Rose Dinner
The Rose Dinner is usually held during the week before tour departure. It is a mandatory event for all ringers and chaperones. It is a fairly formal event - Sunday best for attire. The dinner is a time of reflection and tour preparation for both ringers and chaperones. Bell awards are also handed out at this time - for example, cross crosslet pins, most improved, etc.
Order of Events:
3:00pm Food Prep (will need 2-4 volunteers) / Decorating (will need 2 volunteers)
5:30pm Servers arrive (will need 4 servers)
6:00pm Serve appetizers & sparkling cider
6:30pm Serve Salads
6:30pm Dishwashers & kitchen clean-up can begin (will need 3 volunteers)
6:45pm Serve Dinner
7:15pm Serve Dessert
The director usually speaks and gives out awards at the end of the dinner.*
*Check with them to see how they want the evening to proceed.
Kitchen Lead Job Description:
Find out how many guests including ringers, directors, and chaperones there will be in attendance.
Find out any dietary restrictions.
Check the CUMC fridge and supplies downstairs before shopping.
Plan & prepare appetizers, dinner, drinks (ie: lemonade, tea, water), dessert & coffee for guests as well as servers / kitchen volunteers.
Purchase martinelli's (we sometimes have some leftover from VDD so check the fridge & downstairs first) & plastic fluted glasses.
Purchase any disposable plates & napkins if needed for appetizers / dessert.
Coordinate with the decorator for setting the table with needed items for each course: butter, condiments, coffee creamer, etc.
Oversee kitchen staff & servers (use a SignUpGenius for volunteers - feel free to delegate tasks.)
Servers should wear white tops, black bottoms.
Timeline for kitchen lead to start dinner prep at church is usually 3:00pm
Decorations Lead Job Description:
Find out how many guests including ringers, directors, and chaperones there will be in attendance.
Set up tables & chairs in the chapel for Rose Dinner guests in a configuration where everyone can see each other.
Decorate with tablecloths and centerpieces - the theme is roses with colors black & red - we have black tablecloths and red cloth napkins.
Set the table for each guest (semi-formal) - there are silver chargers & napkin rings in the supply cage. We borrow UMW goblets, carafes, and silverware. We use CUMC dishes.
Make a place card for each guest - some of these can be recycled from last year for returning ringers - there is a box of supplies available.
Katie will select seating so we leave all of the place cards on the podium for her to set out.
Provide a medium stem red rose for each guest. We usually order extra (2-3-4 dozen) for decorations & centerpieces.
One of the traditions is to use Ed's driftwood centerpiece and incorporate roses into it - stored downstairs.
Provide each guest with a copy of the Rose Parable. This is usually rolled into a scroll at each place setting.
Set a service table for appetizers, martinelli's, water, etc.
Timeline for decorator lead to arrive is 3:00pm (but can be done earlier if you check with chapel availability). Must be completely done by 5:30pm.
Examples:
There is also a physical binder available from previous years including hard copies of meal plans, recipes, receipts, notes, photos, etc.
2024 Rose Dinner Place Setting Notes.docx
Photos: (2022)
