Dinner for 7 Sign Up!

It's time to get the spring term Dinner for 7 groups going. Sign up this week to be included in the February dinner.

I signed up in the fall. Do I need to again?
No. If you were included in dinner groups in the Fall you'll be automatically rolled forward into the spring. If you've hosted already and DO NOT want to host again or if you'd like to be removed for the spring, please contact Jane Whittaker at jane_whittaker@ksg08.harvard.edu before January 25th.

Spring Schedule
The exact date and time will be arranged by the host and guests of each group. We just suggest a week to target. The weeks we'll target are:

* Week of Feb 4
* Week of March 3
* Week of March 31st (after spring break)
* Week of April 28th (last week of classes before reading period starts)
* Week of May 19th (last week of finals)

Why Sign Up?
We have about half the class signed up, but we miss the chance to get to know those of you who are being shy! Last fall there were Halloween themed dinners with pumpkin carving for the kids, dinners in the dorms, farmhouse dinners and everything in between. Here's what some folks said about last fall's dinners:

"What an enjoyable night getting to know fellow colleagues and building lasting friendships which we will carry forward for many years to come. For me, this is what Harvard offers !!"

"Thank you for the great idea
We had a great time, the kids went really wild!"

What is Dinner for 7?
Dinner for Seven is

* another way to meet and get to know more people from our MC class
* a series of social and networking dinners in one another's homes
* monthly multiple simultaneous rotating potluck dinners for 7 people
* a meal with fellow students from about 6:30 to 9pm

Sound confusing? It really isn’t. Here’s how it works:

You sign up to participate for the semester. You can participate by bringing something to eat or drink OR by hosting a meal OR both. Sign up even if you can't host. Sign up even if you have kids. Just sign up - everyone's welcome!

A Dinner for Seven will be scheduled every month or so. We'll target a week, but hosts and guests will decide a specific date that works for as many people as possible.

You do not need to commit to participate in one EVERY month, but should be interested and willing to participate MOST months.

If you agree to host, you do not need to host every month. Consider hosting even if you have a small place or are not in Cambridge.

Respond to the survey by January 25th to be included in the list of participants. We'll randomly assign groups of seven to those willing to host. The host can decide if they can manage spouses and / or children. Those 7 people will then communicate with one another, organize themselves and have dinner together.

Next month, we'll again randomly assign different people to a group and so it goes. You will be in a different group each month.

NOTES

* You are all highly equipped public administrators by now, so we will leave the details up to you. Each group can decide when to meet, how many to accommodate and how to manage issues like alcohol, allergies and food preferences.

* Hosts should expect to provide plates and so on. Guests should try to bring what the host asks for. If you're new to this in the US context, you can ask guests to pick between an appetizer, 1 main course, 2 side dishes, a salad and a dessert. If you'd rather cook a big dinner from your home cuisine, feel free. It's all up to you!

* Assignments are random!! If you want to have dinner with someone in particular, arrange a dinner party.

* Please respect the work that organizing this involves for your group and host. Plan ahead and do not cancel at the last minute.

We're looking forward to deepening our friendships through the dark winter and into the warming spring!

- Letha