Youth Group Commissioner

I am in the process of rebuilding my Group Committee and find the role of Youth Group Commissioner very interesting.

Here's part of the challenge... what is the purpose and description of this position?

There are clear descriptions of other positions, outlined in BP&P SECTION 4000 – APPOINTMENTS/POSITIONS, but nothing for this.

Is this an official position? If so, is there any official documentation to back this up?

Please advise, or better yet also populate the wiki article http://wiki.scouts.ca/en/Group_Youth_Commissioner

Hey Steve!

The Group Youth Commissioner role is one that is starting to pop up all over the country but has not been added to BP&P (or apparently the wiki) yet. Sorry about that.

The National Youth Network was actually working on a job description this past weekend at the National Conference so that we could add it to BP&P to give clarity to the role. So it is coming. Be patient please and we'll get it out as soon as we can.

In the meantime, I can hopefully provide some clarity on the expectations of the role of Group Youth Commissioner.

The GYC is meant to help to provide support to both the Group and the Area Youth Commissioner by working to help promote and support stronger youth involvement in the section programs. As a member of the AYC's team they also help to support the communication between the Area and the young people involved in the group.

Do you have any questions?

Dylan

Thanks Dylan.

Please consider putting a "draft" or "working version" of the description on the wiki. Label it as such and update us as to the progress towards BP&P inclusion, etc.

A full description is useful when recruiting volunteers into a role. "Open ended" descriptions often scare folks off.

Something is better than nothing! As always, I'm willing to help with formatting or other wiki issues.

I would also suggest being very specific with the actions and activities you wish the youth to perform. Giving your description to most teenagers will result in nothing being done; heck many adults wouldn't do stuff either. I see too many youth in positions like this that are essentially window dressing. I think you need to give them specific tasks to accomplish each month, and you can't depended on the GC to do that for you. So maybe things like visit one section in your group each month, talk to the leading youth (i.e. sixer and PLs) and report back what they like about the program and what they think should be changed, then meet them again on the next cycle and report back on what has happened to address those issues.

Allan, you make an excellent point. A lot of adults do nothing unless they know what to do, and we shouldn't expect any different from a youth member. Having a set list of tasks (and I like the ones Allan suggests) is vital to this position being more than a bit of youth-centered fluff. Plus, without specific tasks, it will be boring, which is a recipe for failure.

My own Group Committee is struggling with naming a youth representative. We have a few SITs and ALs who would likely suit, but how do you make them come to a committee meeting on a school night when there is always better stuff to do? EASY: give them a meaningful job to do, that is fun. However, getting scouters with 20+ years of experience to listen to new initiatives is not always easy.

I think that my Group was the first to have a Group Youth Commissioner.
Here is the Job Desacription that Dylan and I worked out for him. Seews to be working well.

Position Description
Group Youth Commissioner – 1st Geilenkirchen Group

Accountable to:
National Youth Commissioner

Appointment:
In consultation with the Commissioner – Scouts Canada Europe, the National Youth Commissioner appoints the Group Youth Commissioner – 1st Geilenkirchen Group annually.

Tenure:
The Group Youth Commissioner – 1st Geilenkirchen Group may be reappointed annually, but will not serve more than three (3) years consecutively, as per By-law, Policies & Procedures.

Time required:
3 to 6 hours per month.

Scope:
The Group Youth Commissioner – 1st Geilenkirchen Group is the recognized point of contact on issues of program satisfaction and evaluation between the youth and the Program Scouters. The Group Youth Commissioner – 1st Geilenkirchen Group shall be a catalyst for promoting meaningful youth involvement within the 1st Geilenkirchen Group and seeing that Youth initiatives are actively supported and recognized in conjunction with the Group Committee.

Major Responsibility:
The Group Youth Commissioner – 1st Geilenkirchen Group role is to ensure youth are being provided with leadership opportunities at the section level, through avenues such as Sixer/Second Councils and Courts of Honour. They also ensure that communication is strong between the youth and the group, the Program Scouters and the National Youth Network. The Group Youth Commissioner – 1st Geilenkirchen Group should act to fulfill the aims and objectives of the National Youth Network, where appropriate. Priority of initiatives is given to: Section Youth Leadership Development, Youth input, Local initiatives, Network development, Membership Development & Growth Activities and Section Support.

Duties and Responsibilities:
(Additional duties to be decided upon in consultation with the Commissioner – Scouts Canada Europe and the National Youth Commissioner).

1. Promote youth leadership development within the sections by visiting the sections and encouraging proper use of Sixer/Second Councils, Courts of Honour, and Venturer Executives.
2. Serve as an active, contributing member of the Group Committee
3. Encourage Scouting growth and image improvement initiatives
4. Encourage youth training events to run (i.e. FLEX, FAST, FOCUS, Venturer Exec. Training)
5. Work with the Group Committee to provide direct support to section leaders in the form of evaluation and feedback based on the Quality Program Standards.
6. Ensure that youth and adult volunteers are recognized for their contributions, through either local or national awards process.
7. With the Group Committee, help identify resources needed to promote and deliver Scouting within the communities we serve.
8. Stay connected to the National Youth Network and communicates as required with the National Youth Commissioner.
9. Work with the Commissioner – Scouts Canada Europe and the National Youth Commissioner to develop a set of realistic goals, annually.
10. Ensure a complete and thorough handover procedure, including reviewing any goals already set and a review of the latest minutes of meetings attended, is completed before relinquishing duties with any replacement for this role.
11. Have Fun.

Qualifications:
Enthusiastic and committed as well as having the time available without interfering with their academic endeavors.

Aware of, and willing to use, online communication tools such as Skype, Facebook and other means of online social networking.

Possesses skills in: Has knowledge of:
- Communications - Scouting’s programs
- Time management - Program resources available
- Planning - Scouts Canada’s Mission
- Team work

He has been in office about 6 months now and we will asses the job description and re-discuss with Dylan, if it is necessary to make any amendments to the job description in February 2012. But as of now the Group feels that this is a great thing.

Wow Errol, that is a fantastic and thorough job description. Now I have an idea for what my job description as a a new Deputy Area Commissioner should look like.

Thanks for posting that Errol!

Indeed the Job Description that Errol and I worked on last year for his group has played a key role in informing the process as we move forward.

I will be sure to share with you what we come up with before it hits BP&P.

Until then your thoughts and Ideas are of course welcomed!

Wow Errol, that is a fantastic and thorough job description. Now I have an idea for what my job description as a a new Deputy Area Commissioner should look like.

Ted, AREA COMMISSIONER job description is part of B PP; I presume that a DAC would be the same. Sec Section 4000 and scroll down to:

AREA COMMISSIONER VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTION
Accountable to: Council Commissioner
Term: Appointed/elected annually by the Council Commissioner in consultation
with the members in the area to be served. The Area Commissioner shall not
hold office for more than three (3) consecutive years.
Time required: 16 to 20 hours per month (on average)
Scope of position: The Area Commissioner is recognized as the principle point of contact for

ey seq.

Thanks Errol! Obviously I need to speed up my review of B,P&P.

Thanks Errol! Obviously I need to speed up my review of B,P&P.

Well I fon't know Ted, but as a DAC there is a lot in theere that you HAVE to know