ETIQUETTE TIP OF THE MONTH

Have Both Dinner Parties and Pot Lucks during Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays

The upcoming holiday season will bring opportunities for festive celebration. Dinner parties are sophisticated and glamorous, whereas pot lucks can be casual, comfy and economical. You can have fun entertaining in the rich tradition of the formal dinner party, or of the pot luck dinner or supper with family and close friends. But there are different rules for each.

The Dinner Party

This is usually a formal affair. The host should mail out the invitations, and in today’s world, ask for the favor of an r.s.v.p. Have place cards to help smartly seat your guests. If someone commits a faux paux and brings a food dish to be consumed at the dinner party, thank him or her, and consider it a hostess gift and put it aside for later. If you are the guest, bring the hostess a gift. It shouldn’t be extravagant, a pot holder, or dish towel set, or kitchen soap set, maybe a nice box of chocolates. Some people even bring wine. Just don’t expect the host to serve your wine. It is for her, and not for her dinner party. When it is time for your party to end, don’t be shy in saying that you have had a wonderful time with your guests, and that you hope they have enjoyed your hospitality. They will be grateful for that cue to leave!

The Pot Luck Supper

A pot luck is when everyone gets together and decides to give a big dinner or supper. No written invitations are necessary as, with this kind of meal, no one is the hostess and everyone contributes. Pot lucks are informal, but you can still dress up and use formal manners. Communicate, communicate, communicate so as to have a nice variety of meats, vegetables and side dishes, sweets, and drinks. Everyone is also responsible for clean-up. Enjoy your holiday meals!

Program Happenings

Hartford, Connecticut social worker gave information on the foster care system before accepting handmade journals and address books on behalf of girls recently admitted in foster care. She thanked the etiquette club members for the gifts, and stressed that a volunteer is a valuable member of any community.

Community Involvement

Etiquette club members participated in a previous volunteer project of putting together Thanksgiving dinners for needy families in their school community. The girls practiced an etiquette lesson of phone manners when soliciting turkeys from neighborhood markets. They also wrote thank-you notes to the markets that participated. Thanksgiving volunteer projects show club members that it is better to give than to receive. Indeed.

What Our Clients are Saying

“... Dageanna feels proud every time she tells family & friends about dressing proper & baking, etc. I noticed how she wants to set the table, how she sits straight. She takes her time now when she talks, and she even puts the proper words when needed.”

Anonymous- Parent of student

“ It teaches you how to speak, it made me more independent, responsible, how I talk, oh, actually how I speak, how I dress, how I present myself in front of certain people, how not to look stupid in situations and to use for everyday life. ”

Destinie - Previous Student

“ This club, the etiquette club (Ms. Whitaker) has taught me how to dress on different occasions. Whether business, formal, casual...Even when I’m at home my etiquette skills play a roll when I’m setting the table, making my tea (stirring my tea), I can go on and on. In brief this club has made a physical, and mental change in me from Day one. ”

Marzina - Previous Student

Feedback

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Contact Us

Thurston Whitaker Information Services
PO Box 271743
West Hartford, CT 06127
860.404.0339, office
860.404.0571, fax
sy@thurstonwhitaker.com
www.ThurstonWhitaker.com