Jump to content

Commissioner role


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 41
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Posts

I've worked for DCs who were great leaders.  They provided the correct sight picture, training, encouragement for UCs.  Actively recruited UCs.  Yet were constantly stymied because they were always sh

Here is a statement of the theory:   "The Unit Commissioner's Role A commissioner plays several roles, including friend, representative, unit "doctor," teacher, and counselor. The

A good UC/unit relationship requires openness on both sides. I wasn’t a UC, but I helped a few with my more specific expertises. Every SM has a different personality as well as an idealistic perspecti

1 hour ago, Beccachap said:

Can you request a different Commissioner other than what you have been assigned? Also, what exactly is the value - if any - to a Commissioner?

 

I don't see the commissioner position as having any value to the unit.  You could always try asking for a different commissioner, but I don't see the point.  If you make it clear to a commissioner that you have no intention to listen to him or heed any of his advice, he will sometimes go away.  Good luck.

  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Beccachap said:

Can you request a different Commissioner other than what you have been assigned? Also, what exactly is the value - if any - to a Commissioner?

 

Hi @Beccachap,

Yes - certainly.  Call or email your district commissioner, explain the situation, and ask if he/she can assign someone else.  The district commissioner may ask you some questions about why - most likely in the interest in understanding if there is an issue that he/she needs to be aware of.  But, the district commissioner should work it out for you.

  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

No value added.  Most are not current with what's going on so they are unable  answer even simple questions.  

District gets JTE points for unit Commissioner visits which includes drive by ones or wandering around camporee asking how it's going.

The Doctorate of Commissioner Service is only self serving.

JMHO

  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

You folks are wonderfully reassuring. Thank you for your feedback. My husband has the thickest pair of rose colored glasses wrt Scouting and insisted that there was value added there, but I've been skeptical. I called our Commissioner in to appease my non-confrontational husband when I had to diffuse a situation with a hot mess Scoutmaster in another Unit, and detected several notes of 'little woman, you don't know nothin', so I thought a male mouthpiece might help him dial it down. But no. I just had to repeat myself 5 times in writing and 2 times in person. With an audience. Lol. 

I think I won't bother getting a new one. My guy is very geriatric and when reviewing the situation with him I felt he wasn't capable of consistent and coherent thought. We almost never see him, but now I am putting him the category of liability. But simple liability. I think I'll leave it alone. 

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
10 hours ago, David CO said:

I don't see the commissioner position as having any value to the unit. 

 

1 hour ago, PACAN said:

No value added.  Most are not current with what's going on so they are unable  answer even simple questions.  

We've heard from the naysayers.  I could certainlly see that a well-established unit, with lots of its own experience, might not be looking for an outside perspective.    Now for the rest of you.   If you have found a unit commissioner valuable to your unit:   what help were you hoping for?  and what help did they give you?   and just how experienced was your unit anyway?

 

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
53 minutes ago, Beccachap said:

My guy is very geriatric and when reviewing the situation with him I felt he wasn't capable of consistent and coherent thought. 

I wouldn't rush to judgement in deciding that this is a geriatric thing.  You don't like it when men are condescending to women.  So try not to be condescending to us old folks.  There are plenty of people at council (who are incapable of consistent and coherent thought) who can't blame it on age.

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
7 minutes ago, David CO said:

I wouldn't rush to judgement in deciding that this is a geriatric thing.  You don't like it when men are condescending to women.  So try not to be condescending to us old folks.  There are plenty of people at council (who are incapable of consistent and coherent thought) who can't blame it on age.

David, I had one conversation with him where he appeared to understand and follow along. The second conversation the next day he couldn't string his thoughts together. I'm talking bizzaro, completely inconsistent thought. I mentioned his age as a correlative factor, not as a causative factor. No offense intended. 

Edit: The more I think about it you have a point. Evening mentioning his age was indicative of my being ageist, so I will work on that, starting with being aware of my shortcoming.

Edited by Beccachap
second thought
  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

My unit has never had one, our district views us as one of the stronger and more stable units, since there aren't enough commissioners to go around, we've never had one as long as I've been involved in the troop. 

On paper there can be some valuable, but it's not inherent in the commissioner job, but in the man or woman in the job. If they are plugged into resources, understand the program, and have a broad experience to share, then they can be helpful. If they don't then they are likely of little help. 

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
19 minutes ago, Beccachap said:

David, I had one conversation with him where he appeared to understand and follow along. The second conversation the next day he couldn't string his thoughts together. I'm talking bizzaro, completely inconsistent thought. I mentioned his age as a correlative factor, not as a causative factor. No offense intended. 

Dementia is an obvious possibility when dealing with people of my age.  But don't overlook the possibility of substance abuse.  You might be surprised to learn how many senior citizens abuse drugs.  It's not just a teenager thing, you know.  If a younger person exhibited the same behavior, you might have suspected something else.

In any case, it is not your job to comment on or investigate the reasons for his incompetence.  Just avoid him.

 

Edited by David CO
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I was an SA with one troop for 25 years.  Our Unit Commissioner appeared at a meeting once  - of the Troop Committee as it happened - never at a troop meeting or activity where Scouts would be present.  I have been repeatedly told  by CCs and DCs that the council goal is to have 1/3 of units "covered" by a UC who "contacts" each of "his" units once a quarter.  

Edited by TAHAWK
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Don't worry about being ageist, the organization opened that door 60 years ago when they decided that Eagle Scout was a boy's award.

We had a UC who was a bit meddlesome. About half his advice was useless. It might have worked for his troop when he was SM, but made a lot of worrying about nothing for our troop. The other half, however, was useful

So, UC's are kinda like handbooks. They don't open to the right chapter automatically. In fact, a lot of times they're fine left on the shelf 'cause sometimes you just need to go out with your uniform and a smile. :)

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...