“However, many of us feel that it is not worth the aveiros that will undoubtedly occur.”
As I have said all along, some of you have such little faith in our frum kids. My friends’ children, all of whom are very frum and shomrei the mitzvos related to tznius, and my own children, are quite used to speaking and mixing with the opposite gender. It really is sad that our society has confused friendship and normal conversation with an inevitable lead in to arayos.
Health, my daughters have been to such home-based get-togethers. The boys sat on one side, the girls on another, and the shiur was NOT conducive to a relaxed atmosphere. they would do better to have someone like the author of the book about Shidduch Dating, get up and speak, encouraging them to participate in a question and answer session. That is a great way to break the ice and have the boys and girls suss out what type of personalities are present.