[ Back | Home | Email Rainbow.org's owner | Complete Site Map ]

The Newbie's Guide to Throwing a Successful Pancake Breakfast

(Can also be applied to a spaghetti dinner/crab feed/etc.)

Have details planned out at least 6 weeks in advance. Recruit a small committee (two or three girls, and an adult) to plan things like the menu (example: pancakes, butter, syrup, sausage or bacon, hash browns, scrambled eggs, orange or other kind of juice, coffee, milk), and a shopping/needs list (example: Bisquick, eggs, butter pats, syrup, juice, milk, coffee, bacon, napkins, place mats). Also decide how many pancakes, how many bacon strips, the portion of hash browns and/or eggs that will be on each plate (and smaller portions for young children), and if "seconds" will be offered.

Depending on how your Assembly does things, see about recruiting 'donations' of foods and drinks from girls. OR, if your Assembly is the kind that buys the supplies and then submits the bill at the next meeting, make sure you don't go over your budget. Sometimes, getting the girls to bring juice, milk, eggs, and frozen hash browns, and buying the rest, is the best way to go. (For a spaghetti dinner, each girl would be responsible for bringing a dessert, some salad item [like lettuce, croutons, etc. -- make sure you specify a certain type or brand, if you'll be mixing it up in one large bowl], or something else, like loaves for garlic bread.)

Usually, there is a Board member, parent, or Lodge member that has a membership for a place like Costco, Price Club or Sam's Club. See if you can enlist their help!

Print tickets (number them if possible) with all the information (Who, What, When, Where, Why and How much), then assign 20 (for example) to each girl at a regular meeting. Ask the sideliners and Board if they would like to help sell tickets. Keep records of how many tickets went to which person. Let them know they are responsible for returning unsold tickets and/or the money from tickets sold.

Create posters/fliers to advertise, placing one in the appropriate spot at your meeting hall or Masonic Lodge, others where appropriate (get Board approval before placing them in businesses). Remember to include information (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How much). Example: Sunshine Rainbow Assembly #7 is having a Pancake Breakfast at the Springfield Masonic Center, 123 Oak Street, on Sunday, May 6th, from 8 to 11 A.M., to raise funds for our state service project, Canine Companions for Independence. Advance tickets are $3.50 adult/$2.50 children under 12; will be $4.50 adult/$3.50 child at the door. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please contact Mrs. Smith, Mother Advisor of Sunshine Assembly, at 555-4753. Hope to see you there!

Consider having lower prices for "advance tickets" (i.e. $3.50 advance, $4 at the door), and perhaps separate prices for seniors 65+ and children (i.e. $2.50, and kids under 2 eat free).

Have sign/balloons/streamers/other decor for outside the day of the breakfast/dinner. Make sure they are informative, and easy to read (include times and price[s]).

See about advertising in the local newspapers (they usually have a "Clubs" section and will make mention of your breakfast/dinner for free). Also, see about local radio stations mentioning it on the air in their Community Spotlight section. Get Board approval first!

See about advertising in local Lodge's Trestleboard (& equivalent for Star). They will need to know well in advance.

Consider having a delegation of two or three girls and a Board member show up towards the end of a Lodge or Star meeting, mention tickets are available. Perhaps, with approval of Worshipful Master or Worthy Matron/Patron, have some home-baked desserts (cookies, brownies, etc.), coffee and punch available for them to consume. (Idea being if you are nice, they will want to buy tickets from you, even if they don't plan on going.)

Recruit girls and adults for different times. (example: early, middle, and late shifts; early being in charge of last-minute setup and prep, late staying after the end of breakfast to CLEAN UP). Suggest they bring an apron to protect their outfit from food. Remind them they are to eat before they start working, not during. Consider assigning certain tasks (certain girls in charge of clearing and resetting places, certain girls in charge of serving beverages, certain girls in charge of seating people, informing the cooks how many plates they need, and serving them, etc.) Get two girls to man the cashier's table (taking money, tickets, etc.) and have them trade out after 30 minutes (or whatever time period you decide) so they don't just sit there all morning.

Recruit cooks/kitchen help from your Board, your parents, sideliners, Lodge and Star. Mention how much you love their cooking, or that you've heard they prepare delectable scrambled eggs, or something like that. People love to feel appreciated!

Recruit a team of girls and adults to set up the evening before (for a breakfast) or morning of (for a dinner), if possible. Lay out tablecloths (that plastic sheet tablecloth, or even butcher paper, works great!), perhaps decorate (does a member or adult have a flower garden you can get permission to take flowers and greenery from, for bud vases or something?) Set out salt & pepper shakers, sugar & Equal holders, etc. Make sure you have containers for butter pats, and pitchers for milk (or a bowl for the little containers of creamer). Also, leave room for the syrup, whether it be in the bottle, or in syrup pitchers. Lay out on place mats the following: napkins, flatware, glass, coffee cup.

If not setting carafes for beverages ON the table (self-serve), set up a table for beverages (pitchers for juice, milk, etc.) where the girls serving at the tables will work from. Consider a Thermos-like thing for keeping items cool (or warm, for coffee). An adult should be in charge of the coffee preparation, so girls in a hurry don't scald themselves. (Second-degree burns HURT!)

Have your phone committee call each member (and the adult volunteers) a few days before to remind them of the event, when they need to be there, what to wear, bring, etc. Remind the girls to be on their best, most cheerful manners, and the girls at the cashier's table to greet everyone and say "Thank you for coming!"

Niceties might include having toothpicks and mints [either the red & white ones, or the pastel butter mints] on a tray or table on the way to the exit. I have seen breakfasts and dinners where there are some kind of favors (pens, key chains, magnets, etc.) Some were advertising items from local businesses, a couple of which were owned by local Masons, etc. It might be worth looking into.

Bonus idea! Have the more "crafty and creative" members of your Assembly (or the Parents/Boosters Club) create some decorative centerpiece item for each table (or a few per table, if they're long tables). Mention that they are for sale (maybe put a tag on or near the item, stating the price). Be careful, though, in where you place them -- diners are often messy, especially children. An alternative would be to have a bazaar table near the exit with items for sale, and someone minding the table.

Remember, be gracious to everyone during all of this. As the saying goes, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Nobody likes being bossed, or told what to do. But at the same time, you need to encourage everyone to get involved!

Version 1.1 - 10/09/02

This text file is copyright © 2001-2002 by www.rainbow.org. Rights to reproduce this text online or in print are granted, provided you do so in its entirety, giving credit to the author, postmaster@rainbow.org, and providing the URL: http://www.rainbow.org/breakfast.html on any copies you make.

[ Back | Home | Email Rainbow.org's owner | Complete Site Map ]

[EoF]