BUILDING EFFECTIVE COMMISSIONER SERVICE

Elective 502

Introduction of National Staff – Scott Sorrels Introduction of Instructors – Brian Williams Lets’ talk about Recruiting – Ellie Morrison Unit Visitation – Where the Rubber meets

the Road – Dan Maxfield Assessment of Commissioner Staff –

Darlene Sprague Summary and Review – Brian Williams

The National Commissioner The National Commissioner Service OrganizationService Organization

Traditional Units

Unit Commissioner

s Needed

Unit Commissioners

RegisteredNeed to Recruit % of Need

FilledCommissioner

Ratio

REGIONApr. 08

Apr. 09

Apr. 08

Apr. 09

Apr. 08

Apr. 09

Apr. 08

Apr. 09

Apr. 08

Apr. 09

Apr. 08

Apr. 09

NE17,989

17,321

6,000

5,792

3,720

3,835

2,280

1,957

62%

66.2%

4.8

4.5

SO27,573

27,205

9,189

9,067

4,772

5,707

4,417

3,360

51.9%

62.9%

5.8

4.8

CE25,001

24,517

8,331

8,171

5,036

5,580

3,295

2,591

60.4%

68.3%

5.0

4.4

WE42,808

42,261

14,267

14,087

7,538

7,985

6,729

6,102

52.8%

56.7%

5.7

5.3

NATIONAL113,371

111,354

37,787

37,117

21,066

23,107

16,721

14,010

55.7%

62.3%

5.4

4.8

COMMISSIONERS BY REGION

April 2009

Region/Area Commissioner Ratio

April 08 April 09

CE Region Area 5 3.8 3.7

NE Region Area 6 4.0 3.7

WE Region Area 5 4.5 3.8

SO Region Area 7 4.9 4.2

Commissioner Ratio ReportTop Area By Region

Region/Council Commissioner Ratio

April 08 April 09CE Omaha, NE 2.0 2.0NE Norton, MA 2.2 2.0SO Mobile, AL 2.4 2.3

WE Grand Junction, CO 3.0 2.4SO Paris, TX 0.0 84.0

CE LaCrosse, WI 0.0 166.0WE Tacoma, WA 23.6 268.5NE Milford, CT 0.0 362.0

National 5.4 4.8

Council Commissioner Ratio**29 Councils have Commissioner Ratio’s of 3.0 or less in April 2009.

Let’s Talk About Recruiting Commissioners

Have a long history◦ Preceded professional Scouting◦ Were chosen for personal qualities and skills◦ Considered the local authority for Scouting◦ Were highly respected

That’s not always the case today. And that makes it hard to

recruit commissioners.

Stand tall as an example Recruit highly respected people Make commissioners identifiable Make them visible Recognize them in front of their

constituents Present them as an authority in Scouting

All kinds of people◦ Diversity is the key◦ Experienced Scouters--or not?

What qualities do commissioners need?

Within units Individuals with Scouting ties Organizations or jobs that appeal to

mentors

Don’t ask them--YET Build a relationship Find out what others think about them

Review the information you have◦ Choose 3 talking points to use in your visit◦ Choose some others just in case (Plan B)◦ Plan arguments for the common excuses◦ Plan your “close the sale”

Review all of this with the person you will take with you.

Make the appointment Take plenty of time Focus on them Be honest/specific

If they say “no”◦ Keep the relationship alive

If they say “maybe”◦ Begin the “go-along” and ask again later

If they say “yes” ◦ Begin the “go-along”◦ Make a first assignment◦ Continue to support

Recruit!

Recruit!

Recruit!

Unit Visits- Where The Rubber Meets the Road!

Maintain regular contact with leaders Provide resources to leaders Note areas for improvement and help Unit

to grow Keep Unit operating effectively

EVERY UNIT - EVERY MONTH!

Talk with unit leader Visit a committee meeting Visit the unit meeting Contact the Institution Head or Institutional

Representative

A passion for helping others An ability to communicate Commissioner Fast Start Introduction to Unit leaders Basic Commissioner training Something to do

Annual Service Plan

Monthly Commissioner meeting training topics

Check out Podcasts & Newsletters on National Commissioner Website

Complete Arrowhead Award Complete Commissioner Key Attend College of Commissioner Science

and work on degrees Strive for Distinguished Commissioner

Award Strive for Doctorate of Commissioner

Science

Improved quality of program in every unit

Quality Units

“I find the great thing in this world isnot so much where we stand, as in what

direction we are moving. To reach our port, we must sail sometimes with the wind and

sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Assessment of Commissioner Staff

Our Goal◦ A Commissioner staff that is trained and has the

skills to Help Units Succeed

Assessment pertains to all levels of Commissioner Service

When assessing the Commissioner staff, what do we look for?◦ Knowledge◦ Skills◦ Attitude◦ Performance

Knowledge

◦ Unit, District, Council Operations◦ Program elements:

Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing Advancement Program Resources Training requirements

◦ BSA Policies◦ Commissioner Service Plan

Skills

◦ Listening◦ Coaching◦ Mentoring◦ Teaching◦ Communicating

Attitude

◦ Positive◦ Enthusiastic◦ Helpful◦ Friendly◦ Courteous◦ Kind

Performance

◦ Helping Units Succeed◦ Monthly connections with units◦ Reporting problems with units◦ Helping unit leaders solve

problems

Knowledge

Skills

Attitude

Performance

KSA - strong

P - weak

KSA - weak

P - weak

KSA - strong

P - strong

KSA - weak

P - strong

Knowledge

Skills

Attitude

Performance

Mentoring

Encouragement

Motivation

Training

Coaching

Mentoring

Empower them

Recognize them

Training

Recruitment Training Motivation Work with Professional Staff

Reference: Chapter 13 of the Administration of Commissioner Service Manual, pages 25-26

Recruitment Centennial Quality Units Rechartering Training Roundtables Motivation Responsiveness to Unit Needs

Reference: Chapter 13 of the Administration of Commissioner Service Manual, pages 25-26

ADCs and Unit Commissioners ask these questions about their units◦ Leadership◦ Youth◦ Chartered Organization◦ Membership◦ Centennial Quality Unit◦ Recharter

Reference: Chapter 13 of the Administration of Commissioner Service Manual, pages 25-26

Are you a leader or a manager? Organizations go through cycles where they

need different styles Some councils need a strong leader Some councils need a strong manager We need the right skill set at the right time

RecruitingUnit VisitationAssessment

RECRUITING Commissioners have a long history in

Scouting It should be an honor to be asked to be a

Commissioner Diversity is key Get to know your recruit before asking Focus on the recruit and take your time

during the ask

UNIT VISITS Regular contact with the unit is important Complete Fast Start and Basic classes as

soon as possible Know and understand the Annual Service

Plan Continue training and set a goal to earn the

Commissioner Arrowhead and Commissioner Key

Improve the quality of every unit

ASSESSMENT Pertains to all levels of Commissioner

service Assess Knowledge, Skills, Attitude and

Performance Are you a leader or a manager? We need the right skill set at the right time

Assess

Unit VisitationRecruit

Helping Units Succeed