The Blue and Gold banquet is the most exciting event on the Cub Scout calendar.  It is the birthday celebration of Cub Scouting.  Every family in the Pack can take part in its planning and execution.  The banquet is held in February, as this is the anniversary month of the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts of America began in 1910 and Cub Scouting began twenty years later. The BLUE AND GOLD gets its name from the Cub Scout colors — blue and gold.

Some Packs make the banquet a potluck dinner affair, having each family bringing a covered dish.  Other Packs prefer buying the food, having it prepared by a parent’s committee and pro-rating the cost among those attending the banquet.  Some Packs have a formal dinner while some packs just do a cake and ice cream celebration.  Every Pack is different in numbers of people and budget, so the final decisions and details will have to be decided within your Pack, with the banquet committee working closely with the Pack committee.

What is important is that you celebrate Cub Scouting!

There are three important rules to follow to make your Blue and Gold Banquet a success:

-                Remember that it is the celebration of Cub Scouting

-                It takes lot’s of advance planning

-                “Keep It Simple, Make It Fun”

BLUE AND GOLD BANQUET PLANNING

The Pack committee recruits and /or appoints a banquet chairman early in the fall.  The banquet chairman then recruits co-chairmen for sub committees.Consider the following committees to help in arranging and putting on a Blue and Gold

Banquet:

• Physical Arrangement Committee
• Invitations Committee
• Program Committee
• Dinner Committee

The banquet chairman should be someone who is organized, can work well with other adults, can recruit other adults and can pay attention to details yet see the overall picture of what has to be done.

Share the responsibilities of the planning and execution and get everyone in the pack involved.  Let the boys share in making the decorations and have them do the banquet entertainment.

The theme should be decided by November or December so that the Den leaders have time to plan what will be done at their January and February Den meetings.  Also, the banquet committee should make it clear what decorations they will make and what they expect the dens to make. If you plan to use tablecloths, do you want the dens to make placemats?  Is the banquet committee making centerpiece(s) or do you want the Den leaders to make them?  All of this will have to be decided within your Pack.

Invitations should be sent to all the families in the Pack and to special guest at least one month ahead of time.  In many Packs, the Cub Scouts make their family invitations and the banquet committee makes and sends invitations to special adult guests.

Souvenir programs covers may be ordered through BSA supply catalog. Homemade covers may also be used.  Information in the program may include the schedule for the banquet, names of the Pack leaders and committee people, special guests, a song, a brief history of the Pack…whatever you like.

Details like reserving the building should be done early.  Some banquets are held at the regular meeting place of the Pack and some are not.  If possible, try to arrange the room so that dens and their families sit together.  Plan for exhibit and display tables.

The food plan and cost needs to be decided a few months ahead of time, especially if a caterer, deli or restaurant are involved.  Reservations have to be made early.  Will the cost be taken out of the pack treasury or will each family be charged a fee?  These are questions that the Pack committee must help decide.

The program committee should include the Cubmaster and Den Leader Coach, and /or the designated Master of Ceremonies.  The Cubmaster and Advancement Chairman should be directly involved with presenting awards to Cub Scouts. The Committee Chairman might take this opportunity to recognize the adults who helped the pack during the past year.

Give support to your banquet committee. Make sure that they have the printed resources mentioned in the introduction to this chapter.  Encourage them to get other adults involved—adults who are not already busy with leadership positions.  Have fun! And remember to thank everyone who helped.

How Will the Pack Pay for the Banquet?

Some packs pay for the entire Banquet costs by budgeting it in at the beginning of the Scouting year and earning sufficient funds through popcorn sales or other fund raisers throughout the year. Other packs charge those attending (if the meal is catered). A good idea is to add $1 per person to cover the cost of decorations and guest dinners unless your pack can afford the extra cost.

Who Makes Decorations, Invitations, and Programs?

It is always more fun for the boys to be involved in their banquet. If your pack decides for the boys to make some of the decorations, it would be a good idea to enlist and rotate extra parental help at den meetings prior to the banquet. A parent could do the programs; ask if anyone in the Pack enjoys computer work or works at a print shop. Remember to use all your families’ talents and resources.

Suggested Timetable

4 months before banquet — Select Blue & Gold Committee; Set/reserve date, time, place; Select theme

3 months before banquet — Dens work on decorations; Plan the program; Committee meeting report

2 months before banquet — Make guest list; Committee meeting report

1 month before banquet — Mail invitations; Re-check facilities; Print program; Committee meeting report.

2 weeks before banquet — Turn in award orders; complete decorations; Verify RSVP counts; Check on food preparation.

Banquet day — Set up room; Enjoy Banquet; Clean-up facilities

Downloads

• Blue and Gold Banquet