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Shilo MFRC takes on Operation Runway
Submitted by Christine Helgason and Linda Beauchemin, Shilo MFRC
The Shilo Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) recently took on a mission to build and strengthen community relationships. To do so, we organized an event which:
introduced current community members to new families just posted in;- showcased local retailers and vendors;
- showed how to build an appropriate work wardrobe on a tight budget;
- supported outlets on our base; and
- promoted CANEX Support Our Troops merchandise in a unique way.
The Shilo MFRC found a fun way to respond to all of these needs: a fashion show! To honour our military connections, we called the event “Operation Runway,” and promoted the event using military lingo.
As coordinators, our first task was to get local retail outlets and trade exhibitors on board. We then secured the Junior Ranks Mess for the event. Getting volunteer models in a range of sizes and ages was the easy part – we very quickly had nine ladies eager to strut their stuff!
Having Salon Serenity Shilo sponsor the event was a big plus. They did hair and makeup for all the models, performed an on-site makeover and demonstrated day to evening transformations during the show. We even managed to incorporate some educational tidbits such as the rule of thumb for appropriate necklines at work. And just for fun, we opened and closed the show with Mission Impossible theme music.
The expression “build it and they will come” was certainly true of this event. Attendance exceeded our expectations, and volunteers readily committed more than 130 hours of their time. The positive feedback we received from community members and retailers have guaranteed that we will host this event again – not just once a year, but twice!
If other MFRCs are interested in hosting a fashion show on your base, please don’t hesitate to contact either Christine (christine.helgason@shilomfrc.ca) or Linda (linda.beauchemin@forces.gc.ca) at the Shilo MFRC for more information.
