Welcome

1. Welcome Make yourself comfortable.We will start soon.

2. Commissioner Basic Training Instructors: [Insert names here]

3. Session 1 Why Commissioners?

4. Opening Pledge of Allegiance

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Introductions • Name • Present job in Scouting • Previous positions held • Tenure • Awards earned

9. 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. • State Commissioner Priorities. • Describe Effective Commissioner Leadership.

10. Purpose, Aims & Methods of Scouting

11. 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

12. Aims of Scouting • Character development • Citizenship training • Personal fitness

13. Methods of Scouting

14. 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

15. 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

16. Four-Function Plan • Membership/Relationships • Finance • Program • Unit service

17. Commissioner Service Role

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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.

26. Commissioner Quiz (continued) • 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.

27. Commissioner Quiz (continued) • 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.

28. Unit Commissioner Video • AV-06DVD08 • “Helping Units Succeed”

29. Commissioner’s Roles Friend Teacher Unit “Paramedic” Problem Solver Resource Person

30. Supporting the Unit

31. Supporting the Unit • Topic: Indicators of unit health • Method: Buzz groups

32. Indicators of Unit Health: Pack • -Leadership -Family attendance • -Webelos dens -Den participation • -Advancement -Meeting operation • -Youth attendance -Den chiefs • -Membership -Tiger Cub dens

33. 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

34. Indicators of Unit Health: Crew • -Adult Advisors -Membership • -Elected officers -Meeting operation • -Planned program -Service projects • -Adult assistance -Program capability inventory

35. Commissioner Worksheet

36. Sample

37. Evaluation Tool • Commissioner Worksheets: pack, troop, crew, post • Do unit leaders resist evaluation? • Do you understand the profile? • What are your resources?

38. Unit Program Planning

39. 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

40. 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.

41. 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 steps • Brainstorm activities • Discuss and evaluate each idea • Select activities and calendarize • Plan details each month in advance

42. Summary • Opening • Purpose, Aims and Methods of Scouting • Commissioner Service Role • Supporting the Unit • Unit Program Planning

43. Break!

44. Commissioner Basic Training

45. Commissioner Priorities

46. 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

47. Unit Focus • Priority units receive most careful attention • Do not give most attention to healthiest & active units • Prioritize unit needs

48. Effective Commissioner Leadership

49. 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

50. Summary • The Aims and Methods of Scouting • The Commissioner Service Role • Supporting the Unit • Unit Program Planning • Commissioner Priorities • Effective Commissioner Leadership