As many of you will be aware, the District Commissioners for Barking & Dagenham, Chingford, Ilford East, Squirrels Heath and Waltham Forest South all complete their terms of office this year and therefore the process of finding suitable successors as District Commissioners needs to begin.

The procedure has changed over the years and is now a much more open process. To help me I have asked Alan Dennison, County Chairman to lead a small search group in each District to identify and submit to me their recommendations for consideration as successors. I now invite you personally to contribute to the search by submitting a nomination (or nominations) of persons whom you feel should be considered for this important voluntary appointment.

In order to ensure the widest possible consultation you are asked, in addition to submitting your own nomination, to circulate this request for nominations to all members of the Districts and Group Scout Councils within your area of responsibility. This may be verbally, by mail or via newsletters. Please note that in order to ensure confidentiality, and to prevent building up false hopes, nominations should be submitted without approaching the individual concerned. Self-nomination is perfectly acceptable.

I would therefore ask you to give serious consideration to people with whom you work in Scouting, at work, or in the wider community, and to identify anyone who you believe has the qualities to be a District Commissioner. When considering possible candidates please do not compare them against the current or any previous DCs. At this stage it is important to draw up a list with as wide a cross section of people as possible, so that the search group can begin the process of preparing a short list.

If you feel that you are able to fulfill one of these positions, or know someone who can, please take the time to read the Role Descriptions and to contact me to discuss the matter further.

Dean Jefferys | cc@glne-scouts.org.uk