Fireman's ball

[tsurber]

I am co-chairing a committee for our first Fireman's Ball and I am wondering if anyone out there has any experience in planning one? I'm curious to know what obstacles there are and what works and what doesn't. Even if you haven't planned one, if you have attended, what did you particularly like/dislike and what can be done to really make it a successful evening?

[doughesson]

Obviously,you have to arrange for food.Will it be pot luck or catered?
You'll want to decide if casual attire will be okay or if a higher level of dress will be the uniform of the day.
Will the music be classical ballroom music or contemporary music.Given all the tastes that abound,how will the decision be made?
When my ship returned from a twice extended cruise in 1986,we got a new supply officer who made sure we held a celebration dinner for all hands and families.A local band was hired,the enlisted club in Charleston was decorated to the nines,and the bar was paid for from his own pocket.(evidently he had some extra money from his PCS reimbursement)
He also made sure to order the best cuts of meat for a roast beef dinner,not having heard all the gripes about the "roasted beast" we ate twice a week returning to expend all surplus meats bought outside the country.
That was the only sticking point to that dinner.
Hope this helps you thinking about what is needed and that a good time is had by all.

[tsurber]

appreciate the info;
I think we have decided date, formal dress, sit down dinner, music...we're thinking a dj so we can have a variety, nice classy at the beginning and then once the big wigs have gone and the drinks are flowing it can loosen up. Is there normally a speaker or is it just dinner and partying?

[Chief2701]

It's your party, what do the members of your department prefer? All of the firefighters balls in our area differ From beer blasts/informal to formal. At our department we prefer formal (dress blues) with dinner and awards to start the evening followed with music and spirits. This year my firefighters will be piped in by a firefighter pipe band, this is my opportunity to "show them off" alittle to the community in a non-emergency setting. This will be our third year for the ball and it's been well recieved in the past.

As we make this a night for the firefighters, plan on coverage for your area so that your troops may enjoy the evening.

Please feel to contact me if you feel I can be of some help.

[Dogboy]

A little humor, a little off the subject.

So this beautiful blonde in a convertible gets pulled over by a state trooper on a motorcycle for speeding. The Trooper walks up all squared away, shined boots, crisp jacket, sunglasses etc. ready to enforce the traffic laws. As he approaches the blonde, she asks, "I don't suppose you're going to try to sell me tickets to the policemen's ball are you?" At which point our Trooper sternly states, "No Ma'am, Troopers don't have balls." As soon as he realized what he had said he returned to his motorcycle without a further word and rode away. That blonde is probably still laughing.