Ahhh .. .those things I can answer ..

grace is sung before each meal ...
seating for the first night's dinner is usually done by chapter, seating for the Rose Banquet is usually done by a process of getting a table of people together and chooseing a table. We'll get instructions on that early on.

Yes, Rose Banquet is semi-formal and alot of fun and really good food.

Don't know anything about the outings yet .. the outings are usually tour/tourist type of group outings.

Don't stress out out convention .. its a really really fun time nothing like having several hundred of your sisters in the same place.

The Rose Banquet used to be formal. Isn't it anymore?

I guess I have to brush up on the songs. Its been a long time.

I have the money spent so I just want to go. But I know the anticipation is half the fun.

I am very excited and can't wait to do some clothes shopping.

its sort'a been a combination of formal/semi-formal for awhile now. Council members are usually in formals but most people are in semi-formal. As far as I can tell, either is acceptable.