dan beard council national commissioner - don belcher podcasts monthly visits

Dan Beard Council

National Commissioner - Don BelcherNational Commissioner - Don BelcherPodcastsPodcasts

Monthly VisitsMonthly Visits


Role of the Unit CommissionerRole of the Unit Commissioner

Make every Unit successfulMake every Unit successful How do we measure success?How do we measure success?

Is Unit a Quality Unit?Is Unit a Quality Unit? Has Unit’s retention improved?Has Unit’s retention improved?

If both of these are happening – your Units are If both of these are happening – your Units are certain to be successfulcertain to be successful

Clear definitions exist for Quality UnitsClear definitions exist for Quality Units


How can you ensure success in each Unit?How can you ensure success in each Unit?

Regular monthly visitsRegular monthly visits – see what is – see what is happeninghappening

Places you in a position to bring your help Places you in a position to bring your help and support to the unitand support to the unit


You can’t just Fly By! – You can’t just Fly By! – It means “boots on the ground”It means “boots on the ground”

It doesn’t mean that every visit has to be to the Unit It doesn’t mean that every visit has to be to the Unit itselfitself

Monthly visits could include: Monthly visits could include: Unit visitUnit visit Committee meetingCommittee meeting Roundtable meetingRoundtable meeting


Visits have to be face-to-faceVisits have to be face-to-face

You have to see what is actually happening in a UnitYou have to see what is actually happening in a Unit We know something about kids We know something about kids

You have to be there and see that the “kids" are having fun!You have to be there and see that the “kids" are having fun! If they are If they are having funhaving fun

Membership is upMembership is up Retention is upRetention is up Advancement is going onAdvancement is going on Strong leadershipStrong leadership Kids invite friends to attendKids invite friends to attend

When they are When they are not having funnot having fun Kids will vote with their feet – Leave Scouting!Kids will vote with their feet – Leave Scouting!


Role of Unit CommissionerRole of Unit Commissioner

CoachCoach CounselorCounselor Helpful addition to the Unit leaderHelpful addition to the Unit leader Ensure Unit leaders are keeping the kids engagedEnsure Unit leaders are keeping the kids engaged

Unit Commissioners Unit Commissioners don’t have all of the answersdon’t have all of the answers They should know who to contact for the answersThey should know who to contact for the answers Use all of the available resourcesUse all of the available resources Are exposed to successful UnitsAre exposed to successful Units


Typical Unit VisitTypical Unit Visit

Talk to Unit leader in advanceTalk to Unit leader in advance Make sure the Unit leader understands that you would like to Make sure the Unit leader understands that you would like to

come & observe the Unit come & observe the Unit Ask if you can help with anythingAsk if you can help with anything After relationship is developed it is probably not necessary to After relationship is developed it is probably not necessary to

notify in advancenotify in advance You are not there to grade themYou are not there to grade them You are there to help and support themYou are there to help and support them


Commissioner’s WorksheetCommissioner’s Worksheet

Review before Unit visitReview before Unit visit Don’t check off or fill in during the visit Don’t check off or fill in during the visit Keep in mind those areas you are going to focus on during Keep in mind those areas you are going to focus on during

the Visitthe Visit Are the kids have fun?Are the kids have fun? Who’s leading the meeting? – Only adults? youth leading?Who’s leading the meeting? – Only adults? youth leading? What about advancement – is it happening?What about advancement – is it happening? What does the membership look like?What does the membership look like?

Growing?/Declining?Growing?/Declining?


Commissioner’s Worksheet (Cont’d)Commissioner’s Worksheet (Cont’d)

What does the retention rate look like?What does the retention rate look like? Improving?Improving? Stable?Stable? Getting Worse?Getting Worse?

How can I help this Unit?How can I help this Unit? After the meeting summarize your findingsAfter the meeting summarize your findings Review worksheet with your ADC or DC for Review worksheet with your ADC or DC for

recommendationsrecommendations


Unit Self-AssessmentUnit Self-Assessment

Each Unit goes through this process annually or semi-annuallyEach Unit goes through this process annually or semi-annually Unit Self-Assessment: Unit Self-Assessment:

Unit Leader – how do I feel about the progress I am making in Unit Leader – how do I feel about the progress I am making in this Unit?this Unit?

Quality of program the kids are getting?Quality of program the kids are getting? Advancement status?Advancement status? Membership status?Membership status? Retention status?Retention status? Are the camping/outings taking place as scheduled?Are the camping/outings taking place as scheduled?

Unit leader assesses his/her own performanceUnit leader assesses his/her own performance UC assists the Unit to make them successfulUC assists the Unit to make them successful


Units Need Physical ContactUnits Need Physical Contact

Meeting people – seeing what is going onMeeting people – seeing what is going on We are challenged with re-invigorating growth & We are challenged with re-invigorating growth &

retention retention Make sure every unit is successfulMake sure every unit is successful Unit Commissioner does this by visiting Units Unit Commissioner does this by visiting Units

monthlymonthly Being in a position to provide help & supportBeing in a position to provide help & support


Keeping track of all of our visitsKeeping track of all of our visits

Vitally important that there is a Vitally important that there is a measurement systemmeasurement system No big national systemNo big national system – each Council has their own system – each Council has their own system Setting expectationsSetting expectations for our Unit Commissioners: for our Unit Commissioners:

Make aMake a minimum of one Unit visitminimum of one Unit visit in some form in some form every every monthmonth

Measurement SystemMeasurement System – Make sure we can follow-up and – Make sure we can follow-up and correct issues that need support and some helpcorrect issues that need support and some help


““I do not believe that there is a single more vital I do not believe that there is a single more vital role in building the success of the Boy Scouts role in building the success of the Boy Scouts of America than the work done by the Unit of America than the work done by the Unit CommissionerCommissioner””

““Unit Commissioners are making a difference in Unit Commissioners are making a difference in the lives of our youththe lives of our youth””

- - Don Belcher, National Commissioner, BSADon Belcher, National Commissioner, BSA


Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts If in every Council . . . in every District . . . we set expectations of monthly If in every Council . . . in every District . . . we set expectations of monthly

Unit visitsUnit visits . . . if we measure these visits . . . If we have a reporting process . . . and . . . if we measure these visits . . . If we have a reporting process . . . and

we follow-up on these visitswe follow-up on these visits

. . . we will dramatically & positively effect he Quality of Commissioner . . . we will dramatically & positively effect he Quality of Commissioner Service and will contribute significantly to the revitalization of Service and will contribute significantly to the revitalization of membership growth and retentionmembership growth and retention

. . . That is our job as Commissioners!. . . That is our job as Commissioners!


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dan beard council national commissioner - don belcher podcasts monthly visits

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