Circle Dinners

Circle dinners are our most popular (100+ of 165 members participate) and longest-running (35+ years now) social program. The numbers are left over from the days when everyone lived in a house with a white picket fence, 2.3 children, and a golden retriever: Four couples, one potluck dinner a month for four months, repeat with different people. Today the circles may have two or three singles and a same-sex couple, but the idea is the same. In August, January and April our coordinator puts seven, eight or nine people in a circle. They meet for a potluck dinner once a month for four months, then the coordinator makes up new circles.

The official list always has a list of people who are willing to substitute on short notice. Substitutes don't have to make a four-month commitment. People sign up for the substitute list if they have difficulty getting a baby sitter, if one or both is out of town frequently or if they have something else in their lives that would make four potlucks in a row difficult.

Circle Dinner FAQ

Do I have to be a member of UUFSC to participate?
No. We sometimes invite friends and neighbors to circle dinners as a way of getting to know our members. We don't use them to proselytize, though.

Do I have to be a gourmet cook?
No. Some of us are, some of us aren't. Main courses the webmaster has enjoyed, if you are looking for ideas, have ranged from broiled salmon filet with lemon dill butter through hamburgers grilled in the backyard to heirloom hot dish.

Do I have to be a wine connoisseur?
No. Some of us are, some of us aren't. A few of us don't drink at all, for personal reasons or because we are recovering alcoholics. We usually have wine, but if you don't know anything about it, someone else will bring it. We always have non-alcoholic drinks as well.

Do I have to be a brilliant conversationalist?
No. Some of us are, some of us aren't. Good hosts keep the conversation flowing.
[Ed Note: I sometimes ask "Let's go around the table - Tell us something you've done that
1) you are proud of and
2) few people would guess you'd done".
The eight answers and the follow-ups are usually good for an hour or two.]

Do I have to have a spacious home, fine china, good silver and glasses that match?
No. We've had circle dinners on card tables and TV trays, circle dinners with paper plates and circle dinners with flatware from the Good Will store.

Do I have to help create an atmosphere where people can learn more about each other?
Yes. We may be eating off paper plates or drinking out of jelly glasses, but we DO have our standards. That's the whole idea of circle dinners - to get to know people better.