Re: Blue and Gold
MAJ (")
Mon, 6 Sep 1999 23:18:12 CDT
James Zotta asked:
>Can someone point me to an official scout statement of what a "blue and gold"
>dinner really is?
Sure!
It's great to finally use some of the resources that have been just sitting
here, waiting for me to go to them, open them up and look through them to
find answers for Scouters like yourself...it really, really feels great to
be back in my officeroom!
>From "The Boy Scout Encyclopedia", 1956 Edition:
Blue and Gold Dinner (later called Banquet): A Dinner for parents and
friends which the Cub Scouts hold once a year, usually in connection with
Boy Scout Week. Blue and Gold are the Cub Scout colors. Often the mothers
(remember this is a DATED BOOK, LADIES!!) cook the dinner and the Cub Scouts
serve it. Cub Scouts make favors and decorations for the dining table and
put on a program of songs, stunts, and games. See also CUB SCOUT.
>From The Cub Scout Leader How-To Book, page 9-52:
In nearly all packs, the Blue and Gold banquet is one of the highlights of
the program year. It brings together all Pack families for a dinner and an
evening of fun.
The dinner may be held in a restaurant, catered, potluck, an indoor picnic,
or buffet style. The meal is important, but even more important is the
warm, congenial atmosphere created as families enjoy each others' company.
>From the Southeast Region Paraprofessional Manual, page 12-2:
Blue and Gold Banquets are held in every Pack in every community.
Traditionally, the Blue and Gold Banquet (for the colors of Cub Scouting,
blue and gold/yellow, the uniform of the Cub Scout are these two colors or
shade of them) is the time of the year to thank volunteers for their
contributions to the pack: the Den Leaders and Cubmasters; parents whom
have helped "the Pack go" over the past year; Den Chiefs, Boy Scouts whom
serve as ambassadors to the Pack from the local Troop;
the chartered organization for their support of Scouting and in particular
their pack; and the Boy Scouts of America, as Blue and Gold Banquets are
conducted during February, Scouting's anniversary month.
Professionals should be aware that the Blue and Gold Banquet are firstmost
recognition programs for the volunteer. This is an ideal time to kickoff or
promote the Council's Family Sustaining Membership Enrollment (now called
FOS, or Friends of Scouting) campaign. Professionals should attend Blue and
Gold in full dress attire or full field uniform, one or the other.
Professionals should also bring with them appropriate recognition items for
the Pack leadership, for those Dens participating in National Summertime
Pack activities, and for individual Cub Scouts when neccessary. Each Pack
holds only one Blue and Gold Banquet each year, and it is the most visable
time of the year in which Scouting's story -- the Pack's story, the
Council's story and the story of the Boy Scouts of America -- can be told
and explained to the Pack's families and the chartered organization...make
the most of those events and do not turn down such an invitation, even if
you can only spare a few minutes to wish the Pack continued success!
Hope that all of this helps out, James!
Settummanque!
-----
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle)
http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle
personal inquiries via kyblkeagle@aol.com,
blackeagle@SCOUTER.net or blkeagles@hotmail.com
professional inquiries via waltonmi@usarc-emh2.army.mil
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