Usually starts at least a 1/2 hour late, waiting for the mucky-mucks to show, involves stale cookies, punch, and coffee....15 minutes of picture taking, of politicians holding big scissors...., a few (hopefully)short boring speeches by same, and usually with a few of the folks who worked on it, who are there to beam with pride like Howard, or to go and suck up to the politicians, or mostly to be able to just cut out from work, in order to go to the Barbecue Place for lunch, after it's all over.......and still get back to the office by 1:30.

That was my usual MO in planning and attending these soiree's.