1. Welcome! Make yourself comfortable. We will start soon.

2. Commissioner Basic Training

3. 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

4. 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

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

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

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

8. Commissioner Basic Training

9. Why We Are Here

10. Commissioner Service

11. Commissioner Historical Dates 1908 Baden-Powell appoints the first volunteer commissioners. 1910 Daniel Carter Beard is named national commissioner. 1911 A national field commissioner is named. 1914 The wreath of service is added to the commissioner insignia. 1931 The district commissioner position is introduced. 1943 A commissioner’s training course is introduced. The Commissioner Service manual is introduced. 1951 First commissioner training at Philmont Training Center. 1952 Commissioner Arrowhead award introduced. 1989 The Distinguished Commissioner Award is introduced. 2003 The national commissioner Web site is activated. 2008 Tico Perez is named national commissioner. Area and regional commissioner positions are established. The College of Commissioner Science doctorate square knot is introduced. 2010 Commissioners celebrate 100 years of service to units!

12. PURPOSE, AIMS & METHODS OF SCOUTING

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. COUNCIL AND DISTRICT MISSION

17. 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

18. 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

19. Four Functions: Membership Fund Development Program Unit Service District Committee

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

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

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

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

24. 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

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

26. 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

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

28. Health & Safety  Monitor district events

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

30. COMMISSIONER SERVICE ROLE

31. 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.

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

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

34. 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

35. Most Important Resource

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

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

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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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

47. UNIT CONTACT / VISITATION BASICS

48. Unit Contacts Commissioners visit each unit at least monthly Visit Unit Meetings & Unit Committee Meetings Phone calls E-mail

49. 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.

50. 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

51. Unit Contact Considerations Call Worksheets Observe Uniform

52. Unit Visitation Tracking System UVTS – Electronic Evaluation Tool

53. Unit Visitation Tracking System

54. 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

55. 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.

56. 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

57. 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

58. 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

59. 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.

60. UVTS Accessed via myscouting.org

61. Input Screen #1

62. Input Screen #2

63. Input Screen #3

64. Adding a Focus

65. Supporting the Unit

67. UNIT COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS

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

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

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

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

72. MEMBERSHIP MANAGEMENT

73. 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

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

75. 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

76. UNIT PROGRAM PLANNING

77. Pack Program Planning

78.  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

79. Troop and Team Program Planning

80.  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

81. Crew Program Planning

82.  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

83. Journey To Excellence PERFORMANCE RECOGNITION PROGRAM Growth Quality Sustainability

84.  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

85.  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

86.  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

87. 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

88. Journey to Excellence - Troop

89. Journey to Excellence – Troop, pg.2

90. 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

91. 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

92. 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

93. VOICE OF THE SCOUT

94. 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

95. 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

96. 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

97. COUNSELING

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

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

100. 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

101. 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

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

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

104. 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

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

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

107. 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

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

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

110. 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

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

112. Commissioner Leadership Style Diplomacy Exceptional Service Service Recovery

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

114. ANNUAL COMMISSIONER SERVICE PLAN

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

116. 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

117. The Annual Commissioner Service Plan

118. Annual Plan coupled with Regular Visitation provides good Commissioner Service.

119. Unit Health Watch for Vital Signs

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

121. 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

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

123. 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.

124. 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

125. Using a team approach Ad Hoc or Organized effort

126. LIFESAVING COMMISSIONER

127. 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

128. 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

129. Vital Signs  What are they?

130. 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

131. 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

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

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

134. Commissioner Resources Jeff Schweiger

135. Open Forum: Questions and Concerns

136. 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

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

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

139. Graduation (If you have a current Youth Protection card)