Originally the program consisted of a business meeting, four 15-minute assigned papers given by members, and refreshments. Later the papers given were reduced to two per meeting plus a topical response to roll call. Presently, the program is usually a book review or a guest speaker or a tour of a variety of facilities from a school cafeteria to Oberlin College. Special social meetings also were held during the holidays, in the summer, and for Guest Day. A forty-member limit was set in May 1897, reduced to 15 in November 1935, then raised to 24 in September 1959.
Membership requires an application, endorsement by a current member, and a vote of all members.
Fines were levied for unexcused absences and neglecting assigned presentations. Special Assessments currently are made for special projects or when the treasury is low. Associate membership is allowed for members who move away or are too ill to attend regularly, for whom dues are half the cost of regular membership. Honorary membership was created in April 1938 to honor members of long-standing, the first so named being Anna Sutton and Mabel Graves. The Sandusky Coterie still is functioning, although membership has declined and consists mainly of long-time members.