SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Commissioner support Team roadmapAs the national commissioners support staff works in concert

to prepare and update information and resources relevant to commissioners we thought it might be a good time to provide a roadmap of where we are going The materials that each team leader puts together are intertwined with other membersrsquo initiatives As many of these materials are updated we must make sure the information is consistent across the commissioner organization We have found that creating the new information in a format that can easily be updated and kept current is essential For this reason the Commissioners website is the repository for all things related to commissioner service

TrainingCommissioner Basic Training and college courses were posted

to the Commissioners website last summer As detailed below the commissioner manual set will be transitioning into an e-book or Web-based module system The chapters on commissioner training will need to be updated to the new standard and to reflect the updated training continuum The current set of courses will also be reviewed and brought up to date with pending changes in commissioner role descriptions and recognition

Regional Commissioner Basic Training and Area Commissioner Basic Training are in development Currently the plan is to make the modules self-paced with learning exercises The team is investigating technology for making the courses interactive

We are also investigating creating videos that can be downloaded from the Commissioners website This means you will no longer have to chase down a professional or purchase DVDs for commissioner training Additionally the existing videos need to be brought up to date

Recruitment and RetentionRecruitment and retention has three primary objectives over

the coming year

bull Update and simplify commissioner role descriptions

bull Revise commissioner recognition opportunities

bull Improve access to recruitment and retention resources

The commissionersrsquo missionmdashhelping units succeedmdashhasnrsquot changed in Scoutingrsquos second century But the tools and techniques they use have and our descriptions of the tasks they do and our ability to recognize their efforts havenrsquot kept pace

Journey to Excellence enables us to focus on the results of our efforts to serve youth through Scouting commissioner role descriptions however tend to be lengthy lists of activities that donrsquot accurately reflect how commissioners can best spend their time and what outcomes their efforts should produce Administrative commissioners particularly our assistant district commissioners are directly responsible for strengthening unit service by recruiting new commissioners They will be most successful at identifying and recruiting candidates when equipped with tools that accurately describe the work to be done and the results desired

Recognition of the efforts of individual commissioners inspires the performance of all Commissioners should be recognized both personally and publicly for commitments and accomplishments that support and demonstrate the delivery of effective unit service using contemporary tools and techniques Changes to commissioner recognition opportunities will establish consistency encourage the use of contemporary tools and techniques incorporate our simple and unified approach to unit service encourage visioning by district and council commissioners and also encourage goal setting and planning by all administrative and roundtable commissioners Changes will not eliminate recognition opportunities that are important elements of the traditions of unit service such as the Arrowhead Honor Distinguished Commissioner and Doctorate of Commissioner Science Award They will however build upon the foundation of the Award of Excellence in Unit Service renew emphasis on the commission and provide consistency in recognition for all commissioners

Throughout the process access to information and tools to support recruitment and recognition of commissioners on the Commissioners website will be expanded

Resources Resources has the following primary

objectives this year

bull All of the material contained in the commissioner manuals will be updated to align with the mission of the commissioner corps

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

bull The Commissioners website will be updated with all of the new materials being produced by the commissioner task force and will provide links to other resources relevant to commissioners Web pages will provide more depth and subpages of information

bull A Graphics and Forms section will be added to the Commissioners website

Manuals Content UpdateKeeping multiple large manuals updated and in synch

is a monumental task as you might notice as you read the current manuals To make everyonersquos life easier especially the commissioners in the field we are going to create manualinformation modules For example the materials that are being revised for recognitions and awards will be published in a module called Awards and Recognition They will reside on the Commissioners website and can be selected and printed or just used as a reference electronically Eventually this body of work will be published as an e-book A companion document will suggest which modules to ldquobundlerdquo based on a commissionerrsquos role

This body of work will be published much like the new training materials that are now on the website Each module ldquofolderrdquo will have the module itself and any related publications links or documents

Commissioners WebsiteThe Commissioners website will undergo some changes in

its structure Instead of having very long Web pages with topic information we will better organize materials into subpages

Graphics and FormsOver the past year or so the commissioner patches and

graphics have been changed and updated A new section of the website will contain updated graphics for commissioner patches and other materials all in one place Forms that commissioners need will all be housed in one spot as well

Roundtable Roundtable guides were updated between January and

March of 2013 and will be available for the National Annual Meeting in May 2013

Integrating technology into roundtables will be explored further during the next year along with updates to the roundtable commissioner training programs

Timeline

Summer 2012

bull Basic training and College of Commissioner Science training materials released and published to the website

Fall 2012

bull Additional basic training modules completed and published to the website

Spring 2013

bull Manuals Project Task Team created and charged with creating modules

bull Awards and Recognition redevelopment effort started

May 2013

bull Roundtable guides published to the Commissioners website

bull Commissioner graphics published to the website

bull Basic training modules updated and posted to the website

bull Training codes updated to reflect the new training modules

bull Several new College of Commissioner Science courses added

bull Initial view of new commissioner role description format published

Summer 2013

bull Commissioner information modules (formerly manuals) to begin appearing on the website

bull Awards and Recognition materials to be added to a new section of the website as they are created

bull First new award recordkeeping tools and recognition certificates made available

Fall 2013

bull Commissioner information modules added

bull Awards and Recognition items added

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Winter 2014

bull Basic Training modules updated and posted to the website

bull College of Commissioner Science courses updated for 2014

bull Implementation of revision to commissioner recognition

bull Additional recordkeeping tools and recognition certificates made available

bull Commissioner information modules added

Spring 2014

bull Region area and council commissioner basic training released as Web-based training modules (proposed)

bull Updated commissioner videos available for download from the Commissioners website (proposed

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Unit Key 3 = stronger Unitby Ellie Morrison New-Unit Retention Task Force

The Unit Performance Guide outlines how to start a new unit positioned for success Several of those strategies are designed to strengthen units and encourage retention The unit Key 3 concept is one of these

Scouting has utilized the concept of a Key 3 at many different levels of Scouting All of us are familiar with the district Key 3 and the council Key 3 We also employ the Key 3 concept at the area region and national levels It just makes sense to use it at the unit level the most critical level of Scouting

A unit Key 3 comprises the unit leader (Cubmaster Scoutmaster crew or team Advisor) the unitrsquos committee chair and the chartered organization representative Many wonder why the unit commissioner is not a member but the unit commissioner is not a member of the unit He or she serves as an advisor to the unit Key 3 The unitrsquos length of existence and current situation determine how frequently the unit commissioner meets with the unit Key 3

Like other Key 3s in Scouting the unit Key 3 meets monthly at the midpoint of unit committee meetings The Key 3 addresses unit challenges checks on Journey to Excellence status and adjusts program and administrative elements to ensure unit progress toward JTE The unit Key 3 along with the unit commissioner reviews Voice of the Scout feedback and makes recommendations to the unit committee to strengthen unit service to youth

Almost 30 councils across the United States have been employing the concepts outlined in the Unit Performance Guide for nearly two years In the most recent survey of those councils 90 percent endorsed the unit Key 3 as the most successful element of the program In addition the pilot councils had 33 percent fewer dropped units than those councils not utilizing the methodology outlined in the Unit Performance Guide The unit Key 3 played an important role in those results

If the units you serve are not currently using the unit Key 3 concept encourage them to startmdash27 of the 30 pilot councils think it is great

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

One of the best tools available to commissioners to help retain units is the unit health assessment Whether done independently or jointly with unit leadership the Guidelines for Unit Self-Assessment and Action Planning Meeting and the pack troopteam and crewship self-assessment forms provide an excellent opportunity to assess a unitrsquos strengths and to identify opportunities to improve unit operations and program quality

Unit health assessments should be completed semiannually (typically in January and July) and prior assessments should always be reviewed to evaluate progress In addition to identifying unit strengths and opportunities unit health assessments provide the foundation for continuous improvement in Journey to Excellence categories Once completed commissioners should seek out district operating committee resources to help them address the unit needs identified through the assessment Capturing unit health assessments in our Unit Visit Tracking System will facilitate sharing that information with the district operating committee

Commissioners should make unit health assessments a key part of their annual service plan Itrsquos not too early to begin planning for July assessments Commissioners who use this tool routinely will see unit retention increase

One of the best tools available to help retain commissioners is recognition Commissioners are human They appreciate having their efforts acknowledged And although we provide commissioners with recordkeeping tools they can use to track their own progress toward various unit service awards greater impact can be achieved by proactive administrative commissioners who seek out recognition opportunities Note that data available from UVTS reports can help identify commissioners who may be worthy of recognition

Public recognition of effective unit service is most effective It will be appreciated by the individual being recognized and often will inspire others to similar performance When providing recognition be sure to communicate clearly what the recipient did and tell him or her how it made you feel and what it makes you want to do as a result

Neither forming a new unit nor recruiting a new commissioner is easy Once yoursquove been successful in either endeavor use every tool available to retain them and improve their performance

retaining Unitsmdashand Commissioners

Larry ChaseNational Commissioner Service Recruiting and Retention Chairlhcchasehomenet

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

What would simplified role descriptions for commissioners look like Letrsquos consider two key administrative commissioner positionsmdashcouncil commissioner and district commissioner

What is the role of a council commissioner It includes just five key components

bull To envision what effective unit service in the council will look like and what goals must be accomplished during the current term of service to fulfill that vision

bull To represent volunteers and Scouts to the councilrsquos board of directors and its executive committee and professionals

bull To recruit cabinet members and support the recruitment of district commissioners and an adequate number of administrative roundtable and unit commissioners to provide effective unit service throughout the council

bull To retain commissioners and units

bull To enable commissioners to be successful

Envisioning requires alignment Council commissioners should review their vision with the other members of their Key 3 to ensure mutual support

There are limits to the council commissionerrsquos role in recruitment The focus is on identifying the resources needed and recruiting and training administrative commissioners to recruit as well as creating a culture of accountability across the entire corps

Retaining commissioners includes ensuring recognition of their efforts

Enabling success includes ensuring timely effective training assessing performance and assigning staff where their skills best match their responsibilities

If that describes the role of the council commissioner what does success look like While there are a number of metrics that may be of value with just seven a council commissioner can quickly determine if unit service is on track

bull Council JTE scores for

bull Commissioner service

bull Unit visitations

bull Percentage of new units served by new-unit commissioners

bull Percentage of units retained annually

bull Percentage of units achieving JTE status

bull Percentage of units renewing their charter in a timely manner

bull Percentage of units represented at monthly roundtables

And what about a district commissioner The role description would be identical with one small adjustment The district commissionerrsquos vision of effective unit service in the district should support the councilrsquos vision

Itrsquos that simple

recruiting Commissioners A new Look at responsibilities and results

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Our membership validation procedures help ensure that our records of units and their youth and adult members are accurate Commissioners play an important role in carrying out those procedures which also provide an excellent opportunity for them to partner with district executives and district operating committee members to help our units deliver the best possible program to the youth they serve

Unit health assessments are an important tool for commissioners Whether done independently or in conjunction with a unit self-assessment unit health assessments establish progress on the Journey to Excellence When units arenrsquot achieving JTE Bronze Silver or Gold status or are exhibiting signs of declining performance unit health assessments should result in the development of an action plan to help the unit improve Action plans may also be appropriate for those units that are already achieving Bronze or Silver status but have opportunities to improve performance further Action plans should be developed to assist the unit in attaining the highest possible JTE level

Our Unit Visit Tracking System is a great resource when completing unit health assessments When assessments are entered into UVTS reports of those assessments can be

exported and shared with appropriate members of the district operating committee Unit commissioners should be focused on linking district committee resources to the units they serve helping their units plug into the expertise that is resident in district operating committee membership Entering unit health assessments in UVTS facilitates that

Continuous improvement is a fundamental concept in both the Journey to Excellence and unit health assessments Once assessments (and action plans if needed) are completed our membership validation process leverages that by calling for monthly review and reports on action plan progress and a comparison of unit status to the prior assessment twice each year Here again UVTS provides an easy method to provide monthly updates and periodic comparisons (and to share the results with the district operating committee)

For commissioners our membership validation process is much more than a tool to ensure the accuracy of membership records it also supports their ongoing efforts to help our units serve more kids better

membership Validation The Commissionerrsquos role

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

There are a few new things on the Commissioners website with more to come You should have noticed that the new training materials are posted on the website but this section is about to take on a new look A Training page will outline the commissioner training but will have subpages for Basic Training National Training (Philmont and Seabase) and the College of Commissioner Science There will also be a subpage listing colleges of commissioner science across the nation

Here are some other changes that are in the works

bull We have been working with the Supply Group to update the Commissioner Products page In the coming months you will see some new products with the new logos added For now we have eliminated out-of-stock materials

bull The Commissioner Manuals and Resources page will have some subpages including Graphics and Forms and Information Modules (formerly manuals) which are now under development

bull Recruiting and Retention will have subpages as well Recruiting Commissioners Awards and Recognition and Retention

bull The Commissioner Newsletter page contains the current The Commissioner Note at the bottom right the Archive section where you will find previous editions of the newsletter

bull We are hoping to implement an ldquoUpdatedrdquo feature so you will know what has been updated on the pages These updated items will have a date so you know when it was changed

The bottom linemdashMake frequent stops on the Commissioners website for the latest information about commissioner service

Whatrsquos new on the Commissioners Website

Darlene SpragueNational Commissioner Service Resources Chairdarspragueroadrunnercom

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Update

The UVTS hotline is working again with a minor change Any volunteer questions or issues about Journey to Excellence or any other related BSA items need to be directed to the National BSA Support Center at 972-672-4389

Where can I find copies of previous issues of The Commissioner

At the bottom right of The Commissioner newsletter home page is the Archive section Clicking on either the ldquoArchiverdquo heading or the ldquoSee prior issues of The Commissioner news-letterrdquo text will take you to previous editions

Where can I find the listing of colleges of commissioner science across the nation

On the Commissioners website (wwwscoutingorgcommissioners) click Commissioner Training on the left side of the page When the Commissioner Training page opens click the link just below the ldquoCollege of Commissioner Science Coursesrdquo heading

Click here for a list of upcoming commissioner colleges

Note To have your councilrsquos college listed please send information to Darlene Sprague at darspragueroadrunnercom

Questions and Answers

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Unit Commissioner Program notebook

COMMISSIONER

UNIT

2013ndash2014 UNIT COMMISSIONER

PROGRAM NOTEBOOK

The pocket-sized 4-by-6-inch Boysrsquo Life 2013ndash2014 Unit Commissioner Program Notebook No 331-013 has been redesigned for unit commissioners and district commissioners but it is useful for all BSA volunteers The notebook details how commissioners can make Scout units successful using 2013 Journey to Excellence requirements for packs troops and crews Other features include a summary of unit commissioner duties new commissioner orientation the unit service plan 12 monthly calendar pages with room for important notes full-page fill-in-the-blank outlines to record unit visitations commissioner training information recognitions summary self-evaluation for unit commissioners and requirements for commissioner recognitions The notebook is available annually from Boysrsquo Life magazine

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

2013 Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the internet

Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet will be held Oct 19 and 20 2013 JOTA and JOTI are annual World Scouting events that provide an opportunity for Scouts to communicate with one other around the world

Last year JOTA worldwide participation reached just short of 700000 Scouts operating from more than 13500 amateur radio stations operated by 22500 amateur radio operators across 142 countries JOTI had almost 16000 Scouts and leaders registered in the worldwide JOTA-JOTI database in 146 countries

Through JOTA Scouts use radio technology to talk with one another and share information that broadens their perspective on other cultures on geography and on the technology and hobby that provides the means for their communication

Commissioners are encouraged to reach out to local amateur radio clubs and get their council involved in the largest Scouting event in the world If you need help identifying ham radio clubs in your community contact Jim Wilson national JOTA organizer at jimwilsonscoutingorg for a list Additionally you can find more information at the JOTA page

JOTI uses the Internet to allow Scouts to ldquomeetrdquo other Scouts from around the world and share more information than just ldquoHirdquo The exchanges can include such information as name location of event Scout rank age and hobbies Some exchanges lead to long-lasting friendships

Visit the JOTI page or contact Dan Goetzman national JOTI organizer at internationalscoutingorg for additional information about how to participate in this exciting event

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

new Train the Trainer Course releasedThe Volunteer Training Committee has just released a new

course syllabus designed to prepare trainers to deliver effective training for youth and volunteers

The Fundamentals of Training course is the first phase of the three-part train-the-trainer continuum (T3 or T-Cubed) in the Boy Scouts of America The coursersquos purpose is to introduce teaching techniques and skills to new Scout trainers as well as help those Scouters regardless of their experience present effective training It will also help those who may have trained for other organizations learn the BSArsquos training techniques and will help ldquofreshen uprdquo the skills of current BSA trainers The course is intended for both youth and adult trainers

The Fundamentals of Training is available for download on the Adult training page

Upon completion of The Fundamentals of Training new trainers will be able to apply the techniques across BSArsquos leadership development programs from unit-level youth leader training taught by youth for youth to position-specific and supplemental training for adult leaders Upon completion of this first part new trainers are coached and mentored by experienced trainers as they become comfortable with and confident in their training skills

The Trainerrsquos EDGE is the second part of the train-the-trainer continuum As trainers develop their skills Trainerrsquos EDGE provides an additional opportunity for trainers to enhance their abilities Trainerrsquos EDGE also supplements the training development sessions offered during faculty development for advanced leadership training courses and provides increased familiarity with the EDGE model that is used throughout the training Trainerrsquos EDGE is mandatory for NYLT and Wood Badge staff members

The third part of the continuum is the Master Trainer course taught at one of the BSArsquos national volunteer training centers or at the regional level

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

A Commissionerrsquos role in Youth ProtectionCommissioners are active at every level in Scouting from the

national commissioner as part of the national Key 3 all the way down to the ldquoboots-on-the-groundrdquo unit commissioner advising the unitrsquos Key 3

Our national commissioner is a member of the National Executive Board The national commissioner support staff chairman represents the commissioner service on the National Community Alliances Committee Regional and area commissioners are integral to their respective Key 3s The council commissioner is one of the councilrsquos Key 3 sits on the council executive committee and is a member of the council executive board The district commissioner is one of the district Key 3 and a member of the district committee The district committee provides the resources for the unit commissioner as he or she interacts with and advises each unit

Commissioners provide continuity in Scoutingrsquos organizational structure we are therefore in a unique position to champion Youth Protection training throughout Scouting

Why is Youth Protection training so vitally important Public opinion polls rank the problem of child abuse second only to drug abuse as a national concern The Boy Scouts of America places the highest priority on creating the most secure environment possible for its youth members To maintain such an environment the BSA has developed numerous procedures and leadership selection policies The BSA also provides both parents and leaders with numerous training opportunities about child abuse The BSA must make these resources available to any person at any timemdashand it does

The result The BSA is an exemplary organization among youth-serving agencies in recognizing the potential threat that child abuse poses to young people

BSArsquos Youth Protection program follows a five-point strategy

1 Educating Scouting volunteers parents and Scouts to aid in the detection and prevention of child abuse

2 Establishing leader selection procedures to prevent offenders from entering the BSA leadership ranks

3 Establishing policies that create barriers to child abuse within the program

4 Encouraging Scouts to report improper behavior in order to identify offenders quickly

5 Swift removal and reporting of alleged offenders

These policies are in place primarily for the protection of our youth members however they also serve to protect adult leaders from false accusations of abuse

Our comprehensive set of policies and procedures designed to ensure that Scouting continues to be safe for all participants begins with Scoutingrsquos Barriers to Abuse

bull Two-deep leadership is required on all outings

bull One-on-one contact between an adult and a Scout is prohibited

bull Separate accommodations for adults and Scouts are required

bull Privacy of youth is respected

bull Inappropriate use of cameras and imaging and digital devices is prohibited

John LeaSouthern Region Commissioner

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

bull No secret organizations

bull No hazing

bull No bullying

bull Youth leadership is monitored by adult leaders

bull Discipline must be constructive

bull Appropriate attire is required for all activities

bull Members are responsible for acting according to the Scout Oath and Scout Law

bull Units are responsible for enforcing Youth Protection policies

From a youth protection standpoint commissioners must be 100 percent committed to 100 percent compliance We all know the unit commissioner wears many hats Basic commissioner training teaches us that we function as representatives teachers counselors ldquodoctorsrdquo and friends to the unit But no matter what commissioner position we hold our overall role as a commissioner is to help the unit succeed When you get right down to it Scouting is successful when the unit prospers is active and engaged has quality programming and as a result demonstrates membership growth A fundamental requirement of the successful unit is a trained leader We take great pride in the quality of our adult leadership serving as a leader in the BSA is a privilege not a right The unit will not be successful without trained leaders Adult leader training begins with Youth Protection training It is our responsibility as commissioners to see that all of the unitrsquos adult leaders are trained in Youth Protection

The district commissioner has the opportunity to engage everyone on the district committee and hold them accountable for up-to-date Youth Protection training certification Likewise the council area regional and national commissioners have the opportunity to hold those at their levels accountable to be certified in Youth Protection

The BSA is considered a leader in combating child abuse The National Child Protection Training Center states that the BSA has the most advanced policies and training Our policies on youth protection are considered ldquostate-of-the-artrdquo but these policies and barriers to abuse only go as far as we disseminate them into our ranks As a commissioner you must do your part to see that Scouting maintains a secure environment for its youth and that all registered Scouters are Youth Protection trained

Our duty is to do everything possible to prevent abuse Each and every one of you holding the position of commissioner must commit to holding all registered leaders in your unit and on your committees and boards accountable for Youth Protection training Remember As far as Youth Protection training is concerned commissioners must be 100 percent committed to 100 percent compliance

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Pinewood DerbyMay 1560th anniversary of the Pinewood Derby

National Annual MeetingmdashGrapevine TexasMay 22ndash24National Annual Meeting

National Executive Board and Committee Meetings

Commissioner WeekmdashPhilmont Training CenterWeek 3 June 23ndash29The Council Commissioner

District Commissioner and Assistant District Commissioner Training

District Committee

Effective Roundtables

Focusing on the ldquoMain Thingrdquo

How to Conduct a Commissioner College

The Unit Commissioner

National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE)

Visit the 2013 Conference Schedule page on the Philmont Training Center website for more information

2013 National Scout JamboreemdashSummit Bechtel Family National Scout ReserveJuly 15ndash242013 National Scout Jamboree

Visit the jamboree page for more information

National Executive Board and Committee MeetingsmdashSalt Lake City UtahOctober 28National Commissioner Task Force Meeting (invitation only)

Calendar of events

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

My fellow commissioners

Regardless of the outcome of the current membership standards policy discussion one thing is clear It is time for everyone within the Scouting family to work together to stay focused on that which ties us together as a Scouting family Make no mistakemdashthat which unites us is reaching and serving young people to help them grow into good strong citizens It is critical that we move forward together

Scouting has engaged its audiences in this important discussion and has worked hard to create an environment where people who may disagree on a variety of topics can still work together to achieve life-changing benefits to youth through the magic that is Scouting As I write this we are more than seven weeks away from a vote on a yet-undefined resolution at the National Annual Meeting in May I cannot predict the sum or substance of where we may find ourselves in terms of the membership standards question as we reflect on this journey What is becoming increasingly clear to me and to so many others is that we should reaffirm that America needs Scouting We have also learned through this process that America cares deeply about the Scouting program No doubt some people both inside and outside of the Scouting family will be happy with the ultimate decision whatever it may be Others will disagree We are more convinced than ever that notwithstanding our differences about the issue at hand the tie that binds us is stronger than any that could divide us

Our next challenge is implementation When we entered this discussion our goal was to develop and execute a comprehensive plan leading to a vote at the National Annual Meeting while minimizing any disruption in the delivery of the Scouting program Together it is time to draw upon our best Scouting experiences traditions and values to refine our delivery system in order to reach more youth and to continue to retain the youth we presently serve In that regard our mission as Scouters has not changed Similarly we need to embrace our chartered organizations families professional staff and hundreds of thousands of volunteers who make it possible to deliver a quality life-changing program in communities across America

In many ways the spirit of the commissioner corps is the glue that ties us together as volunteers Our commissioner corps can and should lead the way as we move forward together

Thank you for all that you do and will continue to do to serve the youth of America

national Commissioner minute

Tico PerezNational Commissioner

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

In the midst of all of the various issues swirling within and outside the organization during these interesting times I worry that it is too easy for both our Scouters and professionals to lose focus about how we serve youth and perhaps even more dangerously to forget why

More than 36 years of volunteer service has taught me that we as an organization have a pretty sound understanding of how we serve youth Yes we will continue to tweak and improve our methodology as we should The Unit Performance Guide for higher performance units the role of the new-unit commissioner and the focus on a unit Key 3 are great examples of field-proven better methods As we enter the summer months we will need to push through distractions and refocus on how we deliver an effective program to Americarsquos youth It is still and always about serving and retaining our youth

Our Scouting family is full of examples of the ldquowhyrdquo dynamic For many of you it is the direct impact that Scouting had on your life It never hurts to be reminded though of the ldquowhyrdquo Recently a unit leader approached one of our Scout executives and started the conversation with ldquoI am glad to meet you You need to understand that I am your target marketrdquo The leader went on to explain how youth were clamoring to join his unit Why Youth and their parents recognized the impact that this one unit and one leader were having on Scouts It is easy to see why The leader went on to tell a few stories

bull A Scout who brought fitness and language challenges to his unit is two years later the well-spoken physically fit senior patrol leader

bull A Scout with anger issues who would publicly curse his father was suspended for behavioral issues The unit leaders stayed in touch encouraged him and he rejoined the unit This Eagle Scout is now attending college

bull One of three Scouts in the unit who are dealing with the additional challenges of autism has just completed the requirements for Eagle Scout

bull A Scout from a low-income family who came to the unit in search of guidance and a positive environment is now an Eagle Scout and attending an Ivy League College on scholarship

To sum it up the leader mentioned that his son achieved the Eagle Scout rank three years ago He noted however that he is not leaving Scouting as long as youth are being brought to him

That is the how and the why

Just one Unit hellip Just one Leader

Scott SorrelsNational Commissioner Service Chairscottsorrelssutherlandcom

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Commissioners are Scoutingrsquos true servant leaders Their role in helping units bring the best possible program to the youth of America has never been more important In order for commissioners to provide relevant and consistent service to the units they serve they must be lifelong learners

ldquoAn Overview of Commissioner Servicerdquo is the title of the next commissioner training conference to be held at the Florida Sea Base the week of January 20ndash25 2014 at the Conference Center at Sea Base in Islamorada Florida

The topics covered in this conference are designed to help you bring best practices and current ideas to your role as a commissioner whether you directly serve a unit serve as a roundtable commissioner or are an administrative commissioner The course will include information on linking the unit with district and council resources effective communication and an update on Voice of the Scout as well as how to support new units and manage conflict

Plan to attend Sea Base to share your ideas and your best practices with other commissioners around the country so that we can help units deliver the ldquoPromise of Scoutingrdquo in our second century

Established in 1993 the Florida Sea Base Conference and Retreat Center is a premier location for training conferences Why not get out of the cold weather next January and plan to attend a training conference in Florida

If you have any questions about attending Sea Base please contact Tim Acree at timacreecomcastnet

2014 Commissioner Workshop at the sea Base Conference Center

Tim AcreeNational Commissioner Service Training Chairtimacreecomcastnet

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Commissioner Week at the Philmont Training Center is Week 3 June 23ndash29 You should have received a personal invitation from National Commissioner Tico Perez to attend the PTC during this fantastic week At PTC you will have the opportunity to meet and share ideas with Scouters from across America

The conference faculty is composed of some of the most talented and skilled commissioners in Scouting This year five courses will focus on commissioner service

The Council CommissionerThe Council Commissioner conference is being taught by

faculty members Larry Chase and Gail Plucker This conference is primarily for council commissioners and assistant council commissioners Larry is the council commissioner for the Atlanta Area Council and is the author of the course Larry will be assisted by Gail who is an assistant council commissioner from the Middle Tennessee Council This will be the fourth time the conference has been offered at Philmont

District Commissioner and Assistant District Commissioner Training

This is a brand new conference being taught by faculty members Randy Corgan and Betsy Huddleston Randy and Betsy are revising the Administration of Commissioner Service course to change the focus to address the roles of the district commissioner and assistant district commissioner Randy an area commissioner in the Central Region is from the Dan Beard Council and Betsy is an assistant district commissioner in the Middle Tennessee Council Both Randy and Betsy have been instructors previously at the Philmont Training Center

The Unit CommissionerThe faculty for this course are Dave Fornadel and Kandra

Dickerson Dave was responsible for the creation of this conference three years ago and has taught it at Sea Base and the Philmont Training Center Kandra is from the Mid-Iowa Council and has been an area commissioner in the Central Region for the last two years For the past five years she has helped commissioners become proficient at supporting unit Scoutmasters As the name implies this course is for all unit commissioners

Effective RoundtablesGood unit service also includes conducting an effective

district roundtable George Costigan and Dave Lyons will be the

faculty for the course If you are interested in or involved with roundtables at the council or district level this conference is for you Both faculty members have been involved in conducting roundtables for many years Dave is from the Southern New Jersey Council and has been a roundtable commissioner since 1999 Dave is also the publisher of Baloorsquos Bugle George is from the National Capital Area Council and also has years of roundtable experience

How to Conduct a Commissioner CollegeThis year the conference will be led by Terry Chapman

and Jeff McKinney Terry and Jeff were both on faculty for this conference last year Jeff is an area commissioner in the Northeast Region and has been a dean of the Area Commissioner College for 12 years Jeff also serves as vice president of district operations for the Baden-Powell Council and is a member of the BSArsquos National Council Terry is from the Heart of America Council and has been a dean of the Commissioner College for the last five years Prior to serving as dean he was the dean of the masters program for five years and the dean of the bachelor program for three years The first two days of the conference will be instructional Then the students must work together to conduct a Commissioner College on Friday for the students in the other four commissioner courses This experience gives the students the confidence to return to their home council and feel comfortable conducting a College of Commissioner Science

There are some special activities for commissioners during the week And as we have done for the past four years the PTC Commissioner College will be held on Friday Plan to attend and you will not be disappointed

For more information see the Philmont Training Center flier

If you have any questions about the Philmont Training Center please contact Tim Acree at timacreecomcastnet

Commissioner Week at Philmont June 23ndash29

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Training Codes for CommissionersWith the advent of the new commissioner training curriculum

there have been a number of requests for updated training codes The chart below summarizes the current state of the commissioner training codes

CODE TITLE STATUS

D00 Commissioner Orientation Obsolete expired 122012

D01 Why Commissioners Obsolete expired 122012

D02 Units The Commissionerrsquos Greatest Priority

Obsolete expired 122012

D03 How to Help a Unit Obsolete expired 122012

D10 Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner and Staff

Obsolete expired 122012

D11 Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner Training

Obsolete expired 122012

D16 AreaRegion Commissioner Basic Training

Active on 512013

D17 Council Commissioner Basic Training

Active on 512013

D18 District CommissionerAssistant District Commissioner Basic Training

Active on 512013

D19 Roundtable Commissioner Basic Training

Active on 512013

D20 Unit CommissionerNew-Unit Commissioner Basic Training

Currently Active

D21 Bachelor of Commissioner Science

Currently Active

D22 Master of Commissioner Science

Currently Active

D23 Doctor of Commissioner Science

Currently Active

D24 Roundtable Commissioner College

Currently Active

D25 Advanced Commissioner Training

Currently Active

DFS Commissioner Fast Start Currently Active

H89 Advanced Administration of Commissioner Service

Obsolete expired 122012

H90 Advanced Unit Commissioner Training

Obsolete expired 122012

H101 PTC Conference Currently Active

Because they differ from year to year and week to week we no longer have distinct codes for PTC conferences There is now just one code for attending a PTC conference (H101) We also do not have training codes for local council content courses such as commissioner conferences universities of Scouting and pow wows To be in the ScoutNET database of training codes the rule of thumb is that the content should be identical from course to course and council to council

Note that a listing of all current training codes can be accessed from the Adult training page Under QuickLinks at the right side of the page click on Training Course Codes (Alpha)

Who is considered a trained commissionerA trained commissioner is one who has completed orientation

and basic training A commission will be presented to a new commissioner after he or she has received proper orientation and has completed Commissioner Basic Training The proper orientation varies by the role but a commissioner who has received a commission is considered trained There are no ldquotriggersrdquo in ScoutNET that define a trained commissioner

Once commissioned are we done with trainingActually we have only begun We know in our role

as a commissioner our training never ends As stated in the Administration of Commissioner Service manual ldquoAs commissioners we must continually adjust our skills to provide a more valuable service to our units Commissioners should therefore view learning as an important part of their entire Scouting lives For all commissioners training is a continuing processmdashevery month every yearrdquo

Should you have any questions about commissioner training or training codes please contact Tim Acree at timacreecomcastnet

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

In a previous newsletter article it was explained that the next step in the Roundtable project was to critically review and update the roundtable guides That process occurred between January and March and is complete This updated version is scheduled to roll out at the National Annual Meeting in May

What is new in this guide There are four planning outlines that provide options and flexibility to planners in meeting geography time and other constraints In addition it is being recommended that all roundtable program groups have a common opening with a major ldquobig rockrdquo group topic presentation before splitting into separate program groups These group topics include items such as charter renewal special needs and weather awareness Also specific program group ldquotopics of interestrdquo were developed to assist leaders with behavioral issues long-term camps and religious emblems and awards among other topics In the Cub Scout Roundtable Guide a fabulous set of materials was designed to assist den leaders with exciting program ideas Finally the Troop Program Features series is being redesigned Some examples of the new program features will be included in the new Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide as a preview of what is to come

The final issue we need to deal with is technology It has become clear that new ways to deliver the message are necessary Thus we have begun a discussion of possible options councils can use to experiment with different delivery methods when the standard face-to-face method isnrsquot sufficient

Much has been done and we are excited to see how it works Then we want to get feedback about what worked and what didnrsquot This will help in making effective fixes for the next update

Good roundtables equal better programs in units which equal increased youth and unit retention These are JTE goals roundtable can impact Go forth and produce great roundtables

roundtable Planning Guides Updated

Daniel B MaxfieldNational Commissioner Service Roundtable Chairdmaxfilyahoocom

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Help BsA Units Be messengers of Peace Through Journey to excellence

The BSArsquos Messengers of Peace initiative was launched in May 2012 to recognize the efforts of Scouts who are working for peace whether they are involved in projects that strive to solve conflicts in their schools build links between divided communities teach their peers about health and wellness or repair environmental damage

It is gratifying to see how quickly the Messengers of Peace program gained recognition throughout Scouting However the need for strong and continued promotion highlighting the purpose of Messengers of Peace remains a priority Community service is well embedded in our advancement system And as we know ldquoCommunity Service Hoursrdquo is a unit requirement built into the Journey to Excellence initiative Messengers of Peace supports our organizationrsquos commitment to community service Given that Messengers of Peace is an initiative available to Scouts around the world it allows the BSA to serve as a role model and example for other Scouting associations Consequently our Scouts who become Messengers of Peace help bring peace to our world Scouts and Scouters should know that almost all community service projects qualify as Messengers of Peace projects fitting into one of the three categories outlined in the programrsquos requirements personal community or environment

A BSA unit that registers as a Messengers of Peace unit also fulfills its JTE requirements Scouts and Scouters can earn the Messengers of Peace ring patch when they participate in and assist with service projects that are registered Messengers of Peace projects To earn the Messengers of Peace ring patches units must log onto the JTE Service Hours website designating their project as a Messengers of Peace service project Commissioners can use this as additional motivation to steer units to JTE

We are reaching out to commissioners for support and promotion of the Messengers of Peace program Your help is very much appreciated as you steer units to JTE and create BSA Messengers of Peace for the world You are also Messengers of Peace

Learn more about the BSArsquos Messengers of Peace at the Messengers of Peace website

Messengers of Peace Day of Service at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree

During the jamboree Scouts will be provided with transportation to one of the counties surrounding the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve to help with a service project that will benefit the BSArsquos new neighbors By the time the jamboree is over 32000 Scouts will have completed 300000 community service hours over five days of work It will be one of the BSArsquos largest service projects of the year

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

simple Things a Council or Unit Commissioner Can Do to increase Cub scout retention1 Make sure every new Cub Scout has a handbook Promote to all parents the purchase and use of the appropriate Cub Scout handbookmdashTiger Cub Wolf Bear or Webelos Scout The manual will help them gain the most from Cub Scouting for their child

2 Ensure leaders receive appropriate training Studies show a trained Cub Scout leader retains Cub Scouts longer If den leader-specific training is not available before the first den meeting have the new leader take Fast Start training It is available on wwwMyScoutingorg

3 Encourage all new Cub Scouts to earn the Bobcat rank Promote earning the Bobcat rank within 60 days of joining and presenting the badge at the first pack meeting

4 Promote Boysrsquo Life magazine Subscribing and reading Boysrsquo Life helps boys experience Scouting even when they are not at a meeting

5 Emphasize holding the first den meeting within seven days of joining Quality den meetings are a critical tool for retention Make sure every Cub Scout and parent knows the date time and place of the first den meeting before they leave the joining meeting

6 Communicate Promote frequent communications between the pack and parents on a regular basis such as through a monthly newsletter or weekly contact using email Facebook or Twitter

7 Help packs find a den chief for each den A good den chief serves as a role model for Cub Scouts They look up to him and follow his lead on how they should act and behave He serves as the ldquobig brotherrdquo to the den

8 Make sure the unit has a well-planned program Program planning is one of the most effective tools for retention The pack must do their program planning for 12 to 18 months in the spring and distribute the plan to parents Parents want to know what their child will be doing

9 Establish a summertime pack program Keeping Cub Scouts active and participating in Scouting over the summer months is an important retention tool Cub Scouts and families who enjoy a Scouting summer are more likely to stay involved in the fall

10 Hold orientation for all new Cub Scouts and parents Successful parent orientation builds loyalty lessens parent confusion and reduces the potential of poor participation Because education leads to retention all families need to get the right information when they join

11 Plan for leader succession Help the pack committee understand the importance of planning in advance who will replace outgoing den leaders and other pack leadership

Retention is all about fun Retention begins and ends at the unit level The den and pack is where the most program happens and where the Cub Scouts are most affected This means all meetings have to be FUN

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Game Design merit Badge released The newest Boy Scout merit badgemdashGame Designmdashhas

been released Click here for more information about the badge including its requirements

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Every year the Council Market Analysis report provides councils with information to help in their strategic planning recruit more youth target new chartered organizations and find community partners and sponsors

The 2013 report includes much more information about the councilrsquos membership and community In previous reports Esrirsquos data and Tapestry segments provided councils with basic demographic and lifestyle information This year the national office is able to provide data from Experian Experianrsquos Mosaic segments provide the basics and much more including ethnicity culture and languages values attitudes religious and political preferences and consumer and entertainment preferences

The 2013 Council Market Analysis will be published by late May and will be available to councils through MyBSA The data tables in the report will be available in Excel by request to researchteamscoutingorg

2013 Council market Analysis

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Become a member of a scouting research PanelThe Research amp Program Innovation department invites

members of the Scouting community to be a part of our research panel Members of the panel will receive surveys (no more than three to four per year) regarding new programs or proposed changes to existing Scouting programs We invite all current Cub Scout parents Boy Scout parents Boy Scout and Venturing youth members and registered volunteers to submit their information on the Research Panels page

PLEASE NOTE By law we are not allowed to send surveys directly to youth ages 13 and under However if a younger Boy Scout would like to participate in our surveys he can do so by having his parent register for the Boy Scout Parent Panel and indicate that their son is interested in participating

SPRING 2012wwwscoutingorgcommissioners

CommissionerA PublicAtion for commissioners And ProfessionAls

THE

To read this article and more in The Commissioner newsletter go to Scoutingorgcommissionersnewsletter or scan this QR code with your smartphoneDownload a QR reader for your

smartphone at scanmobi

Spring 2013

Unit Commissioner Box score As of March 2013

Traditional UnitsUnit Commissioners

NeededUnit Commissioners

RegisteredNeed to Recruit

Percent of Need Filled

Commissioner Ratio

RegionLast Year

This Year

Last Year

This Year

Last Year

This Year

Last Year

This Year

Last Year

This Year

Last Year

This Year

Northeast 15889 14892 5296 4969 3884 3788 1412 1181 733 762 41 39

Southern 25278 24000 8422 7999 5911 5824 2511 2175 702 728 43 41

Central 22676 21612 7560 7202 5637 5465 1923 1737 746 759 40 40

Western 39238 38356 13080 12783 9473 9292 3607 3491 724 727 41 41

National 103081 98860 34358 32953 24905 24369 9453 8584 725 740 41 41

Does not include Explorer posts or Learning for Life groups