(My original title was going to be Banquet Blitz, but I heard the term "rubber chicken" in reference to banquets that I had to steal it.)Back in my day . . . well, back in Dave's day of high school athletics, banquets honoring athletes were held in the fall for all fall sports and in the spring for all spring sports. The banquets were in the cafeteria at the school, and there was no food. Each coach got up and announced the MVP, Heart and Hustle Award, etc. There was one booster club--the Warrior Club--that met the needs of all the student athletic groups.
Flash forward a decade and move a thousand miles west. Banquets are big business in Texas. Each athletic and/or extracurricular group has a booster club and a banquet. Our inauguration to the banquet circuit was in December with the four-hour football banquet--er, football booster recognition program. We dined in a box overlooking Texas Stadium. You can view my original post if you'd like to revisit the evening.
This spring banquet season has swung into action. Most are held at country clubs or hotel ballrooms. The menu typically features some sort of chicken--hence the name of my post--however, I must say, all of the chicken I've had thus far has been tasty. I've attended the boys' soccer banquet, the girls' soccer banquet, and the tennis banquet. This weekend I'll be attending the theater banquet.
"What other banquets might be held in a school of 2400 students?" you must ask. Here's a list. I'm sure I've left off something, forgive me for the omissions.
Football, baseball, boys basketball, girls basketball, volleyball, boys soccer, girls soccer, cheerleading, dance team, band, tennis, wrestling, choir, theater, swim & dive, gymnastics, track & cross country, softball
I know that parents want to honor the accomplishments of their children, but come on. Twenty-five dollars a plate? Programs printed on glossy paper. Highlight DVDs that must be played in their entirety as entertainment? Center pieces. Dresses, up-dos, suits & ties. These kids don't want Homecoming Dances or Sweetheart Dances; they know that banquet season will come soon enough and then they'll get to dress up.
Ah, rubber chicken . . . if only Gonzo were throwing you across the Muppet's stage.
Good grief!!!
ReplyDeleteOur society definitely overdoes everything nowadays! I keep hoping that things will trend back to the laid-back, groovy, non-materialistic peace and love mindset that dominated my childhood in the late 60s/early 70s. I'm trying to replicate that attitude in my household, but it's a real challenge bucking society. Last week, Bridget's school had teacher appreciation WEEK. We were supposed to send a different gift to both her teachers for each day of the week. Now, I appreciate teachers very much (especially a former teacher named Mrs. McLaren), but come on. This was real overkill. We sent them some roses from our rose bush on Monday, and that was it for the Beaty household. Where do people get the money to participate in all this excess?!?
ReplyDeleteEverything seems to be to the extreme. What can a teacher do with 5 small gifts from 20 (or so) kids? One small token is sufficient. We did get small gifts in our mailboxes from PTA, but not everyday. We got a cookie on Friday and a pudding snack on Monday.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day, we'll take a swing back to simpler times. Heck, maybe gas prices will force our hand.