Hi Mike; I enjoyed the "chat" through IM this morning and appreciate your asking about "writing a column" in your club site on Table Manners and Etiquette. I think this could be a lot of fun and I'm ready to tackle it!
There are no difficult rules and regulations...Manners are basically good common sense and an extension of Do Unto Others......
Back in the days when I lived in SC and due to my ex's business, we entertained a lot. When my kids were 6, 8 and 10, I decided to see what had really stuck about my teaching them table manners, because at our table I had to continually correct pretty atrocious behavior,even though I nagged, cajoled and pulled my hair in despair.
I came upon an idea: I sent them each a formal invitation (via mail) to dinner on a Friday night I knew my ex was to be at a meeting.
On the day of the dinner, they all came home from school and immediately did their homework, without prompting, took baths (unasked) dressed up and went out to the yard via the back door. Ran around to the front and rang the doorbell.
In the meantime I had set the dinning room table with good linens, china, crystal, flowers, etc and had prepared a meal a notch above meat loaf and mashed potatoes.
They were received as guests and it was just so funny.....Anthony (my son who was 10) pulled the chairs out for us "ladies", they placed their napkins on laps withour prompting, made dinner conversation without interrupting each other, did not put their elbows on the table and spoke without food in their mouths!
I was very pleased to know, that even if at home they felt free to act a little naughty, at least they knew how to act when in company or as guests in someone else's home.