Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Game Night topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Farmers Branch senior board narrows menu, confirms entertainment options for fall game night
Summary
At its July 11 meeting, the Farmers Branch Senior Advisory Board discussed vendor, menu and entertainment choices for an upcoming game night and considered converting the single annual event into a series; budget, gift-bag and sponsorship details were reviewed.
The Farmers Branch Senior Advisory Board on July 11 debated menu, vendor and entertainment plans for the Branch Connection’s next game night as staff prepared to finalize contracts and logistics for an event expected this fall.
Board members discussed two proposed caterers — Luby’s and Sugar Peach Kitchen — and reviewed menu and side selections before leaning toward options that would serve a maximum of 250 attendees. The board discussed including gravy with mashed potatoes, choosing two entrees (members favored chicken tetrazzini, chicken fried steak and turkey with dressing in a vote), two sides (mashed potatoes and a roasted mixed squash were chosen) and two desserts (members selected two cobblers). A committee member noted a pricing difference between vendors and asked staff to confirm per-plate costs.
Why it matters: game night is the Branch Connection’s largest social event for seniors and uses a mix of city budget and donated funds. Board members said spreading the event benefits a broader set of regular patrons rather than concentrating spending on one annual “one-time” audience.
Discussion details and budget: staff told the board the program has a $25,000 annual budget for events; entertainment, décor and a DJ would come from that fund, while donated items and prizes would come from sponsorships and donations. The board reviewed a proposed gift bag plan for 300 attendees valued at about $1,900 in kit items (flashlights, a spiral notebook, bottled water with program artwork, Hershey bars, pens and other small items); the board said partner organizations might also contribute items that fit in the bag. A member reported three sponsors had signaled willingness to support 300 gift bags.
Entertainment and décor: members considered a DJ routed through the facility sound system, a photo booth, caricature artist and themed decade decor for the gym (life-size cardboard cutouts, posters and a colored “walkway” representing different decades). The board reviewed how the gym layout, bleachers and portable stage would affect placement of decorations and activities and asked staff to confirm what can be placed in front of bleachers and on the gym floor.
Program schedule and format: board members split over whether to keep a single large annual game night or convert the event into a multi-part series across the fiscal year (October–September). Survey results were described as roughly split 50/50. Some members suggested alternating formats year to year or beginning next fiscal year with two or three smaller events funded from the same $25,000 allocation (roughly $8,000 per smaller event if split three ways). The board agreed to revisit the schedule after the September event and to place the topic back on the October agenda for planning details.
Next steps: staff will confirm vendor pricing and portions, finalize menu selections, confirm the number of gift bags and sponsorship commitments, and return with cost confirmations and a proposed timeline. The board agreed to keep the game night item on the agenda until service and budget details are finalized.
