[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 60-01, January - March, 2006 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]
[ED: In issue 3 of the 1998 Trillium, I had an article by George Shields and Bruce Dibble outlining how COTS was started by the Ontario District in 1962.  Going through some old district newsletters, I found another short article on the history of COTS in Vol 40-1, Jan-Feb, 1985, Wayne Bowman, editor.  Since the 2006 COTS was the 45^th anniversary of COTS, those of you who no longer have the previous articles or were not members of this district at that time might be interested in the following article.]

A brief history of COTS

By Grant Goodfellow, 1985 Ontario District President

At the dissolution of the 1961 International Training Session in Hartford.  Connecticut, Hugh Palmer [past district president], Ed McKay [1961 district president] and George Shields [past district president] made Society history by initiating the C.O.T.S. concept.  Under their direction, the Ontario District, in 1962, held the first midwinter convention in Orillia.

The [Officer] Indoctrination and Training Session, as it was called, was attended by 110 men from 23 of the 26 chapters in the Ontario District.  This session was so successful that not only was it continued and expanded by Ontario, but was also adopted by the Society’s other districts.

Orillia has been the favoured location for the Training Sessions, except in three years: 1965 in Kitchener, 1966 in Owen Sound and 1967 in Niagara Falls, Ontario when it was a combined effort with Seneca Land District.

Faculty for the first session, as for all succeeding years up to 1972, came form the Ontario District. In 1973, faculty from the U.S. were included for the first time and have been with us ever since.

Despite the military ring, the name, Indoctrination and Training Session continued in use for four years. In 1966 it was changed to the now familiar abbreviation, C.O.T.S.

[ED: Before some of you again say what does COTS stand for, I’m not sure.  I’ve seen all of the following: Chapter Officer Training School, Chapter Officer Training Seminar, Chapter Officer Team Seminar, Chapter Operations Team Seminar and in January, Chapter Organization Training School.  Whatever you call it, it is one of the best weekends that any member of our district can experience.  And, you don’t have to be a chapter officer to attend!]     k