Commissioner Basic

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Welcome!
Make yourself comfortable. We will start soon.
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• Reminder to instructors Check the notes pages
  of this presentation for the text of the
  Continuing Education for Commissioners
• This is a hidden slide and will not show in the
  presentation.

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Commissioner Quiz

• The unit commissioner (true / false)
• 1. Reports to the District Executive.
• 2. Must be an expert in training adults and
  youth.
• 3. Is only concerned with reregistering a unit
  on time.
• 4. Should be familiar with the official
  literature used by units for program.
• 5. Visits the unit committee only, on a regular
  basis.
• 6. Must know the unit program planning process.
• 7. "Sells" the unit leader on district and
  council functions, as a primary responsibility.
• 8. Periodically communicates with the chartered
  organization representative to offer help.

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Commissioner Quiz

• The unit commissioner (true / false) - Continued
• 9. Regularly attends Roundtables to check up
  on unit leaders.
• 10. Guides the unit through the annual service
  plan.
• 11. May earn the Commissioners Key and/or the
  Cub Scouter Award.
• 12. Attends monthly meetings of the district
  committee.
• 13. Is not involved in the presentation of the
  unit charter.
• 14. Must be familiar with the monthly program
  themes.
• 15. Encourages assigned packs, troops, teams,
  and crews to earn the Quality Unit Award.

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• Commissioner
• Basic
• Training

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• Commissioner
• Basic
• Training

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Introductions

• Name
• Commissioner job
• Scouting experience

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• Session 1
• Why Commissioners?

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Overview

• Aims and methods
• Commissioner service role
• Supporting the unit
• Unit Program Planning

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Aims and Methods
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Aims of Scouting

• What are the aims of Scouting?
• Character development
• Citizenship training
• Personal fitness

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Methods of Scouting

• What are some methods of Scouting?
• Cub Scouts
• Boy Scouts / Varsity
• Venturing

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Council Mission

• Promotes Scouting in a geographic area
• Voluntary association of citizens
• Representatives of chartered organizations
• Provides Scouting services
• Field service
• Office support
• Camps

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District Mission

• Organize and support successful units
• Membership
• Finance
• Program
• Unit service

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• Commissioner Service Role

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The Commissioner Concept

• The commissioner is the liaison between the local
  council and 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.

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Job Description Card
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Job Description Card

• Friend

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Job Description Card

• Friend
• Representative

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Job Description Card

• Friend
• Representative
• Unit "GP doctor"

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Job Description Card

• Friend
• Representative
• Unit "GP doctor"
• Teacher

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Job Description Card

• Friend
• Representative
• Unit "GP doctor"
• Teacher
• Counselor

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(No Transcript)
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• Supporting the Unit

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Supporting the Unit

• Topic Indicators of unit health
• Method Buzz groups

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Indicators of Unit Health Pack

• Leadership
• Webelos den
• Advancement
• Attendance
• Adult attendance
• Den activity
• Program operations
• Den chiefs or den aides
• Membership
• Planned program

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Indicators of Unit Health Troop

• Meeting operation
• Youth leadership
• Advancement
• Adult assistance
• Attendance
• Outdoor program
• Patrol activity
• Budget plan
• Membership
• Planned program

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Indicators of Unit Health Crew

• Adult Leadership
• Elected Officers
• Adult assistance
• Membership
• Meeting operation
• Planned program

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Evaluation Tool

• Commissioner Worksheets - pack, troop, crew
• Do unit leaders like evaluation?
• What are your resources?

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• Unit Program Planning

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Cub Scout Program Planning

• Unit commissioners should understand process and
  tools
• Program Helps and Pack Planning Chart
• Council calendar
• Chartered organization needs
• Annual program planning conference
• Monthly pack leaders meeting
• DLC - DL meeting
• Den Chief - adult meeting

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Boy Scout Program Planning

• Tools
• Troop Program Features 4 volumes
• Program Planning Chart
• Boy Scout Leader
  Program Notebook
• Planning steps
• Homework (get ready)
• Find out what Scouts want (patrol leaders)
• PLC annual planning, SPL presiding
• Secure troop committee support
• Pass the word. Publicize.

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Venturing Crew Program Planning

• Crew plans program
• Program capability inventory (adult resources)
• Adult hobbies, interests, skills, careers, and
  Ideas from PCI to program planning forms
• Venturing activity interest survey
• Planning steps
• Officers brainstorm activities
• Officers discuss and evaluate each idea
• Officers select activities and calendarize
• Officers plan each month in advance

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Summary

• Aims and methods
• Commissioner service role
• Supporting the unit
• Unit program planning

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• Break!

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• Commissioner
• Basic
• Training

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• Session 2
• Units The Commissioners
• Top Priority

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Overview

• The Unit Visit
• Unit Visitation Reports
• Commissioner Priorities
• Effective Commissioner Leadership
• Unit Committee Functions
• Quality Unit Operations

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• The Unit Visit

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The First Unit Visit

• Make appointment to visit an assigned unit
• Go with your observer/coach/ADC
• Worksheet will be filled out later
• Take your resource kit
• Observe for the entire meeting
• Do not participate beyond introductions
• Both new commissioner and coach fill out
  independent worksheets
• Wear your complete uniform as an example

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• Unit Visitation Reports

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Unit Visitation Reports

• Using the
• Commissioner Work Sheet

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Worksheet
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Sample
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• Commissioner Priorities

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Commissioner Priorities

• Remember your job description
• Stick to your primary responsibility
• Unit focus

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• Effective Commissioner Leadership

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Effective Commissioner Leadership

• Evaluate and improve your own performance
• Maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude
• Work successfully with adults
• Guide unit leaders in working successfully with
  boys
• Set a good example for the boys and other adults
• Continue learning and growing in leadership
  skills
• Practice good communication

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• Hidden notes slide

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• Unit Committee Functions

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Unit Committee Functions

• Packs
• Troops
• Teams
• Crews

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Pack Committee

• Advancement
• Finance
• Outings
• Training
• Membership reregistration
• Record keeping correspondence
• Public relations
• Friends of Scouting

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Troop Committee

• Advancement
• Finance
• Equipment
• Outdoor program
• Transportation
• Leadership
• Membership reregistration
• Friends of Scouting

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• Quality Unit Operation

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Danger Signals

• Style of leadership
• Leader wants to keep authority
• Lacks faith in boys / leaders
• Leader trains only by mass instruction
• Leader does not grasp possibilities of patrol
  method
• Unit is not meeting
• Unit is without adult leaders
• Unit has no committee
• No new members being added
• Low attendance at meetings
• Weak or poorly organized program
• No advancement
• No participation in day camp or summer camp
• No unit budget

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National Quality Unit Award

• Four mandatory items
• Trained leader
• Trained assistant leader
• Outdoor program
• Recharter on time
• Minimum two of six optional items
• 100 Boys Life (or improvement)
• Advancement
• Service project
• Etc., appropriate to the type of unit

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Summary

• The unit visit
• Unit visitation reports
• Commissioner priorities
• Effective commissioner leadership
• Unit committee functions
• Quality Unit operation

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• Open Forum
• Questions and Concerns

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• Lunch!

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• Commissioner
• Basic
• Training

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• Session 3
• How to Help a Unit

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Overview

• Counseling
• The District Committee
• Membership Management
• Unit Charter Renewal Process
• Annual Commissioner Service Plan
• The Lifesaving Commissioner
• Second and Third Unit Visits

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• Counseling

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Counseling

• "Listen to someone in such a way that they will
  solve their own problems."

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Discussion

• What are the fundamentals of good counseling?

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Fundamentals Of Good Counseling

• 1. Time and place with no interruptions
• 2. Understand what the leader is saying
• 3. Let the leader know you hear and understand
• 4. Do not give advice!
• Guide the discussion through questions
• Leader solves his/her own problem
• If they don't solve their own problem
• Give information
• Propose possible alternatives
• Let leader pick best solution
• 5. Summarize from time to time to keep on track
• 6. Support thinking with information
• Know the difference between information and
  advice
• 7. Resources
• Commissioner Fieldbook, Counseling

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• District Committee

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District Committee

• Four function organization
• Membership
• Finance
• Program
• Unit service

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Membership Functions

• 1. Fall Roundup
• 2. Spring Roundup
• 3. Special membership rallies
• 4. Advice and help to units with
• membership problems

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Finance Functions

• 1. Sustaining Membership Enrollment / Friends of
  Scouting
• 2. Trust Funds
• (James E. West Award)
• 3. Advice to units

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Program Functions

• 1. Camping
• 2. Activities
• 3. Advancement
• 4. Training
• 5. Health Safety

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Camping

• Order of the Arrow
• Where to go camping
• Summer camp promotion
• Log Cabin Gateway
• Philmont

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Activities

• Scout Expo
• Scouting for Food
• Scouting Anniversary Week
• District Recognition Dinner
• Cub Day Camp
• Derbys Pinewood, Soapbox, etc.
• Camp-O-Rees

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Advancement

• Eagle Boards of Review
• Merit Badge Counselors
• Venturing awards
• Advice / training for units
• Heroism awards
• Adult recognition

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Training

• Cub Scout
• Fast Start
• New Leader Essentials
• Leader Specific Training
• Tiger Cub, Cub Scout, Webelos
• Cubmaster and Assistant
• Pack Committee
• Youth Protection
• Pow Wow, Roundtable
• Wood Badge

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Training

• Boy Scout
• Fast Start
• New Leader Essentials
• Leader Specific Training
• Scoutmaster and Assistant
• Intro to Outdoor Leadership Skills
• Troop Committee
• Youth Protection
• Roundtable, High Adventure
• Wood Badge

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Training

• Venturing
• Fast Start
• New Leader Essentials
• Leader Specific Training
• Venturing Crew Advisers / Adults
• Intro to Outdoor Leadership Skills
• Youth Protection
• Roundtable, High Adventure
• Wood Badge
• Powder Horn

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Training

• Youth
• Den Chief
• Council Courses
• Junior Leader Training
• Junior Leader Backpack Training
• Venturing Leadership Skills Course

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Health Safety

• Monitor district events

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• Membership Management

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Membership Management

• Buzz groups for 10 minutes
• Topics
• Unit with mostly older boys
• Inventories of active boys
• Year-round recruiting
• Preventing dropped units
• 1 minute reports

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Membership Management

• Unit with mostly older boys
• Recruit
• Inventories of active boys
• Committee Involvement for inactive boys
• Program or Administrative issue

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Membership Management

• Year-round recruiting
• Birthday greetings
• Phone Invitations
• Personal Invitations
• Webelos-Scout transition
• Preventing dropped units
• Assigned to unit
• Assigned while organizing new units

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• Charter Renewal

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Charter Renewal

• "If commissioners are providing regular
  visitation and doing their job as in the Annual
  Service Plan, then rechartering becomes a minor
  paperwork exercise."
• 
  George Crowl, 1982

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Objective

• Reregister unit
• On time
• Maximum membership
• Good leadership

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The Plan

• -90
• -60
• -45
• -15
• 60

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The Plan

• 90 days before
• District Executive visit Institution Head
• Printout available (to right person!)
• 60 days before
• Membership inventory
• Recruit to make up loss
• 100 Boy's Life?
• 45 days before
• Charter renewal meeting
• Boys
• Adults
• Fees
• Approvals
• Plans for the next year (Quality Unit)
• 15 days before
• Charter turn-in night
• 60 days after
• Charter presentation

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Ninety Days Before

• District Executive visits Institution Head
• Friendly visit
• or
• "How can I help"

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Sixty Days Before

• Membership inventory
• Set review meeting
• Uniform inspection?

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Forty-Five Days Before

• Charter review meeting
• Youth
• Adults
• Fees
• Approvals
• Quality Unit status
• Plans

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Fifteen Days Before

• Charter turn-in night

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Sixty Days After

• Charter presentation
• Chartered partner
• and
• The unit
• Sample presentation in Commissioner Fieldbook

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Some Techniques

• Talk about 100 Boy's Life early and often
• Committee members do membership follow-up
• Discuss Quality Unit with the whole committee
  (several times a year)
• Commissioner (the expert) fills out clean copy of
  charter renewal form
• Charter renewal checklist (available)

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• Annual Commissioner
• Service Plan

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Annual CommissionerService Plan

• Gives specific purpose to
• regular and supportive
• contact with units.

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Annual Plan

• April - Unit leadership inventory
• May - Membership inventory
• - Troop uniform inspection
• June - Check on Quality Unit progress
• August - Unit program planning
• October - Troop/pack uniform inspection
• November - Youth Protection Training
• December - Membership inventory
• - Recharter
• - Quality Unit Measurement
• February - Charter presentation

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• Annual Plan
• coupled with
• regular visitation
• provides good
• commissioner service.

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• Lifesaving Commissioner

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• Lifesaving
• Commissioner!!!

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Vital Signs

• What are they?

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Vital Signs

• Youth dropping out
• No youth recruiting or poor recruiting methods
• No adult leader
• No planned program
• No youth leaders
• No discipline
• Unit stops meeting
• Charter lapses / drops
• Chartered org. leader unhappy with the unit
• Only one active adult
• No parents involved
• Adult conflicts / poor communications

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TAKE ACTION

• Consult ADC / DC
• Ask some basic questions
• What are the problems?
• What are possible solutions?
• What do we do first?
• Who do we involve?
• How do we know when unit is saved?
• What is plan B?
• Be enthusiastic
• Apply "first aid
• Apply second aid
• Promote teamwork

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Hurry Cases

• Unit not meeting
• No leader
• No committee
• No new members
• Conflict with chartered organization
• New untrained leader
• Weak leadership

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Lifesaving Team

• Ad hoc, or organized
• Bring appropriate skills to bear on the problem
• Adapt to the individual problems

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• The Second and Third
• Unit Visits

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Second / Third Unit Visits

• Second visit unit meeting
• Go by yourself
• Stay only 15 minutes (drop-in)
• Take your resource kit
• Make worksheet (or changes)
• Third visit committee meeting
• Visit with chartered organization representative
• Be prepared with ways to help
• Give everyone your phone and address
• Wear your complete uniform as an example

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Summary

• Counseling
• District committee
• Membership management
• Charter renewal process
• Annual commissioner service plan
• Lifesaving commissioner
• Second and third unit visits

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• Open Forum
• Questions and Concerns

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• Early Graduation
• (If you have a current Youth Protection card)

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• Break!

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• Commissioner
• Basic
• Training

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• Youth Protection Training

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Commissioner andYouth Protection

• Annual Youth Protection visit in the fall
• Encourage proper leader selection procedures
• Coach unit people if child abuse occurs
• Promote the youth videos
• It Happened to Me
• A Time to Tell
• Personal Safety Awareness
• Explain how to use Youth Protection inserts
• Complete Youth Protection Training yourself

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• Graduation