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Hometown Hero Dinner PDF Print E-mail

Occasionally Scouts invite a Hometown Hero to a team meeting.  Scouts can vote on the hero they would like to invite!

 

Advantages

 

The Hometown Hero gets the chance to see what our Scouts are up to and that they are playing a role in a positive, character affirming organization.  This also allows the hero to be introduced to our Scout Programs, which may encourage them to tell others about our Scout Programs.  The goal is for Hometown Heroes to come away with a positive feeling of appreciation for their efforts by our Scouts.  police officer and carThe Scouts are the hosts of the event and this is their opportunity to show what they can do and spend time with the Hometown Hero.

  

Invitations

 

Invitations should be on card stock.  Ask for “business announcements” and use the least expensive printing method in black on white or ivory.  They should be printed at a print shop to ensure maximum appearance.  It should read something like, “We request the honor of your presence at our Hometown Hero Dinner…”   The time on the invitation should be the time the Scouts believe they will be finished cooking and ready to serve.  Formal card stock should be available at no more than a dollar per invite.  Scouts can call ahead to print shops to ask about selection and to find out if the print shop will donate or reduce the price of the invites.  Be sure to mention they are Scouts.

 

Ahead of Time

 

Scouts will need to make sure they have heard from their chosen hero.  Scouts will also need to plan what to cook, when and where to cook it, who is bringing the food, plates, silverware, cookware, decoration, etc.  A budget must be planned, and Scouts will use money from their petty cash fund to purchase ingredients.  Pots and pans, if they are not otherwise available, can be borrowed by parents, Team Counselors, and Counselors.  Scouts will need to go the market.

 

Attire

 

Scouts should be wearing their full dress uniform.

 

Where to Cook

 

We want our Scouts to do the cooking.  If their meeting site has a kitchen, they can arrive early and cook on-site.  If not, Scouts can cook at home.  We remind parents that while parental help and advice is always helpful, it is our Scouts who are doing the cooking.

 

What to Serve

 

Scouts choose the menu for the meal and it is important they make it themselves whether they come early and cook on site or cook at home.  Scouts can cut up vegetables and cook them and make salads.  Remember, everyone is dressed up, so avoid anything too messy!  Ideas are:

 

·        chicken, such as chicken cutlets (not fried chicken)

 

Hero as Guest

 

Since the hero the Scout invites is the Scout’s guest, they are treated accordingly.  There should be a greeter at the door for instance.  The speaker should be someone who is interesting to the persons invited, such as a public official like the Mayor, the police chief, fire chief, or an exciting person such the coach of the local professional baseball team.  They too want to meet interesting people who may be unrelated to their job.  Speakers should be brief – no more than 10 minutes.

 

Orientation

 

Before sitting down to dinner, the guest should be given an Orientation.  After the regular Orientation, a couple of pre-selected Scouts stand up and say why the joined our Scout Programs and what is the true meaning of them.

 

Finding a Speaker

 

A speaker for this meeting is found in the same way a Guest for the Activity Buffet is found, except Scouts are taking into account the guest’s interests in addition to their own.  Scouts call city hall, or wherever they will find the preferred speaker and explain the Scout Programs and that the Hometown Heroes are an invited guests.

 

Timeline of a Hometown Hero Dinner:

 
  • Scouts arrive early to cook
  • A reception is held in the meeting room.  Scouts have prepared hors d’oeuvres. 
  • Orientation
  • Scouts serve dinner and sit down for the meal with the guest, giving thanks before the meal
  • Scouts clean up
  • Speaker
  • Thanks speakers and guests for attending and for their commitment to help others
 

Appreciation

 

After the meeting, the Hometown Heroes should be thanked in writing by all the Scouts, the Team Counselors, and Counselors.

 

Why We Want Our Scouts to Get the Details Right

 

Reading this, parents, Team Counselors, and Counselors may wonder why it is so important for kids to create such a grown-up presentation.

 

The reason we ask our Scouts to go the extra mile and create details which look professional, such as card stock invitations, a door greeter, and a reception is not to be picky, but because our Scouts will need to know how to do those things.

 

They will be having parties all their lives from Sweet 16 parties, Quinceaneras,young lady in white dress bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, and much more.  We want our Scouts to naturally develop the skills they will need in the future as a part of society – before they need them.

 
Adventure Scouts USA