Fast Start Training for the Unit Commissioner

1
Fast Start Trainingfor theUnit Commissioner
This presentation is intended to provide a
general overview and as a supplement to existing
training programs offered in local Councils, and
should not be used as a substitute for that
excellent training.

• Sal DAlessio
• Assistant District Commissioner
• Black Hill District, NCAC, BSA

2
What is the Commissioner Service?

• Briefly stated, the Commissioner Service of the
  Boy Scouts is a core of dedicated volunteer
  Scouters whose primary purpose is to provide
  service and support to Pack, Troop, Team,
  Venture, Post, Ship, and other Scout Leaders.
• The journey down the scouting trail is a
  challenge for our youth, and reaching the top is
  almost impossible without good Unit Scout
  Leaders. These Unit Leaders deserve the best
  support we can give them.  It is the Job of the
  BSA Commissioners to help deliver the promise of
  Scouting by serving these dedicated Unit
  Leaders.

3
What is Different aboutthe Commissioner Service?

• Unlike other Scout Leaders, Commissioners do not
  work directly with the youth and are not
  generally responsible for a particular Scouting
  Program.
• Rather, Commissioners provide service and support
  to Unit Leaders, by providing them with extra
  resources to assure that the Unit Leaders are
  able to deliver the best possible Scouting
  Program.
• Within every District, there is one District
  Commissioner, several Assistant District
  Commissioners, and many Unit Commissioners, who
  are all part of the Unit Service Team.

4
Role of the Unit Commissioner

• The Unit Commissioner (UC) plays the most
  important role on the Unit Service Team by
  serving as a friend, counselor, and mentor to
  Unit Leaders while operating quietly in the
  background.
• The UC acts as the Unit's direct point of contact
  on District and Council matters effecting the
  Unit.
• Ideally, there should be one UC for each Unit
  however, it is not uncommon for one UC to work
  with more than one Scouting Unit.
• The UCs primary mission is to help units succeed.

5
The Goals of the Unit Commissioner

• Maintain a close liaison with the chartered
  organizations and units they serve.
• Work to assure effective active unit
  committees.
• Encourage units to participate in Roundtables.
• Establish good lines of communication between
  unit personnel and Council and District leaders.
• Help select and recruit unit leaders.
• Be constantly alert to fulfilling his or her
  mission. The job of the Unit Commissioner is unit
  service!
• Cultivate and maintain the best possible ongoing
  relationship with the unit leader. This is
  important!
• Attend a monthly Commissioners meeting to brag
  about their Unit(s) or to get guidance from
  others.

6
Special Note on Job Priorities

• UCs should not fall into the trap of doing
  everything except their appointed job which is
  Unit service
• While many programs and activities of Scouting,
  such as, promoting projects, carrying messages,
  acting as judges, running activities, etc., are
  all unquestionably important, they are not the
  primary responsibilities of the UCs
• UCs must concentrate their time on helping with
  specific Unit needs and helping each Unit become
  more effective with its program and operations
• As a general rule, UCs should not be registered
  as the Unit Leader rather, their principal
  Scouting obligation should be with Commissioner
  duties

7
What are Qualities of an Effective UC?

• The UC is a Frontline Diplomat handling new
  and sometimes difficult situations in a way that
  maintains good relations avoids offending
  people
• A good Unit Commissioner should
• Be an effective communicator, and a good listener
• Have sound judgment, and be tactful
• Have a scouting background or be willing to learn
  about the Scouting program and advocate the
  Scouting ideals
• Be persistent and patient, adaptable, and
  enthusiastic
• Treat everyone with respect, even when its
  difficult
• The UC should be able to play the role of friend,
  representative, unit "doctor," teacher
  counselor

8
The UC is a Friend

• He or she is there to help the unit lending a
  hand when needed or when asked for help by the
  Unit Leaders.
• Develop a good relationship with the Unit
  Leaders, they need to be comfortable with calling
  upon the UC in times of trouble or need.
• The UC is a friend, and should not be perceived
  as a District SuperSpy

9
The UC is a Representative

• The average unit leader is totally occupied by
  working with kids. Some leaders have little
  contact with the Council.  This is OK.
• The UC is the Unit's representative and is there
  to act as the Unit's point of contact in District
  matters which effect the Unit.
• The UC is an advocate of the Units needs

10
The UC is a Unit Doctor"

• When problems arise, and problems may arise even
  in the best of units, the UC should be called
  upon to help.
• Watch for early warning signs, and practice
  preventative medicine
• thru constant Unit Health Assessment.
• Act when Unit lifesaving is required.

11
The UC is a Teacher

• He or she can help in the growth of the unit
  leaders by sharing his or her knowledge with
  them, or by
• Pointing Unit leaders to available resources and
  expertise w/i the District
• UCs do not need to know all the answers they
  need to track down the answers for their Units or
  facilitate contact with people who can help.

12
The UC is a Counselor

• He or she is there to help Units solve their own
  problems.
• The UC offers suggestions to Unit leaders UCs
  are not responsible for their Unit's programs or
  activities.
• But UCs can and should help, if asked or if it is
  clear that help is needed.

13
Unit Service Overview

• Friendly, personal help to foster the delivery of
  scouting ideals to members
• Cooperate with your Units Scout Leaders, to
  deliver specific programs
• But the UC is not directly responsible for the
  delivery of any specific program(s)
• Your Goal is to Help Units Succeed
• But how do you that? Lets look at some specific
  examples, and learn what you will need to do to
  help your Units succeed ?

14
Annual Charter Renewal

• Begin 2 months before expiration
• Check back often with your Unit(s)
• Review package with CC and unit leader
• Encourage On-Line Re-chartering
• Submit package before the deadline
• Check the new charter for completeness
• Present it to the COR at a Unit ceremony

15
Unit Contact

• Methods
• Visit Unit and Committee Meetings
• But let them know first that you are coming
• Announced Attendance at Unit Events
• Dinners, Derbies, Uniform Inspections, etc.
• Camping, Hikes, Family Picnics, etc.
• Telephone calls with Unit Scouters
• Email is an effective way to pass information
• At least 1 Contact per Month per Unit
• Record each meaningful contact

16
Regularly Attend Sometimes Participate in Unit
Ceremonies

• Cub Scout Rank Advancements
• Blue and Gold dinners (Cub Scouts)
• Webelos Crossing-Over Ceremonies
• Courts of Honor (Troop or Crew)
• Eagle Scout - Courts of Honor
• Inductions of new Unit Leaders CCs
• Unit and Scouter Award Presentations

17
Leader and Unit Recognition

• Be aware of available award programs
• Unit Scouter nominations
• Encourage the Unit to nominate its Scouters
• Submit some nominations yourself
• Encourage Units to pursue awards
• Awards requiring record-keeping need some advance
  planning and added encouragement
• The National Quality Unit Award is one
  demonstration of success
• Recognition is VERY Important !

18
Council and District Events

• Push for Unit participation
• Join Scouting activities are very important
• Webelos II Open House (to meet Troops)
• Scouting for Food campaign
• District Camporees and Webelos Weekends
• Training Events like Pow-Wow Wood Badge
• District Competitions (i.e., Pinewood Derby)
• Scouting Jamboree-On-The-Air
• Popcorn Fund-Raiser
• Friends of Scouting
• Some misses probably are inevitable
• But set your standards high
• The more your Unit does, the more likely it will
  enjoy continued success and growth.

19
District Meetings

• Monthly Roundtables Meeting
• First, always plan on going yourself and bring a
  different Unit Scouter with you each month
• Before the Meeting Encourage Attendance!
• After the Meeting report on what they missed
• Monthly Commissioners Meeting
• Quarterly Commissioners Cabinet
• UCs are welcome, check with your ADC
• Periodic Service Area Meeting
• Held by your ADC for UCs in your Service Area

20
Unit Health Assessment

• Scouter training?
• Youth participation/leadership?
• Quality Unit status?
• Membership Growth?
• Boys Life ( of participation)?
• Are Meetings and Activities well planned?
• Advancement?
• Outdoor program?
• Are Parents Sufficiently Informed?
• Supportive Chartered Organization?

21
Unit Lifesaving

• Know your Units well enough that you can spot
  significant issues and serious problems early
• Address problems right away
• Be a coach-counselor
• Persuasion, not dictation
• Get help from District Commissioners staff
• You are not expected to solve your Units
  problems all by yourself dont hesitate to ask
  others for help.
• Dont let little problems become big ones
• Its much better and easier to help a troubled
  Unit, rather than having to start a new Unit.

22
Quick action is needed when

• Unit is not meeting regularly
• Unit has no Leader (or only one Leader)
• Unit has no Committee
• Unit has no new members (no recruiting)
• Unit conflict with Chartered Organization
• New Unit Leader lacks training
• Unit has weak leadership
• Youth is dropping out

23
Some Words of Wisdom

• Regular all-year Unit contact is essential
• You absolutely must know your unit
• Ensure the continued viability of your Unit
  through ongoing Unit Health Assessment
• Be available to help if asked or needed, but
  always remain behind the scenes
• Continue to grow as a Commissioner through
  consultation with others in the District,
  experience and added training

24
Unit Commissioner Training

• This is Fast Start training, and it is intended
  only to provide you with a general overview
• This presentation will help UCs identify their
  main goals however, it is beyond the scope of
  this presentation to teach how to meet those
  goals
• For that, and to accomplish your mission, you
  need to take Commissioner Basic Training
• which you should sign up for as soon as possible
• Other training and Award possibilities, include
• Wood Badge and University of Scouting
• Arrowhead Honor and Arrowhead Honor projects
• Commissioners Key Distinguished Commissioner
  Award

25
Use the Annual Service Planto Help your Unit(s)
Succeed

• It provides a reason for recurring and supportive
  visits with units, guiding them towards having
  activities that foster a great Scouting program
  and results in qualifying for the Quality Unit
  Award
• The plan follows the normal yearly cycle of unit
  life and covers adding new members, purchasing
  uniforms, preparing for summer camp, unit program
  planning, and replacing leadership
• Use the Annual Service Plan, with its scheduled
  opportunities, for Commissioner contact with Units

26
Suggested Time-TableFor the Annual Service Plan

• Membership Inventory In December or before
  charter renewal.
• Uniform Inspection Fall for Packs Spring and
  Fall for Troops.
• Quality Unit Measurement First month of the new
  charter year.
• Unit Leadership Inventory Conducted by April 30
  each year.
• Charter Presentation Ceremony w/i 30 days of
  charter renewal.
• Unit Program Planning This should be completed
  by August 31.
• Youth Protection Training Conducted in the fall
  of each year.
• Other Commissioner Functions Ongoing - help
  your Units solve their own problems, improve unit
  program, and provide other help.

27
Where to Get More Information

• Through Continued UC Training
• Basic Commissioner Training is a must
• From your discussions with other Unit
  Commissioners, your Assistant District
  Commissioner, or District Commissioner
• Monthly Commissioners Meeting
• District Roundtable Meetings
• Yearly Commissioners Conference
• The Unit Commissioners Library -gt

28
Unit Commissioner's Library

• College of Commissioner Science, No. 34522
• Commissioner Basic Training Manual, No. 33614
• Commissioner Conference, No. 33616
• Commissioner Fieldbook for Unit Service, No.
  37123
• Commissioner Helps for Packs, Troops and Posts,
  No. 33618
• Commissioner Job Description Cards, No. 34265
• Commissioner Unit Service Booklet, No. 34119
• Continuing Education for Commissioners, No. 33615
  (1995) (Supercedes College of Commissioner
  Science)
• Self-Evaluation for Unit Commissioners, No. 34424
  
• The Commissioner (Newsletter distributed
  quarterly ), No. 14-975
• The UC's Orientation Helping Units Succeed,
  AV-04V001 (Video)
• Unit Commissioner Program Notebook, No. 26-006
• Unit Commissioner Work Sheet (Pack), No. 34125
• Unit Commissioner Work Sheet (Post), No. 33619
• Unit Commissioner Work Sheet (Troop), No. 34126

29
The InterNet can also be a valuable resource for
UCs, but make sure the information is from a
reliable source and is current. One excellent
InterNet resource is The NetCommish, which can
be found at http//netcommish.com.

• Credits and Acknowledgements, for this Slide
  Presentation
• The NetCommish, Resources for Commissioners
  http//www.netcommish.com/
• The Unit Commissioner's Role by Joe Cotellessa,
  ADC, George Washington District, National Capital
  Area Council. PowerPoint 7.0 File - Dec. 1997
  Sig. File.
• http//usscouts.org/commish/
• Commissioner Fieldbook for Unit Service, BSA
  Publication No. 37123
• Commissioner Basic Training Manual, BSA
  Publication No. 33614

30
The Commissioner's Pledge
I will do my best, by example in my daily life to
make the Scout Oath and Law a more vital force
for good character and citizenship in the lives
of the youth and leaders I serve. I will do my
best to help secure, and help to make effective,
the finest possible leadership, for the units I
serve. I will do my best to help make the program
of the units I serve, the best that can be given,
rich in wholesome fun and adventure. In all that
I do, I will strive to help my units attract into
membership, every possible youth so that through
their participation, that youth can help make
America a finer, greater nation in a world
community.
Source http//usscouts.org/commish/ceremony.asp