A P UBLIC ATION FOR C OMMISSIONERS A ND P ROFESSIONALS TIONA SPRING/ A L N SUMMER THE 08 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 Centennial Quality Unit status and demonstrating an improvement in the retention of its members. Unit Visit Tracking System Donald D. Belcher serves as national commissioner Improvements and Enhancements of the Boy Scouts of The number one mission of the commissioner ■ Custom reporting capability America. Don is the is to provide service to every unit in the district. ■ Data export ability retired chairman of the The proven way to carry out this responsibility is to have a monthly unit visit. A visit can ■ E-mail alerts to district leadership for units need- board and CEO of Banta take on many forms—unit meeting, committee ing immediate help Corporation. He is an meeting, roundtable visit, telephone call, e–mail We will be adding more as the system is used. occasionally, district or council activity, or a one- Your feedback will be vital to help with these Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver, on-one visit with the unit leader. improvements as we move forward. Remember Silver Antelope, Silver In order to know the status of units and how that our vision in quality commissioner service is “To improve the QUALITY of program in Buffalo, Distinguished the district can help units succeed, there needs to be accountability. Nationally, we have created a every unit in America!” With your help, we can Eagle Scout, and James E. Unit Visit Tracking System to help provide a way achieve success. West Fellow, and a member for unit commissioners to report on their monthly unit visits. The system has been rebuilt and will of the 1910 Society and provide for some new enhancements which Founders Circle. Don can help commissioners at all levels be more responsive to the needs of units. has served as Central Some of the improvements and features that the Region president, council system will provide are listed below: president, and in a variety ■ Councils and districts will be able to do batch uploading of council/district/unit data, includ- of other local and national ing units and commissioners, along with their responsibilities. He assigned units. became a Cub Scout over ■ Councils and districts will be able to set priorities for their commissioners to focus on regularly. 50 years ago in Kansas ■ A role-based, cascading security model for all City, Missouri. levels of commissioners and their professional advisors SS MI ION New Regional and Area Commissioners M E O R Support Quality Unit Service C With the approval of two Join us in congratulating each of the newly appointed new adult volunteer positions, regional and area commissioners: commissioner service has become Central Region Brian Williams SERVICE a higher priority from national to regions to areas to councils Area 1 Abner George to districts. All four regions have appointed a new regional commissioner to serve as a Area 2 Craig Younkman member of the Key 3, just as there are Key 3’s at all other levels of Scouting. Each of the 28 areas has appointed area Area 3 Dennis Wilson commissioners to provide more support to councils in their direct support to unit service. Area 4 Greg Long Some of their duties will be: Area 5 Open 1. Provide support to all council commissioners in the areas Area 6 Open of membership, unit charter renewal, and training of commissioners. Area 7 Dr. John Gelsomino 2. Supervise the activities of commissioner service and Northeast Region Hab Butler preside at any area meetings where council commissioners are in attendance. They provide support to council or joint- Area 1 Bill Johnston council commissioner training courses. Area 2 Dave Talbot 3. Encourage communication between the area and council commissioners to ensure that councils provide opportunities Area 3 Bob Dealaman for immediate orientation, frequent basic training, and monthly learning experiences for all commissioners. Area 4 Open 4. Support councils in improving unit–to–commissioner Area 5 Fran Hensen ratios, monthly unit visits, retention of youth and units, and progress toward achieving Centennial Quality status. Area 6 Darlene Sprague 5. Maintain the standards of the Boy Scouts of America and Southern Region Joseph F. Domino uphold all national policies. 6. Provide direction and support to council commissioners Area 1 William Morriss especially related to the membership validation process; Area 2 Thomas H. Price unit charter renewal; conducting and tracking unit visits; counseling support related to how to handle Area 3 Paul Harpole particular situations; recruiting and training a full staff of commissioners; and supporting the annual commitment and Area 4 Shaw McVeigh achievement of the Centennial Quality Council Award. Area 5 Randolph Scott Area 6 Doug Harley Jr. Area 7 Barry Smith Metro East Earle Beasley Metro West Ellie Morrison Western Region Michael Rooney Area 1 Gregory Dean Sawyer Area 3 Dan Maxfield Area 4 Vern Goodwalt Area 5 Don Diaz Metro 6–7 Edwin Laird 2 The Commissioner I SPRING/SUMMER 2008 I “To improve the QUALITY of program in every unit in America!” Centennial Quality New DVD Available: Award—Unit Support How to Succeed at and Guidance Earning the Centennial Commissioners are the lynchpin to the success of this award. Commissioners are challenged to help every unit achieve Quality Award their Quality goals, and this fall, assess with the unit whether or Units seeking to earn the Centennial Quality Award in not they achieved the award. Monitoring the award progress at 2008 have a new tool to help with their success. A new DVD every monthly commissioner staff meeting will help to stay on has been released that provides assistance for each quality track with every unit being able to qualify. program indicator, as well as examples of how to interpret Here is a suggested timeline of year–round tasks, so the criteria and establish and achieve the goals to earn the commissioners can achieve their mission of helping units award. succeed: You can obtain a copy of the DVD from your district, or January/February/March: Help units complete the view it online. Click on the site map at www.scouting.org/ commitment portion of the Centennial Quality Awards form awards/centennialawards. It is also available through the and turn in to the district for recording. If they qualified last commissioner Web site at www.scouting.org/commissioners. year, ensure they have ordered the emblems for their member On the Web, you can also access the fill-in commitment uniforms. Make sure they have been presented the qualifying and achievement forms and download them to complete ribbon for their unit. immediately, save them for later, or April/May: Work with your assigned units to help them send the completed form electron- achieve the goals they have set for each criterion. Help them stay ically to others as needed. You on track to qualify by year-end. can also access a series of Frequently Asked Questions June/July: Conduct a progress report and see where the unit that will help guide you in may need some assistance to qualify. working with your units. September: Unit Commissioners: 1. Assist their units with roundup 2. Ensure that all new leaders: • are registered with BSA • have the correct resources • are trained in Fast Start and Youth Protection • have their den roster and have started den meetings Celebrating 100 Years October/November/December: Meet with unit committees to: 1. Double-check that all leaders are trained and dens are of Scouting meeting. The Boy Scouts of America’s 100th Anniversary represents much more than a date on the calendar. It 2. Review unit plans for the product sale and encourage new represents an important milestone around which to member involvement. reintroduce Scouting to America—to celebrate our rich 3. Do a first review of this year’s Centennial Quality Award heritage and to reinforce the important role Scouting will criteria. play in shaping our country’s future. Scouting is as vital and • Have they achieved progress toward their goals? relevant today as it was when our journey began. • Can they do things this fall to meet the criteria for the For 100 years, Scouting has been helping the youth CQA? of America find—in themselves and in the world around them—more than they thought possible. A century of Plan to help them meet any criteria remaining. • building confidence and character is worth celebrating. An Note: If the unit has met its goals at this time, they can receive assertive strategic plan has been laid out for moving the the award now, for example at the November roundtable, etc. Boy Scouts of America into our next century of service. A 4. Visit unit (pack, troop, team, or crew) meetings: purpose-driven 100th Anniversary Celebration is critical to fulfilling that vision. • Are they looking healthy and well–organized? Go to www.scouting.org and click on 100th Anniversary of • Are their youth members having fun? Scouting to learn more about the plans and how you can be 5. Review next year’s commitment and achievement form, assist involved. You can also view a special video reflecting on the the unit in establishing goals, complete the form, and turn it rich heritage and strong future of the Boy Scouts of America. in to the district for recording. “To improve the QUALITY of program in every unit in America!” I SPRING/SUMMER 2008 I The Commissioner 3 Youth Retention Cub Scout Advancement Currently in the Cub Scout advancement program, the Working with the Race to Cub Scouting and new innovative rank achievements can be approved by a Cub Scout parent programs we have proven that we can attract young people or by their den leaders.