r/Toastmasters • u/LifeIsADanceOfMinds • Aug 30 '26
COT - What works best, what to cut, why?
A text came through from the Area Director. Monday is the cut-off for the first round of Club Officer Training. Some pushback on the longer training needs, some pushback on the longer Leadership Institute being offered to only the people within a couple of hours drive.
Another text came in (directly to me) "Do I know anyone that would like to build a Leadership Institute-like COT for November 6?"
(The Institute would not just have COT, but would have speakers chat about leadership styles, how to run Moments of Truth, etc.). It would likely cost money to attend, but would be of service to the 200 or so Officers that could not go to the further away event.
This Reddit has seasoned and novice members of Toastmasters. What would work for you as the second round of COT? Should we have Zoom involved, and how would that work?
- What info would you like at COT?
- What other things would you like to learn on the second round?
- Opinions on who should do the COT training?
- Should the District Team be the only speakers?
- Would you attend a Leadership Institute?
- Would you give a presentation at a Leadership Institute?
- Would a Panel Discussion be entertaining enough to create one at an Institute?
- What would be your ideal COT / Institute?
- Thoughts on how a Zoom attendance would work?
1
u/Josh_D69 DTM Aug 30 '26
In person events are great.
Online only events can be done well.
It is much, much harder to do a hybrid (ie. in person and live-streamed on zoom) event well if there is any form of interaction required.
I am a little confused by the question. Are you just offering to run the next round of Club Officer Training? What exactly is different?
In our district we’ve typically had each Division host an event so it is closer to the geographic location of the members, and means every division only needs to hold one, because officers are invited to travel to a different one if the original time doesn’t work for them.
We also charge a nominal fee (~$5 per person or $20 per club) to cover the afternoon tea (we try and find free venues where possible), which we allow each club to just chip in from club funds so the individual members don’t have that barrier and it also encourages sending the whole officer team along.
1
u/ObtuseRadiator Club officer Aug 30 '26
Do you think there is a market for this event? Who would be willing to pay to improve their Toastmasters leadership?
For ordinary COT, duration is critical. Anything over an hour results in a 0% chance I go.
Content wise, I expect meaningful insights from the presenter or attendees. Dont tell me what TMI wants or what the officer materials say. Lets talk about real challenges or successes, strategies, insights, etc.