The following is from www.ldsbsa.org
To read quotes from Church leaders about the necessity of registering immediately, and to learn the process of registering leaders in LDS units, click here: Scout Leader Registration.
“All adult Scouting leaders must be properly registered and must complete Youth Protection training before beginning their service.” LDS Scouting Handbook, 8.5.
As a member of the Young Men stake presidency, you might be asked to register as a member of your Scout district (as a unit commissioner or as a member of a district committee). Unit commissioners and other Scout leaders at the district level must be registered with the BSA. Even if you are not serving as a registered Scouter, you will want to learn about the Scouting program as it relates to the Young Men in your stake.
Details about preparing to serve in the stake Young Men presidency may be found by clicking onto the tab or tabs for those ward Scouting units (troops, teams, and/or crews) for which you have oversight. The generic instructions on those unit tabs will give you information on how to register (if required), what training is required, and other resources to help you in your Scouting responsibilities.
If your responsibilities as a member of the stake YM presidency require BSA registration and you are currently registered as a Scouter in your home ward, you may need to fill out an Adult Application (as a “multiple” registration) to serve as a district Scouter. Because this second application is a multiple registration, there is no fee charged.
If your stake position requires BSA registration and are not currently registered as a Scouter in your home ward, you will need to register. You may first register as a Unit Scouter Reserve (position code 91U) in one of your ward units. Alternatively, you may register as a unit committee member, assistant leader, or any other Scouting position (for which specific training will be required). If your calling requires registration with the district, you may then “multiple register” with the district, and no registration fee will be charged.
- Why register as a Unit Scouter Reserve rather than just simply registering with the district?
- Because the Church will pay the registration fee for any member of a ward Scouting unit.
- There is no training required for Unit Scouter Reserve (other than Youth Protection training) and attendance at unit meetings is not required.
General Registration Information for All Leaders
Complete the following two items and return the Adult Application and the Youth Protection certificate to a unit committee chair in your ward if you are registering as a Unit Scouter Reserve AND/OR to your district executive or other district leader to register in your specific district position.
- Fill out the Adult Application at Scouting.org or pick one up at your BSA local council office.
- If you are currently registered with the BSA (or have previously been registered), you need to write your BSA member ID number on your Adult Application. There is no block for this number on the Adult Application, but you can indicate it in the white space to the right of the bubble marked “Former Leader.”
- Complete Youth Protection (YP) training at MyScouting.org.
Note: You do not have to be a registered member or have a member ID to take Youth Protection training. Youth Protection training is required for all leaders in LDS units prior to submitting the Adult Application (not “within 30 days” as indicated on the Adult Application).
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- To take Youth Protection training go to MyScouting.org. If you are new to Scouting you must create an account. If you have been registered previously, you simply log onto your MyScouting.org account and take the course.
- From the MyScouting.org portal, click on E-Learning and take the Youth Protection training.
- Youth Protection training expires after two years and must be repeated biennially.
- If your YP training is still valid, you only need to provide proof of your most recent YP training. A copy of your YP training certificate is available at MyScouting.org next to the link to the Youth Protection training course. Click on “View Certificate.”
- Upon completion of Youth Protection training, print the training certificate and give it, along with your completed Adult Application(s) to a unit committee chair in your ward AND/OR to the district executive. Your application(s) will be submitted to the BSA local council office.
- For leaders new to Scouting: When your Adult Application has been approved by the BSA, you will receive a BSA membership card, which includes your member ID number. After you receive your membership card, log back into MyScouting, click on My Profile and update the system by inputting your member ID number. This will link your Youth Protection training records (and any other training records in MyScouting.org) to your BSA membership.
Responsibilities of the Stake Young Men Presidency
The stake Young Men presidency should provide orientation and ongoing instruction on Scouting to ward Young Men presidencies and Scout leaders. They should also serve as unit commissioners.
“The principal responsibilities of stake auxiliary presidencies are to assist the stake presidency and to instruct and support ward auxiliary presidencies. They do not fulfill assignments that should be fulfilled on the ward or family level. Stake auxiliary presidencies have the following responsibilities: They orient newly called ward auxiliary presidencies. They also provide ongoing encouragement, support, and instruction for ward auxiliary presidencies and teachers. They should base some of their instruction on chapters 1–6 in this handbook and the chapter for their auxiliary organization. They meet with these leaders regularly to learn of their needs, discuss the needs of the members they serve, and communicate information from the stake presidency. Periodically they visit ward meetings and classes as arranged with ward leaders” (Handbook 2. 15.4.1).
The Handbook 2 chapter for Aaronic Priesthood includes training on Scouting duties. Specific commissioner roles and training are provided in the stake Young Men section.
The stake Young Men presidency has a specific role in Scouting to conduct training and coordinate stake and BSA support for ward units.
“The stake Young Men presidency, under the direction of the stake presidency, conducts training and coordinates support for the individual Aaronic Priesthood Scouting programs in each ward. They orient newly called ward Young Men presidencies and provide ongoing instruction and encouragement. They register with BSA as unit commissioners serving as liaisons to the individual Scouting units (troops, teams, crews) within the stake. The stake presidency may designate other members of the stake to serve with the stake Young Men presidency as unit commissioners (see 3.5). The stake Young Men presidency receives appropriate Scout leader training and participates in district committee meetings and roundtables. They also meet regularly and create close relationships with unit leaders; inform them of BSA district and council activities, training opportunities, policies, and health and safety issues; and assist with rechartering” (Scouting Handbook for Church Units in the United States [Revised May 2014], 3.3).
Training for Stake Young Men Presidency Members Serving as Unit Commissioners
When serving as unit commissioners, stake Young Men presidency members are in a unique position to bring both Church and BSA resources to help units in the wards.
Training for stake Young Men presidency members serving as unit commissioners requires:
- Youth Protection training (standard and/or YP for Venturing crews): available online at myscouting.org and/or live in a classroom setting. Must be renewed every two years.
- This is Scouting (available online at myscouting.org)
- Unit Commissioner Fast Start (available online at myscouting.org)
- FamiliiarityCommissioner Tools . See Unit Service Plan and Commissioner Tools at www.scouting.org
- Basic Training
- For unit commissioners: Commissioner Basic Training (CBT) (classroom)
- For assistant district commissioners (ADCs): in addition to CBT, the ADC needs to take District Commissioner and Assistant District Commissioner training (classroom)
- Additional training should include monthly commissioners meetings, unit position-specific training for a position in one or more of his assigned units (for example: Varsity Coach Leader Specific Training, Troop Committee Challenge, Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills, etc.), and annual commissioner conference/Commissioner College
- Additional training could include Wood Badge (multiday class)
- Additional training opportunities may include Powder Horn and other training available through the local council.
Unit Commissioner Duties
“Unit commissioners serve as resources to help Scout units succeed throughout the stake. Each Cub pack, Scout troop, Varsity team, and Venturing crew should be served by a unit commissioner. Members of the stake Young Men presidency serve as unit commissioners. The stake presidency may also designate members of the stake Primary presidency or other stake members as unit commissioners, as long as this assignment will not overburden these members” (LDS Scouting Handbook, 3.5).
Among other things, unit commissioners have the following responsibilities. The first six of the following responsibilities are quoted from the LDS Scouting Handbook, 3.5. The seventh is equally important.
- Register with BSA and receive required training.
- Learn about Scout policies, procedures, and opportunities.
- Establish a close relationship with adult Scout leaders in wards and visit with them regularly.
- Provide initial orientation, ongoing support, and instruction for all Scout units in the stake.
- Inform Scout units of training opportunities, health and safety issues, and activities in the stake and in the BSA local district and council “ (LDS Scouting Handbook, 3.5).
- Provide meaningful communication between Scout units and the stake and between Scout units and the BSA local district. This can be done at roundtable meetings, stake leadership meetings, or any other time
- Facilitate annual rechartering, and present the unit charter to a member of the bishopric at a pack meeting or court of honor.
As unit commissioners to LDS units, initial orientation, ongoing support, and instruction to the wards should include organization principles; membership recharter and youth participation; youth and adult leadership; program planning; and youth and adult recognition.
Additional Resources for Stake Young Men Presidency Members Serving as Commissioners
