Transcript Commissioner Basic Training

Welcome
Make yourself comfortable.
We will start soon.
Commissioner Basic
Training
Instructors: [Insert names
here]
Session 1
Why Commissioners?
Opening
Pledge of Allegiance
Opening Ceremony
 The Cub Scout Promise
 I, (name), 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.
Opening Ceremony
 The Scout Oath
 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.
Opening Ceremony
 The Venturing Oath
 As a Venturer, I promise to do my duty
to God and help strengthen America,
to help others, and to seek truth,
fairness, and adventure in our world.
Introductions
 Name
 Present job in Scouting
 Previous positions held
 Tenure
 Awards earned
Learning Objectives
 State the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America.
 State the mission of the council and district.
 Explain the four-function concept of council and
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district operation.
Describe the commissioner unit service role and
its relationship to supporting a unit in a quality
program.
State the methods and steps of good unit program
planning.
State Commissioner Priorities.
Describe Effective Commissioner Leadership.
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
Boy Scouting (Boys ages Venturing (Youth ages
grades 1-5)
11-17)
14-20)
►Ideals
►Ideals
►Ideals
►Den
►Patrol
►Group activities
►Advancement
►Advancement
►Recognition
►Family involvement
►Adult association
►Adult association
►Activities
►Outdoors
►High adventure
►Home and
►Personal growth
►Teaching others
neighborhood centered ►Leadership
►Leadership
►Uniform
►Uniform
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 Function Plan
 Membership/Relationships
 Finance
 Program
 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.
Unit Commissioner
Responsibility Card
 Report to the district commissioner or
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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. Visits the unit committee only, on a
regular basis.
Commissioner Quiz
The Unit Commissioner (True/False)
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.
9. Regularly attends Roundtables.
10. Guides the unit through the annual
service plan.
Commissioner Quiz
The Unit Commissioner (True/False)
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
Centennial Quality Unit Award.
Unit Commissioner Video
 AV-06DVD08
 “Helping Units Succeed”
Commissioner’s Roles
 Friend
 Teacher
 Unit “Paramedic”
 Problem Solver
 Resource Person
Supporting the Unit
Supporting the Unit
 Topic: Indicators of unit health
 Method: Buzz groups
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
Commissioner Worksheet
Sample
Evaluation Tool
 Commissioner Worksheets: pack,
troop, crew, post
 Do unit leaders resist evaluation?
 Do you understand the profile?
 What are your resources?
Unit Program Planning
Cub Scout Program Planning
 Unit commissioners should understand
process and tools
 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
Boy Scout Program Planning
 Tools
 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.
Venture Crew Program Planning
 Crew plans program
 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
Summary
 Opening
 Purpose, Aims and Methods of
Scouting
 Commissioner Service Role
 Supporting the Unit
 Unit Program Planning
Break!
Commissioner Basic
Training
Commissioner Priorities
Distractions
 Unit service
 Do not fall into the trap of doing everything
except your appointed job
 Principal Scouting obligation must be with
commissioner responsibilities
 Do not register as a unit leader
Unit Focus
 Priority units receive most careful
attention
 Do not give most attention to healthiest &
active units
 Prioritize unit needs
Effective Commissioner
Leadership
Leadership Tasks
 Evaluate and improve your own
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performance
Maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude
Work successfully with adults
Guide unit leaders in working successfully
with boys
Set a good example for the boys and other
adults
Continue learning and growing in leadership
skills
Practice good communication
Summary
 The Aims and Methods of Scouting
 The Commissioner Service Role
 Supporting the Unit
 Unit Program Planning
 Commissioner Priorities
 Effective Commissioner Leadership
Session 2
Units: The Commissioner’s
Top Priority
Learning Objectives
 Make meaningful visits to a unit.
 Explain how unit committees are
organized to support the unit leaders.
 State the role of the commissioner in
youth protection.
 Recognize the standards for quality
unit operation.
 Evaluate unit operation.
Unit Visitation Basics
Unit Visit Basics
 Commissioners visit each unit at
least monthly
 Visits may be to unit meeting, unit
committee meeting, or unit leader
 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.
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
Second Unit Visit
 Second visit — unit meeting
 Go by yourself
 Stay only 15 minutes (drop-in)
 Take your resource kit
 Make worksheet changes
 Wear your complete Field Uniform
Third Unit Visit
 Third visit — committee meeting
 Visit chartered organization
representative
 Take your resource kit
 Be prepared with ways to help
 Give everyone your phone and
address
 Wear your complete Field Uniform
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.
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
Introduction to
Youth Protection
Commissioner and
Youth Protection
 Annual Youth Protection visit in the
fall
 Encourage proper leader selection
procedures
 Coach unit people if child abuse
occurs
Commissioner and
Youth Protection
 Promote the youth videos
 It Happened to Me
 A Time to Tell
 Personal Safety Awareness
 Explain how to use Youth Protection
inserts
 Complete Youth Protection Training
yourself
Journey to Excellence
Journey to Excellence uses a
Balanced Scorecard
Quality
Growt
h
Quality, growth, and
sustainability must all be in
balance for success to be
truly achieved.
Sustainability
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Your Role in Journey to
Excellence 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
Journey to Excellence 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
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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
Journey to Excellence Award
(Pack)
 Leadership Planning
 Advancement
 Webelos-to-Scout
 Retention
 Budget
 Membership
 Outdoor Activities  Pack and Den
Meetings
 Trained
 On-time Registration
Leadership
 Annual Assessment
 Day/Resident
Camp
 Service Projects
Journey to Excellence Award
(Pack)
 To earn Bronze: Complete 10 of 13
Bronze requirements, plus earn 700
points (from Bronze, Silver, or Gold
points list).
 To earn Silver: Earn the Bronze
award, plus earn 1,000 points (from
Bronze, Silver, or Gold points list).
 To earn Gold: Earn the Bronze award,
plus earn 1,600 points (from Bronze,
Silver, or Gold points list).
Journey to Excellence Award
(Troop)
 Advancement
 Retention
 Membership
 Trained
 Service Projects
 Webelos-to-Scout
 Budget
 Court of Honor/
Leadership
 Short-term
camping
 Long-term
camping
 Patrol Method
Parents Meetings
 On-Time Registration
 Annual Assessment
Journey to Excellence Award
(Troop)
 To earn Bronze: Complete 11 of 13
Bronze requirements, plus earn 700
points (from Bronze, Silver, or Gold
points list).
 To earn Silver: Earn the Bronze
award, plus earn 1,000 points (from
Bronze, Silver, or Gold points list).
 To earn Gold: Earn the Bronze award,
plus earn 1,600 points (from Bronze,
Silver, or Gold points list).
Journey to Excellence Award
(Crew)
 Activities
 Super Activity
 Membership
 Parent Meetings
 Retention
 Budget
 Youth
 On-Time Registration
Leadership
 Service Projects
 Trained
Leadership
 Annual Assessment
Journey to Excellence Award
(Crew)
 To earn Bronze: Complete 9 of 11
Bronze requirements, plus earn 700
points (from Bronze, Silver, or Gold
points list).
 To earn Silver: Earn the Bronze
award, plus earn 1,000 points (from
Bronze, Silver, or Gold points list).
 To earn Gold: Earn the Bronze award,
plus earn 1,600 points (from Bronze,
Silver, or Gold points list).
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
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
Summary
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Unit Visitation Basics
Unit Committee Functions
Introduction to Youth Protection
Journey to Excellence Unit
Operations
Break!
Commissioner Basic
Training
Session 3
How to Help a Unit
Learning Objectives
 Use counseling fundamentals to encourage the
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unit leader and to lead him to self-sufficiency.
State the resource and support available to help
make the unit successful.
State methods of membership management.
Use the unit charter renewal process in
rechartering a unit.
Explain the annual commissioner service plan.
Use commissioner lifesaving techniques to
resolve unit life-threatening problems.
Counseling
Counseling Defined
 “The ability to listen to someone in
such a way that they will solve their
own problems."
Fundamentals
 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
 Summarize from time to time to keep
on track
 Support thinking with information
 Know the difference between information
and advice
 Resources:
 Commissioner Fieldbook, Counseling
District Committee
District Committee
 Four function organization
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Membership
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Finance
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Program
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Unit service
Membership Functions
 Gather information
 Cultivate relationships with
community organizations
 Organize new units
 Help youth join existing units
Finance Functions
 Obtain the district’s share of funds
for the council budget
 Carry out FOS in the district
 Meet goals by target dates
 Implement finance policies
 Conduct project selling
 Assist with endowment development
 Stimulate United Way relationships
 Recognize donors
Program Functions
 Training
 Camping and Outdoor
 Activities and Civic Service
 Advancement and Recognition
Training
 Determine who needs training
 Build annual training program
 Develop plans for specific courses
 Promote courses
 Provide training recognition
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
Unit Service Function
 Regularly visit all units
 Demonstrate BSA concern for unit
leaders
 Facilitate on-time charter renewals
 Appraise and help units improve their
program
 Help units earn the Quality Unit Award
 Help units benefit from council
resources
 Conduct monthly roundtables
 Guide the unit leader selection process
Membership Management
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 Charter Renewal
Process
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
Objectives
 Reregister unit
 On time
 Maximum membership
 Two deep trained leadership
The Plan
 -90
 -60
 -45
 -15
 +30
Charter Renewal Plan
 90 days before:
 District executive visit head of chartered
organization
 60 days before:
 ScoutNet available to log on
 Membership inventory
 Recruit to make up loss
 100% Boy's Life
Charter Renewal Plan
 45 days before:
 Charter renewal meeting
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Boys and Adults
Fees
Approvals
Plans for the next year (Quality Unit)
 15 days before:
 Submit charter renewal to service center
 30 days after:
 Charter presentation
Ninety Days Before
 District Executive visits Institution
Head
 Friendly visit
 "How can I help"
Sixty Days Before
 Membership inventory
 Set renewal meeting date
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
Fifteen Days Before
 Unit updates buffered ScoutNet data
and gets signatures
 Submit to service center
Some Techniques
 Talk about 100% Boy's Life often
 Committee members do membership
follow-up
 Discuss Quality Unit with the whole
committee (several times a year)
 Unit people update ScoutNet data
 Charter renewal checklist
Thirty Days After
 Charter presentation
 Chartered organization head
 COR
 Unit Leader
 Unit Committee Chair
 The unit
 Sample presentation in
Commissioner Fieldbook
Annual Commissioner Service
Plan
Annual Commissioner
Service Plan
 Gives specific purpose to regular and
supportive contact with units.
Annual Plan
 April - Unit leadership
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inventory
May - Troop uniform
inspection
August - Unit program
planning
October - Unit uniform
inspection
November - Youth
Protection Training
December Membership inventory
 90 days before charter
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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
Annual Plan
coupled with
regular visitation
provides good
commissioner service.
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
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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
Summary
 Counseling
 The District Committee
 Membership Management
 Unit Charter Renewal Process
 Annual Commissioner Service Plan
 The Lifesaving Commissioner
 Open Forum
 Closing
Open Forum:
Questions and Concerns
Closing