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Commissioner Basic Training

Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos Cub Scout Promise I ________ Promise to do my best, To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people, And to obey the law of the Pack. To be replaced May 15, 2015

On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. The Scout Oath or Promise Effective January 1, 2014 for Venturing

Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. A Scout is: Scout Law Effective January 1, 2014 for Venturing

Introductions  Teaching Staff  Commissioner  Commissioner  District Executive  Commissioner  Admin Staff  TBD

Introductions  Name  Present job/Commissioner position in Scouting  Previous positions held  Tenure  Awards earned

Commissioner Basic Training

Why We Are Here

Commissioner Service

Commissioner Historical Dates 1908 Baden-Powell appoints the first volunteer commissioners Daniel Carter Beard is named national commissioner A national field commissioner is named The wreath of service is added to the commissioner insignia The district commissioner position is introduced A commissioner’s training course is introduced. The Commissioner Service manual is introduced First commissioner training at Philmont Training Center Commissioner Arrowhead award introduced The Distinguished Commissioner Award is introduced The national commissioner Web site is activated Tico Perez is named national commissioner. Area and regional commissioner positions are established. The College of Commissioner Science doctorate square knot is introduced Commissioners celebrate 100 years of service to units!

PURPOSE, AIMS & METHODS OF SCOUTING

Purpose of Scouting  To promote, through cooperation with other agencies, the ability of youth to do things for themselves and others, and to teach youth patriotism, courage, self- reliance, and kindred virtues

Aims of Scouting  Character development  Citizenship training  Personal fitness

Methods of Scouting Cub Scouting (Boys grades 1-5) ► Ideals ► Den ► Advancement ► Family involvement ► Activities ► Home and neighborhood centered ► Uniform Boy Scouting (Boys ages 11-17) ► Ideals ► Patrol ► Advancement ► Adult association ► Outdoors ► Personal growth ► Leadership ► Uniform Venturing (Youth ages 14-20) ► Ideals ► Group activities ► Recognition ► Adult association ► High adventure ► Teaching others ► Leadership

COUNCIL AND DISTRICT MISSION

Council Mission  Voluntary association of citizens & chartered organization representatives  Promotes Scouting within a geographical area  Guides & supports districts to Make Scouting available to youth Provide adequate funds Maintain standards and policies Serve organizations using the Scouting programs

District Mission  Ensures growth & success of Scouting units within the district's territory  Works through chartered organizations and community groups to organize and support successful units

Four Functions: Membership Fund Development Program Unit Service District Committee

Fall Roundup Spring Roundup Special membership rallies Advice and help to units with membership problems Membership

Membership Functions  Gather information  Cultivate relationships with community organizations  Organize new units  Help youth join existing units

Friends of Scouting Trust Funds (James E. West Award) Advice to units Fund Development

Camping and Outdoor Activities and Civic Service Advancement and Recognition Training Health & Safety Program

Camping & Outdoor  Promote resident camping for all packs, troops, and teams  Develop and promote Cub Scout day camps  Promote year-round camping by all units  Provide guidance on health and safety  Use camperships  Guide the Order of the Arrow

Activities & Civic Service  Recruit teams to carry out district activities  Involve the district in community service projects  Promote and help with council events

Advancement & Recognition  Help unit leaders with advancement procedures  Monitor unit advancement progress  Recruit merit badge counselors  Approve Eagle Scout service project plans  Recommend youths and adults for special awards

Training  Determine who needs training  Build annual training program  Develop plans for specific courses  Promote courses  Provide training recognition

Health & Safety  Monitor district events

Request specific assistance Specialists Provide consultation or specialized treatment Unit Determine need Generalist Unit Service

COMMISSIONER SERVICE ROLE

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

Keep Units Operating Regular contact Counsel Leaders Help Fix Problems Commissioner Service

Three Types of Commissioners Administrative Commissioners Unit Commissioners Roundtable Commissioners Commissioner Overview

Commissioner Staff Organization District Commissioner Assistant District Commissioner Unit Commissioner Assistant District Commissioner Unit Commissioner Assistant District Commissioner Unit Commissioner Assistant District Commissioner Unit Commissioner Assistant District Commissioner Cub Roundtable Commissioner Cub Roundtable Staff Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner Boy Scout Roundtable Staff Venture Crew Roundtable Commissioner

Most Important Resource

Job of the Unit Commissioner Watch for the five major areas of service

Commissioner’s Service Role Friend Representative “Doctor” Teacher Coach

Commissioner Priorities Good Unit Service Takes precedence over all other Scouting efforts

Unit Commissioner Responsibility Card  Report to the district commissioner or assistant district commissioner as assigned  Help each unit earn the Quality Unit Award  Use the annual commissioner service plan, with its scheduled opportunities for commissioner contact with units  Know each phase of Scouting and its literature. Be able to describe how each works.  Visit meetings of assigned packs/troops/teams/crews regularly, usually once a month

Unit Commissioner Responsibility Card  Visit regularly with the unit leader Be aware of unit leader concerns and challenges Serve as the unit leader’s coach and counselor Build a strong, friendly relationship Using the literature and profile sheet, help the leader see opportunities for improvement Encourage unit participation in district and council events

Unit Commissioner Responsibility Card  Work to ensure effective unit committees Visit with the unit committee periodically Observe the committee, offer suggestions for improvement, and work to solve problems  See that adult leaders have adequate training  Make certain that proper techniques are used to select and recruit unit leaders

Unit Commissioner Responsibility Card  Facilitate on-time charter renewal of all units Help the unit conduct a membership inventory of youth and adults Help the unit committee chairman conduct the charter renewal meeting See that a completed charter renewal application is returned to the council service center Make arrangements to present annually each unit charter at a meeting of the chartered organization

Unit Commissioner Responsibility Card  Attend all meetings of the commissioner staff  Become trained Initial orientation and basic training Arrowhead Honor and Scouter’s Key Annual council commissioner’s conference  Know the resources available to the unit in the neighborhood, district, and council

Unit Commissioner Responsibility Card  Set the example Adopt an attitude of helpfulness Keep promises Be concerned about proper uniforming Be diplomatic Be a model of Scouting ideals  Conduct own Self-Evaluation on page 55 of the Commissioner Fieldbook

Commissioner Quiz The Unit Commissioner: (true / false) 1. Reports to the district executive 2. Must be an expert in training adults and youth 3. Is only concerned with reregistering a unit on time 4. Should be familiar with the official literature used by units for program 5. Only visits the unit committee, and on a regular basis 6. Must know the unit program planning process 7. "Sells" the unit leader on district and council functions, as a primary responsibility

Commissioner Quiz (cont.) 8.Periodically communicates with the chartered organization representative to offer help 9.Regularly attends Roundtables 10.Guides the unit through the annual service plan 11.Should earn the Commissioner’s Key 12.Attends monthly meetings of the district committee 13.Is not involved in the presentation of the unit charter 14.Must be familiar with the monthly program themes 15.Encourages assigned packs, troops, teams, and crews to earn the Journey to Excellence Performance Award

UNIT CONTACT / VISITATION BASICS

Unit Contacts Commissioners visit each unit at least monthly Visit Unit Meetings & Unit Committee Meetings Phone calls

Unit Contact Basics  Visits provide knowledge of how to help a unit improve its program  Visits allow you to find out about problems before the unit fails, weakens or members leave.

The First Unit Visit  Make appointment to visit an assigned unit  Go with your observer-coach  Worksheet will be filled out later  Take your resource kit  Observe for the entire meeting  Do not participate beyond introductions  Both new commissioner and coach fill out independent worksheets  Wear your complete Field Uniform

Unit Contact Considerations Call Worksheets Observe Uniform

Unit Visitation Tracking System UVTS – Electronic Evaluation Tool

Unit Visitation Tracking System

UVTS - Purpose Evaluate the unit’s progress toward achieving the JTE goals Review the unit’s goals, successes, and vision for the coming year Identify any areas of improvement--leadership, program, and membership Determine any specific actions needing to be taken to assist with unit improvements and determine who will follow up on those actions. Schedule any necessary follow-up to monitor progress

UVTS – Who Uses All commissioners can access Unit Visit Tracking System; however, your view within the site and the actions you can perform there depend upon your commissioner role. Commissioners can view, add, and edit visit information and they can view their most recent five visits in the Recent Visits frame on the Home page.

Commissioners can add visit information about the units within the council organizational structure to which they are assigned. Unit commissioners can view the visits made by commissioners in their district. District commissioners can view the visits made by commissioners in their district. Council commissioners can view the visits made by the commissioners in their council. UVTS – Who Uses

UVTS - When After any unit visit or interaction by a commissioner Annually to review strengths and areas of improvement to help provide direction for needed support, preferably six months prior to the annual charter renewal As needed when a problem arises When Unit Leadership changes

UVTS - Electronic Evaluation Tool  Documents the status of every unit  Allows for a variety of “visit types”  Tagged to key performance measures Planning Program Leadership Tone Attendance  NOW Quick and Easy to use  Downloads to excel for a variety of trending purposes

UVTS - Electronic Evaluation Tool Easy way to keep track of units across District Useful tool for DC/ADC/UC communications Useful tool for UC turnover Built in capability to trend performance measures or a unit Easier way to populate the monthly report for unit visits Single source of useful data like unit tenure UVTS required measure under J2E The future…………opportunity to automate Unit Health Reports etc.

UVTS Accessed via myscouting.org

Input Screen #1

Input Screen #2

Input Screen #3

Adding a Focus

Supporting the Unit

UNIT COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS

Pack and Troop Committee Functions  Fast Start for a good start

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

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

Crew Committee  Membership  Finance  Training  Camping & Outdoor  Activities & Civic Service  Advancement & Recognition  Service

MEMBERSHIP MANAGEMENT

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

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

Help Units Grow  Year-round recruiting Birthday greetings Phone Invitations Personal Invitations Webelos-Scout transition  Preventing dropped units Assigned to unit Assigned while organizing new units

UNIT PROGRAM PLANNING

Pack Program Planning

 Unit commissioners should understand process and tools  Pack Annual Program Planning Conference Guide on Scouting.org  Program Helps and Pack Planning Chart Cub Scout Leader Program Notebook Council calendar Chartered organization needs  Annual program planning conference  Monthly pack leaders meeting  Den Chief – Den Leader meeting Pack Program Planning

Troop and Team Program Planning

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

Crew Program Planning

 Crew plans program Crew Planning Guide Program capability inventory (adult resources) Adult hobbies, interests, skills, careers, and Ideas from PCI to program planning forms Venturing activity interest survey  Planning steps Brainstorm activities Discuss and evaluate each idea Select activities and calendarize Plan details each month in advance

Journey To Excellence PERFORMANCE RECOGNITION PROGRAM Growth Quality Sustainability

 Utilizes a balanced scorecard approach  Key performance indicators to measure outcomes versus process  Not only measures growth, but looks at the kind of experience the boys are having Journey To Excellence

 Your Role in JTE as a Commissioner You’re not an Umpire You’re not a Judge or the police You are a friend, a mentor and a coach And maybe help a bit with scorekeeping 85

 JTE helps Units. It brings: A framework for planning for the year A method for evaluating the Unit Assessment of how they’re doing in the key areas found in great Units Guidance in areas where they might do better Specific guidelines and standards of what is good performance Early warning of potential problem areas Recognition for good performance Benchmarking to get ideas and tips from other good units 86 Journey To Excellence

Gives national standards  Advancement  Camping  Service projects  Training  Membership  Retention  Leadership  Budget  Bronze, Silver, and Gold award levels  And did the Unit show improvement?  Assessment made during charter renewal month Journey To Excellence

Journey to Excellence - Troop

Journey to Excellence – Troop, pg.2

Emphasis of Journey to Excellence Continuous Improvement is a Goal Did the Unit do measurably better in key areas than last year? OR are they already performing at a high level in those areas? Either way, the Unit can qualify for the standard 90

Emphasis of Journey to Excellence  Program and Participation in the Unit (Membership) are most important factors  Administrative factors are considered  Factors which are early indicators of Unit strength and health are identified and assessed 91

No Unit Changes in 2013 Unit Changes in 2013 New Explorer Post scorecard ScoutStrong is now in the physical fitness criterion Training changes now require 2/3 instead of all Journey To Excellence

VOICE OF THE SCOUT

Voice of the Scout Surveys at three levels All feedback comes to Council Council will review and take actions Council distributes feedback to Districts Districts review and take actions Districts distribute unit feedback individually To each member of the Unit Key 3

Voice of the Scout Unit Commissioner’s Role JTE Educate Units Meet JTE visit requirements Voice of the Scout Encourage unit participation Notify units about surveys

Voice of the Scout Meetings are Key Action Planning Meeting Mid-Charter Review Unit Key 3 with UC as facilitator Meetings can be emotionally charged

COUNSELING

Counseling Best way to help a unit is to strengthen its leadership through effective counseling

Counseling Defined  “The ability to listen to someone in such a way that they will solve their own problems."

Fundamentals of Good Counseling  Time and place with no interruptions  Understand what the leader is saying  Let the leader know you hear and understand  Do not give advice! Guide the discussion through questions Leader solves their own problem If they don't solve their own problem: ○ Give information ○ Propose possible alternatives ○ Let leader pick best solution

Fundamentals of Good Counseling Continued  Summarize from time to time to keep on track  Support thinking with information Know the difference between information and advice  Resources: Commissioner Fieldbook, Counseling

Youth Protection and the Commissioner Monitor training status Promote latest material Promote use of videos Reporting responsibilities

Unit Charter Renewal Process Re-register unit On time Maximum membership Good leadership (two deep trained leadership)

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

 Ninety Days Before:  District Executive visits Institution Head Friendly visit "How can I help?" Unit Charter Renewal Process

 Sixty Days Before:  Membership inventory  Set renewal meeting date Unit Charter Renewal Process

Online Rechartering  Available 60 days in advance  Online Rechartering is easier  Council furnishes units with ScoutNet data on a buffered web page Units make corrections in this data When data is correct unit uploads material to buffer on ScoutNet Unit prints charter, obtains signatures and turns in to the council with payment  After turn-in, council accepts data and sends this data to ScoutNet

 Forty-five Days Before:  Charter review meeting Youth and Adults Fees Approvals Quality Unit status Plans Unit Charter Renewal Process

 Fifteen Days Before:  Unit updates buffered ScoutNet data and gets signatures  Submit to service center Unit Charter Renewal Process

Some Techniques  Talk about 100% Boy's Life often  Committee members do membership follow-up  Discuss JTE with the whole committee (several times a year)  Unit people update ScoutNet data  Charter renewal checklist

Charter Presentation  Thirty Days After  Commissioners Role/Responsibility Chartered organization head COR Unit Leader Unit Committee Chair The unit  Sample presentation in Commissioner Fieldbook

Commissioner Leadership Style Diplomacy Exceptional Service Service Recovery

Commissioner Leadership Tasks Evaluate, improve own performance. Maintain positive attitude. Work successfully with adults. Guide unit leaders working with youth.

ANNUAL COMMISSIONER SERVICE PLAN

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

Annual Plan  April - Unit leadership inventory  May - Troop uniform inspection  August - Unit program planning  October - Unit uniform inspection  November - Youth Protection Training  December - Membership inventory  90 days before charter renewal date: executive officer visit  60 days before charter renewal date: Membership inventory  45 days before charter renewal date: Charter renewal meeting  15 days before charter renewal date: Submit to service center  30 days after charter renewal date: Charter presentation

The Annual Commissioner Service Plan

Annual Plan coupled with Regular Visitation provides good Commissioner Service.

Unit Health Watch for Vital Signs

Indicators of Unit Health: Pack  -Leadership-Family attendance  -Webelos dens-Den participation  -Advancement-Meeting operation  -Youth attendance-Den chiefs  -Membership -Tiger Cub dens

Indicators of Unit Health: Troop  -Meeting operation-Boy leadership  -Attendance-Patrol activity  -Budget Plan-Outdoor program  -Membership-Adult assistance  -Skills instruction presentation  -Skills instruction levels

Indicators of Unit Health: Crew  -Adult Advisors-Membership  -Elected officers-Meeting operation  -Planned program -Service projects  -Adult assistance -Program capability inventory

Unit Condition  Know the condition of the unit at all times:  Is the program fun & challenging for the youth  Do leaders find the program rewarding  Is there a membership growth plan  Will the unit register on time.

Specific things you can do: Consult your Assistant District Commissioner or District Commissioner Ask some basic questions Be enthusiastic Apply “first aid” Apply “second aid” Generate teamwork

Using a team approach Ad Hoc or Organized effort

LIFESAVING COMMISSIONER

Danger Signals  Style of leadership Leader wants to keep authority Lacks faith in boys / leaders Leader trains only by mass instruction Leader does not grasp possibilities of patrol method  Unit is not meeting  Unit is without adult leaders

Danger Signals  Unit has no committee  No new members being added  Low attendance at meetings  Weak or poorly organized program  No advancement  No participation in day camp or summer camp  No unit budget

Vital Signs  What are they?

Vital Signs  Youth dropping out  No youth recruiting or poor recruiting methods  No adult leader  No planned program  No youth leaders  No discipline  Unit stops meeting  Charter lapses  Chartered organization leader unhappy  Only one active adult  No parents involved  Adult conflicts / poor communications

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

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

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

Commissioner Resources Jeff Schweiger

Open Forum: Questions and Concerns

Further Training Supplemental training at monthly District Commissioner meetings College of Commissioner Science Wood Badge for the 21 st Century Commissioner’s Arrowhead Honor award Commissioner Key award Commissioners Award of Excellence Distinguished Commissioner Service Award

Arrow Head Honor + 1 Yr Commissioner Key + 3 Yr Distinguished Commissioner Service Award + 5 Yr Commissioner Training/Service Awards

Summary As a Commissioner, You have made a personal commitment..

Graduation (If you have a current Youth Protection card)