Welcome to Commissioner Basic Training. Please make yourself comfortable.

1. Welcome to Commissioner Basic Training. Please make yourself comfortable. We will be starting soon. Instructor: _________- Assistant Council Commissioner

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Training Overview

5. Commissioner Basic Training

6. Session 1 Why Commissioners?

7. OverviewWhy Commissioners? Aims and methods Commissioner service role Supporting the unit Unit Program Planning

8. Aims of Scouting • What are the aims of Scouting? • Character development • Citizenship training • Personal fitness

9. Methods of Scouting

10. Council Mission • Promotes Scouting in a geographic area • Voluntary association of citizens • Representatives of chartered organizations • Provides Scouting services • Field service • Office support • Camps

11. District Mission • Organize and support successful units Membership Finance Program Unit service

12. 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.

13. Job Description Card • Friend • Representative • Unit "GP doctor" • Teacher • Counselor

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Supporting the Unit

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

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

23. Indicators of Unit Health: Crew • Adult Leadership • Elected Officers • Adult assistance • Membership • Meeting operation • Planned program

24. Evaluation Tools • Unit Self Evaluation Form – Pack, Troop, Crew • Do unit leaders like evaluation? • What are your resources?

25. 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 • 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

26. Unit Program Planning

27. Cub ScoutProgram Planning • Unit commissioners should understand process and tools • ( Cub Scout Leaders Book ) • Program Helps and Pack Planning Chart • Council calendar • Chartered organization needs • Annual program planning conference • Monthly pack leaders meeting • DLC - DL meeting • Den Chief - adult meeting

28. Boy ScoutProgram 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.

29. Venturing CrewProgram 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 • Officers brainstorm activities • Officers discuss and evaluate each idea • Officers select activities and make calendar • Officers plan each month in advance

30. SummaryWhy Commissioners? • Aims and methods • Commissioner service role • Supporting the unit • Unit program planning

31. Session 2 Units: The Commissioner’s Top Priority

32. OverviewUnits: The Commissioner’s Top Priority • The Unit Visit • Unit Self Assessment • Commissioner Priorities • Effective Commissioner Leadership • Unit Committee Functions • Centennial Award Preparation

33. The Unit Visit

34. The First Unit Visit • Make appointment to visit an assigned unit • Go with your observer/coach/ADC • 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 • Always wear your complete uniform as an example

35. Unit Visitation Reports Using the Unit Self Assessment Sheet

36. New Unit Self Assessment New Form By National to be used by units in conjunction with the help of the UNIT Commissioner NOTE: Troop and Crew forms are similar

37. 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

38. 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.

39. 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.)

40. The Second and Third Unit Visits

41. 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

42. Commissioner Priorities

43. Commissioner Priorities • Remember your job description • Stick to your primary responsibility • Unit focus Let Us Give You A Helping Hand

44. Effective Commissioner Leadership

45. Effective Commissioner Leadership • 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

46. Unit Committee Functions

47. Unit Committee Functions • Packs • Troops • Teams • Crews

48. Pack Committee • Advancement • Finance • Outings • Training • Membership & re-registration • Record keeping & correspondence • Public relations • Friends of Scouting

49. Troop Committee • Advancement • Finance • Equipment • Outdoor program • Transportation • Leadership • Membership & re-registration • Friends of Scouting

50. Venturing Committee • Advancement • Finance • Equipment • Training program • Transportation • Leadership • Membership & re-registration