Commissioner Basic Training Southeast Louisiana Council Make yourself comfortable. We will start soon.

l Reminder to instructors: Check the notes pages of this presentation for the text of the Continuing Education for Commissioners l This is a “hidden slide” and will not show in the presentation.

Commissioner Quiz l l The unit commissioner: (true / false) l l 1. Reports to the District Executive. l l 2. Must be an expert in training adults and youth. l l 3. Is only concerned with reregistering a unit on time. l l 4. Should be familiar with the official literature used by units for program. l l 5. Visits the unit committee only, on a regular basis. l l 6. Must know the unit program planning process. l l 7. "Sells" the unit leader on district and council functions, as a primary responsibility. l l 8. Periodically communicates with the chartered organization representative to offer help.

Commissioner Quiz l l The unit commissioner: (true / false) - Continued l l 9. Regularly attends Roundtables to check up on unit leaders. l l 10. Guides the unit through the annual service plan. l l 11. May earn the Commissioner’s Key and/or the Cub Scouter Award. l l 12. Attends monthly meetings of the district committee. l l 13. Is not involved in the presentation of the unit charter. l l 14. Must be familiar with the monthly program themes. l l 15. Encourages assigned packs, troops, teams, and crews to earn the Quality Unit Award.

GRADUATE U U S S A A II R R F F OO R R C C E E W W E E A A P P O O N N S S S S C C H H O O O O L L CommissionerBasicTraining

U U S S A A II R R F F OO R R C C E E W W E E A A P P O O N N S S S S C C H H O O O O L L CommissionerBasicTraining

Welcome!Welcome! Commissioner Basic Training September 18, 2010 Opening Comments/Introductions Dell Thibodeaux Assistant Council Commissioner

Introductions l Name l Commissioner job l Scouting experience

Session 1 Why Commissioners Dell Thibodeaux Assistant Council Commissioner of Training

Overview l Aims and Methods l Commissioner service role l Supporting the unit l Unit Program Planning

Aims and Methods Darryl Barrios Bayou Asst. District Commissioner

Aims of Scouting l What are the aims of Scouting? l Character development l Citizenship training l Personal fitness

Methods of Scouting l What are some methods of Scouting? l Cub Scouts l Boy Scouts / Varsity l Venturing

Council Mission l Promotes Scouting in a geographic area l Voluntary association of citizens l Representatives of chartered organizations l Provides Scouting services l Field service l Office support l Camps

District Mission l Organize and support successful units Membership Membership Finance Finance Program Program Unit service Unit service

Commissioner Service Role

The Commissioner Concept l l The commissioner is the liaison between the local council and Scouting units. l l The commissioner's mission is to l l Keep units operating at maximum efficiency, l l Maintain regular contact with unit leaders, l l Counsel leaders on where to find assistance, l l Note weaknesses in programs, l l And suggest remedies. l l The commissioner is successful when units effectively deliver the ideals of Scouting to their members.

Job Description Card

l l Friend

Job Description Card l l Friend l l + Representative

Job Description Card l l Friend l l Representative l l + Unit "GP doctor"

Job Description Card l l Friend l l Representative l l Unit "GP doctor" l l + Teacher

Job Description Card l l Friend l l Representative l l Unit "GP doctor" l l Teacher l l + Counselor

Video

Supporting the Unit Kelly Rodrigue Bayou District Commissioner

Supporting the Unit l l Topic: Indicators of unit health l l Method: Buzz groups

Indicators of Unit Health: Pack l l Leadership l l Webelos den l l Advancement l l Attendance l l Adult attendance l l Den activity l l Program operations l l Den chiefs or den aides l l Membership l l Planned program

Indicators of Unit Health: Troop l l Meeting operation l l Youth leadership l l Advancement l l Adult assistance l l Attendance l l Outdoor program l l Patrol activity l l Budget plan l l Membership l l Planned program

Indicators of Unit Health: Crew l l Adult Leadership l l Elected Officers l l Adult assistance l l Membership l l Meeting operation l l Planned program

Evaluation Tool l Commissioner Worksheets - pack, troop, crew l Do unit leaders like evaluation? l What are your resources?

Unit Program Planning

Cub Scout Program Planning l Unit commissioners should understand process and tools l Program Helps and Pack Planning Chart l Council calendar l Chartered organization needs l Annual program planning conference l Monthly pack leaders meeting l Den Leader Coach – Den Leader meeting l Den Chief - adult meeting

Boy Scout Program Planning l Tools l Troop Program Features — 4 volumes l Program Planning Chart l Boy Scout Leader Program Notebook l Planning steps l Homework (get ready) l Find out what Scouts want (patrol leaders) l PLC annual planning, SPL presiding l Secure troop committee support l Pass the word. Publicize.

Venturing Crew Program Planning l Crew plans program l Program capability inventory (adult resources) l Adult hobbies, interests, skills, careers, and Ideas from program capability inventory ( PCI) to program planning forms l Venturing activity interest survey l Planning steps l Officers brainstorm activities l Officers discuss and evaluate each idea l Officers select activities and calendarize l Officers plan each month in advance

Session One Summary l Aims and methods l Commissioner service role l Supporting the unit l Unit program planning

Break!

GRADUATE U U S S A A II R R F F OO R R C C E E W W E E A A P P O O N N S S S S C C H H O O O O L L CommissionerBasicTraining Welcome Back!

Session 2 Units: The Commissioner’s Top Priority Dell Thibodeaux Assistant Council Commissioner

Session 2 Overview l The Unit Visit l Unit Visitation Reports l Commissioner Priorities l Effective Commissioner Leadership l Unit Committee Functions l Quality Unit Operations

Unit Visitation Reports

Using the Commissioner Work Sheet

Worksheet

Sample

Commissioner Priorities

l l Remember your job description l l Stick to your primary responsibility l l Unit focus

Effective Commissioner Leadership Kelly Rodrigue Bayou District Commissioner

Effective Commissioner Leadership l l Evaluate and improve your own performance l l Maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude l l Work successfully with adults l l Guide unit leaders in working successfully with boys l l Set a good example for the boys and other adults l l Continue learning and growing in leadership skills l l Practice good communication

l Hidden notes slide

Lunch Subway and a Sunrise Fried Chicken within a couple of miles see you back at 12:30pm.

Welcome Back! Commissioner Basic Training (Day 2) Southeast Louisiana Council Make yourself comfortable. We will start soon.

Introduction Dell Thibodeaux Asst. Council Commissioner

Unit Committee Functions

l l Packs l l Troops l l Teams l l Crews

Pack Committee l l Advancement l l Finance l l Outings l l Training l l Membership & reregistration l l Record keeping & correspondence l Public relations l Friends of Scouting

Troop Committee l l Advancement l l Finance l l Equipment l l Outdoor program l l Transportation l l Leadership l l Membership & reregistration l Friends of Scouting

Centennial Quality Unit Operation

Danger Signals l Style of leadership l Leader wants to keep authority l Lacks faith in boys / leaders l Leader trains only by mass instruction l Leader does not grasp possibilities of patrol method l Unit is not meeting l Unit is without adult leaders l Unit has no committee l No new members being added l Low attendance at meetings l Weak or poorly organized program l No advancement l No participation in day camp or summer camp l No unit budget

2009 National Quality Centennial Award

2009 National Quality Centennial Award (Basis for Award Name) Takes the place of the Quality unit, district and council award. Named in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. Offered and can be earned at the units, districts, and councils levels. Began in 2007 and continues until 2010.

2009 National Quality Centennial Award (Purpose of the Award) Designed to recognize Units, Districts and Councils who deliver quality programming base goals and objectives.

2009 National Quality Centennial Unit Award (Requirements) Basic Leader and Youth Protection Training. Membership Retention and On-time Recharter. Recruit and Train New Adult Leaders. Advancement. Outdoor Experience. Annual Program Planning and Financial Resources. Unit Commissioner visits.

2009 National Quality Centennial District Award (Requirements) Centennial Quality Units. New Units Organized. Membership or Density Growth. Youth Retention. Finance. Unit Retention. Commissioner Service. District Committee.

2009 National Quality Centennial Council Award (Requirements) Centennial Quality Units. New Units Organized. Membership or Density Growth. Youth Retention. Finance. Unit Retention. Commissioner Service. District Committee. Youth-Serving Executives. Endowment.

2009 National Quality Centennial Council Award (Establishing Goals) Units working with their commissioner and district executives. District working with their Key 3 in cooperation with the council Key 3. Councils working with their Key 3 in cooperation with the Area President and Area Director.

2009 National Quality Centennial Council Award (Commitment Forms) Units should complete recharter paperwork. Districts complete by February 28, Councils complete by March 15, 2009.

2009 National Quality Centennial Council Award (Recognition Award)

2009 National Quality Centennial Council Award When a unit, district, or council earns this award, it makes a statement that they have provided their youth members with the highest quality program experience possible.

Session Two Summary l The unit visit l Unit visitation reports l Commissioner priorities l Effective commissioner leadership l Unit committee functions l Quality Unit operation

Open Forum: Questions and Concerns

Session 3 How to Help a Unit Dell Thibodeaux Asst. Council Commissioner

Overview l Counseling l The District Committee l Membership Management l Unit Charter Renewal Process l Annual Commissioner Service Plan l The Lifesaving Commissioner

Counseling

Counseling "Listen to someone in such a way that they will solve their own problems."

Discussion What are the fundamentals of good counseling?

Fundamentals Of Good Counseling l l 1. Time and place with no interruptions l l 2. Understand what the leader is saying l l 3. Let the leader know you hear and understand l l 4. Do not give advice! l l Guide the discussion through questions l l Leader solves his/her own problem l l If they don't solve their own problem: l l Give information l l Propose possible alternatives l l Let leader pick best solution l l 5. Summarize from time to time to keep on track l l 6. Support thinking with information l l Know the difference between information and advice l l 7. Resources: l l Commissioner Fieldbook, Counseling

District Committee

l l Four function organization Membership Finance Program Unit service

Membership Functions l l 1. Fall Roundup l l 2. Spring Roundup l l 3. Special membership rallies l l 4. Advice and help to units with membership problems

Finance Functions l l 1. Sustaining Membership Enrollment / Friends of Scouting l l 2. Trust Funds (James E. West Award) l l 3. Advice to units

Program Functions l l 1. Camping l l 2. Activities l l 3. Advancement l l 4. Training l l 5. Health & Safety

Camping l l Order of the Arrow l l Where to go camping l l Summer camp promotion l l Philmont

Activities l l Scout Expo l l Scouting for Food l l Scouting Anniversary Week l l District Recognition Dinner l l Cub Day Camp l l Derbys: Pinewood, Space, etc. l l Camp-O-Rees

Advancement l l Eagle Boards of Review l l Merit Badge Counselors l l Venturing awards l l Advice / training for units l l Heroism awards l l Adult recognition

Training l l Cub Scout : l l Fast Start l l New Leader Essentials l l Leader Specific Training: l l Tiger Cub, Cub Scout, Webelos l l Cubmaster and Assistant l l Pack Committee l l Youth Protection l l Pow Wow, Roundtable l l BALOO and OWLS l l Wood Badge

Training l l Boy Scout : l l Fast Start l l New Leader Essentials l l Leader Specific Training: l l Scoutmaster and Assistant l l Intro to Outdoor Leadership Skills l l Troop Committee l l Youth Protection l l Roundtable, High Adventure l l Wood Badge

Training l l Venturing l l Fast Start l l New Leader Essentials l l Leader Specific Training: l l Venturing Crew Advisers / Adults l l Intro to Outdoor Leadership Skills l l Youth Protection l l Roundtable, High Adventure l l Wood Badge l Powder Horn

Training l l Youth: l l Den Chief l l Council Courses: l l Junior Leader Training l l Junior Leader Backpack Training l l Venturing Leadership Skills Course

Health & Safety l Monitor district events

Membership Management

l l Buzz groups for 10 minutes l l Topics: l l Unit with mostly older boys l l Inventories of active boys l l Year-round recruiting l l Preventing dropped units l l 1 minute reports

Membership Management l l Unit with mostly older boys l l Recruit l l Inventories of active boys l l Committee Involvement for inactive boys l l Program or Administrative issue

Membership Management l l Year-round recruiting l l Birthday greetings l l Phone Invitations l l Personal Invitations l l Webelos-Scout transition l l Preventing dropped units l l Assigned to unit l l Assigned while organizing new units

Break!

Charter Renewal

"If commissioners are providing regular visitation and doing their job as in the Annual Service Plan, then rechartering becomes a minor paperwork exercise." George Crowl, 1982

Objective: l l Reregister unit l l On time l l Maximum membership l l Good leadership

The Plan l l -90 l l -60 l l -45 l l -15 l l +60

The Plan l l 90 days before: l l District Executive visit Institution Head l l Printout available (to right person!) l l 60 days before: l l Membership inventory l l Recruit to make up loss l l 100% Boy's Life? l l 45 days before: l l Charter renewal meeting l l Boys l l Adults l l Fees l l Approvals l l Plans for the next year (Quality Unit) l l 15 days before: l l Charter turn-in night l l 60 days after: l l Charter presentation

Ninety Days Before: l l District Executive visits Institution Head l l Friendly visit or l l "How can I help"

Sixty Days Before: l l Membership inventory l l Set review meeting l l Uniform inspection?

Forty-Five Days Before: l l Charter review meeting l l Youth l l Adults l l Fees l l Approvals l l Quality Unit status l l Plans

Fifteen Days Before: l l Charter turn-in night

Sixty Days After: l l Charter presentation l l Chartered partner and l l The unit l Sample presentation in Commissioner Fieldbook

Some Techniques l l Talk about 100% Boy's Life early and often l l Committee members do membership follow-up l l Discuss Quality Unit with the whole committee (several times a year) l l Commissioner (the expert) fills out clean copy of charter renewal form l l Charter renewal checklist (available)

Annual Commissioner Service Plan Kelly Rodrigue Bayou District Commissioner

Annual Commissioner Service Plan Gives specific purpose to regular and supportive contact with units.

Annual Plan l l April - Unit leadership inventory l l May - Membership inventory - Troop uniform inspection l l June - Check on Quality Unit progress l l August - Unit program planning l l October - Troop/pack uniform inspection l l November - Youth Protection Training l l December - Membership inventory - Recharter - Quality Unit Measurement l l February - Charter presentation

Annual Plan coupled with regular visitation provides good commissioner service.

Lifesaving Commissioner

Lifesaving Commissioner !!!

Vital Signs l What are they?

Vital Signs l l Youth dropping out l l No youth recruiting or poor recruiting methods l l No adult leader l l No planned program l l No youth leaders l l No discipline l l Unit stops meeting l l Charter lapses / drops l l Chartered org. leader unhappy with the unit l l Only one active adult l l No parents involved l l Adult conflicts / poor communications

TAKE ACTION l l Consult ADC / DC l l Ask some basic questions l l What are the problems? l l What are possible solutions? l l What do we do first? l l Who do we involve? l l How do we know when unit is saved? l l What is “plan B”? l l Be enthusiastic l l Apply "first aid“ l l Apply “second aid” l l Promote teamwork

Hurry Cases l l Unit not meeting l l No leader l l No committee l l No new members l l Conflict with chartered organization l l New untrained leader l l Weak leadership

Lifesaving Team l l Ad hoc, or organized l l Bring appropriate skills to bear on the problem l l Adapt to the individual problems

Summary l Counseling l District committee l Membership management l Charter renewal process l Annual commissioner service plan l Lifesaving commissioner l Second and third unit visits

Open Forum: Questions and Concerns

Break! Fill Out Unit Commissioner Registration Forms

GRADUATE U U S S A A II R R F F OO R R C C E E W W E E A A P P O O N N S S S S C C H H O O O O L L CommissionerBasicTraining

Congratulations! You’re Trained!

Thank you ! Your work will make a difference! Your Southeast Louisiana Commissioner Team