Tips & Tricks¶

Power user tips to help you get the most out of ToastHost.

For All Users¶

Keyboard Shortcuts¶

Speed up your workflow:

Use tab to navigate between fields
Enter to submit forms
Browser shortcuts for back/forward navigation

Mobile Optimization¶

Use ToastHost on your phone:

Add to home screen for app-like access
Use during meetings for real-time participation
Landscape mode works better for some views

Notifications¶

Stay informed:

Check notification settings to get alerts you want
Add ToastHost emails to your contacts to avoid spam filters
Enable browser notifications if available

For Members¶

Maximizing Meeting Participation¶

Sign up early

Roles fill up fast - sign up as soon as meetings are posted
Set a reminder to check for new meetings

Track your progress

Keep ToastHost and Base Camp in sync
Use the pathway view to plan your next projects
Request speeches aligned with your current level

Give great feedback

Submit feedback immediately after speeches while it's fresh
Be specific with both compliments and suggestions
Remember the speaker sees your feedback

Vote thoughtfully

Consider the overall effectiveness of each speech
Think about the speaker's objectives
Vote promptly when voting opens

For Officers¶

Meeting Management Tips¶

Create meetings in batches

Set up several weeks of meetings at once
Use templates for consistency
Clone previous meetings for similar events

Role assignments

Assign key roles early (Toastmaster, General Evaluator)
Leave some roles open for self-signup
Send reminders 2-3 days before meetings

During meetings

Have the meeting page open on a dedicated device
Assign someone to manage the timer
Close voting promptly to stay on schedule

Membership Management¶

Keep data current

Update member info when notified of changes
Review membership quarterly
Archive inactive members to keep lists clean

Payment tracking

Send reminders before due dates
Follow up promptly on failed payments
Keep clear records of manual payments

Communication¶

Use bulk features wisely

Segment communications by relevance
Don't over-communicate
Include clear calls to action

For VP Education¶

Education Tracking¶

Stay organized

Review the pathways chart weekly
Note members close to completing levels
Plan celebrations for achievements

Meeting planning

Balance new and experienced speakers
Match evaluator experience to speaker level
Vary meeting formats to keep things interesting

Supporting members

Check in with members who haven't spoken recently
Help members plan their pathway progression
Coordinate with other officers on member engagement

For District Officers¶

COT Training¶

Planning

Schedule training early in each round
Offer multiple dates and formats
Confirm facilitators well in advance

Execution

Take attendance in real-time
Have backup plans for no-shows
Send completion confirmations promptly

Reporting

Verify data before TI submission
Follow up with clubs missing training
Recognize high-completion clubs

Data Management¶

Regular maintenance

Sync with TI data monthly
Review officer assignments after elections
Archive outdated information

Productivity Hacks¶

Bookmarks¶

Bookmark your most-used pages:

Your club's meeting list
Role signup page
Your pathway progress

Templates¶

Save time with templates:

Meeting templates for standard formats
Email templates for common communications
Feedback templates for evaluations

Routine¶

Build ToastHost into your routine:

Check dashboard weekly
Review upcoming roles before each meeting
Update progress after each speech

Troubleshooting Quick Tips¶

Common Quick Fixes¶

Refresh the page - Fixes most display issues
Clear cache - Resolves persistent problems
Try another browser - Rules out browser issues
Check internet - Many features need connectivity

When to Contact Support¶

After trying basic troubleshooting
For data corrections
For feature requests
When errors persist