All About Birthday Dinner

The Wesley Bell Ringers played their first public performance in December 1963 at Christmas Eve Services and were the first handbell choir in Utah. Each December, ringers celebrate the choir’s birthday with a formal dinner served to them by parent volunteers.  This event includes formally welcoming the new ringers who bring a 6” x 6” square of fabric that means something to them to be made into a cross-crosslet for the membership banner. This event is traditionally held the last Tuesday of November or first Tuesday of December depending on the holiday concert schedule. As this is a formal event, we request only ringers and directors be in the “dining room” except for the volunteers who are serving and bussing.


Volunteer Job Descriptions

Kitchen Coordinator

Uses SignUpGenius to coordinate volunteers, plans, shops for, prepares & serves meals to ringers, directors, and volunteers (usually around 30 depending on size of the choir),  orders birthday cake, oversees cleanup.  May require several hours of daytime prep including shopping - must be ready to serve by 6:00pm.  There is usually a concert run-through after the dinner while parents are cleaning up and it usually starts 7:30pm or 8pm.

Decorations & Dining Room Coordinator

Sets up and decorates table settings using the blue & gold theme, makes place cards &  centerpieces, sets tables, brings in banner from bell room, gets disposable plates, cutlery & fluted glasses for apps / dessert; Uses SignUpGenius to coordinate servers & clean-up (may delegate laundering tablecloths).  May require several hours of daytime prep - must be completed by 5:30pm.    



TWBR Birthday Dinner Checklist


(1-2 weeks beforehand)

  • ask director for guest list
  • get new place setting name tags ready (use last year’s as a template)
  • make sure tablecloths are ready
  • Ask UMW to borrow supplies - email Bev Mittelstadt at bevjm4287@yahoo.com (cloth napkins, goblets, carafes, silverware)
  • make sure napkins are clean & pressed
  • make a playlist
  • Publish SignUpGenius to request volunteer kitchen crew & servers
  • Check supplies in cage:  plastic champagne glasses, bottles of Martinelli’s, plastic cutlery, plates, and napkins for dessert and hors d’oeuvres
  • Order birthday cake


Decorations Prep:

  • create centerpieces for each table including one for the cake / champagne table - can be fresh flowers, Christmas theme, etc. There are some supplies downstairs but if purchasing something new, inquire about the budget.


Food Prep:

  • Plan appetizer(s)
  • Salad
  • Main course
  • Dessert: Bday cake
  • Plan beverages (water, coffee)


Day Of Event:

  • Bring membership banner into chapel from bell room
  • Set-up tables in a hollow square (best for less than 30) or a U shaped configuration 
  • Lay the tables with chargers, goblets, cutlery, napkins (folded or use ribbon / ring)
  • Ask director if they want to make seating assignments - if so, leave name tags for them on the altar
  • Display centerpieces
  • Include decorations for the server table
  • It’s a nice touch to play cocktail music during appetizers with a portable speaker (make sure director knows how to turn it off!)
  • Take pictures! We want to have examples for future volunteers so be sure to take photos of decorations and table settings.
  • Take more pictures! We need photos of new ringers with their fabric squares and a group photo every year!


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