UCEagle72

BP --

And you describe the best reason for keeping Commissioner rosters trimmed.

If you are not servicing a unit -- you are not registering as a commissioner in our District.

Welcome to the virtual campfire --

Put your feet up, and enjoy the fellowship.

And, yes, there are times when the fire gets a bit "hot" -- but hey, the skeeters don't bite!

BP --

Maybe it is dead where you are, but it is working here.

But then again, we have modified the model.

Our district uses it extensively (we've logged 1052 unit contacts so far in 2011) -- and I use it on my mobile phone all the time - I have bookmarked the actual "visit entry" -- http://goo.gl/sSx9P -- so I log into MyScouting, and then I click on my "visit entry" link -- which puts me on the screen to add a unit contact. (But yes, I wish they had a mobile app to make it easier.)

It works great on just about any browser (I have been testing it extensively) -- but -- if you have problems, default back to using Internet Explorer - and let the UVTS Help Desk know you are having problems -- 972-672-4389.

Cyndi McNear who handles UVTS questions does a great job, and she is very understanding.

If you are having problems, check these things first:

(1) Make sure you have all "pop-up blockers" turned "off" for *.scouting.org

(2) Make sure your BSA ID is the proper one for your commissioner registration on your profile.

(3) If you are using Internet Explorer, add https://*.scouting.org/ to your trusted sites.

(4) Remember passwords are case sensitive on MyScouting.

Comm Corner sounds good to me -- I support the idea!

The current Commissioner Service model is "awarded," under JTE, at the Council level if the ratio of Unit Commissioners-to-Units is 3:1 or less (Gold level). Even at 3:1, it is too much for most folks to handle.

To fit with today's busy people, having a unit commissioner servicing more than 2 units is a real risk - we are recruiting commissioners to handle only 1 unit.

And when you have 70 traditional units & 5 Explorer Posts, that's a lot of people! And recruiting is a continuous activity. It is unusual when a unit commissioner lasts more than a couple of years, so you need to look at "upcoming losses" when you are recruiting to try and stay ahead of the curve.

However, it is working.

And honestly, it is part of the responsibility of the District Commissioner, District Chairman, and District Executive to ensure that folks who are serving units don't feel like they are working a "thankless" job.

BTW - a good, and well trained, unit commissioner can tell you how well a unit is running without taking up any unit leaders time! The power of observation will tell you a lot. But you also need to be prepared to "listen" to your units leaders, and possibly take action (many times, listening is really all that is needed). An effective commissioner knows the unit Chartered Organization Representative, and even the charter partner's executive officer. (And an effective Administrative Commissioner will find out if that is the case when they do the annual commissioner reviews.)

Commissioner Service can work - we just need to make the program "fit" better with the reality of a busy person's schedule.

'96 --

I'll make a bold suggestion -- in our district, we have a number of UCs who are range instructors - and they spend a lot of time at camp all year long. So we have made sure they have only one unit to service.

In fact, when we recruit commissioners, we only ask them to serve one unit. And we keep it that way for at least a year. Then it is up to the UC to "ask" if they want an additional unit. Yup - we have no UCs serving more than two units (even if the CP has more).

It may take more time to get all your units covered when you take this approach -- but we seem to have UCs who don't feel "pressured" to see 4 or 5 units a month. And they can get a real relationship with their units.

This works for us ... of course, your mileage may vary.

Guy --

I'd recommend contacting your District Commissioner and see who the Unit Commissioner is for the "feeder pack," if there is one. They really should be "engaged" with the unit on a regular basis to help them with their leadership crisis. If there is NOT one assigned, then the District Commissioner, or preferably, one of his Assistants should be addressing this issue.

As DC I have several units that I am still recruiting Commissioners for -- and while we do our best to keep tabs on them like all the others, sometimes we may not be aware of issues like a "leadership crisis." So, feel free to contact your District Commissioner and let them know.

BP

I took my turn "swabbing the deck" while onboard AFS-5 & 6 (USS Concord and San Diego), and later, landing on the USS Inchon (LPH-12) as an Army Aviator headed to Grenada. So if you want to use the term "swabbie" for me, sobeit.

However, the question was for a "generic term" that could be used when addressing a group. Not here to split hairs, but, if you want a "generic term" then Advisors is still appropriate.

Actually, since all adults that participate in Venturing need to take "Venturing Leader Specific Training" to be considered "trained" (not sea scouts) - Advisors & Committee alike -- then I think "Advisors" is just fine for the Venturing Adult Volunteers (Sea Scouts is a different matter).

We had several Troops & Packs that joined with an American Legion post in Sanford Florida. They planted flags on military graves in the local cemetery.

Legion had coffee and donuts for all at 7:30 a.m. where the units gathered, then they traveled to the cemetery where the grave marking was done.

Always nice to see the Scouts working a veteran's organization. (The Legion Post does sponsor a Pack & Troop.)

Let him visit as many Troops as possible in order to see the "variety" in Scout troops. Heck, if that means going to visit 12 troops -- do it.

That is the only way he will find the right troop -- and if he was ignored on his recent troop visit, I doubt I would go back for a second visit!

ScoutLass --

It was not a gender statement, just a reality statement ... there were a few male DLs in those days, but women, at the time, were not allowed to be WDLs, CM, ACMs, etc.

Thanks Terry!

Baden --

I think I need to agree -- the advancement of DLs could well be part of the problem. We had "Den Mothers" until we reached Webelos, then we suddenly had a "man" who took care of us in Webelos -- and even the Den Mothers/Leaders stayed with a particular program, and basically became experts in how to get the most out of a Cubs time as a Bear or Wolf. So each year, you had a new face, a new adult to interact with -- much like school.

As I look at burn-out in Cubs, I think the real drop point is the start of Webelos ... by this time, boys have been in the program 3 years normally, and it seems to match the drop of interest we see in Scouts after 14 (not to mention the start of the "fumes problem").

Three years for us was Lions - and then entering Webelos for that three month period.

And think - we now have a pilot running with "Lions" that are now in kindergarten! So they will be in the program 4 years by the time they reach Webelos, and two more years there. Hmmmmm ... are we going the right way?

Patches do exist:

http://www.safetystore.com/first_aid_cpr_aed_patch.html

But like everyone else, I am not so sure they are needed.(This message has been edited by UCEagle72)

I wonder ... back in the olden days, Webelos was a three-month program. You were a Lion before that.

Maybe we have extended Webelos too long?

Google Sites -- while not specific for Scouts provides free hosting. As does Wordpress.com

The National Presidents Honor Unit Awards were used between 1974 and 1977. These unit awards were the first BSA attempt to standardize each unit's program. Units who meet adult and youth leadership, outdoor activities, BOYS' LIFE, service projects, program and membership goals pre-set with their Commissioner receive the flag streamer and an emblem. These items became PERMANENT parts of the field uniform and were worn below the Patrol medallion as shown here.

http://www.scoutinsignia.com/insignia/np-honor.jpg

The National Presidents Honor Unit Awards were used between 1974 and 1977. These items became PERMANENT parts of the field uniform and were worn below the Patrol medallion as shown here.

The problem with this first program was real apparent after the first year of the program. Did new Honor Units get the first patch (the blue patch without any stars) or did they receive the one with one star?? Did other units get to wear both the blank patch and the one with the single star, or do they just wear the one with the single star?? With very little guidance, this program became very hard to manage and in 1976 the National Office threw their hands up and told local Councils to "run it in the best way they chose to do so". Many local Councils started by then to develop their own unit recognition program based on these criteria and local Council programming criteria.

(Thanks to Mike Walton for having this info online - http://www.scoutinsignia.com/quality.htm )

Details on this program in the Summer issue of "The Commissioner"

http://goo.gl/sMNlF

Yup ... that's what it is, the "Honor Unit" program.

This happened back in 1990 (may have been late 80s, I was a CM then, and insisted that I was completing my CM Key) - and at the time, the basic awards were similar to what we have had - Den Leaders Training Award, Den Leaders Coach Training Award, Cubmaster's Key.

But many awards required 3 years of service, and many Cub Leaders were not in the program that long. So they came up with the new awards to recognize those leaders that did the work, and completed the training.

Of course, now that training is becoming "required" (we are one of the pilot Councils -- coming soon to the rest of the country) - I wonder if the requirements for these awards will change?

Did a quick check, you need to be using Internet Explorer for the "Format this Post" to work.

But, I bet you can still grok your own code without it.

KC9DDI --

The reports issued by ARES, MARS and ARRL.

73s,

AJ4RB

If you think signalling has no purpose in our modern world, then I invite you to places of natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons) when those lines of communication are cut.

Skills like being able to communicate by Morse code on the radio are still valued.

Had it not been for the amateur radio operators in 2004 in Florida and again in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast during Katrina, little to no communication would have been received.