Training the Commissioner Corps
Welcome to the Midnight Sun Council Commissioner Corps!
We currently have 14 commissioners serving the youth of Northern Alaska. Unit commissioners are volunteer Scouters who provide the primary link between their assigned units and the district and council. They carry out this responsibility by periodic visits to unit meetings and other events, contacts with the unit’s leadership, and interactions with the unit committee and charter partner. They then report these contacts, including assessments of the unit’s health, via my.scouting.org. Unit commissioners have a role in timely annual unit re-chartering, in urging the development and use of the unit service plan and its associated Journey to Excellence performance evaluation, in assuring stable and effective unit leadership, and in passing news, information and other communication back and forth between the council and the unit.
Because of all these important functions, commissioner training is essential. Our commissioners (unit commissioners, roundtable commissioners, district and council commissioners) are required to complete the following trainings to be considered “BSA Trained”:
– Youth Protection Training (available online at My.Scouting.org)
– Commissioner Basic Training (an 8-hour classroom training session, part of the University of Scouting)
We have offered the CBT nearly every quarter since Q4FY16, with the only missed quarters being due to a lack of students needing the course. Of our 14 commissioners we currently have the following 100% compliance rate (1 March 2020):
– YPT 14/14
– Basic Training 14/14
In addition to these standards, our council established the College of Commissioner Science in 2014. Since then, the following degrees have been earned. Many others are working on earning these advanced commissioner degrees
Class of 2015
Nicole Z. Hansen – Bachelors
Class of 2016
Brenda H. Stapp – Bachelors
Tyson J. Forbush – Bachelors
Nicole Z. Hansen – Masters
Class of 2017
F. Lawrence Bennett – Bachelors
Donald A. Frazier – Bachelors
Michael J. Galloway – Bachelors
Teresa N. Jones – Bachelors
Bradley J. Kilburn – Bachelors
Shannon L. Price – Bachelors
Alan F. Skinner – Bachelors
Mark A. Smith – Bachelors
Anthony P. White – Bachelors
William D. Wood Sr. – Bachelors
F. Lawrence Bennett – Masters
Michael J. Galloway – Masters
Tyson J. Forbush – Masters
Donald A. Frazier – Masters
Bradley J. Kilburn – Masters
Mark A. Smith – Masters
Brenda H. Stapp – Masters
William D. Wood Sr. – Masters
Anthony P. White – Masters
Class of 2019
Julie E. Cole – Bachelors
Class of 2020
Robert O. Jones Jr. – Bachelors
F. Lawrence Bennett – Doctorate
Since 2014, Midnight Sun Council commissioners have completed 15 BCS degrees, 10 MCS degrees, and 1 DCS degree. Many of these commissioners are no longer in our council, but we know they are well trained in whatever council they have moved to over the years.
So come join our commissioner corps! Serve units, serve youth, learn scouting, win awards! See you in our corps!
The Midnight Sun Council was honored to present the Medal of Merit Award to ten of the twelve individuals who earned it at our closing campfire last night. The remaining two will be presented at a future date. The awards were presented to participants and leaders of last year’s National Youth Leadership Training course (NYLT), who came across a wildfire and were able to put it out before it went too far. In a state where a fire can burn millions of acres, this was a great job well done. There were houses in the vicinity, but the nearest firehouse was at least an hour away. Using what they had, and engaging passing motorists, they were able to save the nearby houses, and prevent a catastrophe. Yes, these Scouts and Scouters set a fine example of teamwork, leadership, and what it means to be prepared. Congratulations and thanks to each one of you!
