Welcome to Commissioner Basic Training.Welcome to Commissioner Basic Training.

Please make yourself comfortable.Please make yourself comfortable.We will be starting soon.We will be starting soon.

Instructor: Instructor: _________- Assistant Council Commissioner_________- Assistant Council Commissioner

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 re-registering a unit on time.

4. Should be familiar with the official literature used by units for program.

5. Visits the unit committee only, 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.

8. Periodically communicates with the chartered organization representative to offer help.

Commissioner Quiz

The Unit Commissioner: (true / false) - continued

9. Regularly attends Roundtables to check up on unit leaders.

10. Guides the unit through the annual service plan.

11. May earn the Commissioner’s Key and/or the Cub Scouter Award.

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 Quality Unit Award.

Training Overview

Why Commissioners?• Aims and Methods • Supporting the Unit

• Commissioner Service Role • Unit Program Planning

How to Help a Unit• Youth Protection • Charter Renewal Process

• Counseling • Annual Commissioner Service Plan

• District Committee • Lifesaving Commissioner

• Membership Management

Units: The Commissioner’s Top Priority• The Unit Visit • Effective Commissioner Leadership

• Unit Visitation Reports • Unit Committee Functions

• Commissioner priorities • Quality Unit Operation

CommissionerCommissionerBasicBasic

TrainingTraining

Why Commissioners?Why Commissioners?

Session 1

OverviewWhy Commissioners?

Aims and methods Commissioner service role Supporting the unit Unit Program Planning

Aims of Scouting

What are the aims of Scouting?

Character development

Citizenship training

Personal fitness

Methods of Scouting

Cub Scouting (Boys Cub Scouting (Boys grades 1-5)grades 1-5)►IdealsIdeals►Den Den ►AdvancementAdvancement►Family involvementFamily involvement►ActivitiesActivities►Home and neighborhood Home and neighborhood centeredcentered►UniformUniform

Boy Scouting (Boys Boy Scouting (Boys ages 11-17)ages 11-17)►Ideals Ideals ►PatrolPatrol►AdvancementAdvancement►Adult associationAdult association►OutdoorsOutdoors►Personal growthPersonal growth►LeadershipLeadership►UniformUniform

Venturing (Youth Venturing (Youth ages 14-20)ages 14-20)►IdealsIdeals►Group activitiesGroup activities►RecognitionRecognition►Adult associationAdult association►High adventureHigh adventure►Teaching othersTeaching others►LeadershipLeadership

Council Mission

Promotes Scouting in a geographic area

Voluntary association of citizens

Representatives of chartered organizations

Provides Scouting services

Field service

Office support

Camps

District Mission

Organize and support successful units

Membership

Finance

Program

Unit service

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.

Job Description Card

Friend

Representative

Unit "GP doctor"

Teacher

Counselor

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

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

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 51 of the Commissioner Fieldbook

Supporting the Unit

Indicators of Unit Health: Pack

Leadership Webelos den Advancement Attendance Adult attendance Den activity Program operations Den chiefs or den aides Membership Planned program

Indicators of Unit Health: Troop

Youth leadership Advancement Adult assistance Attendance Outdoor program Patrol activity Budget plan Membership Meeting operation Planned program

Indicators of Unit Health: Crew

Adult Leadership Elected Officers Adult assistance Membership Meeting operation Planned program

Evaluation Tools

Unit Self Evaluation Form – Pack, Troop, Crew

Do unit leaders like evaluation?

What are your resources?

Danger Signals

Style of leadershipLeader wants to keep authorityLacks faith in boys / leadersLeader trains only by mass instructionLeader does not grasp possibilities of patrol method

Unit is not meetingUnit is without adult leadersUnit has no committeeNo new members being addedLow attendance at meetingsWeak or poorly organized programNo advancementNo participation in day camp or summer campNo unit budget

Unit Program Planning

Cub Scout Program Planning

Unit commissioners should understand process and tools ( Cub Scout Leaders Book )Program Helps and Pack Planning Chart

Council calendarChartered organization needs

Annual program planning conferenceMonthly pack leaders meetingDLC - DL meetingDen Chief - adult meeting

Boy Scout Program Planning

ToolsTroop Program Features — 4 volumesProgram Planning ChartBoy Scout Leader Program Notebook

Planning stepsHomework (get ready)Find out what Scouts want (patrol leaders)PLC annual planning, SPL presidingSecure troop committee supportPass the word. Publicize.

Venturing Crew Program Planning

Crew plans programProgram capability inventory (adult resources)Adult hobbies, interests, skills, careers, and Ideas from PCI to program planning formsVenturing activity interest survey

Planning stepsOfficers brainstorm activitiesOfficers discuss and evaluate each ideaOfficers select activities and make calendarOfficers plan each month in advance

SummaryWhy Commissioners?

Aims and methodsCommissioner service roleSupporting the unitUnit program planning

Units: Units: The Commissioner’s The Commissioner’s

Top PriorityTop Priority

Session 2

OverviewUnits: The Commissioner’s Top Priority

The Unit Visit Unit Self Assessment Commissioner Priorities Effective Commissioner Leadership Unit Committee Functions Centennial Award Preparation

The Unit Visit

The First Unit Visit

Make appointment to visit an assigned unitGo with your observer/coach/ADCWorksheet will be filled out laterTake your resource kitObserve for the entire meetingDo not participate beyond introductionsBoth new commissioner and coach fill out independent worksheetsAlways wear your complete uniform as an example

Unit Visitation Reports

Using the

Unit Self Assessment Sheet

New Form By New Form By National to be National to be used by units used by units in conjunction in conjunction with the help with the help of the UNIT of the UNIT CommissionerCommissioner

NOTE:NOTE: Troop Troop and Crew and Crew forms are forms are similar similar

New Unit Self Assessment

Guidelines for Unit Self-Assessment and Action Planning Meeting

Present at meeting: Unit Leader—Unit Committee Chair—Unit Commissioner Purpose of meeting (Use as the agenda for the meeting.):· To evaluate the unit's progress toward achieving the Quality Unit Award· To review the unit's goals, successes, and vision for the coming year· To identify any areas of improvement—leadership, program, and membership· To determine any specific actions needing to be taken to assist with unit improvements and

determine who will follow up on those actions· To schedule any necessary follow-up to monitor progress

When to conduct meeting:· After the unit commissioner has visited the unit for the first time· 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

New Unit Self Assessment

How should the arrangements for this meeting be set up?·

The unit commissioner speaks to the unit leader during the first unit visit to schedule the meeting date, time, and location.·

The dialog should include:

—Approaching the unit leader after the meeting and requesting that a second meeting

be set up with the unit leader and the unit committee chair.

—Setting the meeting, preferably at the leader's or the chair's home. —Asking them to complete the unit self-assessment form prior to the meeting. —Letting them know the visit will include a discussion of the self- assessment form

and how the goals and vision of their unit's program can be supported

Why only the unit commissioner, unit leader, and unit chair?· It provides a small group to openly analyze the program, their unit's needs, and steps to be

taken to help resolve any issues.

New Unit Self Assessment

New Unit Self Evaluation

It helps open a dialog between the unit and the district. Once they meet and determine what needs to be done, others can be involved in helping determine which direction to go and any potential improvements that can be identified

What preparation should be made prior to the action planning meeting?

Review the statistics of the unit available from the local council and the district team, especially looking at:—Quality Unit status—Outdoor program participation—Advancement reports—Trained leadership status—Youth Protection training —Participation in district and council events—Roundtable attendance· Complete the unit self-assessment form after the visit to analyze observations and review the statistics gathered from the council/district prior to the action planning meeting. (The self-assessment form is designed to take the place of the commissioner worksheet previously used by commissioners.)

The Second and Third

Unit Visits

Second / Third Unit Visits

Second visit — unit meeting• Go by yourself• Stay only 15 minutes (drop-in)• Take your resource kit• Make worksheet (or changes)

Third visit — committee meeting• Visit with chartered organization representative• Be prepared with ways to help• Give everyone your phone and address• Wear your complete uniform as an example

Commissioner Priorities

Commissioner Priorities

Remember your job description

Stick to your primary responsibility

Unit focus

Let Us Give You A Let Us Give You A Helping HandHelping Hand

Effective Commissioner Leadership

Effective Commissioner Leadership

Evaluate and improve your own performanceMaintain a positive and enthusiastic attitudeWork successfully with adultsGuide unit leaders in working successfully with boysSet a good example for the boys and other adultsContinue learning and growing in leadership skillsPractice good communication

Unit Committee Functions

Unit Committee Functions

Packs

Troops

Teams

Crews

Pack Committee

Advancement

Finance

Outings

Training

Membership & re-registration

Record keeping & correspondence

Public relations

Friends of Scouting

Troop Committee

AdvancementFinanceEquipmentOutdoor programTransportationLeadershipMembership & re-registrationFriends of Scouting

Venturing Committee

Advancement

Finance

Equipment

Training program

Transportation

Leadership

Membership & re-registration

National Centennial Award

Unit sets their own goals in Feb

Commissioner helps in the completion

UC confirms that goals have been completed by Oct

UC signs form with DE and appropriate Unit Leader

Form turned into Council for AWARD

Unit’s Determine

Their Goals and how they

will Accomplish

Them

SummaryUnits: The Commissioner’s Top Priority

The Unit VisitThe Second and Third VisitUnit Self Assessment FormCommissioner prioritiesEffective commissioner leadershipUnit committee functionsCentennial Award Criteria

5 Minute

Break!

How to Help a UnitHow to Help a Unit

Session 3

OverviewHow to Help a Unit

Youth Protection

Counseling

The District Committee

Membership Management

Unit Charter Renewal Process

Annual Commissioner Service Plan

The Lifesaving Commissioner

Youth Protection

The problem of child abuse has become one of the most significant social problems facing our nation. Recent public opinion polls rank the problem of child abuse second only to drug abuse as a national concern. Completion of the adult Youth Protection Training Course is REQUIRED by all adult leaders accompanying Scouts on field trips, outings, camping trips, etc. Youth Protection Training is offered by the council on a monthly basis. It is also offered by many individual units. Recertification is required every 3 years.Commissioners are encouraged to take the council’s Youth Protection Training course.

BSA’s Five-Point Strategyto Prevent Child Abuse

1. Educate adult volunteers, parents, and youth to aid in the detection and prevention of child abuse.

2. Establish leader-selection procedures to prevent offenders from entering your organization leadership ranks.

3. Establish policies that create barriers to child abuse within the program.

4. Encourage youth to report improper behavior in order to identify offenders quickly.

5. Swift removal and reporting of alleged offenders.

The Three R’s ofYouth Protection

RECOGNIZE

RESIST

REPORT

The Commissioner andYouth Protection

Commissioners can help in several ways:Conduct annual Youth Protection visit each fall for unit adults in every unit you are assigned to serve (usually as part of your November visit at a unit committee meeting). Help units and their chartered organizations use proper leader selection procedures.Coach unit people if child abuse occurs.Promote unit use of videos designed to protect boys from abuse:

It Happened to Me - Cub Scout-age boys A Time to Tell - Boy Scout-age boys Personal Safety Awareness - high school-age youth

Explain to unit adults how boys and parents use the Youth Protection inserts in the front of their handbooks.

Counseling

Counseling

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

Fundamentals Of Good Counseling

1. Time and place with no interruptions2. Understand what the leader is saying3. Let the leader know you hear and understand4. Do not give advice!

Guide the discussion through questions Leader solves his/her own problem If they don't solve their own problem:

• Give information• Propose possible alternatives• Let leader pick best solution

5. Summarize from time to time to keep on track6. Support thinking with information

Know the difference between information and advice7. Resources:

Commissioner Fieldbook, Counseling Trainer Development Conference, Counseling Wood Badge, Counseling

District Committee

Four function organization

Membership Finance

Program

Unit service

Membership Functions

Fall Roundup

Spring Roundup

Special membership rallies

Advice and help to units with

membership problems

Finance Functions

1. Friends of Scouting

2. Council Popcorn Sale

3. Endowment/Trust Funds(e.g. James E. West Award)

4. Advice to units

Program Functions

1. Camping

2. Activities

3. Advancement

4. Training

5. Health & Safety

Camping

Order of the Arrow

Where to go camping

Summer camp promotion

Philmont

Activities

Scout Expo

Camporee’s, KlondikeDerby's, First Aid Meets,etc.

Scouting for Food

Scouting Anniversary Week

District Recognition Dinner

Advancement

Eagle Boards of Review

Merit Badge Counselors

Venturing awards

Advice / training for units

Heroism awards

Adult recognition

Training

Cub Scout:

Fast Start

New Leader Essentials

Leader Specific Training:

Tiger Cub, Cub Scout, Webelos

Cubmaster and Assistant

Pack Committee

Youth Protection

Pow Wow, Roundtables

Wood Badge

Training

Boy Scout:

Fast Start

New Leader Essentials

Leader Specific Training:

Scoutmaster and Assistant

Intro to Outdoor Leadership Skills

Troop Committee

Youth Protection

Roundtables

NYLT, Den Chief Training

Wood Badge

Training

VenturingFast StartNew Leader EssentialsLeader Specific Training:

Venturing Crew Advisers / AdultsIntro to Outdoor Leadership Skills

Youth ProtectionRoundtablesKodiak Leadership TrekPowder HornWood Badge

Health & Safety

Monitor district events

Membership Management

Membership Management

Year-round recruiting Birthday greetings Phone Invitations Personal Invitations Webelos-Scout transition

Preventing dropped units Assigned to unit Assigned while organizing new units

Unit CharterRenewal Process

Charter Renewal

If commissioners are providing regular visitation and doing their job as in the Annual Service Plan, then re-chartering becomes a minor paperwork exercise.

Objective:

Reregister unitOn time

Maximum membership

Good leadership

The Plan

90 days before:• District Executive visit Institution Head• Printout available (to right person!)

60 days before:• Membership inventory• Recruit to make up loss• 100% Boy's Life?

45 days before:• Charter renewal meeting• Boys• Adults• Fees• Approvals• Plans for the next year (Quality Unit)

15 days before:• Charter turn-in night

60 days after:• Charter presentation

Ninety Days Before:

District Executive visits Institution Head

• Friendly visit

or• "How can I help?"

Sixty Days Before:

Membership inventory

Set review meeting

Uniform inspection?

Forty-Five Days Before:

Charter review meeting• Youth• Adults• Fees• Approvals• Centennial Award

Status• Plans

Fifteen Days Before:

File charter Electronically

Electronic Re-chartering

Insure that unit has password and knows how to find the site

http://www.ppbsa.org/ then select Internet Re-chartering

Or https://scoutnet.scouting.org/ucrs/UI/home/default.aspx for direct access

Insure that a hard copy signed and payment are turned into Council

Sixty Days After:

Charter presentation• Chartered partner

and• The unit

Sample presentation inCommissioner Field book

Some Techniques

Talk about 100% Boy's Life early and often Committee members do membership

follow-up Discuss Centennial Award with the whole

committee (several times a year) Commissioner (the expert) checks

information before Unit re-charters electronically

Charter renewal checklist (available)

The Annual CommissionerService Plan

Annual CommissionerService Plan

Gives specific purpose to

regular and supportive

contact with units.

Annual Plan

April - Unit leadership inventoryMay - Membership inventory - Troop uniform inspectionJune - Check on Quality Unit progressAugust - Unit program planning October - Troop/pack uniform inspectionNovember - Youth Protection TrainingDecember - Membership inventory - Re-charter - Centennial Award MeasurementFebruary - Charter presentation

Annual Plancoupled with

Regular Visitationprovides good

Commissioner Service.

The Lifesaving Commissioner

Vital Signs

What are they? 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 / drops Chartered org. leader unhappy with

the unit Only one active adult No parents involved Adult conflicts / poor communications

TAKE ACTIONDo It Now!

Consult ADC / DCAsk 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 enthusiasticApply "first aid“Apply “second aid”Promote teamwork

Hurry Cases

× Lapsed Charter/Dropped Unit

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

Lifesaving Team

CC, ACC, DC, ADC or organized team of commissioners

Bring appropriate skills to bear on the problem

Adapt to the individualproblems

SummaryHow to Help a Unit

Youth Protection

Counseling

District committee

Membership management

Charter renewal process

Annual commissioner service plan

Lifesaving commissioner

Resource Materials

Resources on the Net

Commissioner’s site on www.scouting.org www.NetCommish.com

Next Steps . . .

Supplemental training at monthly

District Commissioner meetings College of Commissioner Science Wood Badge for the 21st Century Commissioner’s Arrowhead Honor award Commissioner Key award Distinguished Commissioner Service Award

Open Forum:

Questions and Concerns

Thank you and good luck Thank you and good luck as a as a

Unit Commissioner!Unit Commissioner!