InquisitiveScouter

Thanks for the steer! Unfortunately: Commissioners No Commissioners Found

A good start! Now, how do we make the Unit Commissioner role effective? If you look at the job description... https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NCST-Unit-Commissioner-Job-Description.pdf ...it assumes some key conditions - that Commissioners integrate into the unit rhythms, and that units can access the Commissioner's Assessment and will follow the guidance of the Unit Commissioner. The many Unit Commissioners I have talked with express frustration over the following things: 1. The unit leadership views them as an outsider, with bad intent. Word on the street is, you never see a Commissioner unless there is a problem in the unit. That is, they are harbingers of an illness in the unit. This is probably a result of #2... 2. Commissioners wear more hats than that of Unit Commissioner, and this detracts from their being able to spend the time it takes to build solid relationships so that a unit will listen to what you have to offer. IMO, Commissioners should be attending unit meetings about monthly, and a unit outing about every quarter... (no, they don't have to camp out overnight, but they should have that opportunity!! Cannot do this under current policy unless they are on the unit roster. And, although I cannot find this in writing at the moment, I believe Commissioners cannot be members of units they are assigned to,. Catch-22.) (No, they should not be counted as adult leadership for supervision requirements.) 3. No one knows who their unit commissioner is. Where can I find this info? You should be able to see it in your unit info on my.scouting. Good luck with that. And on that line of thinking, where is my Commissioner's Unit Assessment? The succession of Unit Leaders should be able to readily access these for several years. Good luck with that, too 😜 Bottom line: lack of transparency does not engender trust. 4. There is a culture of "we're gonna do it our way" I have seen in many units. This first comes from an ignorance of BSA policy. Then, once finding out they are doing something not in accordance with BSA policy, an arrogance of maintaining that posture because "that's the way we have always done it, so that's the way we are gonna continue." What carrots does a Commissioner have to offer a unit? And what sticks? That is, when the Commissioner (tactfully) informs the unit they are doing something awry, there is no repercussion unless it is a YPT violation (see #1.) Here's an example... a Commissioner visits an Eagle Project in progress to lend a hand and build relationships with the unit. He sees a youth using a battery powered skill saw (and with no hearing or eye protection). https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/healthsafety/pdf/680-028.pdf When the Commissioner discreetly points this out to the unit leaders on hand, the unit leaders take no action to inform the Eagle candidate running the show, nor do they take any other action to correct the situation. Should the Commissioner employ a "stick" here and tell the unit leader he will report the matter to the Chartered Organization Rep, or the District Executive, or the Scout Executive? Should the Commissioner note this in a Unit Assessment Report? Should he file a "Near Miss Report"??? https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-017_fillable.pdf See how we are going down the road of point #1?? (BTW, yes, this has happened, and nothing came of it, except the Commissioner was re-assigned to a different unit at his request. Do you think that UC felt supported by the DE or council leadership??) Overall, I find the attitude of self-policing, improvement, and a desire to know the right way to do things and to do it generally lacking in most adult leaders. Is a UC gonna be the one to change that culture in a unit?

No... haven't seen a "successful" or robust Commissioner program. I have always believed you need to incentivize the behavior you want... Other than the parents having their children earn Eagle Scout, what incentives are there for adults to volunteer in any capacity? Altruism lasts but for a season. Volunteers need to feel appreciated, valued, and recognized. And when an organization invests in their training and development, volunteers grow even more dedicated. Do you feel appreciated in your council? (Personally, no.) Are you recognized for the value you add to the organization at all levels? (No) Does your council/district/unit invest in your training? (Unit yes... unit pays for required position training, and will pay 50% of training that contributes to JTE metrics. District and council, no.) Has someone mentored you in a path of development as a Scouter? (No) When you learn of the salaries of higher ups in BSA, does it affect your willingness to volunteer or donate? https://www.investopedia.com/personal-finance/how-much-income-puts-you-top-1-5-10/ Our council exec's individual compensation package is $270K per year. Well into the top 5% for households in our area (but not nationwide.). When most parents learn this, they are absolutely shocked. Yeah, they'll volunteer to help their kid's unit, but nothing past that... especially when they see little to no value added from council to their Troop program/success.

Over the course of my volunteer career, and through the several councils I have been involved in, the adult volunteer corps has been treated as expendable. BSA should protect the rights of every member vigorously, youth or adult, when needed. I talk with many who were formerly involved with the program, and ask them if they'll lend a hand. There is an element of genuine fear of dealing with other peoples' kids, and being one misunderstanding away from accusation and false ignominy. My personal safeguard against this is to always have an adult buddy "attached" to the hip. I can readily recall at least four instances over the years where a Scout "heard" something that I or another adult did not actually say, misinterpreted it, reported it to parents/other leaders, and the accused adult thankfully had other adult witnesses to refute or clarify. I do not even do Scoutmaster conferences out of earshot any more. This is not the way it should be, but I have found it to be a prudent practice.

You, too, can be fully green 😜 There's always a gold nugget or two buried in there somewhere. And probably a rotten apple (or two) as well. COMPLETED: S11, SCO_800, Y01 - 100% COMPLETED: S24 - 100% COMPLETED: SCO_471, SCO_472, SCO_473, SCO_474, SCO_475, SCO_476, SCO_477, SCO_478, SCO_479, SCO_480, SCO_481, SCO_482, SCO_484, SCO_485, SCO_530 - 100%

IOLS is a Position Trained requirement. https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Position-Trained-Requirements-July2024.pdf And councils are supposed to be enforcing this within six months of being in a position. But that varies by council. See link below for PA Dutch Council, which puts it a 12 months. Councils are supposed to be denying position renewal without training, but I have never heard of it actually being enforced. http://padutchbsa.org/training/#:~:text=Pennsylvania Dutch Council Training Policies&text=Scouts BSA and Venturing Leaders,during the twelve month period. For the training piece, for several positions, you have the option of doing either an in-class session, or the online modules to complete the required training. For example, for the Scoutmaster role, you may complete EITHER S24, Scoutmaster Specific, OR all those course modules in the list in the first link above. We actually ask our leaders to do both in-person sessions (when available) and online modules. It's part of our Culture of Excellence 😜 You learn different things in either training medium. And, when done well, the in-person/interactive stuff is so much better.

As you point out, many now have no outdoors/Scouting experience... so to whom are they to delegate?

Yeah, we could do a wiki and generate most of the materials coming out of National. Including the Scout Handbook.

I have no problem asking Eagle Scout candidates to demo Scout skills, or show some Scout knowledge. But, usually, it is a follow-on to a question about program and experiences. "Jenny, what are some things you liked about Scouting?" "I loved Pioneering Merit Badge, and learning to work with rope to build things." "That's great! Did you share some of these skills with the other Scouts in your Troop?" "Yes, I was our primary Troop Instructor for whipping, knots, and lashings!" "OK, right! I see on your Eagle Application that is one of the Positions of Responsibility you have cited for your rank requirements. Would you be willing to tie a bowline for me? Here's a piece of rope." "Sure!" <Ties the knot> etc etc etc It is not a test for the Scout, and, if the Scout cannot tie it, I would certainly not hold her up unless the candidate said something like "I never learned to tie a bowline." (Then it would be about not ever completing a requirement, versus not being able to remember how to do it.) It is a measure of the program and Troop culture, and not necessarily a measure of the Scout. "Its purpose is to determine the quality of the Scout’s experience and decide whether the requirements for the rank have been fulfilled."

Agreed! And I think we would do better if we set the expectation that adults will learn Scout skills as well. Most adults I know cannot tie the seven basic knots in the Scout Handbook (much less do any lashing), use a map and compass to find their way, sleep outside in less than 40 degree weather, go backpacking, or, more generally, know most of the things in the Scout Handbook that Scouts have to know (or know what "right" looks like). And they are afraid to admit it and then go learn. What happened to Be, Know, Do?

Somehow we need to cultivate a culture of the Pursuit of Excellence. I, too, meet scads of Scouters who are unwilling to admit that they need some changes to improve their Scouting. Good luck overcoming this psychological barrier.

This is what the Commissioner Corps is supposed to be for. And, in all the councils I have been in, it has been sorely lacking. I have some thoughts on the reasons for this. What are yours, and how could we fix?

Spot on! Nothing. You hit upon one of the bigger issues also... deconfliction. Council does not want CO's going to the same well to ask for funding. That's where I could see things going off the rails...

Yes, and this is why National tries to discourage incorporation of units or their "boosters". It is all about the money! For your average CO, their raison d'être is not Scouting. Take a church, for example... Your local church "uses" Scouting as a program to enhance their service to youth. If Scouting units under a CO fold, then the CO continues its other activities. Your local church may ask for donations for a new steeple, to replace their pews, or put a new coat of paint on everything. That is different from your local church asking for donations solely to support their Scout units. When they go down that road, their activity falls under the charter agreement. And, when they do have any money or property earmarked for Scouting, if the unit folds, the agreement is that they will keep all that money and property for the purposes of Scouting, should they start up a unit again. (Of course, council wants that money, so they sometimes pursue that purse.) For the "Friends of Troop XX", their entire purpose for existence (if you didn't yet look up what "raison d'être" means 😜 ) is to support the Scout units, so any and all monies and property they should be used solely for the purposes of Scouting. If the units fold, then the reason for the existence of the corporation ceases also. In everything I have read, nowhere does National "prohibit" units (or "Friends of") from incorporating (because they really cannot). BUT, they do put the threat of revoking your charter out there. "Units could lose their charter if they tried to get their own tax-exempt status and solicit tax deductible gifts." Here's an example (page 2, end of first paragraph): https://www.ciecbsa.org/document/tax-exempt-for-units/25798#:~:text=Units should not incorporate or,approved unit money-earning projects. And another https://lpcbsa.doubleknot.com/newsfeed/fiscal-policies-and-procedures-for-bsa-units/9007 And another https://michiganscouting.org/unit-resources/unit-finance/ You'll notice the verbiage is exactly the same, which means (to me) this comes out of National... I never heard of National denying someone's charter for this. YMMV I cannot see them doing it, especially these days, unless the money amounts get big, and they get jealous/greedy.

https://youtu.be/-9NMt42il4Q

Mass hysteria...

"Oh! And let's log it for more cash before we sell it!"

LOL, you farceur!

3x3 rule??

Almost 22,000 names. I would support BSA having a list like this for parents to see. Bolsters transparency. Although, I'm uncomfortable with them publishing the names of those with "Alleged Misconduct." They should keep those to themselves until the defendant goes through due process. Publishing them there makes them guilty in the court of public opinion.

Pretty sure these are they: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PsYfr1oVDc&ab_channel=TroopLeader https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxsjXWfkZIU&ab_channel=TroopLeader

Wondering if they were wearing helmets? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMp317MawbE Cannot believe BSA G2SS does not require helmets on PWCs. But, some literature does mention it... https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Handbook-of-Personal-Watercraft-Basics_HB.pdf or water skiing, for that matter. Once, as a Scout (back in the 20th century, lol) I was water skiing. Another Scout was driving the boat, with an experienced adult on board. They were probably going about 20-25 miles per hours, as I was pretty light, and a novice. The Scout went into a small-radius turn. I tried to stay on the skis while making the turn with the boat (and I was on a long rope), not really knowing my own limits and lack of skill... While whipping around the outside of the turn, I dug a tip into the water and went face first (with eyes open) ... at about 35 miles per hour by my estimation (and the math works..) Force of the water blinded me for a bit, gave me a bloody nose, and ripped my suit down to my ankles. Thank God for life jackets! Can you imagine traveling on a personal watercraft at even higher speeds, and taking a spill??

Fortunately, one Lenni Lenape word for "Fellowship" is Witauchsundowagan. So, also begins with W! No need to change logos!! "...that binds us in fellowship, Witauchsundowagan." Hmmm... have to add a few more notes to the song. Meh, we are changing everything else, why not!!??

https://substack.com/@seandietrich/p-148425885 No mention of affinity groups here, thank goodness...

"affinity outings"... gobbledygook "They bring us together; they don't divide."... LOL... more woke gobbledygook. I'm with you. We are ALL SCOUTS. That is what binds us together.