Commissioner Basic Training

1. Commissioner Basic Training Welcome to One Day session Will include: Why Commissioners? The Commissioner’s Top Priority: the Unit How to Help a Unit

2. Commissioner Basic Training Why Commissioners?

3. Session One Learning Objectives At the end of this session, you should be able to: • 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

4. Methods Venturing: Varsity: Boy Scouting: Cub Scouting: Aims & Methods of Scouting • Association with youth & adults • Ethical decision making • Group activities • Recognition • Democratic process • Curiosity, exploration & adventure • Advancement • High adventure & sports • Activities • Service • Personal development • Special programs & events • Ideals • Patrols • Outdoors • Advancement • Personal growth • Adult association • Leadership development • Uniform • Home & neighborhood centered • Parent involvement • Advancement plan • The den • Ideals • Uniform • Activity program Aims: Character Development Citizenship Training Personal Fitness

5. Missions of the… …District To organize and support successful units. • Four-Function Plan of council and district: • Membership/Relationships • Available to all youth • Finance • Provide adequate funds • Program • Maintain standards & policies • Unit Service • Serve chartered organizations …Council To guide and support its districts A COUNCIL is a voluntary association of citizens which promotes the Scouting program within a geographical area.

6. Scouting Unit Local Council Effective Units Success = Liaison 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. Mission: Keep units operating Regular contact Counsel leaders Help fix problems

7. Most Important Resource Contains: Commissioner Orientation Orientation Projects The Commissioner Concept The District Commissioner Staff Providing Unit Service Your Commissioner Style Be a Lifesaving Commissioner How to remove a Volunteer Counseling Youth Protection Unit Charter Renewal Unit Commissioner Training Resources Self-Evaluation Distinguished Commissioner Service Award

8. The Unit Commissioner Video Watch for the five major areas of service Job of Unit Commissioner Review answers to pre-opening quiz Refer to Commissioner Job Description cards

9. Commissioner’s Role What are the five major roles of a commissioner? • Friend • Representative • Unit “doctor” • Teacher • Counselor More details in Commissioner Fieldbook, page 11

10. Supporting the Unit Buzz groups Identify and discuss at least 5 indicators that should be monitored to determine the health of a scouting unit. Cub Scout PackBoy Scout Troop

11. Supporting the Unit What are the indicators to be monitored? Cub Scout PackBoy Scout Troop • Leadership • Webelos den • Advancement • Attendance • Adult attendance • Den activity • Tiger Cub den • Den chiefs or den aides • Membership • Planned program • Meeting operation • Youth leadership • Advancement • Adult assistance • Attendance • Outdoor program • Patrol activity • Budget plan • Membership • Planned program

12. Supporting the Unit Would a tool for evaluating a unit’s health be useful? How might you use these worksheets? Would a unit leader resist evaluation? If you understood the unit’s profile, where might you go for help? Commissioner Helps for Packs, Troops, and Crews Commissioner Worksheet

13. Break

14. Unit Program Planning Plan your work and work your plan Understand the program planning process & tools (see chapter 24, Cub Scout Leader Book) • Resources to help with program planning: • Cub Scout and Webelos Scout Program Helps • Pack Program Planning Chart • Cub Scout Leader Program Notebook • Council Program Calendar • Chartered Organization program needs • Other planning opportunities: • Annual Pack program planning conference • (attended by Cubmaster, pack committee, den leaders, den chiefs, parents, unit commissioner) • Monthly pack leaders planning meeting • Monthly den chief & den leader meeting

15. Unit Program Planning Plan your work and work your plan Follows a pattern which involves the boys (see chapter 8, Scoutmaster Handbook) • Resources to help with program planning: • Troop Program Features • Troop Program Planning Worksheets • Boy Scout Leader Program Notebook • Council Program Calendar • Charter organization program needs • Five Planning Steps: • Do homework (get information ready) • Find out what Scouts want • Hold troop leaders’ program planning conference • (attended by Patrol Leaders Council and Scoutmaster) • Obtain troop committee support • Share the plan with scouts, parents, UC, others

16. Unit Program Planning Plan your work and work your plan As the coach, you are on the sidelines (see chapter 5, Varsity Scout Leader Guidebook) • Resources to help with program planning: • Varsity Program Features • Team Activity Planning Worksheets • Varsity Scout Game Plan – Volumes 1-3 • Council Program Calendar • Charter organization program needs • Five Planning Steps: • Do homework (get information ready) • Conduct the Team’s Annual Planning Clinic • Share the Plan • Quarterly Program Detailing • Monthly Program Detailing • Weekly Checkup

17. Unit Program Planning Plan your work and work your plan Information on planning Crew’s program (see chapter 3, Venturing Leader Manual) • Planning process includes officers and members: • Suggest ideas for activities • Plan the activities • Participate in the activities • Planning steps: • Program Capability Inventory completed by adults • PCI information organized on Program Planning Forms • Venturing Activity Interest Survey completed by Venturers • Brainstorm ideas for activities using information collected above • Discuss and evaluate each idea • Select activities and place on program calendar • Each month, plan details for next month’s activities

18. Review We have learned about: Aims and Methods of Scouting The Commissioner Service Role Supporting the Unit Unit Program Planning

19. Commissioner Basic Training Units: The Commissioner’s Top Priority

20. Session Two Learning Objectives At the end of this session, you should be able to: • Understand commissioner priorities and how to be an effective leader yourself • Explain how unit committees are organized to support the unit leaders • State the role of the commissioner in youth protection • Recognize the standard for quality unit operation • Evaluate unit operation

21. Unit Visitation Reports Individual reports on visits made before this training session • Summary comments: • Become more familiar with all resource material to improve your evaluations • Increase understanding of the total situation in the unit • Another visit opportunity – • Review “Unit Contacts” section in Commissioner Fieldbook – page 15

22. Good Unit Service Take precedence over all other Scouting efforts = Commissioner Priorities Commissioners are wonderful Scouters May be asked to do many things NOT the primary responsibilities of commissioners Concentrate your Scouting time on helping specific unit needs Unit Service Everything else in Scouting Falling into the Trap Commissioners can fall into the trap of doing everything else in Scouting except appointed job: Unit Service --- It happens! (see page 24, Commissioner Fieldbook)

23. Effective Leadership How to be effective leaders • 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 communications

24. Break and Lunch Open Forum for questions and concerns

25. Fast Start training helps a new leader get started right Unit Committee Unit Leader Unit Committee Functions Understand what help a unit leader should receive from a unit committee Unit Commissioner

26. Functions of the Committee Cub Scouting: Recordkeeping Correspondence Advancement Training Public Relations Outings Finance Friends of Scouting Membership Re-registration Venturing: Provide leadership Complete PCI Secure equipment Provide facilities Find resources Support program Boy Scouting: Leadership selection Finance Equipment Transportation Membership Re-registration Advancement Support outdoor program needs Varsity: Provide leadership Finance Equipment Membership Advancement High adventure Sports Personal development Service Special programs References: Scoutmaster Handbook Pages 157 Troop Committee Guidebook Reference: Cub Scout Leader Book Pages 23-5 to 23-7 Reference: Venturing Leader Manual Pages 18-19 Reference: Varsity Scout Leader Guidebook Pages 22 & 24

27. Youth Protection for Boy Scout and Cub Scout Leader Basic Training Video Introduction to Youth Protection Boy Scouts of America is deeply concerned about the general welfare of our children

28. The Commissioner and Youth Protection Commissioners can help in several ways: Conduct annual Youth Protection review Help with leader selection Coach unit people Promote use of videos Explain about handbook inserts

29. Quality Unit Operation Unit Commissioners must be alert to situations that can signal a unit is in trouble. Divide into buzz groups and discuss possible danger signals

30. Quality Unit Operation • Possible list of Danger Signs: • Style of leadership • Does not understand patrol method • Lacks faith in boys running troop • Wants to keep authority • Can train only by mass instruction • Temperament is not compatible • Unit is not meeting • Unit is without adult leaders • Unit has no committee • No new members are being added • Low attendance at meetings • Weak or poorly organized program • No advancement • No participation in camps • No unit budget Buzz Groups Each group reports their list

31. Quality Unit Operation National Quality Unit Award for pack, troop, team, and crew operations These forms represent desirable and important standards for quality unit operation

32. Review We have learned about: Commissioner Priorities Effective Commissioner Leadership Unit Committee Functions Introduction to Youth Protection Quality Unit Operation

33. Commissioner Basic Training How to Help a Unit

34. Session three Learning Objectives At the end of this session, you should be able to: • 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 • Make a meaningful visit to a unit

35. Counseling Ability to listen in such a way that they will solve their own problems Best way to help a unit is to strengthen its leadership through effective counseling Commissioners must be good counselors to do their jobs well Counseling fundamentals: Carefully select time and place Work to understand what the leader is saying Let the leader know you hear and understand DO NOT give advice. Guide them to solve their own problem Summarize from time to time Support their thinking with information More information in “Counseling” chapter of Commissioner Fieldbook

36. Commissioner Basic Training The District Committee

37. District Committee Four Function Organization: Membership Finance Program Unit Service

38. Membership Functions • Fall Roundup • Spring Roundup • Special membership rallies • Advice and help to units with membership problems

39. Finance Functions • Sustaining Membership Enrollment • and Friends of Scouting • Trust Funds • (James E. West Award) • Advice to units

40. Program Functions • Camping • Activities • Advancement • Training • Health & Safety

41. Program Functions Camping Order of the Arrow Where to go camping Summer camp promotion Log Cabin Gateway Philmont

42. Scouting for Food Program Functions Activities Scout Expo Scouting for Food Scouting Anniversary Week District Recognition Dinner Cub Day Camp Derbys: Pinewood, Soapbox, etc. Camp-O-Rees

43. Program Functions Advancement Eagle Boards of Review Merit Badge Counselors Venturing awards Advice / training for units Heroism awards Adult recognition

44. Program Functions Training Cub Scout: Fast Start New Leader Essentials Leader Specific Training Youth Protection Pow Wow, Roundtable Wood Badge Philmont Boy Scout: Fast Start New Leader Essentials Leader Specific Training Intro to Outdoor Leadership Youth Protection Roundtable Wood Badge Philmont Varsity/Venturing: Fast Start New Leader Essentials Leader Specific Training Intro to Outdoor Leadership Youth Protection Roundtable Wood Badge Philmont Youth: Den Chief National Youth Leadership Training Junior Leader Backpack Training Venturing Leadership Skills Course

45. Specialists Request specific assistance Country Doctor (unit commissioner) Provide consultation or specialized treatment Determine need District Committee Unit Service UNIT

46. Membership Management Buzz Groups Discuss how to get and keep young men Potential Scenarios: Unit members concentrated into one age group – need to recruit Unit not aware of membership situation – need an inventory Units at risk to drop charter – needs member management focus Recruiting opportunities – Boy-fact surveys, list of Webelos scouts, birthday greetings, specific invitations to day camps & long-term camps, etc Also see membership section of Commissioner helps for packs, troops, and crews

47. Membership Management Report from groups Summary: Membership for membership’s sake is not the name of the game Recruiting will ensure continuation of the unit Good program is the key to attracting boys

48. Break

49. Unit Charter Renewal Process Discussion of renewal process Note: Unit Commissioner should be involved in a majority of the steps More information in Commissioner Fieldbook, Charter Renewal chapter

50. Annual Commissioner Service Plan Gives specific purpose for some of your regular and supportive contact with units See page 17 in Commissioner Fieldbook for more details