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Commissioners can be a great source of guidance and assistance for your Pack.
 Greetings my fellow Cub Scouters! And welcome to the 100th year of Scouting! My name is Tom Coonradt and I serve our Cub Scout Packs by developing & supporting our Unit Commissioners and you, my fellow Volunteers. This is an excellent time for us to all be involved in scouting. First and foremost, let me thank you all for your service and dedication not only to the boys, but to their families, their communities and society as a whole!
A little bit about myself: I have been lucky to be involved in scouting since January of 1980. I have been an adult leader since I was 18 years old, mostly in Cub Scouting positions. I have seen this program change countless lives for the better. Not just the youth we serve, but their families and the leaders involved. I love the scouting program. In my opinion there is no better way to equip our future leaders, future fathers, and fellow citizens with the tools they will need to make our society great. And you are a massive part of that.
My Role: as Assistant District Commissioner, my job is to be there as a true friend to help your Pack. Working with your particular Pack's Unit Commissioner, together we help you by answering any scouting questions you may have, help you with things like recharter and recruiting, help troubleshoot any issues you may have in your unit, or even offer advice and suggestions on how to host a special event or have a special ceremony. Basically just to be there for just about any kind of support you need.
I am also looking to expand the Commissioner Corps for the Cub Scout units. I feel that every pack should have a commissioner there to help guide and assist them. If you would like to join us, or know someone who would be a great resource to a local pack please let me know!
The goal of this Commissioner's Corner is to post a monthly topic in a blog-type format. Any suggestions of topics you may have would be welcome, as would be any feedback. I want you to know that I, and your Pack's Unit Commissioner, are here to help you.
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Greeting fellow Cub Scouters! This last month has been a great month so far. For those of you that have done your Friends of Scouting (FOS) Campaigns good job! Keep raising money for this great cause. Our goals should be to ask 100% of our families. For those of you starting your campaign I wish all success! If you need any advice or suggestions let me know.
I have been lucky enough to visit several packs this month and take part in their pack meetings. I am thrilled by the sheer quality of the program I have seen. One thing I have seen a couple of places was a difficulty getting little voices quiet so the program can start or continue. So my topic this month will cover 2 tools I use for a (relatively) orderly Pack Meeting.
First is the most powerful tool we have. the Cub Scout Sign. This tool when used properly can bring a room full of hundreds (and once THOUSANDS) of people quiet. Raising the sign is the universl signal to listen up. I have used it on numerous scouting occasions and once or twice outside of scouting. And you would be amazed at how many former Cubs raised theirs too aned silence was acchieved. However there is a trick to this, and it requires work to establish. First ALL adult leaders need to raise their signs when they see the Cub Master raise his. And keep them up. Second, and this requires patience especially at first, The Cub Master needs to stay quiet with his/her sign up until the room settles. This teaches the boys (and parents!!) that when the sign is up the lips go shut.
The second tool is one that really has added additional dazzle to my meetings. Really helps make Pack meetings an event. And this is my Cheer box. Quite simple really. I buy a large box of All Purpose Cheer laundry soap. Empty the box of its contents, and add cheers (like the favorite Watermelon Cheer.) When a boy earns a badge or something, he draws a cheer from the box and leads it. Or another way to use it is for the boys to scream their little hearts out everytime the box is opened, then silence when it shuts. Much more fun then the average golf clap that often happens.
Well this is my message for this month. keep up the great work, keep working your FOS Campaigns. Next month we will discuss RECRUITMENT. So if you have specific questions e-mail me via my contact page, Tom Coonradt.
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This months topic or "Commissioner's Minute" will be about your Cub Scout "Parent Committee Meeting" otherwise known as the "Pack Leader" Meeting.
Ah, the committee meeting. The behind the scenes that keeps your pack strong. This meeting is a very necessary part of the functioning of the pack. It helps plan activities, manage finances, manage advancement, and most importantly ensures that new leaders are found, trained, and supported.
For a committee to work then need to meet often. Once a month or quarterly as needed. I have seen some groups meet entirely online or by email exchange. This is a trap that many of us fall into. While e-mail is a great form of communication, don't let it stop the face to face meetings where real issues can be worked out, and real communication can happen. Another tip for a good committee meeting is to have it on a night OTHER then a den or Pack meeting. This helps lessen distractions, and keeps the night from going on for hours. This meeting deserves your full attention.
The last tips I have for you are to keep it short, make an agenda, and stick to it. If you find your quarterly Committee meeting going for 3 hours, perhaps you should meet more often. Any meeting over an hour in length and you will find waning interest, and sometimes more people simply not comming. Make your agenda, assign a timekeeper, and make a sincere effort to "stick to it" and finish your meeting in 1-hour or less!
Thank you, fellow Volunteer, for taking the time to read this. I will have a new topic for you next month!
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Cub Commissioners
