“Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them.” ~Bill Kelly
Have you ever wondered how to act, what to wear, or which way to pass the salt when an employer takes you out for a meal? If you answered yes (or even no!) to this question, the Etiquette Dinner on Wednesday, March 1st is the event for you! It is put on by the Career Development Center and will be held in Maas Auditorium from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
This event will not only give you the opportunity to learn new etiquette skills, but will also give you the chance to network among your fellow students, faculty, and staff who attend the event.
Rob Pocock, a professor in the communications department, is the keynote speaker for the Etiquette Dinner. He specializes in public speaking and public relations and is also an etiquette expert. During the dinner portion of the event, the topics he will cover will range from how to set a table to the appropriate conversations you should be having while eating.
During the event a three course meal will be served – soup and salad, spaghetti, and dessert. We all know how hard spaghetti can be to eat, and it is for this reason that spaghetti is picked as the main course. If you can learn how to eat spaghetti gracefully, you can eat anything gracefully. You will also get the opportunity to learn how to set up your own plate and cutlery. The Career Development Center hopes that you can take these important etiquette skills and apply them other places such as: dinner parties, weddings, job interviews, and even in every day life.
We asked Amy Freehaffer, one of the table hosts at last year’s etiquette dinner, to tell us about the event and why she thinks it is important for everyone to try and attend this event at least once throughout their four years. She commented,
This is one of the best events that we do for the students. It is very educational and you actually take what you learn and are able apply it in the real world. Rob Pocock makes this event fun and interesting and when you leave you will be able to feel more confident and comfortable in formal settings.
In today’s society you are expected to have proper etiquette however there is no one really teaching it anymore, so this is a great thing for students to participate in. As a table host I was able to use what I had previously learned from attending the previous etiquette dinner and help those around me, which is something students can do in the future after they attend this event. I also talked to the students around me and explained why in formal settings you should not be around your phone at all. I always learn something new at this dinner and I absolutely enjoy it, I recommend that everyone should attend it!
Again, the Etiquette Dinner is on Wednesday, March 1st in Maas Auditorium from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. We hope to see you there!