiding the service of four to six unit commissioners.

Roundtable Commissioner. Plans and conducts monthly roundtable meetings; recruits roundtable staff; and promotes involvement of unit leaders in roundtables.

District Commissioner. Recruits new commissioners, trains members of district commissioner staff, and supervises and motivates unit commissioners.

Council Commissioner. Leads the commissioner operation of the entire council. A member of the council executive board and executive committee, he chairs the regular meetings of district commissioners and is responsible for commissioner training and annual commissioners conference.


How Do Commissioners Help?

Some of the ways commissioners may help a unit include:

  • Brainstorm ideas with unit adults to solve unit problems.
  • Listen to unit leaders—their needs, ideas, and successes.
  • Suggest resources to improve the unit's program.
  • Help improve the relationship between unit adults and chartered organization leaders.
  • Help recruit additional adults.
  • Facilitate the on-time unit charter renewal by assisting with the membership inventory of youth and adults, helping conduct the charter renewal meeting, and presenting the new charter to the chartered organization.
  • Offer encouragement and recognize success.
  • Work to assure an effective unit committee.
  • Be a "Scouting paramedic" when a unit has a "critical illness."
  • Help the unit understand Scouting standards and practices.

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