Successful Blue and Gold (bragging so kinda long)

Here it is, Sunday morning after our Blue and Gold and I feel like a
rooster who just has to crow!

As a Cubmaster of 3 years I find recruiting leaders my hardest job, but
the Blue and Gold my most stressful. It is my job to plan the ceremonies
and coordinate the program. We have about 80 scouts this year with
tigers so the expected attendance was over 200. We had a fine committee
again.
They planned the food, arranged the hall, invited all the right people
and did a terrific job of decorating. If anyone from NH knows her, Mrs.
Elizabeth Burgess of Raymond did an outstanding job of putting things
together when many of her committee were tied up.

The theme was Circus Days and we had balloons, a mock tent over the
stage, stuffed animals in cages on wagons, and a big stuffed doll
perilously crossing a tightrope. Each den made a circus poster for around
the room. I even got a ringmasters costume for the night.

Each family brought X number of sandwiches,(tigers brought peanut butter
and jelly of course) deserts and or condiments. There was a hot dog
vendor who was quite a hit. There were bags of popcorn and peanuts for
the scouts to take home (they didn't go along with my cotton candy idea
in the school gymm....AWWWWWW)

We had 2 of the local Shriners clowns come and greet the scouts and
families and make balloon animals with them. They led the scout circus
parade into the gym. The 5th grade webelos were the color guard, we had
the National anthem played along with their opening! (cassette)
There were all sorts of costumes and this year we had more "scout"
performances than ever before.

We had a song.. When the Cub scout circus comes to town. We had the
Awesome trained animal act, the Raymond clowns, the Amazing den 2
acrobats, The mighty trained elephants, the magical magicians (they cut a
scout in half oh my!), and the fireman clowns! It was terriffic!

We had the charter presentation (kept real short), a presentation to our
major supporter State Senator Jack Barnes and his family (owners of the
local McDonalds!), a nice advancement ceremony and even snuck in a cub
summer camp slide show by the district camping chairperson, Beth Brown. Our
closing was "A Creed" by Edgar A Guest read over the playing of "America" in a
darkened room lit by candles.

A set up crew came in early in the afternoon to decorate and many people
stayed to help tear down.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE GOT IT ALL IN IN 2 HOURS FLAT!

About the only things we did not have were an AOL and cross over. I do
not believe in pushing the 5th graders and they just were not ready.
They have their eyes set on April which will be 2 weeks before spring
camporee.

A couple of ideas we used for those interested.
As this is a sandwich buffet,

We use fold up seats in a semi circle for scouts, families and guests
(each den in a row together)

Keeps the scouts off the floor and minimizes the touching, kicking
pushing, he hit me syndrome.

We put out some cafeteria tables for adults who want to eat at a table

We use a 2 sided buffet table with adults supervising (one year the kids
took all the good stuff before the group was done!)

We reduced our formal guest invitees to the 2 major ones (we will do the
others later)

We started promptly on time!!!

We started the camp presentation while people were still eating. They
can look at slides and eat at the same time (we are very talented here in NH)

We absolutely minimized the talk and maximized the scout acts.

We had a Girl Scout troop come in and offer a child care service in the
adjacent music room with videos, crafts and games. We started this last
year in response to 2 hours being too long for the small siblings and it
is marvelous. My many thanks to the Girl Scouts troop and leader who
coordinated this. It is a wonderful service.

My task now is to find a way to expess my thanks to all those who helped
with this event. I truly believe it was the best Blue and Gold in my
time as Cubmaster. Thanks to all!!!

Kevin S. Woods Raymond, N.H.
Cubmaster Pack 100 H-603-895-9010
Scoutmaster Troop 111 W-603-624-8178

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