BLUE & GOLD

Making the birthday of Cub Scouting a success

	Blue and Gold Overview
	The Banquet
	B&G Web sites
	How We Do it!
	Grace and Benediction
	Planning Your B&G Steps to Plan Your B&G
	Quantity Buying Guide Decoration Guide
	Entertainment

BALOO'S BUGLE

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Last Update: 7/9/04

BLUE AND GOLD
An Overview

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.
 
 

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BLUE AND GOLD BANQUET What is a Blue and Gold Banquet?
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.
Important Things to Remember
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

RESOURCES

• Cub Scout Leader How To Book
• Cub Scout Fun Book
• Cub Scout Song Book
• Current, and past, Pow-Wow Books   (I would hope every pack library has, or is building toward obtaining these great publications)
• Monthly Leader Roundtable meetings. (not only for the ideas presented there, but   for interacting with other leaders, swapping ideas)

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 2005 Cub Scouting in the USA will be 75 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-

KISMIF - Keep It Simple Make it Fun!

Cascade Pacific Pow Wow 2000

FAVORITE B&G WEB SITES:

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.

Scouting 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.

CubBobWhite’s Pow Wow Online: Lots of leader resources, easy to navigate and find what you need.

 CT Marty Linn

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HOW WE DO IT

AWARDS Well, sure, here is an idea.....We have a big awards ceremony....giving the Scouts their Wolf Bear Webelos badges at this time if they earn it before the Blue and GOld. We have an arrow of light ceremony and have the Troop the boys are moving into there.. We have a small bridge and the Troop meets the Scout on the other side of the bridge...	LINKS CEREMONIES GRADUATION ARROW OF LIGHT	FOOD We always have the Pack buy the ham or turkey and everyone is responsible for carrying in something. We have the parent make enough of a dish to feed 15 people. We as a Pack also provide the drinks.
	DENS We have the Tiger Den bring bread and condiments...Bears bring vegetable dishes, such as corn, green beans or salads, Webelos bring the desserts and the Wolf dens bring ice, and paper plates for people who may have forgotten their place settings… David, Carolyn and 3 boys dc3boys@velocity.net
TABLES We have each family bring their own place settings.. In our dens we make place mats for each family member who plans on coming, and we have the boys make extras for special guests...Each den makes their own table decoration...we have a theme to our Blue and Gold and the decorations can be appropriate for that...	LINKS Flag Ceremonies Songs Themes Special Awards	ORGANIZATION There are a lot of neat ceremonies in the Staging Den and Pack Ceremonies book… Our B & G this year will have a Mexican Siesta theme. The Spanish Choir will sing while we eat. We are catering cheese quesedillas and tacos. The Pack will go out and buy the rest. We will charge $5 per person, Scouts are free. Each den has some sort of responsibility ranging from Opening Flag Ceremony to skits or songs to Closing Flag Ceremony.   CT   Cathie

 

PHILMONT GRACE For food, for raiment. For life, for opportunity For friendship and fellowship We thank thee, Oh Lord,  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.

 

Cub Scout Benediction

And now may the Great Master of all Cub Scouts Guide and guard our footsteps Today, tomorrow, And for the tomorrows to come.

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Banquet Planning 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

Planning Your

 What Type of Meal?
There are several options a pack can consider. One option is pot-luck where each family brings a dish to share with everyone else. Be sure to have them provide enough for their family +2 since there will be guests attending. Another option would be for the pack to purchase and supply the meat and other items such as paper products, utensils and beverages. Each den could be assigned salads, vegetables, breads, or desserts. If your budget allows, your pack may decide to have the meal catered. This is the easiest way to go, but also the most expensive.

How Will the Pack Pay for it?
Some packs pay for all of the 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.

How Much Food and Seating?
It is best to have families make reservations and pay in advance or you will not be able to plan for the proper amount of food and your pack may have to pay for food planned on but not eaten. A simple RSVP on each invitation could be returned along with the required amount of money.

Decorations, Invitations, 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. The programs could be done by a parent; ask if anyone in the pack enjoys computer work or works at a print shop. Remember to use all your families' talents and resources. Your invitations list should include the head of your Charter Organization and the Chartered  Representative, and also may include a local Scoutmaster, and any other people who have been particularly helpful to your pack like district workers or the staff of your meeting place.

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 Suggested Timetable

Time Prior to B&G	Activity
4 months	Select Blue & Gold Committee; Set/reserve date, time, place; Select theme
3 months	Dens work on decorations; Plan the program; Committee meeting report
2 months	Make guest list; Committee meeting report
1 month	Mail invitations; Re-check facilities; Print program; Committee meeting report
2 weeks	Turn in award orders; Complete decorations; Verify RSVP counts; Check on food preparation
Banquet day	Set up room; Enjoy Banquet; Clean up facilities

   Pack 114's Library,

 
 

Steps to Planning a Blue and Gold Banquet

1. Select date, time, place:
• The banquet often takes the place of February pack meeting, although it is not necessarily held on the regular meeting night.
• In selecting the place, consider the following:
1. Adequate space for seating and displays.
2. Availability of parking space, rest rooms, coat racks.
3. Program needs, such as microphones, stage, etc.
4. Convenience for food preparation and/or serving.
5. Reserving the meeting place well in advance.


2. Dinner

• Select meal plan - catered, potluck, etc.
• Determine serving needs - kitchen and utensils.
• Select menu and estimate cost.
• Assign serving and cleanup jobs.


3. Program

• Entertainment
• Props for skits and ceremonies.
• Recognition for boys and leader.
• Make assignments for various parts of the program:
1. Invocation
2. Welcome and introduction of guests
3. Ceremonies
4. Recognitions
5. Entertainment


4. Decorations

• Room decorations
• Table decorations
• Displays


5. Publicity

• Inform all pack families of date, time, place, and cost.
• Invitations - consider inviting guests such as the head of the Chartering Organization, school principal, Chartered Organization representative, Scoutmaster, District Executive and District Commissioner.
Cascade Pacific Pow Wow 2000

Sample By-Date Calendar
Based on the Blue and Gold being held the last week of February. Adjust accordingly:

August
At the annual Pack planning meeting decide date, time, and place for Blue and Gold banquet if possible. If a school location is desired, be sure all requisitions for building are started. Recruit Blue and Gold chairman.

September or October
Recruit committee sub-chairmen:

Physical arrangements

Invitations

Program

Dinner

November
Location selected and reservations made.
Subcommittees to begin duties as stated.

January
Week 1: Blue and Gold committee to meet with Den Leaders to give directions for decoration, program, invitation information, etc. Dinner committee decision made.  Entertainment secured or assignments made Physical arrangements committee to visit location of banquet to check out needs.
Week 2: Dens to begin work on decorations.
Last Week: Invitations for Blue and Gold Banquet to families. Special guest invitations mailed.

February
Week 1: Reconfirm location, time, and place. Reconfirm entertainment. Buy supplies, plates, coffee, etc.
Week 2: Program agenda ready for printing. Deadline for R.S.V.P. Let dinner committee know of reservations to make final food orders.
Week 3: Make seating chart. Give to setup committee.
Banquet Day:
Early PM - setup Scheduled time - This is it, have FUN!!
Late PM - clean up.  Be sure to write "Thank You” notes for entertainment, donations, etc.
 

Committee Sub-Chairmen

Physical Arrangements Committee:

1. Make arrangements for banquet location approximately 6 weeks in advance.
2. Checks seating capacity - number of tables available.
3. Estimates attendance.
4. Checks lighting, stage, heating, public address systems.
5. Locate rest rooms - makes sure they will be open.
6. Checks availability of coatroom or coat racks.
7. Makes floor plan of tables, plans seating, head table (if desired).
8. Makes arrangements to get into building early the day of the banquet.
9. Sets up tables and chairs for the dinner.
10. Informs dens what time they can decorate. (Be sure to allow time for people to get home and change for dinner.)
11. Arranges for clean-up committee.

Invitations Committee:

• Sends written invitations to honored guests.
• Follow up to see how many guests plan to attend and notify the physical arrangements committee so seating can be planned.
• On banquet night, meet guests at the door, furnish them with a name tag, and help them find their seats.
• Be sure it is made clear to all Dens who is to be invited and if limits have to be made on attendance of family members and explain why.

Program Committee:

• Determine whether guests will be seated at the head table or with dens.  Notify physical arrangements committee so seating can be planned.
• Selects Master of Ceremonies.
• Makes assignments for various parts of the program:
1. Invocation.
2. Welcome and introduction of guests.
3. Ceremonies (Opening, closing, recognition)
4. Recognition of leaders.
5. Entertainment (den entertainment preferred).
• Plans room decorations - exhibits, displays (table decorations can be handled by dens).
• Makes copies of program for people participating or you may wish to have a printed program for everyone attending.
• The Cubmaster should be a member of this committee.
• Avoid speeches on the program.
• Include a planned activity for small children so they don't run wild. The Den Chiefs could be asked to help.

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.

Dinner Committee:

• Decides serving method: catered, potluck, etc.
• If catered:

  Contact caterer - agree on menu and cost.
  Take reservations and estimate cost.
  Check with caterer on time of delivery,
  Find out if he provides plates, silverware, drinks and dessert.
  Plan two serving lines, if more then 150 people attend.
  Collect money prior to banquet.
 
• If potluck:

   Decide if dens will plan their own menus - or if each den family contribute to an overall menu.
   If dens plan their own menus, each Den Leader should provide a coordinator.
 
• If committee prepared:

   Select menu
   Recruit committee to prepare food.
   Take reservations and estimates attendance.
   A few days before banquet, purchase food and deliver it to members of the committee who will be preparing it. It is easier to purchase food from the pack funds then replace it when money is collected from everyone.
 
• Decide if the pack will provide such things as salt, pepper, sugar, napkins, drinks, etc. If so, make arrangements to buy or have things donated. Inform the dens of your decision.
• Each family can bring their own plates and silverware.
• Plan to have cake or cupcakes. This is Scouting's Birthday! ! ! !

Invitations

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?
1. Who's doing the inviting.. . the pack number.
2. What they're invited to.. . a banquet, celebration, birthday party, ice cream social, etc.
3. When the celebration is to take place.. .the date.
4. What time the celebration starts.. . the time.
5. Where the celebration is being held.. . the name and address of the facility.
6. R.S.V.P...the name and phone number of the den leader.
• Who makes the invitations? The Cub Scouts. Keep it simple, make it fun.
• Who do they invite? Every Cub Scout family, Clergy, Scouting coordinator or sponsor Unit Commissioner, District Executive, District Commissioner, Scoutmaster of area Boy Scout troops, Past Cubmasters, The “owner” of the banquet facility, Guest speaker, Entertainer....
• When should the invitations be delivered?
• Three weeks before your celebration.

The Program
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

Quantity Buying Table 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.

Lettuce	3 medium Heads		Ketchup	3 regular bottles
Salad Dressing	3 bottles		Ham	8 to 10 lb.
Baked Beans	4 quarts		Chicken (fried)	45 pieces
Potato Salad	1 quart		Hot Dogs	6 - 1 lb packages (8 per pack)
Macaroni Salad	2 quarts		Hot Dog Rolls	6 packages (total 48)
Jell-O Salad	9" ring		Turkey	12-14 lb.
String Beans	3 cans		Butter	1 lb
Peas	5 cans		Dinner Rolls	3 packages (12 per package)
Hot Coffee	1 lb or 24-32 cups		Birthday Cake	3 Standard 9" cakes
Iced Tea	1 gallon		Cup Cakes	36 (some do want seconds)
Punch/Bug Juice	3 gallons

Don't forget the plastic ware, cups, napkins, and the paper/plastic plates.

Circle-10 Cncl. Pow Wow 2001

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BLUE & GOLD DECORATIONS

SIZE Think big!  2-4 feet across for shapes and objects  Simplified shapes  Outline them in dark color to give better definition			THEME Repeat object around the room Coordinate the entry, hall, and room Use items related to the program theme
	COLOR Use bright colors Use bold colors for contrast Use a scheme of 2-3 colors		LETTERING Use a style to match the theme (logger font for woods, gothic for medieval, etc.)  Make letters at least 6" high  Add variety (outline, solids, checks, etc.)
CONSTRUCTION Use overhead projector to enlarge images onto craft paper. Stuff tissue paper into chicken wire to make 3-D shaped decorations. Hang stuff from ceiling or wall with mono filament line (invisible string.)
MATERIALS Paper/foil/poster board, tissue/crepe Wood/wire Fabric Ribbon/raffia Props/artifacts Corrugated cardboard rolls		SPECIAL Hang items from ceiling, even centerpieces, for added interest Use 3-D displays (don't let everything be "flat") Silhouettes are easier than detailed drawings Murals Mobiles and movement Streamers from ceiling to table Add recorded sounds and smells

Pack 114's Library

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