Top 10 reasons not to have an Anniversary Meal at Golden Corral

I passed by a desk at work today and saw the words Golden Corral Lunch written on the desk blotter calendar.
  I asked who's going to Golden Corral for lunch?

I was told it was the anniversary meal for company employees who have company anniversaries coming up.

These are people who have worked for the company for at least five years are are celebrating the anniversary.  The company pays for this meal and it is supposed to be a treat that you get to go to lunch with your boss.  I was shocked that anyone thought that Golden Corral would be a treat.  I shared this five years ago at my 15 year meal.  I felt cheated out of nice lunch by the "35 years" employee who said everyone could find something to eat at Golden Corral and that no one else wanted to eat "all that fancy food". For the record my boss took me out on a later date to the neighborhood bistro I favor.

Today is my 20 year anniversary with the company and I am not ungrateful for a "free lunch with my boss."  I just do not want it to be at Golden Corral.

No offense to Golden Corral, the food is tasty and I have used them to cater family events. But the lunch time atmosphere is no treat.  This is why.

1.  No ambiance.  No view.
2.  You have to make you own plate
3.  Instead of sitting and socializing until the food comes we will be concerned about making a plate and finding out where the good dishes are.
4. You have to make too many tasting trips to the buffet to find out what is good
5.  You may waste a lot of food. The quantity versus quality curve is inversely proportional.
5. There is a tendency to overeat.
6.  There are just a few healthy choices.
7. You cannot take dessert (or anything else) home if you are too full to eat it after the meal.
8.  There is no lasting impression made by the meals.
9.  You have to wait for the food bins to be replenished
10.  The company is paying. Please let me have a meal I could not afford to enjoy on my own.

If I have to have this type of food to satisfy others who are "celebrating too" then lets try Cracker Barrel or any restaurant with a (brings the food to the table) wait staff and a printed menu.

The choice of Golden Corral as attempt to satisfy everyone fails and just annoys almost everyone who was looking forward to a nice lunch.  I think most people asked for steak-  It is only available at dinner a Golden Corral so going for lunch is really disappointing and a lazy way of planning a group meal.  Think a little harder!

This is an ensemble of the Long Bay Symphony's Youth Orchestra.  They are playing for the social hour of a Guild event.  I love to hear them.  I feel like I made some tiny contribution to their music education and their social graces.  One day some of them will be minor and famous musicians..

I was the planner and chief designer of this year's event- the Let's Be Sharp Fashion Show a Luncheon.

We chose a Halloween theme because is was popular in the past.  

I had a blast coming up with Halloweenish decor items and strange-- odd displays that I thought would draw people to the silent auction tables.  That part worked.  We had a great volunteer who put together all the baskets of donated items to make them look inviting and lovely.

Turnout for the event was the lowest ever. 83 versus 170 last year.  This is the 12th  year-- and even though last years event was well received (Octoberfest of Fashion)  we did not have the Halloween excitement!  I think this year that there were a lot of competing events that same day-- and we even lost one of the co-chairs-  because she had to be a practice for another performing group. Another group lead by a former guild member had a show just a few days before us-- and I don't care if it was fashion week in MB--no one I know would pay to attend two shows just days apart.

I was very disappointed.  The show was beautiful.  Young girls from Socastee High School joined in as models and we had enough models from the Guild.  Dramatic formals and prom dresses from both Fancy Frocks and Dressbarn made the show exciting.  Some photos are here http://www.pinterest.com/lbsguild/boards/.  None of the high school group is pictured yet.  But I plan to add their photos when I can.

We had a sports announcer from CBS sport radio as the emcee-  So I was able to just watch and enjoy the show for the first time ever! It was a great show.  The Bridal Gown Finale was especially  sweet.

I still have to send out thank yous.. and we did make money from the event.