A Girls Night Out

Submitted by Sharon Ward
CPC Halifax-Cornwallis
   

Girls just want to have fun!

CPC Halifax-Cornwallis held their first annual Girls’ Night Out on Friday, March 24 and it was a blast!  The club was projecting net proceeds of $5000, and exceeded that by almost $2000.  The event was sold out and the support from the business community was excellent.  Approximately 200 women filled the top floor space in Historic Properties’ Privateers’ Warehouse for a stompin’ good time.  A contingent from the Pictou County Club were in attendance and appeared to have enjoyed the night.

A wine merchant doled out samples of his wares for the first hour or so.  Flamenco Dancers demonstrated their moves early in the evening and later on an aerobic pole dance demo got a number of women groovin’ to the moves.  The evening’s entertainment was rounded off with super dance music provided by a really cool DJ and people were dancing everywhere.  Sexy Girl had a display (and products!) which received a lot of attention.  A Silent Auction featured 7 pairs of Italian shoes donated by one of Halifax’s exclusive boutiques. (Above left: view from the mezzanine.)

Media support was provided by Eastlink Cable, The Daily News and Metro Guide Publishing.  The Vault, a local jewelry store, supplied CZ studs for everyone, with one earring packaged in a dainty little shopping bag, the other to be retrieved from the store—great entertainment value for the event, great exposure for The Vault.  Genie Knows, a women-run firm which hosts an online newsletter for women (gkfa.com—check it out!) brought in t-shirts and other goodies for everyone which was added to a take home bag that each person left with at the end of the night. (Above right: The Aerobic Pole Dancing demonstration was a huge hit.)

The Martini Bar ran out of booze.  Perhaps the fact that the bartender was a contestant in the “Sexiest Bartender” contest helped, along with reports are that he made “awesome” Cosmopolitans.
 

Guests with their surprise packages from The Vault.	Chris Ward (left) with Amber Harkin (2nd right) with guests.	Carolyn MacDougall, Margo MacFarlane and guest bidding high at silent auction.

The t-shirts for the event were a huge hit, thanks to Jill Murray-Stanfield, a potential new member, who arranged to have them produced for us at cost. All club members wore them and we sold at least 60 to participants.  The logo developed for the event was featured on the tees and will help to promote the event for next year—or next fall.  There was a buzz around the room that the event should be held twice a year.  We’ll see.  Other phrases also caught attention—overheard in the washroom, “This feels like the start of something really big.”, “It’s so great to be able to let loose in a safe environment without worrying about being hit on.”, “What’s the date of the next one? Put me down for a ticket.”

Dana Landry spearheaded the event, with support from Pat Bowes, Ann Morrison, Debby Scribner, Margo MacFarlane, Carolyn MacDougall, Kathy Grose, Carolyn Bragg and Sharon Ward, as well as Melissa Berry from the venue.

We’d like to thank the ladies from Calgary City Centre for their inspiration and support as we borrowed their event and shaped it to fit our needs.  This is a great event that can generate both funds and new members, and can be whatever size you need it to be.  Thanks especially to former Cornwallis member Karen Cooke for all your help!

The club is now already engaged in their next event, The Live TV Auction on Eastlink Cable.  Proceeds from this event are donated to Special Olympics Nova Scotia.  In 2005, the club presented a cheque for $20,000 to SONS.