Invitation wording help

[#1 Pocahontas]

Update..I sent them out, thanks for the help!

Hi

I am trying to word something on an invitation my brownies are taking home to their parents. We want to have refreshments after our ceremony but there are a lot of people so we want to ask each family to bring something to share. I'm afraid if I put "Please bring a refreshment" everyone will bring cookies. Which I personally would love but I'm afraid everyone would eat one or two then there'd be a lot of left over cookies.

Is there a polite way to ask for pitch-in refreshments and not end up with a lot of cookies?

I am bringing a cake, so under the refreshment request could I just put "desert will be provided"?

Thanks!

 

[imthatgirl]

is this a brownie event, or a personbal event? the reason i ask is if its a brownie event i would speak to the parents as they pick up there kids and ask if they could bring something and talk to them about not wanting too much of the same thing.

if its a personal event, its not really appropriate to ask them to bring something. but if you do i wouldnt be specific about what they should bring.

 

[della]

You could post a sign up sheet. Either let them just list what they want to bring. Or list what you want brought and ask them if they'd like to sign up to bring one of the items on the list.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

It's a brownie ceremony, not a personal thing. Last year we (my co-leader and I) supplied everything but this year we almost doubled in our troop size so we really don't want to foot the bill this year all by ourselves. We could have up to 50 people there.

A lot of our parents do not pick up, their kids go to after school care after our meeting so a sign up sheet wouldn't work well for us.

I know how to word it for a pitch in dinner just not a pitch in refreshments. LOL Maybe there isn't a good way.

Thanks for the ideas so far.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I would just send a little card home with the girls about the event and say please provide a non-sugary snack to enjoy afterward (since you are providing cake).

It's as simple as that. I'm a military wife and constantly have to pitch in snacks for things. Don't sweat it.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

Perfect! Thanks! I think I'm over worked, that is so simple why couldn't I think of it!! LOL

I'm a Hoosier girl too.

 

[imthatgirl]

It's a brownie ceremony, not a personal thing. Last year we (my co-leader and I) supplied everything but this year we almost doubled in our troop size so we really don't want to foot the bill this year all by ourselves. We could have up to 50 people there.

A lot of our parents do not pick up, their kids go to after school care after our meeting so a sign up sheet wouldn't work well for us.

I know how to word it for a pitch in dinner just not a pitch in refreshments. LOL Maybe there isn't a good way.

Thanks for the ideas so far.

well if its a dinner i would ask people to bring a pot luck. if you ask for snacks youll get snacks and if you ask for refreshments youll get snacks.
my daughter is in brownies, the troop leadres never provide all the food, we wouldnt expect them to, they dont get paid to do what they do, kwim. so i would think everyone would be more than understanding.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

do you use email? send out a letter asking for donations & list what you would like.

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

If you word it a non-sugary snack - I would have brought something like Lucky Ducks (organic goldfish type crackers) and not food.

If you word it as a "pot luck", I'd bring some type of casserole.

 

[LadyShea]

What kinds of foods are you wanting them to bring and what time is the ceremony? I think putting only a few words on an invitation might be confusing.

I would do as a PP suggested and send an email with a list of suggestions, otherwise someone might interpret hors d'oeuvre, another cookies and cakes (what I consider refreshments if after dinner time), and another a potluck covered dish.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Maybe it would help if you told us what kind of refreshments you DO want people to bring?

Are you looking for dips/appetizers, full meals, salads, drinks??

If you're looking to have a variety of things perhaps you can include a note to the parents in the invite stating something like:

'Dear Parents,

We are looking forward to our Brownie Extravaganza Thingie and we hope that you are able to join us. As our group has rapidly expanded, we are unable to supply all of the refreshments as we have in the past. If you can assist us with this it would be appreciated. Please contact leader X at 555-1212. We are hoping for contributions from the following categories; appetizers, whatever, whatever, whatever. Please let leader X know what you will be bringing so we can be sure to have a variety. '

Then leader X can keep track and when a parent asks which category you need things from you'll know what to suggest to them.

 

[disykat]

I read this whole thread and I'm still not sure what kind of "refreshments" you are looking for. To me "refreshments" means cookies and punch, and maybe fruit. I would be confused by "dessert will be provided" because in my experience that's pretty much what "refreshments" is.

If you want more, I'd say appetizers, horderves (sp?), or finger food.

 

[della]

Maybe it would help if you told us what kind of refreshments you DO want people to bring?

Are you looking for dips/appetizers, full meals, salads, drinks??

If you're looking to have a variety of things perhaps you can include a note to the parents in the invite stating something like:

'Dear Parents,

We are looking forward to our Brownie Extravaganza Thingie and we hope that you are able to join us. As our group has rapidly expanded, we are unable to supply all of the refreshments as we have in the past. If you can assist us with this it would be appreciated. Please contact leader X at 555-1212. We are hoping for contributions from the following categories; appetizers, whatever, whatever, whatever. Please let leader X know what you will be bringing so we can be sure to have a variety. '

Then leader X can keep track and when a parent asks which category you need things from you'll know what to suggest to them.

I vote for Bren's mom's idea.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I've got the invites ready to go!

I know refreshments implies sugar so I was trying to find a way to work it with out making it into dinner yet with out every single family bringing a dozen chocolate chip cookies. Sorry If I didnt' make it clear.

Thanks!!

 

[scrapquitler]

For a Brownie troop event like this, I would do a sign up sheet a couple of meetings ahead of time. Simple determine a mix of refreshments and make a list
Juice ------------------
veggies and dip ---------------
cheese and crackers ---------------
chips ---------------------
cookies ----------------
fruit -------------
brownies -----------------
napkins -----------------
plates ----------------

etc

and have the parents sign up to bring something. This will ensure that it is not all cookies, and for a Brownie Troop event, noone will mind bringing something...if they don't want to bring something, they won't sign up to do so.