How Are Commissioners Selected?

Unit Commissioners are appointed by the district commissioner with the approval of the council commissioner and Scout executive.  Unit commissioners should—

• Have excellent people skills
• Have a Scouting background or be fast-track learners
• Know and practice Scouting ideals

Assistant District Commissioners are appointed by the district commissioner with the approval of the council commissioner and Scout executive.  Assistant district commissioners should—

• Be able to recruit and work through a team of unit commissioners.
• Have excellent people skills
• Have a broad Scouting background or be fast-track learners
• Know and practice Scouting ideals

Roundtable Commissioners are appointed by the district commissioner with the approval of the council commissioner and Scout executive.  Roundtable commissioners should—

• Be congenial and enthusiastic leaders of district roundtable meetings involving unit leaders
• Able to recruit a roundtable staff
• Familiar with the program resources needed for Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, and Venturing
• Be a good planner

District Commissioners are appointed by the council commissioner in consultation with the district nominating committee and with the approval of the Scout executive.  District commissioners should—

• Be widely respected in the community
• Be an enthusiastic leader of adults
• Able to recruit a complete team of commissioners for his/her district
• Able to guide and motivate commissioners to visit units regularly and support unit needs.
• Be a role model of Scouting ideals

Assistant Council Commissioners are appointed by the council commissioner with the approval of Scout executive.  Assistant council commissioners should--

• Have administrative capacity
• Qualities similar to those of district commissioners and council commissioners.

A Council Commissioner is elected by the council executive board upon recommendation of the council nominating committee and Scout executive.  The council commissioner should—

• Have the ability and proven experience to lead and meet objectives through a large structure of other people
• Become a role model of exceptional Scouting service to units throughout the council
• Have a vision of how good unit programs helps retain youth in Scouting long enough to benefit from the mission of Scouting
• Able to work closely with the Scout executive in leading the district commissioners,assistant council commissioners, and the other members of the commissioner staff in achieving goals related to unit service, unit retention, and good chartered organization relationships.

Commissioners have position-specific training for their roles as commissioners.  Supplemental training is offered at the Northern California College of Commissioner Science, at REC Commissioner Summit, and through special training courses at Philmont Training Center and elsewhere.  Commissioners are also strongly encouraged to attend Wood Badge leadership training.