Bachelor of
Commissioner
Science
Instructors: Richard Benner, David Carleton,
Gene Letner, Chris Porras, Walt Robbins
Introductions
Name
 Commissioner job
 Scouting experience

Overview
BS104, Unit Visitation (R)
 BS102, Rechartering (R)
 BS103, The District
(O)
 BS105, Solutions
(O)
 BS106, Priorities
(O)
 Or — any optional Masters or Doctoral class

BCS 101
Introduction to
Commissioner Science
Instructor:
Introduction
Need a dynamic commissioner staff
 Commissioner role is different
 Quality depends on commissioners
 Resources help commissioners succeed
 You aren’t an expert in everything
 Know where to go to get help
 First resource: Commissioner Fieldbook

Commissioner Fieldbook
Resource of information
 Experience of hundreds of commissioners

Contents
Commissioner Orientation
Overview
 Use with video: Helping Units Succeed
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Commissioner Concept
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Help units succeed!
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Max efficiency
Good program
More members
Results oriented, not procedures
 Roles
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Friend of the unit
Representative of the BSA
Unit “doctor”
Teacher
Counselor
District Commissioner Staff
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District Commissioner
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Assistant District Commissioners
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Unit Commissioners
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Roundtable Commissioners
District Executive
Providing Unit Service
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We care — listen!
Unit contacts
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Frequency
Unit meeting visits
Unit committee visits
Other contacts
Annual commissioner service plan
Other ways to help a unit
Quality Unit Award
Do unit service first!
Commissioner Style
Frontline diplomat
 Exceptional service
 Roots and wings
 Service recovery:
How to right a wrong

Lifesaving Commissioner
Watch the vital signs
 Go into action fast
 Hurry cases

Counseling

“Ability to listen and react in a way that will
help others solve their own problems”
Unit Charter Renewal
BCS 102 covers unit charter renewal
 Commissioner’s goal—“on time”

Commissioner Training
Orientation video
 Personal coaching /
orientation
 Basic training
 Arrowhead Honor
 Commissioner’s Key
 Continuing education

Commissioner Resources

A list of basic helps
Unit Commissioner
Worksheets (1)
Unit Commissioner
Worksheets (2)
Summary
Commissioner Fieldbook is your guide
 Only a tool
 You have to build something with it

Questions?
Comments!
BCS 102
Unit Charter
Renewal
Instructor: Richard Benner
Why Recharter?
BSA does not own Scouting units
 Annual franchise to chartered partners
 Chartered partners are:
 Churches
 Schools / PTAs
 Service clubs
 Businesses and labor unions

When Do Units Recharter?
Before the charter date (expiration date)
 Most are one year
 Minimum 6 months, maximum 18 months
 Each council has a preferred pattern
 BDAC
 LDS - December 31st
 Community - January 31st
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The Charter Renewal Process
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90 days before:
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DE visit IH
Printout available (to
right person!)
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Membership inventory
Recruit to make up loss
100% Boys' Life?
60 days before
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Internet recharter
available on line
Prepare draft of recharter
Optional, but
recommended
45 days before:
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60 days before:
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15 days before:
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Charter renewal meeting
Boys
Adults
Fees
Approvals
Plans for the next year
(Quality Unit)
Charter turn-in night
60 days after:
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Charter presentation
Ninety Days Before:
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District Executive visits Institution
Head
Friendly visit
or
 "How can I help"
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Sixty Days Before:
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Membership inventory
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Set review meeting
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Uniform inspection?
Internet Rechartering
Available 60 days before charter expires
 (Until 60 days after, i. e. drops)
 On local council web site
 Easy to use
 Sends electronic version to council office
 Prints paper copy for signatures
 Must be turned in as usual
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Forty-Five Days Before:
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Charter review meeting
 Youth
 Adults
 Fees
 Approvals
 Quality Unit status
 Plans
Fifteen Days Before:
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Charter turn-in night
Sixty Days After:
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Charter presentation
 Chartered partner
and
 The unit
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Sample presentation in Commissioner
Fieldbook
Failure to Recharter
Who has the forms?
 Why?
 What can you do about it?
 Reorganize before charter expiration
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Charter Renewal Application
Headers
 Adults
 Age
 Applications
 Youth
 Applications
 Boys’ Life
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Internet Rechartering
Checklist and Pointers
Use the tutorial
 Multiple registration is in the Update Fee section
 After final transmission, must make pen changes
 Must have signatures and money
 Fee computation does not include insurance
 With 2 or more units, don’t transmit until all done
 Complete a Quality Unit application for all units
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Two Principles
Assure Success
Keep the unit charter renewal process simple
 ONLY registration, Boys’ Life, Quality Unit
 Anticipate anything that could delay on-time
charter renewal
 Unit problem
 Leader or institution head out of town
 Etc.
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Questions?
Comments!
BCS 103
The Commissioner
and the District
Instructor: Chris Porras
Volunteers and
Professionals
Working Together
Relationship
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What makes the relationship work?
Who makes the important decisions?
The flavor of the relationship
How do UC and DE work best together?
How to avoid common problem areas
District
Organization
Four-Function Plan
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Membership
Finance
Program
Unit Service
Key 3
 District Chairman
 District Commissioner
 District Executive
Membership
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School nights
 Commissioners needed!
Roundup
Patrol plus
New unit organization
 Commissioner needed!
Finance
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District goals support council services
District campaign
Unit campaign
 Unit commissioner explain / support
Program
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Training
 UC support, take people to training!
Camping / Outdoor
 Summer camp
 Day camp
 Outdoor program
Activities
Advancement
Unit Service
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UC a friend to the unit’s leaders
UC evaluates program, provides help
UC encourages activities
UC reports unit status
UC helps unit solve problems
 Training
 Advancement
 Outdoors / Activities
Council
Organization
Council Organization
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Six valley Scouting districts - Tomahawk,
El Dorado, Sunrise, Chemehuevi, Big Horn, North Star
Urban Scouting - 60+ units
Northern & Southern districts
 Mini-districts within
Learning for Life
 In-School Scouting - elementary & HS
 Exploring
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Council Support
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Executive Board - governance
Professional staff - service
Support staff - service
Volunteer staff - service
 Training - Pow Wow, Wood Badge, etc.
 Commissioners - RTRT, CCS, etc.
 Camping - camps, high adventure, etc.
Successful
Districts
Quality Districts
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60% Quality Units
2% unit growth
2% or balanced membership growth
Finance goals
On-time reregistration goals
1 unit commissioner for each 3 units
Use the standard district structure
Each key volunteer position filled
Hold annual conference with each IH
How Do You Contribute?
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On-time rechartering
Quality Units
 Membership growth
 Outdoor program
 Trained leaders
Communicate the need for finance drives
A quality program for kids!
Questions?
Comments!
BCS 104
Unit
Visitation
Instructor: Walt Robbins
Types of Visits
Unit meetings
 Unit committee meetings
 Individual get-together with unit leader
 Visit with other unit adults
 Effective phone contacts
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Before You Go
Friend of the unit
 How can you help the unit?
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Know what is best for unit success
Strengthen unit adult roles
Commissioner is in the background
Be helpful, not critical
Better to call first
 Know units, do homework, know what to expect
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During the Visit
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Watch and listen
Do not disrupt the meeting
Stay long enough
Don’t take notes
Chat with other adults on the sideline
Get to know the boys
Don’t distract the leader
Give a chance to mention problems
Take some freebies
After the Visit
After — fill out commissioner worksheet
 Determine priority needs
 How can you be most helpful?
 Discuss special needs with ADC / DC / DE
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Worksheet
Sample
Odds and Ends
Brainstorm ways to help
 Prioritize your units
 Keep a positive attitude
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Uniform Inspections
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Notify youth and adults in advance
Hand out uniform inspection sheets in advance
Prepare your team before the inspection
Inspect the inspectors first
1-2 inspectors per den / patrol
Give an honest grade, move on
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Compliment the boys and adults
Counseling

“Ability to listen and react in a way that will
help others solve their own problems”
Questions?
Comments!
BCS 105
Practical Solutions to
Common Unit Needs
Instructor: David Carleton
Commissioners Help Units:
Succeed
 Develop a better program
 Operate more effectively
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Unit Commissioner
Worksheets
Review worksheets—Commissioner Helps
 Nine / ten categories for each unit
 Unit profile
 “Some Ways to Help” suggestions
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Pack Worksheet (1)
Pack Worksheet (2)
Pack Worksheet (3)
Pack Worksheet (4)
Troop Worksheet (1)
Troop Worksheet (2)
Troop Worksheet (3)
Troop Worksheet (4)
Crew Worksheet (1)
Crew Worksheet (2)
Crew Worksheet (3)
Crew Worksheet (4)
Commissioner Response
Commissioner Helps for Packs, Troops and
Crews
 Standards based on experience and policy
 Practical action by a commissioner
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Find a Solution
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St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church has a new pastor who
is unfamiliar with Scouting
Neither Troop 41 nor Crew 41 appear to have any program
planned more than two weeks in advance.
Last week you attended a pack meeting and only three
parents were present.
One of your assigned troops has not added a new boy
member in ten months.
One of your troops has very few boys in Scout uniform.
At their May Pack meeting, Cubmaster Bob Newguy tells
you he looks forward to seeing you in September.
The chairman of a unit committee calls and expresses
concern about the adequacy of the unit’s meeting place.
Class Project
“A Cub Scout pack consists of six members,
one den leader (untrained), one Cubmaster
(untrained), no committee members, and
parents who say they are willing to help but
never make a move to do so.”
 List every section of Helps which can help you
respond
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Problem-Solving Video
Unit Problem-Solving for Commissioners
video, AV-04V002
 14 problem segments
 Designed for use in commissioner meetings
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Questions?
Comments!
BCS 106
A Commissioner’s
Priorities
Instructor: Gene Letner
Know Your Units—
Our #1 Priority
Know the unit adults
 Be a friend of the unit
 Understand the environment
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Chartered organization
History and experience with Scouting
Income and education level
Inner-city neighborhood / suburban / rural
Visit often enough to be up-to-date
 Beware of emphasizing the district instead of
unit needs
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Prioritize Unit Needs
Keep a list of needs and problems
 Evaluate your time — it is limited
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Concentrate your energies on main problems
Focus on units that need help
Do unit service — not everything else
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Activities are not a commissioner’s first job
Say “no” when required
Being a commissioner is your primary job
Typical Priorities
Unit not meeting
 Unit with no leader
 New unit leader lacks training
 Unit with no active committee
 Unit with no new youth members
 Unit with weak leadership
 Conflict with chartered organization
 Unit charter renewal time
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Steps in Handling a Problem
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Identify the problem
Decide if it is a problem
Discuss the problem with the ADC
Is assistance needed from the district committee?
Decide whether you will handle it alone or with the ADC
Decide who is to handle the problem
Plan your actions
Plan your alternatives
Put the plan into action
Evaluate
The Quality Unit Award
A commissioner is successful if the unit is a
Quality Unit
 Review achievements at recharter time
 Make a commitment for next year
 Present streamers, emblems, etc.
 You make it a year-around project for them to
succeed
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National Quality Unit Award
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Four mandatory items
 Trained leader
 Trained assistant leader
 Outdoor activities
 Recharter on time
Minimum two of six optional items
 100% Boys’ Life (or improvement)
 Advancement
 Service project
 Etc., appropriate to the type of unit
Questions?
Comments!
BCS 107
Youth
Protection
Training
Instructor:
Introduction
Child abuse is one of “five unacceptables”
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Educate Scouting volunteers, parents and Scouts to
aid in the detection and prevention of child abuse
Establish leader-selection procedures to prevent
offenders from entering BSA leadership
Establish policies that create barriers to child abuse
within the program
Encourage Scouts to report improper behavior in
order to identify offenders quickly
Swift removal and reporting of alleged offenders
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Video
Commissioner Duties
Conduct annual adult YPT
 Help units use proper leader-selection
 Coach unit people if abuse occurs
 Promote use of youth videos
 Cub — It Happened to Me
 Scout — A Time to Tell
 Venturing — Personal Safety Awareness
 Explain how to use youth handbook inserts
 Stay up to date on YPT changes
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Questions?
Comments!
BCS 108
Effective
Roundtables
I
Instructor:
Introduction
Essential elements for success
 The will to do
 The skill to do
 Who should attend roundtables
 When and where to hold roundtables
 Why people attend
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Roundtable Structure
Combined sessions
 Separate sessions
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Basic Ingredients of a
Roundtable Program
Preopening — exhibits, display, literature
 Opening
 Information and recognition
 Cub Scout program theme /
Boy Scout program feature
 Closing
 After the meeting
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Planning Cycle
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Annual program planning
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Annual planning conference
Monthly program themes
Use of theme managers
Quarterly planning meeting
 Monthly staff meetings
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Program themes
Personal resources
District and council events
Special dates
Roundtable Planning
Checklists
Resource Materials
Planning guides
 Program Helps
 Scouting magazine
 Boys’ Life magazine
 Scouting literature
 Other resources
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Closing
BCS 109 coming up!
 Effective Roundtables II
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Questions?
Comments!
BCS 109
Effective
Roundtables
II
Instructor:
Promotion and Publicity (1)
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Regular date, time, and meeting place
 “Think second Thursday”
 Have a permanent meeting place
 Dependable schedule important for attendance
Reminders
Newsletters
Door prizes
Forming a roundtable pack or troop
Unit involvement — lots of people in the production
Promotion and Publicity (2)
Recognition
 Promotional plans
 Gimmicks, goodies, product samples
 Attendance awards
 Personal contact is best
 Phone squads
 Interesting guests
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Location
Adequate space
 Adequate parking
 Available year-round
 Areas for split sessions
 Attractive and interesting facility
 Easily accessible
 Easily accessible for people with disabilities
 Meets health and safety requirements
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Roundtable Morale Builders (1)
 Displays and exhibits
 Program theme ideas
 Council and district events
 Scouting literature
 Equipment
 Unit show and tell
 Scouting memorabilia
 Trading post
 Boys’ Life
 Other stuff
Roundtable Morale Builders (2)
Information center
 Announcements (keep them brief)
 Written notices and packets
 Scouting “supermarket”
 Physical property bank
 Songs
 Use of songs
 Songleading tips
 Songbooks
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Roundtable Morale Builders (3)
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Icebreakers, stunts, and skits
 Icebreakers
 Group Meeting Sparklers
 Cheers and applause
 Stunts and skits
 Developing skits
 Staging skits
 Resources
 Funny lost-and-found
Roundtable Morale Builders (4)
Games and contests
 Value of games
 Types of games
 Use of games
 Recognitions
 New people / new units
 Units and leaders
 Awards
 Fun stuff
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Roundtable Morale Builders (5)
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Ceremonies
 Purpose of ceremonies
 Essential ingredients
 Staging ceremonies
 Involvement and participation
 Types of ceremonies
 Ceremonial props
Review of Quality
Roundtable Ingredients
Action
 Material
 Handouts
 Skills and crafts
 New ideas
 Useful information
 Fun
 Food
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Questions?
Comments!
BCS 110
Commissioner
Style
Instructor:
Be a Frontline Diplomat
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Be an effective commissioner
Be a good listener
Have sound judgement
Be tactful
Have a Scouting background or be a fast learner
Be persistent and patient
Be adaptable
Know and practice Scouting ideals
Be enthusiastic
Treat everyone with respect, even when they annoy you
Exceptional Service
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Equation:
Unit leader perception of help received
— Help the leader expected
= Exceptional district service
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Exceptional service exceeds unit leader
expectations rather than barely meeting
expectations
Roots
Confidence and commitment
 Traditions
 Campfires
 Camporees
 Uniforms
 Ideals — Law and Promise
 Youth leadership
 Quality programs
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Wings
Commissioners lead change
 Stay relevant to young peoples’ world
 Help units personal growth to embrace
change
 Be excited about new ideas
 Relate to the community and culture
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Brainstorming
What are specific examples of traditions and
standards in Scouting that should probably
not change? (Roots)
 What are specific example of recent changes
in Scouting that we should try to quickly adapt
to? (Wings)
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How to Right a Wrong
How to Right a Wrong
Find a sincere way to say “I’m sorry”
 Act immediately
 Take the initiative
 Smooth ruffled feathers
 Let them know you care
 Turn a blunder into an opportunity
 Be prepared
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Questions?
Comments!
BCS 111
Health and
Safety Training
Instructor:
Questions?
Comments!
BCS 112
What Would
You Do?
Instructor:
Procedure
Small groups solve separate problems.
Positive solutions for all parties
 Report solutions
 Select individual ideas that have broader
application
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#1
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One of your friends, a new unit commissioner,
meets for the first time with a longtime
Cubmaster. While the Cubmaster is not
hostile, he is decidedly formal. In the course
of conversation, he says, “We don’t support
Friends of Scouting in this unit because the
council has never done anything for us.” The
new commissioner calls you and says, “So
what do I do now?”
#2

You receive a call from a harried Scoutmaster.
She reports that her unit commissioner is an
impossible chauvinist who resents women
being in leadership positions in Scouting. She
with the backing of her unit committee,
demands the immediate reassignment of the
commissioner. As an ADC, your course of
action would be . . .
#3

You receive a call from John Smith, who
informs you he is the new unit commissioner
for Troop 1 and Pack 1. John wants to talk to
you about some changes he thinks should be
made in the operation and leadership of both
units. He informs you that he has already
spoken to the pastor of the church which
holds the unit charters. You have never heard
of John Smith before. What do you do next?
#4
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You are a unit commissioner. You receive a call from
an irate mother of a young Scout. Mom launches
into a tirade about how her son’s advancement is
being frustrated by members of the Scout’s unit. It
seems her son had earned 17 merit badges at
summer camp. He worked from 5 in the morning
until 11 at night and had the approval of the
provisional assistant Scoutmaster at the camp. She
stated that the troop advancement committee is
sitting on the blue cards, not processing them. Mom
makes it clear that her son, who is 12 and a half, is
going to be the youngest Eagle Scout in the nation.
As soon as you hang up the phone you should . . .
#5
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You receive a call from a single-parent father
who is trying to get his twin sons into a Cub
pack. He has been told by all the units in the
area that they are full. What would you do?
#6

You learn that one one of your packs is telling
their Cubs that denners and assistant denners
who have completed their terms can cut the
cords off and continue to wear the small
yellow shoulder tab. The women of the pack
have voted to wear the green Venturing
uniform shirt with the blue tabs. What should
you start doing?
#7
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You meet a Scoutmaster at the council service
center and he complains to you that he can
never get any information about what’s
happening in the district and the council. He
feels isolated and forgotten. What would you
recommend.
#8
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It has come to your attention that one of your
newly assigned troops has not attended a
council summer camp in over six years. In
fact, the troop puts on its own camp on
privately owned land. The troop committee
supports this program and feels the camp
experience they are providing is far superior
to anything happening in a council camp.
Should you do anything?
#9
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You have a unit in your area that has never, in
the memory of man, ever done its charter
renewal correctly. The unit leaders refuse to
attend the orientation meetings and, in fact, do
not take charter renewal very seriously.
Should you do anything with this unit? If so,
what’s the first thing?
#10

The committee chairman of a newly formed
Boy Scout troop calls you and wants a laundry
list of all the training opportunities for Scout
leaders. Make up the list and prioritize it,
showing the chairman who should take what
training in what order.
Questions?
Comments!
BCS 113
Service to New Units
Instructor:
Commissioner Tasks (1)

No gap in service after organizing unit
 How do commissioner and organizer work
together?
 How do they handle transition?

Make first charter presentation special
 Remember Fieldbook pp. 43-45
Commissioner Tasks (2)

First unit committee meeting
 Role?
 Your agenda?
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Training
 Fast Start
 New Leader Essentials
 . . . Specific Training
Commissioner Tasks (3)

Youth buy-in
 Venturing — officers elected and trained
 Scouting — patrol method
 Cub Scouting — dens functioning
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Guide program planning
 First two months
Commissioner Tasks (4)
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Be a friend, not a “checker-upper”
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Help start planning for major events
 Cub day camp, resident camp
 Scout summer camp
 Venturing superactivity
Commissioner Tasks (5)
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Recognize unit successes.
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Help leaders solve immediate concerns
Commissioner Tasks (6)
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Play a mentoring role. Begin a trusting
relationship.
 How is future help affected?
 How can you gauge trust?
Questions?
Comments!
BCS 114
Good CommissionerProfessional
Relationships
Instructor:
Introduction
Volunteer – professional relationship special
hallmark of BSA
 Core of its success
 Both share responsibility for good working
relationships


What is evidence of a good relationship?
Good volunteer-professional
relationships are characterized by
mutual trust, mutual respect, and
mutual recognition of each
other’s role and competency.
Mutual Dependence
Common goal — quality program for youth
 Interdependent
 Too much work to be done by professionals
 Professionals provide coaching / experience
 Seek each other’s counsel
 Professionals work with volunteers
 Should be friends

Differences / Similarities
Differences
 Professional — full time, more experience
 Volunteer — part time, experience limited
 Similarities
 Dedicated to principles of Scouting
 Desire quality program for kids

Tip #1

Intentionally begin to build a good relationship
with your professional from your very first
visit. Be positive. Be enthusiastic. Be well
prepared. Think in advance about the
impression you want to make as one of the
trusted volunteers of the district.
Tip #2

Be accessible to your professional adviser.
Exchange phone numbers, e-mail addresses,
mailing addresses, etc. Avoid the impression
that you are too busy or annoyed when he
calls. Return his calls.
Tip #3

Create a welcome environment for the new
professional and plan ways to incorporate him or her
into the team. Remember that it’s easy for a group to
turn inward and make newcomers feel awkward or
unwelcome. Send a letter of introduction to
appropriate volunteers from an appropriate person in
authority (council president, Scout executive, etc.).
This helps a person feel good about joining the
district or council. It also helps volunteers get
acquainted with the new professional.
Tip #4

A professional will try to make efficient use of
commissioners’ time and, as best they can,
plan visits and meetings at times that are best
for volunteers. Commissioners and
professionals should help make the most
efficient use of each other’s Scouting time
Tip #5

Commissioners should know that they can
turn to their professional for advice or
troubleshooting. Help create the kind of
relationship in which you are comfortable
asking for help.
Tip #6

There will inevitably be some professionals
you don’t like as much as others. That’s
human nature. However, part of being a good
Scouter is working with all kinds of people,
even when the human chemistry isn’t just
perfect. Feel free to talk with your
professional partner about how you are
working together.
Tip #7
While you obviously want to form a Scouting
relationship, it is nevertheless important to get
to know your professional as a whole person.
Most of us will feel more comfortable working
with someone who is interested in other
aspects of our lives as well as our Scouting
responsibilities.
 Keep in mind that Scouting is not a person’s
only priority in life. They will have family
priorities and may be active in religious and
other activities.

Tip #8

Let your professional adviser know if you plan
to have your spouse, secretary, or work
associate assist you with a Scouting task, and
how the pro can be helpful to that person.
Tip #9

Develop good communication in which you
and your professional really listen to and
understand each other.
Tip #10


In some instances the function of guiding other
volunteers is shared between you and a pro. A DE
works with operating committee chairmen who also
look to the district chairman for guidance. Both the
DC and DE have a direct working relationship with
ADCs. Unit commissioners work with both their DE
and ADC.
You and the professional should be careful to avoid
confusion for volunteers and to ensure that they
receive consistent messages and have a compatible
relationship with both their volunteer leader and the
professional.
Summary

Scouting’s success is founded on volunteer
talent with professional advice and support
Questions?
Comments!
BCS 115
Commissioners
and Diversity
Instructor:
Diversity –
A Truly Important Idea
USA is a unique microcosm of world’s people
 A key element of power and success as nation
 PAST – “melting pot”
 TODAY – “tapestry”

Diversity –
A Scouting Value
BSA is growing to be a diverse organization
 Does your unit / district reflect your community?
 How about where you work?
 Strength and inclusiveness from demographic
growth helps us accomplish our vision

Positive Types
of Diversity
Race
 Ethnic / nationality background
 Gender
 Age
 Marital status—single, married, divorced
 Work experience
 Personality
 Religion
 Cultural values

Diversity Within Unity
United by mission, vision, values
 Cub Promise, Law of the Pack
 Scout Oath and Law
 Venturing Oath and Code
 What else unites us?
 Diversity = Uniqueness each brings
 Built on common values, differences allow us
to reach more with richer program

Group Projects
Why does diversity make Scouting strong?
Examples?
 How can commissioners help value individuals
and use diversity to make Scouting stronger?
 Make a list of examples of how a commissioner
can be a role model for diversity
 What can commissioners do to overcome
prejudices?

Summary


Strength of BSA lies in mission, vision, traditions,
but most of all people
Create an environment
 People valued as individuals
 Treated with respect, dignity, fairness
 Everyone is energized to contribute
 BSA and nation better for it
Questions?
Comments!
Graduation