Welcome Make yourself comfortable We will start soon

Welcome! Make yourself comfortable. We will start soon.

Commissioner Quiz l l l l l 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. 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 Basic Training US R AI SC HO OL GRADUATE FO S ON RC AP E WE Instructors: Melba Sylvester, George Crowl, David Dwyer, Mike Harless

Introductions l Name l Commissioner job l Scouting experience

Overview l Aims and methods l Commissioner service role l Unit operation l District operation l Annual commissioner service plan l Lifesaving commissioner l Youth protection

Aims and Methods l What are the aims of Scouting?

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 Finance Program Unit service

Commissioner Service Role

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

Job Description Card

Job Description Card l Friend

Job Description Card Friend l + Representative l

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Break!

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 DLC - DL meeting l Den Chief - adult meeting

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

Unit Visitation Reports Using the Commissioner Work Sheet

Worksheet

Sample

Unit Committee Functions

Unit Committee Functions l Packs l Troops l Teams l Crews

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

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

Quality Unit Operation

Danger Signals l Style of leadership l l l l 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 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

National Quality Unit Award l Four mandatory items l Trained leader l Trained assistant leader l Outdoor program l Recharter on time l Minimum two of six optional items l 100% Boy’s Life (or improvement) l Advancement l Service project l Etc. , appropriate to the type of unit

Summary l Aims and methods l Commissioner service role l Supporting the unit l Unit program planning l Unit visitation reports l Unit committee functions l Quality Unit operations

Lunch!

Commissioner Quiz - 2 l l l l 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.

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

District Committee

District Committee l Four function organization Membership Finance Program Unit service

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

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

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

Camping Order of the Arrow l Summer Camp promotion l Cub Day Camp l Camporees l Philmont l

Activities Scout Expo l Scouting for Food l Scouting Anniversary Week l District Recognition Dinner l

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

Training l l l l Cub Scout - Fast Start, Basic, Supplemental l Pow Wow support Boy Scout - Fast Start, SM Fundamentals l Wood Badge promotion Varsity - Fast Start, Varsity Fundamentals Venture - Fast Start, Venture Basic Junior Leader Training Den Chief, etc. Venturing Leadership Skills Course

Health & Safety l Monitor district events

Membership Management

Membership Management l Topics: l Unit with mostly older boys l Inventories of active boys l Year-round recruiting l Webelos-Scout transition Buzz groups for 10 minutes l 1 minute reports l

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fifteen Days Before: l Charter turn-in night

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

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

Break!

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

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

Annual Plan coupled with regular visitation provides good commissioner service.

Lifesaving Commissioner !!!

Vital Signs l What are they?

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

TAKE ACTION Do it now!! l Consult ADC / DE l What is the problem? l What are possible solutions? l What do we do first? l Who do we involve? l Be enthusiastic l Apply "first aid" l Promote teamwork l

Hurry Cases Lapsed / dropped charter l Not meeting l No leader l No committee l No new members l Conflict with chartered organization l New untrained leader l Weak leadership l

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

Unit Visits

Second / Third Unit Visits l Second visit — unit meeting l Go by yourself l Stay only 15 minutes (drop-in) l Take your resource kit l Make worksheet (or changes) l Third visit — committee meeting l Visit with the chartered organization rep l Be prepared with ways to help l Give everyone your phone and address l Wear your complete uniform as an example

Summary l Counseling l District committee l Membership management l Charter renewal l Annual commissioner service plan l Lifesaving commissioner l Unit visitation

Early Graduation (If you have a current Youth Protection card)

Youth Protection Training

Questions? l Instructor’s name: George Crowl l Instructor’s address: 1855 Twin Oaks, LVS l Instructor’s phone: 437 -8030 l Instructor’s e-mail: George@Crowl. org

Graduation