A P UBLIC A TION FOR C OMMISSIONERS A ND P ROFESSION A LS SUMMER THE 11 www.scouting.org/commissioners The role of the unit commissioner is to help every unit be successful. Unit success is defined by the unit achieving Journey to Excellence status and demonstrating an improvement in the retention of its members. New! Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit Service The national commissioner support team asked a simple question: “How can we really impact commissioner service, in a manner that would improve unit Table of Contents program and increase retention of youth?” The decision was simple: Recognize the volunteers who are providing excellent commissioner service with a knot, and let New! Commissioner Award of Excellence in Customer Service ....1 those commissioners lead by example. Commissioner Progress Record for the Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit Service .......................2 New Second Century Commissioner Patches ................................3 National Commissioner Minute .....................................................4 The Next Strategic Steps to Lasting Impact for the Commissioner Corps .....................................................................4 The next step was to put together a team from across the regions with The Important Functions of Commissioners ..................................5 commissioners at different service levels: Unit Visit Tracking System 2.0 Support ..........................................6 Craig Bailey—UC from the Northeast Region Tim Acree Transitions from Resources Chair to Training Chair ......7 David James—DC from the Central Region Darlene Sprague ...........................................................................7 Dwight Jekel—ACC from the Southern Region Daniel B. Maxfield .........................................................................8 Kevin Baker—CC from the Western Region Commissioner Task Force Organizes Roundtable Study Project ....8 Regional Commissioners ...............................................................9 Doug Ferguson—AC from the Southern Region Dr. John W. Lea IV..........................................................................9 Ellie Morrison—National Commissioner Service Recruitment and Retention Chair Lt. Col Reid A. Christopherson .......................................................9 None of them knew one another but each accepted the challenge to bring Spotlight on Venturing .......................................................... 10–12 perspective to the project, be open and honest in communication, and timely with comments. They were true to the task and we had some lively discussions. This The Commissioner’s Role in Supporting Journey to Excellence .....13 team worked beautifully together, working through differences of opinion to best New-Unit Retention Guide ...........................................................14 serve Scouting. They are hoping to finally meet one another at the annual meeting in May where the knot will be introduced to the commissioner corps. Unit Self-Assessments: One of the Roles of the Commissioner.......................................................................15 The result of their work is an insightful, intuitive award that defines excellent unit commissioner service. The new Commissioner Service Award of Excellence Summer 2011 Philmont Training Center Courses ........................16 was developed as a nationwide effort to engage Scouting volunteers and Spotlight on Sea Scouting .................................................... 17–18 professional Scouters to work together in focusing on unit retention. Any registered commissioner who is providing direct unit service is eligible to earn the BeAScout.....................................................................................19 Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit Service. The knot was introduced by Scouting Alumni ..........................................................................19 the National Commissioner Service Task Force and approved by the national BSA Awards and Recognition Committee. Jamboree-on-the-Air...................................................................19 Requirements continues on Page 2 “To improve the QUALITY of program in every unit in America!” I SUMMER 2011 I The Commissioner 1 Commissioner Progress Record for the Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit Service Requirements: Participation: Training and Experience: Any registered commissioner who is providing Complete each item below: Complete each item below: direct unit service is eligible to earn the Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit 1. Be a participant or staff member in ONE 1. Commissioner Basic Training Service, through unit service and a project that continuing education event for commissioner Date: ___________________________________ results in improved retention of members and service.1 For example: district, council, area, on-time unit recharter, over the course of two regional, or national College of Commissioner 2. Provide rechartering service by holding consecutive years. If a commissioner who is Science, commissioner conference, Philmont, membership inventories, training verification, not registered as a unit commissioner wishes to Sea Base, or Summit training. and Journey to Excellence2 progress review earn this award, they must work with the district meetings. Perform charter presentations for the commissioner where the unit(s) is/are registered. Date: ______________________________________ chartered organizations of the units you serve. Date started: ______________________________ 2. The commissioner shall make at least six physical visits to each assigned unit per year. All Unit Type Date of Date Charter Unit type and number: ______________________ visits must be logged with UVTS 2.0. Examples: and Number Recharter Presented unit meetings, unit activities, leader meetings, P999 Youth retention at last recharter: __________ (%) and summer camp visitations (See Journey to Excellence form.) P999 3. The commissioner shall make at least six ADC/DC signature: _________________________ significant contacts (in addition to those made in T999 item 2) for each unit served, by telephone, two- Technical Skills: way electronic communication, or in person. T999 These contacts must be logged in UVTS 2.0. The commissioner shall consistently C999 demonstrate the following: ___________________________________________ Signature of ADC/DC C999 1. The ability to use UVTS 2.0 to log unit visits Footnote 1: Participation or staffing in a Footnote 2: Unit-specific requirements and 2. The ability to provide UVTS 2.0 visit reports continuing education event as noted above performance criteria are founded on the BSA’s to an ADC or DC prior to the start date of this award shall not Journey to Excellence guidelines. As changes be applied. Participation or instructing during are incorporated, the council commissioner ___________________________________________ training sessions as part of regular staff must scope impacts and adjust expectations Signature of ADC/DC meetings may not be applied. as required. Performance: A commissioner may earn this award up to three Commissioner times while registered as a commissioner at Complete each item below: any level. A square knot is available for uniform Progress Record wear, with added devices awarded for the A. Performance Goal: Through utilization of second and third achievements. FOR THE the annual unit self-assessment tool, identify a specific goal in a specific unit that would result in higher quality unit performance. The goal should target improvement in at least one of the unit self-assessment target areas. ___________________________ Signature of ADC/DC and the date B. Action Plan: Provide a written plan to achieve the goal identified in item A above. Have the plan approved by the unit leader, with the unit leader’s signature. Commissioner Award of Excellence in ___________________________ Signature of ADC/DC and the date Unit Service C. Results: COMMITTEE ACTION Name: ____________________________________ 1. Unit self-assessment conducted twice a year for two years: Upon completion, a commissioner shall provide Address: __________________________________ Dates: Year 1: ______ and ______ a copy of this form to the district commissioner, Year 2: ______ and ______ City: ______________________________________ who will then convey this document to the council for verification and final approval. 2. Unit retention: On-time rechartering for two Council: ___________________________________ consecutive years: ___________________________________________ Dates: ________ __________ District: ___________________________________ Council commissioner Date 3. Youth retention: Youth retention percentages must show improvement: ___________________________________________ BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Year 1: _____% Year 2: ______% Council Scout executive Date (See the Journey to Excellence form.) ___________________________ Signature of ADC/DC 2 The Commissioner I SUMMER 2011 I “To improve the QUALITY of program in every unit in America!” New Second Century Commissioner Patches * * * * * Unrestricted council, district, and unit commissioner patches are available at local council Scout shops. *Restricted for national, regional, and area commissioners National Commissioner Minute in accessing UVTS 2.0 for some, we are pleased to say that these issues were not related to technical issues with UVTS; they were, instead, glitches in the My fellow commissioners, master ScoutNET server.