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