Recruiting a Full Recruiting a Full Commissioner StaffCommissioner Staff

Susan LongSusan Long

Occoneechee CouncilOcconeechee Council

Raleigh, NCRaleigh, NC

UC Recruitment HistoryUC Recruitment History

113 new unit 113 new unit commissioners commissioners recruited since recruited since 2005.2005.

Improved unit to Improved unit to unit commissioner unit commissioner ratio from 1:15 to ratio from 1:15 to 1:3.6!1:3.6! 0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Unit Commissioners

2005 2006 2007

Diverse DemographicsDiverse Demographics

Diverse DemographicsDiverse Demographics

DemographicsDemographics Metro area w/5 Metro area w/5

districtsdistricts

1 district w/4 rural 1 district w/4 rural countiescounties

Economically Economically challenged urban challenged urban district district

Ft. Bragg military Ft. Bragg military communitycommunity

World famous golf World famous golf coursescourses

One of the largest One of the largest concentration of PhDs concentration of PhDs in USin US

HQ for numerous HQ for numerous corporations (RTP)corporations (RTP)

What should your ratio of units What should your ratio of units to commissioners be to serve to commissioners be to serve

the needs of your units?the needs of your units?

National Standards vs. RealityNational Standards vs. Reality

15.0

4.93.6 3.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

Uni

t/Com

mis

sion

er R

atio

Index of Growth

2005 2006 2007 National Standard

How do you secure the right How do you secure the right commissioner?commissioner?

It starts with having the right District It starts with having the right District Commissioners in place!Commissioners in place!

The Example/Role Model The Example/Role Model for all for all commissioners in the districtcommissioners in the districtAccountabilityAccountabilityAccessibilityAccessibilityCharismaCharisma IntegrityIntegrityFollow-through and follow upFollow-through and follow upTime to do the jobTime to do the jobKnows the territory (the units, leaders, has Knows the territory (the units, leaders, has

come up through ranks)=Credibilitycome up through ranks)=CredibilityPositive attitude!!Positive attitude!!

Unit Commissioner Unit Commissioner Recruitment PlanRecruitment Plan

Understanding The NeedUnderstanding The Need

Personnel shortage identified as part of Personnel shortage identified as part of council’s strategic long range planning council’s strategic long range planning process.process.

Starting point: unit commissioner to unit Starting point: unit commissioner to unit ratio of 1:15.ratio of 1:15.

Council possessed a full complement of Council possessed a full complement of District Commissioners.District Commissioners.They were not trained to be recruitment readyThey were not trained to be recruitment ready

The Process-Step 1The Process-Step 1

Board approved an annual business plan Board approved an annual business plan of action to meet strategic objectives. of action to meet strategic objectives. The “Commissioner Service Operations Plan” The “Commissioner Service Operations Plan”

included the approved annual objectives, key included the approved annual objectives, key meeting dates, and training dates.meeting dates, and training dates.

Commissioner Service Commissioner Service Operations PlanOperations Plan

It is the mission of the Council Commissioner It is the mission of the Council Commissioner Staff to keep Scouting units alive, healthy, Staff to keep Scouting units alive, healthy,

happy, and reregistered on time. Our happy, and reregistered on time. Our commitment is to develop and implement plans commitment is to develop and implement plans that will result in increased unit, adult leader and that will result in increased unit, adult leader and

youth retention. The Occoneechee Council youth retention. The Occoneechee Council Commissioner staff recognizes that it helps units Commissioner staff recognizes that it helps units

succeed and that unit service is a top priority. succeed and that unit service is a top priority. Those who administer the program must, Those who administer the program must,

therefore, serve the membership therefore, serve the membership and also and also actively and purposefully recruit new actively and purposefully recruit new

members.members.

Commissioner Service Objectives -Commissioner Service Objectives -RecruitmentRecruitment

Recruit and fully engageRecruit and fully engage an Assistant an Assistant Council Commissioner for each Council Council Commissioner for each Council Vice-President in order to form key Threes Vice-President in order to form key Threes for each committee.for each committee.

Recruit sufficient numbers of unit Recruit sufficient numbers of unit commissionerscommissioners to achieve the National to achieve the National goal of 3 units per unit commissioner.goal of 3 units per unit commissioner.

Step 2-Getting District Step 2-Getting District Commissioners Ready to RecruitCommissioners Ready to Recruit

District Commissioners and ADCs are District Commissioners and ADCs are seen at council, district seen at council, district and community and community eventsevents in uniform. in uniform.Not a stranger to the units!!Not a stranger to the units!!

Step 3-Building A Prospect ListStep 3-Building A Prospect ListReview separated member lists.Review separated member lists.Turn “suspects” into “PROSPECTS” Turn “suspects” into “PROSPECTS”

through referrals.through referrals.

Step 3-Building A Prospect ListStep 3-Building A Prospect ListOften considered sources for prospects:Often considered sources for prospects:

Step 3-Building A Prospect ListStep 3-Building A Prospect ListHave you considered…Have you considered…

Step 4-Preparing to RecruitStep 4-Preparing to Recruit Develop a job Develop a job

descriptiondescription Don’t sugar coat Don’t sugar coat

it!!it!!

Step 4-The AppointmentStep 4-The Appointment Make appointment Make appointment

with prospect (and with prospect (and spouse)spouse)

Review points for Review points for successful successful interviewsinterviews

Call on prospectsCall on prospects Follow upFollow up

Step 5-Tracking Recruitment Step 5-Tracking Recruitment ProgressProgress

Reporting frequency: monthly Reporting frequency: monthly Forums Included:Forums Included:

Executive Board and Executive Executive Board and Executive Committee MeetingsCommittee Meetings

Monthly Commissioner Cabinet MeetingsMonthly Commissioner Cabinet MeetingsMonthly Professional Staff MeetingsMonthly Professional Staff MeetingsMonthly Commissioner NewsletterMonthly Commissioner Newsletter

For a copy go to For a copy go to www.ocscouts.org

Commissioner Box ScoreCommissioner Box ScoreDISTRICTDISTRICT # UNITS# UNITS UCs UCs

NEEDEDNEEDEDUCs UCs

REGISTEREDREGISTEREDNEED TO NEED TO RECRUITRECRUIT

% OF NEED% OF NEED UC RATIOUC RATIO

HEHE 3939 1313 1919 00 146%146% 1:21:2

TRTR 3333 1111 1212 00 109%109% 1:2.71:2.7

CRCR 7070 2323 2222 -1-1 94%94% 1:3.21:3.2

GNGN 3333 1111 88 -3-3 73%73% 1:4.11:4.1

MAMA 4646 1515 1010 -5-5 65%65% 1:4.61:4.6

SAMPLE SCORECARD-STACK CHART ORIGINAL IDEA CAME FROM LEADERSHIP

SUPPORT SERVICESREVIEWED AT MONTHLY COMMISSIONER CABINET

MEETINGS, BOARD AND STAFF MEETINGS

Step 6-Train to RetainStep 6-Train to Retain

Train…train…train those Train…train…train those new unit commissioners!!new unit commissioners!!

Offer meaningful commissioner Offer meaningful commissioner meetings each month!!meetings each month!!

Recruitment TechniquesRecruitment TechniquesTraditional recruiting techniquesTraditional recruiting techniques

Two person recruiting teamsTwo person recruiting teamsFormal “face to face” meetingFormal “face to face” meetingOne on one when referredOne on one when referred

Innovative group recruitingInnovative group recruiting

Resources Used In Resources Used In Developing Our PlanDeveloping Our Plan

National Commissioner’s Newsletter National Commissioner’s Newsletter and podcasts.and podcasts.

Best practices from other councils.Best practices from other councils.Position descriptions from National Position descriptions from National

Council publications.Council publications.Information from leadership support Information from leadership support

service.service.

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Commitment of the Council CommissionerCommitment of the Council CommissionerSupport of the professional staffSupport of the professional staffEngagement of several key volunteersEngagement of several key volunteersTextbook recruiting techniques using Textbook recruiting techniques using

resources already available through the resources already available through the national organization.national organization.

Innovative ideas from districts.Innovative ideas from districts.

ResultsResultsUnit retention 75-94%!Unit retention 75-94%!Youth retention 66-72%!Youth retention 66-72%!Cub & Boy Scout Cub & Boy Scout

advancement at record advancement at record levels!levels!

Quality units 45-71%!Quality units 45-71%!Quality districts grew Quality districts grew

from 2 of 13 to 10 of 13!from 2 of 13 to 10 of 13!Achieved Centennial Achieved Centennial

Quality Council!Quality Council!