The DE or the UC?

[Jeffrey H 25]

When is it appropriate to call on your Unit Commissioner for advice rather than the District Executive? Or, when should you call on your DE rather than the UC? I often feel that the UCs in our district are under-utilized and we bother the DE too much with details that could be easily addressed by our UC.

[Crew21_Adv 25]

Jeffrey and Fellow Scouters,

 

Greetings!

 

Let me offer my opinion...

 

A Scouter should always call upon their UC for every issue. (With the exception of youth protection or similar highly sensitive topics)

 

Whether it is regarding finances, program, re-charter, discipline, recruitment, injuries, insurance, advancement, disruptions, crossover, disagreements, celebrations, there are many reasons. A good UC, will answer all the Scouters questions, and know when to defer to the District or Scout Executive.

 

It is much easier with email, I often reply and cc my DE. The DE will either Concur, not Concur; or yes rarely, clarify my explanation.

 

Via the phone, I will tell my fellow Scouters when I am the final topic authority; or when I am only an advisor and they are referred to the topic authority.

 

Scouting Forever and Venture On!

Crew21 Adv

 

[Eamonn 61]

While not a hard and fast rule/ guide, things normally go better in this organization when volunteers deal with volunteers.

Of course a lot will depend on who you have to deal with. In some Councils the only requirement to be a UC is a warm body. In our District our DE is a young fellow right out of college.

If the system is working as it should in most cases the DE is going to get a report anyway. The UC reports to the Assistant or District Commissioner and unit health is on the District Committee Meeting agenda and the Key 3 agenda.

Eamonn.

[Jeffrey H 25]

Thanks for the advice. I personally would rather deal with my UC than the DE. The DE is a nice guy, but as a professional he is distracted by other issues and a different set of goals.

 

It does make sense that we should call on our UC because he/she has been assigned to our specific unit. Fortunately, we have a new UC that seems to be truly "engaged" and available for help.

[mc99218 10]

Call your UC for counsel on all scouting matters and consider the DE just an executive secretary of the district.

 

The rare exception is to report child abuse and I would recommend setting an appointment in confidence with your council scout executive to discuss such a serious matter....

 

MCCET

PMTNPO

OWL

Commissioner of the old red coat school and dam proud of it.