Title: Bachelor of Commissioner
1- Bachelor of Commissioner
- Science
Instructors Richard Benner, David Carleton, Gene
Letner, Chris Porras, Walt Robbins
2- Reminder to instructors Check the notes pages
of this presentation for the text of the
Continuing Education for Commissioners - This is a hidden slide and will not show in the
presentation.
3Introductions
- Name
- Commissioner job
- Scouting experience
4Overview
- BS104, Unit Visitation (R)
- BS102, Rechartering (R)
- BS103, The District (O)
- BS105, Solutions (O)
- BS106, Priorities (O)
- Or any optional Masters or Doctoral class
5Overview
- BCS101, Intro to CS
- BCS102, Charter Renewal
- BCS103, Commissioner and the District
- BCS104, Unit Visitation
- BCS105, Practical Solutions
- BCS106, Commissioner Priorities
- BCS107, Youth Protection
- BCS108, Roundtables I
- BCS109, Roundtables II
- BCS110, Style
- BCS111, Health Safety
- BCS112, What Would You Do?
- BCS113, Service to New Units
- BCS114, Commissioner-Professional Relationship
6- BCS 101
- Introduction to
- Commissioner Science
Instructor
7Introduction
- Need a dynamic commissioner staff
- Commissioner role is different
- Quality depends on commissioners
- Resources help commissioners succeed
- You arent an expert in everything
- Know where to go to get help
- First resource Commissioner Fieldbook
8Commissioner Fieldbook
- Resource of information
- Experience of hundreds of commissioners
9Contents
10Commissioner Orientation
- Overview
- Use with video Helping Units Succeed
11Commissioner Concept
- Help units succeed!
- Max efficiency
- Good program
- More members
- Results oriented, not procedures
- Roles
- Friend of the unit
- Representative of the BSA
- Unit doctor
- Teacher
- Counselor
12District Commissioner Staff
- District Commissioner
- Assistant District Commissioners
- Unit Commissioners
- Roundtable Commissioners
- District Executive
13Providing Unit Service
- We care listen!
- Unit contacts
- 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!
14Commissioner Style
- Frontline diplomat
- Exceptional service
- Roots and wings
- Service recoveryHow to right a wrong
15Lifesaving Commissioner
- Watch the vital signs
- Go into action fast
- Hurry cases
16Counseling
- Ability to listen and react in a way that will
help others solve their own problems
17Unit Charter Renewal
- BCS 102 covers unit charter renewal
- Commissioners goalon time
18Commissioner Training
- Orientation video
- Personal coaching / orientation
- Basic training
- Arrowhead Honor
- Commissioners Key
- Continuing education
19Commissioner Resources
20Unit CommissionerWorksheets (1)
21Unit CommissionerWorksheets (2)
22Summary
- Commissioner Fieldbook is your guide
- Only a tool
- You have to build something with it
23 24- BCS 102
- Unit Charter
- Renewal
Instructor Richard Benner
25Why Recharter?
- BSA does not own Scouting units
- Annual franchise to chartered partners
- Chartered partners are
- Churches
- Schools / PTAs
- Service clubs
- Businesses and labor unions
26When 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
27The Charter Renewal Process
- 90 days before
- DE visit IH
- Printout available (to right person!)
- 60 days before
- Membership inventory
- Recruit to make up loss
- 100 Boys' Life?
- 45 days before
- Charter renewal meeting
- Boys
- Adults
- Fees
- Approvals
- Plans for the next year (Quality Unit)
- 15 days before
- Charter turn-in night
- 60 days after
- Charter presentation
28 Ninety Days Before
- District Executive visits Institution Head
- Friendly visit
- or
- "How can I help"
29Sixty Days Before
- Membership inventory
- Set review meeting
- Uniform inspection?
30Forty-Five Days Before
- Charter review meeting
- Youth
- Adults
- Fees
- Approvals
- Quality Unit status
- Plans
31Fifteen Days Before
32Sixty Days After
- Charter presentation
- Chartered partner
- and
- The unit
- Sample presentation in Commissioner Fieldbook
33Failure to Recharter
- Who has the forms?
- Why?
- What can you do about it?
- Reorganize before charter expiration
34Charter Renewal Application
- Headers
- Adults
- Age
- Applications
- Youth
- Applications
- Boys Life
35(No Transcript)
36(No Transcript)
37(No Transcript)
38Reregistration Checklist
39(No Transcript)
40(No Transcript)
41(No Transcript)
42Two PrinciplesAssure 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.
43 44- BCS 103 The Commissionerand the District
Instructor Chris Porras
45- Volunteers and ProfessionalsWorking Together
46Relationship
- 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
47 48Four-Function Plan
- Membership
- Finance
- Program
- Unit Service
- Key 3
- District Chairman
- District Commissioner
- District Executive
49Membership
- School nights
- Commissioners needed!
- Roundup
- Patrol plus
- New unit organization
- Commissioner needed!
50Finance
- District goals support council services
- District campaign
- Unit campaign
- Unit commissioner explain / support
51Program
- Training
- UC support, take people to training!
- Camping / Outdoor
- Summer camp
- Day camp
- Outdoor program
- Activities
- Advancement
52Unit Service
- UC a friend to the units leaders
- UC evaluates program, provides help
- UC encourages activities
- UC reports unit status
- UC helps unit solve problems
- Training
- Advancement
- Outdoors / Activities
53 54Council Organization
- 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
55Council Support
- 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.
56 57Quality Districts
- 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
58How Do You Contribute?
- On-time rechartering
- Quality Units
- Membership growth
- Outdoor program
- Trained leaders
- Communicate the need for finance drives
- A quality program for kids!
59 60Instructor Walt Robbins
61Types of Visits
- Unit meetings
- Unit committee meetings
- Individual get-together with unit leader
- Visit with other unit adults
- Effective phone contacts
62Before You Go
- Friend of the unit
- How can you help the unit?
- 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
63During the Visit
- Watch and listen
- Do not disrupt the meeting
- Stay long enough
- Dont take notes
- Chat with other adults on the sideline
- Get to know the boys
- Dont distract the leader
- Give a chance to mention problems
- Take some freebies
64After the Visit
- After fill out commissioner worksheet
- Determine priority needs
- How can you be most helpful?
- Discuss special needs with ADC / DC / DE
65Worksheet
66Sample
67Odds and Ends
- Brainstorm ways to help
- Prioritize your units
- Keep a positive attitude
68Uniform Inspections
- 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
- Dont sweat the small stuff
- Compliment the boys and adults
69Counseling
- Ability to listen and react in a way that will
help others solve their own problems
70 71- BCS 105
- Practical Solutions to Common Unit Needs
Instructor David Carleton
72Commissioners Help Units
- Succeed
- Develop a better program
- Operate more effectively
73Unit CommissionerWorksheets
- Review worksheetsCommissioner Helps
- Nine / ten categories for each unit
- Unit profile
- Some Ways to Help suggestions
74Pack Worksheet (1)
75Pack Worksheet (2)
76Pack Worksheet (3)
77Pack Worksheet (4)
78Troop Worksheet (1)
79Troop Worksheet (2)
80Troop Worksheet (3)
81Troop Worksheet (4)
82Crew Worksheet (1)
83Crew Worksheet (2)
84Crew Worksheet (3)
85Crew Worksheet (4)
86Commissioner Response
- Commissioner Helps for Packs, Troops and Crews
- Standards based on experience and policy
- Practical action by a commissioner
87Find a Solution
- St. Marys 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
units meeting place.
88Class 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
89Problem-Solving Video
- Unit Problem-Solving for Commissioners video,
AV-04V002 - 14 problem segments
- Designed for use in commissioner meetings
90 91- BCS 106
- A Commissioners
- Priorities
Instructor Gene Letner
92Know Your UnitsOur 1 Priority
- Know the unit adults
- Be a friend of the unit
- Understand the environment
- Chartered organization
- History and experience with Scouting
- Income and education level
- Inner-city neighborhood / suburban / rural
- Visit often enough to be up-to-date
93Prioritize Unit Needs
- Keep a list of needs and problems
- Evaluate your time it is limited
- Concentrate your energies on main problems
- Focus on units that need help
- Do unit service not everything else
- Activities are not a commissioners first job
- Say no when required
- Being a commissioner is your primary job
94Typical 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
95Steps in Handling a Problem
- 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
96The 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
97National Quality Unit Award
- 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
98 99- BCS 107
- Youth
- Protection
- Training
Instructor
100Introduction
- Child abuse is one of five unacceptables
- 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
101 102Commissioner 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
103 104- BCS 108
- Effective
- Roundtables
- I
Instructor
105Introduction
- 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
106Roundtable Structure
- Combined sessions
- Separate sessions
107Basic 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
108Planning Cycle
- Annual program planning
- Annual planning conference
- Monthly program themes
- Use of theme managers
- Quarterly planning meeting
- Monthly staff meetings
- Program themes
- Personal resources
- District and council events
- Special dates
109Roundtable Planning Checklists
110Resource Materials
- Planning guides
- Program Helps
- Scouting magazine
- Boys Life magazine
- Scouting literature
- Other resources
111Closing
- BCS 109 coming up!
- Effective Roundtables II
112 113- BCS 109
- Effective
- Roundtables
- II
Instructor
114Promotion and Publicity (1)
- 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
115Promotion and Publicity (2)
- Recognition
- Promotional plans
- Gimmicks, goodies, product samples
- Attendance awards
- Personal contact is best
- Phone squads
- Interesting guests
116Location
- 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
117Roundtable 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
118Roundtable 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
119Roundtable Morale Builders (3)
- Icebreakers, stunts, and skits
- Icebreakers
- Group Meeting Sparklers
- Cheers and applause
- Stunts and skits
- Developing skits
- Staging skits
- Resources
- Funny lost-and-found
120Roundtable 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
121Roundtable Morale Builders (5)
- Ceremonies
- Purpose of ceremonies
- Essential ingredients
- Staging ceremonies
- Involvement and participation
- Types of ceremonies
- Ceremonial props
122Review of Quality Roundtable Ingredients
- Action
- Material
- Handouts
- Skills and crafts
- New ideas
- Useful information
- Fun
- Food
123 124- BCS 110
- Commissioner
- Style
Instructor
125Be a Frontline Diplomat
- 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
126Exceptional Service
- Equation
- Unit leader perception of help received
- Help the leader expected
- Exceptional district service
- Exceptional service exceeds unit leader
expectations rather than barely meeting
expectations
127Roots
- Confidence and commitment
- Traditions
- Campfires
- Camporees
- Uniforms
- Ideals Law and Promise
- Youth leadership
- Quality programs
128Wings
- 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
129Brainstorming
- 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)
130How to Right a Wrong
131How to Right a Wrong
- Find a sincere way to say Im sorry
- Act immediately
- Take the initiative
- Smooth ruffled feathers
- Let them know you care
- Turn a blunder into an opportunity
- Be prepared
132 133- BCS 111
- Health and
- Safety Training
Instructor
134(No Transcript)
135 136- BCS 112
- What Would
- You Do?
Instructor
137Procedure
- Small groups solve separate problems. Positive
solutions for all parties - Report solutions
- Select individual ideas that have broader
application
1381
- 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 dont 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?
1392
- 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 . . .
1403
- 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?
1414
- 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 sons
advancement is being frustrated by members of the
Scouts 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 . . .
1425
- 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?
1436
- 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?
1447
- You meet a Scoutmaster at the council service
center and he complains to you that he can never
get any information about whats happening in the
district and the council. He feels isolated and
forgotten. What would you recommend.
1458
- 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?
1469
- 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, whats the first
thing?
14710
- 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.
148 149- BCS 113
- Service to New Units
Instructor
150Commissioner 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. 42-44
151Commissioner Tasks (2)
- First unit committee meeting
- Role?
- Your agenda?
- Training
- Fast Start
- New Leader Essentials
- . . . Specific Training
152Commissioner Tasks (3)
- Youth buy-in
- Venturing officers elected and trained
- Scouting patrol method
- Cub Scouting dens functioning
- Guide program planning
- First two months
153Commissioner Tasks (4)
- Be a friend, not a checker-upper
- Help start planning for major events
- Cub day camp, resident camp
- Scout summer camp
- Venturing superactivity
154Commissioner Tasks (5)
- Recognize unit successes.
- Help leaders solve immediate concerns
155Commissioner Tasks (6)
- Play a mentoring role. Begin a trusting
relationship. - How is future help affected?
- How can you gauge trust?
156 157- BCS 114
- Good Commissioner-
- Professional Relationships
Instructor
158Introduction
- Volunteer professional relationship special
hallmark of BSA - Core of its success
- Both share responsibility for good working
relationships
159- What is evidence of a good relationship?
160- Good volunteer-professional relationships are
characterized by mutual trust, mutual respect,
and mutual recognition of each others role and
competency.
161Mutual Dependence
- Common goal quality program for youth
- Interdependent
- Too much work to be done by professionals
- Professionals provide coaching / experience
- Seek each others counsel
- Professionals work with volunteers
- Should be friends
162Differences / Similarities
- Differences
- Professional full time, more experience
- Volunteer part time, experience limited
- Similarities
- Dedicated to principles of Scouting
- Desire quality program for kids
163Tip 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.
164Tip 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.
165Tip 3
- Create a welcome environment for the new
professional and plan ways to incorporate him or
her into the team. Remember that its 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.
166Tip 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
others Scouting time
167Tip 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.
168Tip 6
- There will inevitably be some professionals you
dont like as much as others. Thats human
nature. However, part of being a good Scouter is
working with all kinds of people, even when the
human chemistry isnt just perfect. Feel free to
talk with your professional partner about how you
are working together.
169Tip 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 persons only
priority in life. They will have family
priorities and may be active in religious and
other activities.
170Tip 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.
171Tip 9
- Develop good communication in which you and your
professional really listen to and understand each
other.
172Tip 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.
173Summary
- Scoutings success is founded on volunteer talent
with professional advice and support
174 175