Banquet Night
Number of People: 4
Budget: $0
You are responsible for one of the most detailed jobs on the island. You organize, with your own staff, the final meal on Friday night and all the accompanying embellishments. A well organized Banquet Night, running smoothly and effectively, not weighted down with lengthy speeches or long lists of awards, can be a positive and memorable ending to the week. All must roll as though rehearsed but appear casual. It is helpful to be experienced with some facet of Banquet Night from past years. This is not a job for a novice. You can't do much before you get to the island.
Up until several years ago, the banquet adjourned after the Clap Outs and the Childrens' Grand March and after a lengthy time-out, reconvened in Elliott for speeches by new shoalers, old shoalers, the speaker, and the old and new chairs. However, when it is done this way, parents with young children never were able to participate due to bedtime duties. The last several years have changed format so everyone stays to the end, which is the Childrens' Grand March. This accomplishes several objectives, mainly, it eliminates the speeches and keeps it short, since children get fidgety. Starting in the year 2000, Tournament winners and Polar Bears were announced at lunch, so don't worry about these. The Quadrathalon winners have to be announced during the banquet (because of the timing of the event), with applause held until the end, and awards given out later.
The format of ending the banquet with the Childrens' Grand March is excellent, as it seems to be something that all children like to do, including the teens.
Fill out a form with the Dining Room Host(ess) at least two days before Banquet Night. It may seem lengthy, but it is necessary for a smooth and resentment-free evening. Communication is the name of the game.
Relevent information from Bonnie Smith's notes in 1995 read:
1. Confirm order of Clap-ins with Dining Room Host/ess. Clapping out of the kitchen staff can be compressed a bit. We would like to see the following groups: kitchen staff (dishies and buttercutters), bakers, cooks, waitrae, and host(ess). Be sure the host(ess) has the list beforehand so they know who to send out (they can never hear back there).
2. Select a Master/Mistress of Ceremonies (MC). The chairs can also do this or you can. A good voice and ability to use a microphone are a must. The MC plans an introduction to the banquet, introduces the minister of the week if s/he is to do a blessing, and leads the roll calls, usually by number of years at Star (New, less than 5 years, 5 to 10 years, 10 to 20 years, 20+), state by state, former Pels, Past Chairs etc. MC also introduces the Chairs, Speaker(s), etc. The Chairs should give you a listing for the states and number of conferees from each state so you can make sure to announce people correctly.
3. Candles have not been used since 2000. Starting in 2003, Lisa Jennings provided flowers for table decorations.
4. Arrange for the Head Table. Ask the Chairs to choose and invite about 10 people to sit at the head table. They should include the Chairs, speaker and spouse, minister of the week and spouse, banquet organizer etc.
5. Arrange for the music. Plan to have singing of a shoals song somewhere between courses but if it is very hot, as it was in 1995, be ready to skip the singing! Since1999, the only song that has been sung is the Fred McGill song ("Gosport Harbor"). Check with Island Music Director/Scott Ward about piano accompaniment to songs and Grand Marches and if help is needed in selecting songs. Check in with leaders of Childrens' Grand March about how that part of the program will proceed.
6. Make and print a program. Have someone with artistic skill do the program. Have it ready to give to Conference Services for copying by Wednesday. Make sure the original is 8 1/2 by 11, not legal size. (copies can be secured via the lobby store and charged to All Star II)
7. Prepare a report. When the evening is over, fill out a report, how it worked, suggestions for next year and any other information that might help the staff next year. Now you may enjoy the Friday night party at Newton with the satisfaction of a big job well done!
Here is a schedule for what you have to do on Friday:
- Afternoon:
Distribute songbooks or song sheet and program sheets Distribute place cards for the head table
- 6:30 p.m. (based on 1999 banquet night)
Clap IN the Waitrae Banquet begins with grace, usually done by the minister of the week [SHORT] Welcome by MC Dinner Clap OUT the waitrae, kitchen staff (talk to hostess for order, see above) Announcements of Quadrathalon awards Roll calls by State, Years' attendance, former chairs, former pelicans Gosport Harbor Song Introduce the New Chairs
- 7:30 p.m.
Announce where and when children's farewell parties will be held Announce the start of the Children's Grand March
HAVE FUN!
C&C 1996, K&D 2000, C&B 2001, R&S 2003, T&I 2004, B&J 2005
