Thanks for the replies so far, it's good to know we parents here are not the only ones to go thru this.
Our biggest problem seems to be that the size of the group means that the guest list will be so big we can't use our typical venue for the ceremony, the host church that sponsors our troop. They just don't have one room big enough for the 60 plus Scouts and all the relatives likely to be attending, plus those invited especially by the 7 Eagles, another 100 or so. We anticipate well over 200 people.
Weather around here in Jersey in June means we have to look for an inside place to avoid rain or oppressive heat. Costs for a rental hall make the total cost well above any reductions due to economies of scale. It also makes it hard to consider catering the whole thing because most of the single C of H ceremonies here have been made up with the Eagle parents arranging and paying for (or cooking) main menu items, and volunteers in the troop bring side dishes, salads and dessert type items, reducing overall costs to the Eagle parent. That's not practical if we use a catering hall, and many other places (VFW hall, etc.) don't have sufficient food prep facilites onsite.
Several of the boys would have preferred individual events, but went along with the upper level leaders on the point about what BDPT00 says;
"If the troop is doing this just because it's convenient, then I don't think that says anything about it being special to anyone. On the other hand, doing 7 separate Eagle ceremonies so close together will get old real fast."
Some parents are getting the impression that the leaders want to take advantage of the potential publicity 7 Eagles could mean for the Troop over the interests of the boys, one even mentioned inviting the Governor to attend.
All of this makes it so that the total costs for this, even after breaking it down between 7 families, is close to twice the typical Court of Honor each.
I know that the Troop picks up some costs for ceremonial items, candles, badges, awards and the like, but is it out of line to ask that the Troop also help absorb some of the difference associated with the massive increase in attendees? Proposals by some places we have checked with are in the $1,500.00 range just for a room big enough to hold everyone. We would have had the church rooms free.
Food catering costs alone end up in the range of $2,200.00 to $3,100.00 and up, and servers, if we go that route, add on another 4 bills and change.
John in KC, six boys at once, that's terrific, and really shows a dedicated group of boys and parents, big KUDOS to you. Was your son happy with being part of a bigger group, or in retrospect, did he think the single award ceremonies gave boys more satisfaction that they were being honored better?
11 boys at once? WOWWW!! That's a link I plan on sharing with our leaders!
