Welcome
Make yourself comfortable.
We will start soon.
Commissioner Basic
Training
Session 1
Why Commissioners?
Opening
Pledge of Allegiance
Opening Ceremony
► The
Cub Scout Promise
► The
Scout Oath
► The
Venturing Oath
 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.
 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.
 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
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
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 Venturing (Youth
grades 1-5)
ages 11-17)
ages 14-20)
►Ideals
►Ideals
►Ideals
►Den
►Patrol
►Group activities
►Advancement
►Advancement
►Recognition
►Family involvement
►Adult association
►Adult association
►Activities
►Outdoors
►High adventure
►Home and neighborhood
►Personal growth
►Teaching others
centered
►Uniform
►Leadership
►Leadership
►Uniform
Council Mission
► Voluntary
association of citizens & chartered
organization representatives
► Promotes Scouting within a geographical area
► Guides & supports districts to
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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
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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 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
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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
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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
Commissioner Quiz
The unit commissioner: (true / false)
► 1.
► 2.
► 3.
Reports to the district executive.
Must be an expert in training adults and youth.
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.
Commissioner Quiz (continued)
8. Periodically communicates with the chartered
organization representative to offer help.
► 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.
► 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.
►
Unit Commissioner Video
► AV-04V001R
Commissioner’s Roles
► Friend
► Representative
► Unit
"doctor"
► Teacher
► Counselor
Supporting the Unit
Supporting the Unit
► Topic:
Indicators of unit health
► Method: Buzz groups
Indicators of Unit Health: Pack
► Leadership
► Webelos dens
► Advancement
► Youth attendance
► Membership
► Family attendance
► Den participation
► Meeting operation
► Den chiefs
► Tiger Cub dens
Indicators of Unit Health: Troop
► Meeting operation
► Boy leadership
► Skills instruction presentation
► Skills instruction levels
► Membership
► Budget plan
► Attendance
► Patrol activity
► Adult assistance
► Outdoor program
Indicators of Unit Health: Crew
► Adult
Advisors
► Elected officers
► Planned program
► Adult assistance
► Membership
► Meeting operation
► Service projects
► Program capability inventory
Indicators of Unit Health: Post
► Adult
leadership
► Elected officers
► Planned program
► Adult assistance
► Participation
► Meeting operation
► Post specialty
► Program of emphasis areas
► Adult Resource Survey
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
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steps
Homework (get ready)
Find out what Scouts want (patrol leaders)
PLC annual planning, SPL presiding
Secure troop committee support
Pass the word. Publicize.
Venturing 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
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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
Session 2
Units: The Commissioner’s
Top Priority
Learning Objectives
► 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
► Make a meaningful visit to a unit
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 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 uniform
Second & Third Unit Visits
► Second
visit — unit meeting
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Go by yourself
Stay only 15 minutes (drop-in)
Take your resource kit
Make worksheet changes
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Visit chartered organization representative
Take your resource kit
Be prepared with ways to help
Give everyone your phone and address
Wear your complete uniform
► Third
visit — committee meeting
Unit Condition
► Know
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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
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 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
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
► 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
Quality Unit Operation
Danger Signals
►
Style of leadership
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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
► Four
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mandatory items
Trained leader
Trained assistant leader
Outdoor program
Recharter on time
► Minimum
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two of six optional items
100% Boy’s Life (or improvement)
Advancement
Service project
Etc., appropriate to the type of unit
Summary
► Unit
Visitation Basics
► Commissioner Priorities
► Effective Commissioner Leadership
► Unit Committee Functions
► Introduction to Youth Protection
► Quality Unit Operations
Break!
Commissioner Basic
Training
Session 3
How to Help a Unit
Learning Objectives
► State
the resource and support available to help
make the unit successful
► Use counseling fundamentals to encourage the
unit leader and to lead him to self-sufficiency
► Explain the annual commissioner service plan
► State methods of membership management
► Use the resources of the district committee
► Use the unit charter renewal process in
rechartering a unit
► 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
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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:
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Give information
Propose possible alternatives
Let leader pick best solution
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
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function organization
Membership
Finance
Program
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
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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
►
 Charter renewal meeting
► Boys
60 days before:
to make up loss
► 100% Boy's Life
and Adults
► Fees
► Approvals
 ScoutNet available to log on
 Membership inventory
► Recruit
45 days before:
► 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
► After
turn-in, council accepts data and
sends this data to ScoutNet
Forty-Five Days Before
► Charter
meeting
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review
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 followup
► Discuss Quality Unit with the whole
committee (several times a year)
► Unit people update ScoutNet data
► Charter renewal checklist
Thirty Days After
► Charter
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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
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April - Unit leadership inventory
May - Troop uniform inspection
August - Unit program planning
October - Unit uniform
inspection
November - Youth Protection
Training
December - Membership
inventory
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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
Annual Plan
coupled with
regular visitation
provides good
commissioner service.
Lifesaving Commissioner
Lifesaving Commissioner
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
►
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TAKE ACTION FAST
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Consult ADC / DC
Ask some basic questions
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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
Closing