On Saturday, September 22, 2019, the Santa Fe, NM Chapter of the Knights of Columbus held their Annual Spaghetti dinner at the Parish Hall of the Santa Maria de La Paz Catholic Church. As it has happened for the past years, Troop 53 Scouts provided service by waiting tables and washing dishes.

The Knights of Columbus served to their guests:

• Salad with bread sticks
• Spaghetti with meat or vegetarian sauce
• Choice of dessert: apple, peach, black forest, blueberry cobbler; chocolate pecan bunt cake, and many more
• Coffee

Everything was served by our Scouts, on immaculate plates, washed by our Scouts.

There is something very formative about dish washing and table waiting. Gary J. Ross, at Ross Law Group, says that waiting tables while attending Law School allowed him to learn skills that last a lifetime. He was laughed at, during his first interview, because his CV contained only five years of table waiting.

He does not regret it; quite to to the contrary, Gary is adamant that table waiting allowed him to gain knowledge that is integral to his current life as law practitioner From waiting, Gary gained:

• Customer service mentality
• Forced me to have a personality
• I can comfortably carry three plates in one hand
• Check back often
• Being adaptable
• Work on a matter as soon as possible
• Finish strong

How did our Scout do?

• Customer service mentality: our Scouts were very attentive in satisfying patrons’ requests
• Have a personality: Scouts charmed dinner attendees with their politeness and perfect attitude.
• Carry comfortably three plates in one hand: Scouts were asked to carry only two plates at a time for safety reasons
• Check back often: Some time even too often! None was ever left with an unanswered request
• Being adaptable: As the night progressed, Scouts were asked to cover more tables than it was initially planned, due to increased attendance
• Work on a matter as soon as possible: No dinner guest was left longing for his or her coffee for more than a few seconds
• Finish strong: Never forget to ask: “Cream or sugar, or both?”
  

Scouts received many many compliments. All guests were left in awe watching the politeness, the courtesy, the attention to details showed by our Scouts. Scouts in the kitchen were complimented on their hours of hard work behind the curtain.

An evening to remember.