Commissioner Corner
 

CENTENNIAL QUALITY UNIT FORMS AND INFORMATION HERE

Commissioners Page
Commisioner's Seal
The commissioner is the liaison between the Stonewall Jackson Area Council and our Scouting units. The commissioner's mission is to keep units operating at maximum efficiency, maintain regular contact with unit leaders, counsel leaders on where to find assistance, note weaknesses in programs, and suggest remedies. The commissioner is successful when units effectively deliver the ideals of Scouting to their members.



 

Commissioner's Corner Newsletter

Dear Scouters,

Congratulations! Seventy seven percent of the Units in our Council achieved the Centennial Quality Unit Award in 2007; that is a nearly 15% increase over Quality Units in our Council in 2006 and 17% above the National Standard. That is a tremendous achievement and great news for the youth of our Council. At this time 84% of our Units have submitted their 2008 Centennial Quality Unit Commitment Forms. The goal of the Centennial Quality Program is "To improve the QUALITY of Program in every unit in America". If your Unit has not yet submitted its 2008 Commitment Form contact your District or Unit Commissioner now. 

Now is, also, the time to implement a Spring recruiting effort. Troop Leaders should be planning Spring Open Houses. Peer-to-Peer recruiting is a powerful tool to bring young people into Scouting. With Cross-Over time approaching, now is the time to contact those Webelos Den Leaders in your feeder Packs and arrange to schedule activities between your Scouts and the Webelos Scouts.  Venturing provides a great opportunity to get young teens, boys and girls, involved in Scouting. For many older Scouts this is an avenue to continue their Scouting experience at a higher level. However, prior Scouting experience is not a requirement to be a Venturer. Venturing is an opportunity to introduce teens with no Scouting experience into our program. 

During April and May, in Units throughout our Council, Unit Commissioners will be visiting with Unit Leaders to conduct Unit Leadership Inventories and to review the status of Youth Protection Training in your Units. Look for your Commissioners visit. 

Mike Sexton,
Council Commissioner

 
 
Commissioner Service Leadership in the Stonewall Jackson Area Council
Council Commissioner: Mike Sexton
Asst. Council Commissioner-Training Brad Stewart
Asst. Council Commissioner-Roundtable Pat Sipe

District Commissioners  
Massanutten District Kemper Dadisman
Monticello District Dennis Hogberg
Southern District Richard Wall
Valley District Phil Merica


ROLES THE COMMISSIONER PLAYS
 
A commissioner plays several roles, including friend, representative, unit "doctor," teacher, and counselor.
 
The commissioner is a friend of the unit. Of all their roles, this one is the most important. It springs from the attitude, "I care, I am here to help, what can I do for you?" Caring is the ingredient that makes commissioner service successful. He or she is an advocate of unit needs. A commissioner who makes himself known and accepted now will be called on in future times of trouble. 

COMMISSIONER BASIC TRAINING
The only reason for having commissioners is to help units succeed. A unit is the basic structure operated by a chartered organization to deliver the program of the Boy Scouts of America to youth members. The BSA works with and through the chartered organization to serve youth. It is important that the chartered organization and its units be served effectively by the commissioner. Unless Scouting units are strong and efficient, the program won’t reach the boy. No matter how well organized the council and district, the program delivery system stalls or fails with weak units. From Commissioner Fieldbook for Unit Service Commissioner Basic Training will provide you with the tools to become an effective commissioner to the units you serve.

ADULT RECOGNITION
One of the tools of the Commissioner staff is Adult Leader Recognition. When adult leaders are completing requirements for various awards they are training and staying up-to-date on the programs of the BSA. A list of some of the requirements for various adult leader recognitions are shown below:
 
  • Progress Record for the Tiger Cub Den Leader Award
  • Progress Record for the Cub Scout Den Leader Award
  • Progress Record for the Webelos Den Leader Award
  • Progress Record for the Cubmaster Award
  • Progress Record for the Cub Scouter Award
  • Progress Record for the Boy Scout Leader's Training Award
  • Scoutmaster Progress Record for the Scoutmaster's Key
  • Varsity Scout Leader Progress for the Coach's Key and Varsity Scout Leader Training Award
  • Varsity Scout Leader Letter Scorecard
  • Venturing Leader Progress Record
  • Roundtable/Huddle Staff Progress Record for the Scouter's Training Award
  • Roundtable/Huddle Commissioner Progress Record for the Arrowhead Honor/Commissioner Key
  • District and Assistant District Commissioner Progress Record for Commissioner Key/Arrowhead Honor Award
  • Unit Commissioner Progress Record for the Commissioner Key/Arrowhead Honor Award
  • Progress Record for the District Committee Key
  • Wood Badge Pocket Card

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    CENTENNIAL QUALITY UNIT FORMS AND INFORMATION

    2007 Centennial Quality Achievement Form for Unit Award
    Beginning after October 31, but no later than December 31, the unit leadership should meet with their commissioner or a district representative to complete their achievement record for each criteria. This form can be completed by hand, on a typewriter, or you can enter all of the data on the computer by opening this link. Remember that you cannot save the data, so you will have to completely fill in all blanks, then print it out to be signed by the unit and district representatives. The "Interpretations" section is on the second page of the link. (As a suggestion, it is recommended that the 2008 Commitment form for the Centennial Quality Unit Award be completed during the same visit.)
    2007 Order Form for Units
     
    Once the unit has determined they qualify for the 2007 Centennial Quality Unit Award and the achievement form has been completed and signed off by the unit and district leadership, the unit can submit this form to order their recognitions. A unit ribbon is provided at no charge to those units who qualify. Awards can be ordered through the Scout Shop or the Local Council Distributor. This order form describes those items that are available with catalog numbers and prices.

    Frequently Asked Questions
    Consult this page to view answers to common questions about the 2007 Centennial Quality Awards program.

     
    2008 Council Implementation Booklet No. 14-975-I (07)
     
    Learn more about the 2008 Centennial Quality Award program; how your council, district and unit should incorporate the requirements into your program; copies of the forms and interpretations of the requirements; the implementation schedule; and the tools to assist you in setting your commitment and achieving the award for this year.
     

    By February 15, 2008, the district should complete their 2008 Commitment form and share it with their council leadership for approval. This form can be completed by hand, on a typewriter, or you can enter all of the data on the computer by opening this link. Due to a new process you are now able to type in the form, save the entered data, and then come back to your saved form, or send it to someone else with the blanks filled in. The "Interpretations" section is on the second page of the link and provides additional interpretation about the achievement for each criteria. There will also be an "Implementation Booklet" providing more details about the program. You will use this same form and complete the "Achievement" column at the end of December 31, 2008.
     

    Between October 31, 2007 and January 31, 2008, the district leadership should meet with the leadership of all units to discuss and complete the 2008 Centennial Quality Unit Award Commitment form. This form can be completed by hand, on a typewriter, or you can enter all of the data on the computer by opening this link. Due to a new process you are now able to type in the form, save the entered data, and then come back to your saved form, or send it to someone else with the blanks filled in. The "Interpretations" section is on the second page of the link and provides additional interpretation about the achievement for each criteria. You will use this same form and complete the "Achievement" column at the end of 2008 after you have qualified after October 31, 2008, but before December 31, 2008.
     

    This document provides a side-by-side comparison of the criteria for the 2007 and 2008 Centennial Quality Unit Award forms.
     

    Consult this page to view answers to common questions about the 2008 Centennial Quality Awards program.

     
     

    Resources from the 2008 District Volunteer & Commissioner Training Conference

    Commissioners are invited to review key presentations from the January 26, 2008 Conference here at the Commissioner's Corner.

    The Annual Unit Service Plan was prepared and led by Council Commissioner Mike Sexton.
    Click the slide below to begin this presentation designed to improve Commissioner Service and therefore the quality of program in every unit!





    Unit Visits was presented by Assistant Council Commissioner Brad Stewart. This presentation is a great refresher for current UCs and especially beneficial for new Unit Commissioners. Click the slide below to begin this presentation.



    Please contact Council Commissioner Mike Sexton with questions on these presentations or unit service within the Stonewall Jackson Area Council.
     
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