Good manners have been a part of our society for generations.
You can help prepare children for a lifetime of success by becoming a cotillion organizer. Although dancing is usually associated with the word "cotillion," modern cotillions have evolved into settings designed to teach children valuable interpersonal relationship skills. As a cotillion organizer, you will work with a regional cotillion office to help bring children together to learn social skills and the importance of showing respect for others. These social skills will give children an edge throughout life because they will have the confidence it takes to interact effectively with teachers, go on interviews and conduct business meetings.
Instructions
1. Select grade chairpersons. Each grade needs to have a responsible person in charge of building and managing the invitation list. Identify a potential grade chair by going through the membership list and finding a candidate whose child is attending that cotillion. For example, if Susie Smith is in the fourth-grade cotillion, and you think her mother would be a good choice, invite Mrs. Smith to become the chairperson for the fourth-grade cotillion.
2. Hold a meeting for the grade chairpersons. Invite all the chairs to an informal coffee in your home to discuss the upcoming season. Discuss the duties of a grade chairperson and give each chairperson a packet outlining her duties. Encourage the newest chairpersons to ask questions and get pointers from the more senior chairpersons.
3. Have each chairperson develop a list of patrons. Patrons are the parents of cotillion members who will serve as hosts and hostesses one evening for the cotillion their child attends. Each chair should develop a list that includes two patron couples for each evening of cotillion. Ask the chairpersons to give you their lists several months before the first cotillion so the names of the patrons can be printed on the invitations.
4. Instruct each chairperson to address the invitations going out to cotillion members in her grade. The invitations should be written by hand and addressed to the parents--for example, Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
5. Send out the invitations for all grades on the same day. Make sure your grade chairpersons have the invitations addressed, stamped and mailed on the same day.
6. Field any questions that arise. As the cotillion organizer, you will receive questions from parents and your chairpersons regarding proper attire, the times of each cotillion, what payment options are available and what to do in case a child can't attend all cotillion sessions. You will also receive calls from parents who are recommending other children for cotillion. Take the information--names of the parents, child's name, address, phone number and grade level--and pass it along to the grade chairperson.
7. Pass the response cards on to the cotillion office. Have each chair mail the response cards and checks to you after she receives the response cards for her members and checks to make sure the information is complete and the payment is included. Make sure the number of boys and girls in each cotillion is about the same; some cotillions ask chairpersons to find extra boys for their grade's session.
8. Attend the opening cotillion for all grades.
