PROFILES IN SCOUTING

The Unit Commissioner

Dennis Wolfe
Unit Commissioner

Dennis Wolfe describes his role as Unit Commissioner as part doctor, part cheerleader, and part teacher. “With a light touch I keep my finger on the pulse of the units. I provide encouragement to the leaders, and remind them about upcoming events and deadlines,” Dennis says.

We chose to feature Dennis on this Special Cybernews because in many ways, he exemplifies what a Unit Commissioner does. Dennis sets a good example in Scouting ideals by demonstrating helpfulness, proper uniforming, and excellent people skills. Although Dennis has a rich Scouting background, he continues growth as a commissioner through training, experience, and consultation with others in the District..

His long career as a project manager developing computer systems and supervising a large staff prepared Dennis well for his many positions with the Scouts. His practical knowledge of Scouting helps him fulfill his charge as a Commissioner, but Dennis is quick to point out that being a fast-track learner is an equally important trait for a Commissioner to have. Dennis is Unit Commissioner for Cub Scout Pack 143 and Venture Crews 72 and 151in Twin Lakes District.

The Unit Commissioner is a key part of the coordinated structure that flows from the Executive Board down through the Commissioners, Unit Leadership, and back up to the Council. Besides helping to develop a good relationship between unit leaders and chartered organization leaders, Dennis attends frequent meetings with volunteer and career staff and district leadership. He is in constant contact with the leaders from his assigned units, ensuring that communication is effective from all sides.

Dennis stays focused on specific needs of the units he serves. He helps them become more effective with program and operation. He listens, informs, evaluates, coaches, corrects and advises. He inspires confidence, and builds morale in unit adults. He helps with unit self-assessments and reports the statistics of his units. When needed, he will help his units recruit and arrange to train new parents.

The result of all this work is a unit – often a Quality Unit -- that is well attended, with strong outdoor programs, community service projects, a high percentage of youth earning advancement, active participation by parents and on-time rechartering every year. “When you go to a Scout banquet and enjoy the ceremony and all the awards and everything is impressive and goes smoothly and seems effortless, you might not realize all the hard work and problem-solving that goes on behind the scenes,” says Dennis.

The “doctor” role of the Unit Commissioner includes continually monitoring the strength of the unit and addressing issues before they turn into problems. Most leaders are responsible and conscientious, but, as Dennis says, “Scouting is people, and things happen to people – they might get laid off, get sick, have family problems, move away.” When problems do arise, the Unit Commissioner steps in. One of the commonest problems Dennis encounters is the unit leader who tries to do too much. “Unit leaders are by nature proactive and sometimes they want to do it all instead of delegating to others. Involving parents as much as possible makes the unit a stronger and more unified community, and provides a backup if something happens and the unit leader can’t make a meeting.”

When for some reason a leader isn’t up to the job, the Unit Commissioner ensures that proper techniques are used to select and recruit unit leaders. By visiting the unit meetings on a monthly basis, the Dennis has a chance to observe the unit in action, assess its special needs, and determine ways to help each unit succeed. During these regular visits, he can listen and offer encouragement to the Unit Leader, and provide and coordinate appropriate support. Dennis knows the District and Council resources that can help his units.

As a computer expert one of the biggest improvements Dennis has observed in his 30 years of Scouting is the use of electronic communication in the Council. “The timely and accurate information provided by the council’s web site and Cybernews are making a real difference in keeping people aware of what’s going on and avoiding misunderstandings and the feeling some volunteers had of being left out of the loop.”

Dennis has 6 children, including 2 scouter sons, and 9 grandchildren. His dedication to Scouting was reinforced many years ago by a dramatic incident in his own personal life. When his son Dennis Jr. was ten years old, he was working on the Webelos Readyman Badge. Among other skills, Dennis’ son had learned rescue breathing, shock treatment and first aid. One evening while the family was watching TV, his younger sister, six-month old Frannie, swallowed a small toy. Nobody noticed -- until she started choking and turned blue. Everybody momentarily froze, but young Dennis Jr. jumped off the couch, picked her up and struck her repeatedly on the back with the heel of his hand. The toy fell out of Frannie’s mouth, she started breathing normally -- and the family breathed a sigh of relief.

A happy postscript: today Frannie is fine and her oldest son just became a Webelos Scout.

Being a Unit Commissioner can be heavy-duty work and can mean dealing with extremely sensitive situations while maintaining good relations with unit adults. A strong belief in Scouting and its ideals keeps Dennis going, “But if I ever get discouraged or tired I just think back to the time my son saved his sister’s life and I’m inspired about the value of Scouting all over again,” Dennis says. A Commissioner is a person who sets high goals and standards. The youth of our community deserve no less!

Footnote: Where can Unit Commissioners Get More Help?

Other Scouters
There are many people in the District who can help a Unit Commissioner succeed: The Assistant District Commissioner, the District Commissioner, Members of the District Committee, and the District Executive. Scouting gatherings provide great opportunities for learning, sharing ideas, and problem solving. These include conferences and training events for commissioners, Philmont Scout Ranch unit commissioner conferences, and monthly District Commissioner Staff Meetings.

Literature
Commissioner Fieldbook for Unit Service, No. 33621D
Commissioner Helps for Packs, Troops, and Crews, No. 33618D
Unit Commissioner Program Notebook, No. 26-006C

Audiovisuals
Highlights of District Operation for the 21st Century: How Districts Operate and Recruiting District Volunteers on one videotape, AV-06V002A.
The Unit Commissioner: Helping Units Succeed, AV-04V001R

This is the official site of the Des Plaines Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America

This page was last modified on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 @ 10:01pm