District Commissioner

 THE ROLE OF A DISTRICT COMMISSIONER

A District Commissioner is:
Appointed for a term of three years from the date on her Commissioner Appointment card. She may be reappointed for a further period of up to two years; reappointment is not automatic.

The role of District Commissioner can be shared.
 
Functions can include:
Maintaining relationships throughout the District team.
Recognising when support is needed in a unit and contacting the appropriate County team member.
Ensuring that there is ongoing good practice in all health and safety matters.
Ensuring that the standards and ethos of Guiding are maintained throughout the District team and units.
Ensuring that District team meetings are held as and when necessary or to fulfil a training need.
Facilitating a team approach to meetings.
Ensuring information is exchanged between units and that this is a priority over news from the Division, County, etc.
Encouraging the units to act on information from outside the District i.e. CHQ, Country or Region, County or Division.
Helping members of the team to identify and fulfil training needs
Checking and signing forms as required.
Checking and signing census papers and collating information about the District.
Ensuring financial matters are correctly monitored and policy is adhered to.
Identify public relations, recruitment and marketing needs and liaising with the relevant County team.
Ensuring, where applicable, that there is a representative of the team to meet with the District Friends of Guiding/Trefoil Guild.

A District Commissioner should:
Be in sympathy with the aims and principles of The Guide Association
Be a good communicator. Be a good listener. Have time for others
Manage people well. Get on well with adults. Have tact, diplomacy and flexibility
Understand confidentiality of personal information. Have patience and understanding
Have a sense of humour. Be confident. Have the ability to build and maintain a team
Be able to manage District team workloads. Be happy to ask for help and to delegate

Please note: No-one is expected to have all of these skills at the outset as, many of these skills and qualities will be acquired and developed throughout your term as Commissioner.
 
It is important to build a District Team of volunteers who will help with accounts, administration and other areas of the work that can be shared to help lighten the load.
 
All Commissioners have a Mentor put in place very soon after appointment who will be of great help especially during those first months. There is also additional help and support available Division and County level. 

If this type of position is of interest to you please complete an Indication of Interest form or if you know someone who may suit this role please complete a Nomination Form and forward to Bonnie Hill, County Commissioner.