Commissioner Basic Training

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Commissioner Basic Training

• Welcome to One Day session
• Will include
• Why Commissioners?
• The Commissioners Top Priority the Unit
• How to Help a Unit

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Commissioner Basic Training

• Why Commissioners?

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Learning Objectives
Session One
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

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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
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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.
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The Commissioner Concept
The commissioner is the liaison between the local
council and Scouting units. The commissioners
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
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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 Di
stinguished Commissioner Service Award
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Job of Unit Commissioner
Review answers to pre-opening quiz Refer to
Commissioner Job Description cards
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Commissioners Role
What are the five major roles of a commissioner?

• Friend
• Representative
• Unit doctor
• Teacher
• Counselor

More details in Commissioner Fieldbook, page 11
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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 Pack Boy Scout Troop
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Supporting the Unit
What are the indicators to be monitored?
Cub Scout Pack Boy Scout Troop

• Meeting operation
• Youth leadership
• Advancement
• Adult assistance
• Attendance
• Outdoor program
• Patrol activity
• Budget plan
• Membership
• Planned program

• Leadership
• Webelos den
• Advancement
• Attendance
• Adult attendance
• Den activity
• Tiger Cub den
• Den chiefs or den aides
• Membership
• Planned program

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

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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

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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 Teams Annual Planning Clinic
• Share the Plan
• Quarterly Program Detailing
• Monthly Program Detailing
• Weekly Checkup

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Unit Program Planning
Plan your work and work your plan
Information on planning Crews 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 months
  activities

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Review
We have learned about Aims and Methods of
Scouting The Commissioner Service Role Supporting
the Unit Unit Program Planning
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Commissioner Basic Training

• Units The Commissioners Top Priority

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Learning Objectives
Session Two
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

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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
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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)
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Effective Leadership
How to be effective leaders

1. Evaluate and improve your own performance
2. Maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude
3. Work successfully with adults
4. Guide unit leaders in working successfully with
   boys
5. Set a good example for the boys and other adults
6. Continue learning and growing in leadership
   skills
7. Practice good communications

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Break and Lunch
Open Forum for questions and concerns
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Unit Committee Functions
Understand what help a unit leader should receive
from a unit committee
Unit Commissioner
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Functions of the Committee
Cub Scouting Recordkeeping Correspondence Advance
ment Training Public Relations Outings Finance Fri
ends of Scouting Membership Re-registration
Venturing Provide leadership Complete PCI Secure
equipment Provide facilities Find
resources Support program
Boy Scouting Leadership selection Finance Equipme
nt Transportation Membership Re-registration Advan
cement Support outdoor program needs
Varsity Provide leadership Finance Equipment Memb
ership 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
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Introduction to Youth Protection
Boy Scouts of America is deeply concerned about
the general welfare of our children
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Review
We have learned about Commissioner
Priorities Effective Commissioner Leadership Unit
Committee Functions Introduction to Youth
Protection Quality Unit Operation
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Commissioner Basic Training

• How to Help a Unit

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Learning Objectives
Session three
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

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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
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Commissioner Basic Training

• The District Committee

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District Committee
Four Function Organization Membership Finance Pro
gram Unit Service
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Membership Functions

• Fall Roundup
• Spring Roundup
• Special membership rallies
• Advice and help to units with membership problems

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Finance Functions

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

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Program Functions

• Camping
• Activities
• Advancement
• Training
• Health Safety

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Program Functions
Camping
Order of the Arrow Where to go camping Summer
camp promotion Log Cabin Gateway Philmont
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Program Functions
Activities
Scout Expo Scouting for Food Scouting Anniversary
Week District Recognition Dinner Cub Day
Camp Derbys Pinewood, Soapbox, etc. Camp-O-Rees
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Program Functions
Advancement
Eagle Boards of Review Merit Badge
Counselors Venturing awards Advice / training for
units Heroism awards Adult recognition
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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 Woo
d Badge Philmont
Varsity/Venturing Fast Start New Leader
Essentials Leader Specific Training Intro to
Outdoor Leadership Youth Protection Roundtable Woo
d Badge Philmont
Youth Den Chief National Youth Leadership
Training Junior Leader Backpack
Training Venturing Leadership Skills Course
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District Committee
Unit Service
UNIT
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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
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Membership Management
Report from groups
Summary Membership for memberships sake is not
the name of the game Recruiting will ensure
continuation of the unit Good program is the key
to attracting boys
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Break
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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
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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
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The Lifesaving Commissioner
Sometimes a commissioner is called on to save the
life of a unit. What needs to be done? How do
you go about it?
More information in Commissioner Fieldbook, Be a
Lifesaving Commissioner chapter on page 28
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The Lifesaving Commissioner

• Youth dropping out
• No youth recruiting or poor recruiting methods
• No adult leader
• No planned program
• No youth leaders
• No discipline
• Unit stops meeting
• Charter lapses
• Charter organization leader unhappy with the unit
• Only one adult active
• No involvement of parents
• Adult conflicts and poor communications
• Others

Watch for Vital Signs
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The Lifesaving Commissioner
Specific things you can do Consult your ADC or
DC Ask some basic questions What must be
solved? Possible alternatives? Which strategy
first? Who to involve? Is it saved? What is Plan
B? Be enthusiastic Apply first aid Apply
second aid Generate teamwork
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The Lifesaving Commissioner
Unit No Meeting Move quickly to salvage remaining
leadership and membership Unit with No Leader See
that leader is replaced quickly and then
trained Unit with No Committee Work with
chartered organization to understand
importance Unit with No New Members Help find
ways to grow membership and ensure program is
attracting and keeping. Unit Conflict with
Chartered Organization Be a mediator. Bring
together to talk. New Leader lacks Training Help
orient and provide information Unit with Weak
Leadership Counsel with leader. Encourage with
Chartered Org
Typical Hurry Cases
More information in Commissioner Fieldbook Page
28-30
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The Lifesaving Commissioner
Using a team approach
Ad Hoc Or Organized effort
What are the benefits of a formal lifesaving team?
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Review
We have learned about Counseling The District
Committee Membership Management Unit Charter
Renewal Process Annual Commissioner Service
Plan The Lifesaving Commissioner
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Next Unit Visits
Today we have learned about dealing with units,
its adult organization functions, and the
quality program.
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Summary
As a leader, You have made a personal commitment..
to Scouting ...of time, effort, and
knowledge of patience and understanding to be a
living example for unit leaders to lend a
helping hand to fellow Scouters.
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Closing
The Challenge- You now see your task Training is
just beginning continue to gain
knowledge Commissioner must be a friend to
units Goal is more boys with better Scouting
experience Graduation