Want to keep a group bonded for years? Try this unique kind of potluck party.

Kathy Hamilton checks on her tomato dill soup at the Leadership Knoxville Class of '93 autumn party.

Class member Kathy Hamilton checks on her tomato dill soup at the Leadership Knoxville Class of '93 autumn party.

This is a recipe for a party to have every year if you want to keep a diverse group of people together for the long haul. The reason I know about it is that my Leadership Knoxville class, the Class of ’93, has been doing it for the past 17 years and we are a more cohesive group than almost any other class from that long ago.

The key to the success of this party is that it is easy and it involves everyone. It’s a version of a potluck, but the dishes are limited to these: soups, salads, desserts, bread and, if you want, appetizers. We try to have our party at about the same time every year — in the fall near Halloween. It’s gotten to be such a tradition, that when the weather starts to cool off, we just naturally start asking when the class party will be.

Here’s how you do it. Get someone to volunteer to be the host. This year for our class party, it was Cile and Ed Mathews. Cile was the head of the Florence Crittenton Agency when she was in Leadership Knoxville. Ed, her husband, in addition to being a Realtor, was head of the East Tennessee Georgia Bulldog Club, of which I was a member. (Go Dawgs!)

Get someone to coordinate the whole thing. This year, it was me, the newly elected class representative for the Class of ’93. My job was to be sure people brought a variety of dishes and there weren’t too many duplications. We ended up with four soups, three salads, bread, and three desserts. The Mathewses provided light appetizers. (We learned a few years ago that it is a mistake to have too many appetizers because folks tend to fill up on them — and then they aren’t hungry for the main event.)

We decided that everyone would bring either beer or wine and the hosts would provide soft drinks. Our party was a great success. We had good attendance. We started at 6 and ended at 9 and everyone had a good time. We’ve already lined up a host couple for next year. And so the tradition continues.

Our host, Cile Mathews, left, chats with Danni Varlan, the wife of class member Tom Varlan. We are lucky to have Danni, a great cook, as part of our group!

Our host, Cile Mathews, left, chats with Danni Varlan, the wife of class member Tom Varlan. We are lucky to have Danni, a great cook, as part of our group!

Monique Anderson, wife of class member Bruce Anderson, drinks a glass of wine with my husband, Alan Carmichael.

Monique Anderson, wife of class member Bruce Anderson, drinks a glass of wine with my husband, Alan Carmichael.

Dentist Walter Fain, left (I call him "No Pain Fain"), husband of class member Lynne Fain, in discussion with class member Dr. Dwight Wade, who is retired from Summit Medical Group.

Dentist Walter Fain, left (I call him "No Pain Fain"), husband of class member Lynne Fain, in discussion with class member Dr. Dwight Wade, who is retired from Summit Medical Group.

Class members Bruce Anderson and Lynne Fain.

Class members Bruce Anderson and Lynne Fain.

Gathering time: something Leadership Knoxville is famous for.

Gathering time: something Leadership Knoxville is famous for.

Host Ed Mathews makes a point to class member Suart Worden and his girlfriend, Lane Hays.

Host Ed Mathews makes a point to class member Stuart Worden and his girlfriend, Lane Hays.

Dan and Kathy Hamilton pose with Jan Wade, center, wife of class member Dr. Dwight Wade.

Dan and Kathy Hamilton pose with Jan Wade, center, wife of class member Dr. Dwight Wade.

Danni samples some of Ed Mathews' Georgia special -- boiled peanuts. She liked them!

Danni samples some of Ed Mathews' Georgia special -- boiled peanuts. She liked them!

Class member Annette Winston and her husband, my eye doctor, Dr. Barry Wiinston. She has taken up photography.

Class member Annette Winston and her husband, my eye doctor, Dr. Barry Winston. She has taken up photography.

Annette shows off her smokin' new outfit from Janice Ann's Fashions on Emory Road.

Annette shows off her smokin' new outfit from Janice Ann's Fashions on Emory Road.

Class member, Judge Tom Varlan, left, and Barry Winston dig into the spicy beer cheese Ed put out.

Class member, Judge Tom Varlan, left, and Barry Winston dig into the spicy beer cheese Ed put out.

Stuart locates the beer cheese.

Stuart locates the beer cheese.

Lynne cuts some pears into her salad.

Lynne cuts some pears into her salad.

Monique dresses her salad.

Monique dresses her salad.

And then it’s time to serve it all up!

Annette gets some of Danni Varlan's gumbo.

Annette gets some of Danni Varlan's gumbo.

Danni sprinkles file on Bruce's gumbo.

Danni sprinkles file on Bruce's gumbo.

I made this vegetable beef soup.

I made this vegetable beef soup.

Stuart digs in.

Stuart digs in.

Soups on for Walter!

Soup's on for Walter!

Alan seems to be enjoying dinner.

Alan seems to be enjoying dinner.

Jan Wade brought red velvet cake.

Jan Wade brought red velvet cake.

Danni brought this chocolate cream pie. See why we like having her around?

Danni brought this chocolate cream pie. See why we like having her around?

Anybody else got ideas for keeping a group together for years?

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10 Responses to Want to keep a group bonded for years? Try this unique kind of potluck party.

  1. Alan Carmichael, on November 15th, 2010 at 1:03 pm said:

    Monique is a member of the 2000 class with me. We’ve had similar gatherings, and I agree that they’re a great way to keep up with everyone.

  2. Annette Winston, on November 15th, 2010 at 1:59 pm said:

    Great review of a terrific party and a wonderful group of people. To our class members who missed, we’ll see you next year!

  3. Nancy Young, on November 15th, 2010 at 7:05 pm said:

    Hated that some of the class of 2000 folks were at the LK ’93 party!! We had a wonderful party with our classmates and spouses…missed those you who weren’t there!

  4. Cynthia Moxley, on November 15th, 2010 at 8:04 pm said:

    Nancy – I don’t think they competed, did they? Ours was Nov. 7.

  5. Carlos Warrell, on November 17th, 2010 at 2:55 pm said:

    Thanks for that. We’re having a big potluck party next week, for Xmas I guess and I’ve been trying to find something unique.. found some awesome ideas at this potluck recipe site. You know, someone should invent a website where you can write what you’ll be taking, and it would make sure no one is bringing the same thing!

  6. Cynthia Moxley, on November 18th, 2010 at 10:54 pm said:

    Update: Just for the record, the Leadership Knoxville Class of 2000 party, of which Alan is a member, had its party on Nov. 14. We actually coordinated with them so we didn’t compete. So I don’t see a problem with folks from the class of 2000 coming to the party of the class of ’93. In fact, our two classes are very close because we have several married couples with spouses in each of those classes. Alan couldn’t go to the class of 2000 party because we had out of town company — not because he was attending the class of ’93 party. Just saying.

  7. Rusha Sams, on November 22nd, 2010 at 3:05 pm said:

    Hated to miss this annual event! We were hosting another group — our First United Methodist Sunday School class — the JOY Class! And that’s a whole ‘nother blog, for sure! Been together for more than 30 years!!!

  8. Cynthia Moxley, on November 22nd, 2010 at 3:48 pm said:

    Oh, Rusha, that’s awesome! Same kind of get together? Potluck dinner?

  9. Gwen Brown, on November 22nd, 2010 at 11:08 pm said:

    We are very disappointed that we were not with you guys this year. We did not have those global responses and I kinda forgot. Would love to have brought everyone up to date on my company. We did go to Kelly’s Installation in Nashville this past weekend. He is the new Pastor at First Baptist Capitol Hill. Very exciting and emotional weekend for all of us.

    Cynthia this would have been a great post. Kelly was emotionally overywhelmed taking over the pastorship of his father’s church.

  10. Cynthia Moxley, on November 23rd, 2010 at 12:03 am said:

    Gwen: Would love to have seen our classmate Kelly Miller Smith being installed as pastor of his father’s church. His dad is a legend – but I’m confident Kelly is up to filling those big shoes. We missed you at the party!!

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