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Bill's Unofficial Cub Scout Roundtable
A compendium of Ideas For Cubmasters, Den Leaders and those who help them.
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| Pow Wow & Univ of Scouting | Good Turn For America | ||||
For many packs, the Blue and Gold Banquet is one of the highlights of the program year. It is a family affair that brings your entire group together in a way that regular pack meetings don't. It is an evening of fun which involves more planning than the regular pack meeting.
The dinner may be held in a restaurant, catered, potluck, as an indoor picnic, or buffet style. The meal is important, but even more important is the friendly atmosphere as your Cub Scouts and their families mingle together in fun.
For the banquet to be successful, planning must begin early; at least two to three months in advance. Your attendance will be greater than your usual meetings so you may need to locate a different place to hold your banquet. A planning committee made up of parents and even some of the older boys will be able to coordinate and plan a memorable activity. Reservations are made, meal arrangements are taken care of, invitations are sent out and the program is developed to involve as many of the boys as possible -- all by the planning committee.
Involve as many people as possible on various committees to make the work easier.
Den leaders should NOT be overloaded by having to plan and execute this activity.
If, for economic reasons, your pack wants to simplify it, the banquet could be replaced by a Birthday Party for Scouting. This can be run like a birthday party for one of your children with balloons, games, etc. Refreshments could then be cake and ice cream. This is also an excellent time to do a Father-Son cake baking contest and auction off the cakes as a fund raiser for your pack.
A blue and gold banquet is a birthday dinner for the Cub Scouting program, held during February. The anniversary month of the Boy Scouts of America, which was organized in February 1910. The Cub Scouts was organized 20 years later in 1930.
Some packs have a dinner, this can be a potluck affair, with each family brining food, or many packs prefer buying the food, having it prepared by a mother's committee, and still other packs prefer to have it catered. The plan of feeding is not important, it is the Cub Scouting that takes place during the preparation and dinner that really counts. Dens should sit together. Guests may be invited and seated either at a head table or seated with the dens.
Decorations may be as elaborate or as simple as you wish. Attractive menu cards or dinner programs can be made, place cards, centerpieces, place mats, nut cups and favors are all suggestions of things which might be used. Cubs can take part in making decorations.
The dinner program should include entertainment from within the pack, but outside entertainment is okay. Also don't forget the importance of recognizing advancement of the boys and leaders of the pack.
Be sure that the boys, leaders, and parents know that the banquet is Cub Scouting's birthday celebration.
Begin planning at least two months ahead. KISMIF - Keep it Simple, Make it Fun
Involve leaders and parents. Sharing responsibilities makes it easier and fun for everyone.
Let the boys help plan and make the decorations, but keep the cutting and pasting to a minimum. Do let them help make each item. (Then watch their eyes glow with pride the night of the banquet.)
BB
CT Kevin Pate, Norman, OK
The Blue and Gold Banquet is a birthday party for Cub Scouting and usually celebrated by packs in February, the anniversary month of the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts of America began in 1910 and Cub Scouting began 20 years later. In February 2010 Cub Scouting in the USA will be 80 years old. The Blue and Gold Banquet is probably the most exciting event of the whole year because all families can take part.
Every pack is different in numbers of people and budget, so what you read in this and other Pow Wow books or resources are guidelines and suggestions. The final decisions and details will have to be decided by your pack, with the banquet committee working closely with the pack committee.
Some packs make the dinner a potluck affair with each family bringing a covered dish; other packs prefer buying the food and having it prepared by a parents committee or catered, and then prorating the cost among those attending.
Blue and Gold Banquets should be scheduled when the pack has their annual planning conferences. The pack committee should recruit a banquet.. chairperson and sub-committee early in the fall. The banquet chairperson should be someone who is an organized person, and can work with other adults. He or she will need to pay attention to small and large details, and see the overall picture making sure all details are taken care of.
The theme should be decided by November or December so that the den leaders have time to plan. Also, the banquet committee should make it clear what decorations they will make and what they expect the dens to make (i.e., table clothes, place mats, centerpieces, place cards, programs, napkin rings and invitations).
Invitations should be sent to all the families in the pack and to special guests at least one month ahead of time with an RSVP to one committee member.
The program may include the schedule for the banquet, names of pack leaders, committee people, special guests, songs, skits, and a brief history of the pack.
Details like reserving the building should be done early. Banquets can be held at the regular meeting place or at a different establishment. Dens and their families should sit together. Plan for exhibit and display tables. The cost and food preparations plans should be decided several months prior to the event.
The committee chairman should take the opportunity to recognize the adults and leaders who helped the pack during the year. Pack leaders should give support to the banquet committee. They should make sure that they have the resources available to help them. Banquet committee members are to involve other adults (who are not currently in cub leadership positions) parents are a great resource. And don't forget the most important “rule” of all-
Cascade Pacific Pow Wow 2000
USSSP U.S. Scouting Service
Project: One of the most extensive scouting web sites.
Check out Baloo’s Bugle for monthly program helps, Prof. Beaver for
general info, and the document library for lots of good material.
Search for Blue and Gold.
ScoutingScouting Online:
Lots of good resources. Cracker Barrel offers the chance to ask
and answer questions about Scouting. There might already be an answer
to your question.
The
Virtual Cub Scout Leaders Handbook: From pack 215 out of
Walnut Creek, CA. This is a good web site that is easy to navigate
for quick reference.
Cub Scout Roundtable:
From Longhorn District, Capitol Area Council, Austin, Texas.
Once you scroll through the local information for the district,
there are lots of links to great resources.
CT Marty Linn
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For food, for raiment.
Amen. |
Philmont is a large ranch in northeast New Mexico, owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America. It is primarily used as a high adventure camp for Boy Scouts but it also contains a major training center and several museums. This grace is used in the various dining halls throughout the camp and also at many Scouting functions across the country.
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And now may the Great
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To be successful, the banquet must be well planned in advance. The pack committee selects a banquet chairman. That person recruits helpers to carry out the responsibilities listed on the following pages. This general outline will help make your planning easier. Try to involve as many people as possible, and avoid giving den leaders too many additional responsibilities - they will be working with their dens.
Cascade Pacific Pow Wow 2000
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Time Prior
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Activity |
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4 months
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Select Blue & Gold Committee; Set/reserve date, time, place; Select theme
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3 months
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Dens work on decorations; Plan the program; Committee meeting report
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2 months
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Make guest list; Committee meeting report
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1 month
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Mail invitations; Re-check facilities; Print program; Committee meeting report
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2 weeks
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Turn in award orders; Complete decorations; Verify RSVP counts; Check on food preparation
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Banquet day
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Set up room; Enjoy Banquet; Clean up facilities
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Pack 114's Library,
Cascade Pacific Pow Wow 2000
The program committee needs to decide on decorations for the guest table and the rest of the banquet room. For the guest table, a den or dens could be asked to make extra decorations or else the program committee can decorate the guest table. Keep in mind who the guests are; some people would probably appreciate the effort put in by the boys but on the other hand, the committee may decide that a more “professional” hand is desired in decorating.
The Cubmaster is often asked to be Master of Ceremonies, but you may want to consider asking the committee chairman, a parent or a special guest to preside over the banquet. The Master of Ceremonies person should have a dynamic personality without being overwhelming. He/she should have a loud speaking voice and should be expected to follow the program format without straying from it. Most importantly, the Master of Ceremonies should be someone who Cub Scouts relate to.
What is a Blue and Gold invitation? It is just about everyone's first notice that something special is coming in Cub Scouting. Put your best face forward. What should an invitation look like? It can take almost any shape but is should reflect the ideals of Cub Scouting and the type of celebration you are planning. What information should be on the invitation?
Typical program:
List of pack leaders List of den leaders
List of Den Chiefs
Scouting coordinator
Sponsoring coordinator
Sponsoring organization
Principal of school
Pastor of church
Poems
Prayers
Typical banquet agenda:
Opening ceremony
Invocation
Dinner
Songs
Welcome & introductions
Greeting from head of chartered
organization
Induction ceremony (if any)
Entertainment
Advancement awards ceremony
Recognition of leaders
Graduation ceremony (if any)
Announcements and thanks
Closing ceremony
Cascade Pacific Pow Wow 2000
If you want to serve at least 25 people, you might want to use this buying table as a “Rule of Thumb”. This is when the Pack is considering buying the entree. Use this table as a guide to have a well balanced, and a nutritionally sound meal.
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Don't forget the plastic ware, cups, napkins, and the paper/plastic plates.
Circle-10 Cncl. Pow Wow 2001
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Pack 114's Library
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Last year I had contacted our High School and requested one of the choir members. I had a senior who sang for the opening and closing ceremony and sporadically during our 4 hour dinner. She came free but a nice donation was given to her. We will do the same this year. I like to use members of the community. Lynda-CRT |
We are going with Old Florida this year. We have a local judge that dresses up as an old "Florida Cracker" and rides in on his horse "Domino". It's quite a site, especially when he cracks his whip and talks about life in the old days. We have a "Yesteryear Village" at our local Fairgrounds and may bring in a couple of cowboys too. CRT Kevin O'Brien, P 774, Jupiter, FL |
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We were very fortunate; five local Boy Scouts were trying to start their own entertainment company. They dressed up as clowns and did magic tricks. We hired them for $25.00 each plus their food at the banquet and they entertained the Cub Scouts before and during dinner. They made things out of balloons, did simple magic tricks, and also did a couple of skits dressed up as clowns. Our boys really enjoyed this because they were entertained while waiting in line for dinner. CRT-Jill Billardello Macomb, Michigan |
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Check out:
CEREMONIES
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We always try to stay within the monthly theme... Last year we had a Native American Drum Circle from the local college come in. They came dressed in original clothing, danced, and drummed for quite awhile. My husband (CM) said he'd never seen the boys so entranced... not a one of them moved during the whole thing... or their parents! This year we may get a council member, veteran, or maybe the National Guard to come out. CRT Kathy, P.18, Springfield, OR |
