MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY…

EDITORIAL COMMENT:
In Our Opinion

What makes a special event truly special? Is it the décor? Is it the food and beverages served? Is it the entertainment? Is it the idea of everyone having a good time at a barbecue, concert, birthday party or other special occasion, away from the rigors of daily life?

In the morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) community, it's all of these elements, and much more, as military families step away from challenging lives and, just for a few hours, boost their morale and get their minds off what they face on a daily basis. There is no question that you, the MWR professionals, work tirelessly throughout the year to organize special events and ensure a good time is had by all. We touch on just a few of the aspects of putting on a successful special event in this issue, but there's obviously a lot more that goes into planning an event — a long list of things that you have to coordinate and plan, just to make sure the event goes off without a hitch. Whether it's picking a location, securing entertainment, promoting the event, selecting the menus, finding sponsorship, purchasing or renting equipment or setting up tables, chairs, tents and decorations, the end result is a job well done, and ultimately, a successful event.

We recently attended a session at the catersource Conference and Tradeshow in Las Vegas that showcased the many types of special events taking place in the military. It could be a bike rally. It could be a costume ball for Halloween. It could be a newcomers' event, where military families who have recently arrived on base are introduced to the numerous MWR opportunities on the installation — and these are done weekly!

The common element about special events in all the services is that all concerts, barbecues and parties and other special events you provide are essential to the quality of life of servicemembers and their families.

Military Idol, based on the popular TV show “American Idol,” has spotlighted some very talented military singers. Even speed dating has made its way onto military bases, where single men and women can get together and possibly find a connection. Key elements in these events contributed to the success of each one. Sponsors and MWR staff serve food and beverages. Décor adds to the overall atmosphere of the event. Drawings are held where prizes are given out to attendees. Successful marketing and promotion, including cross-promotion with other MWR activities on base, take place in order to get the word out about these events.

In addition to the quality-of-life benefit that special events provide, each of these events generates revenues that go back into your MWR coffers, so that you can organize bigger and better events for military families to enjoy.

Those special events take days, weeks, or even months to organize, when you see the smiles on the faces of the MWR patrons at these events, you'll know all the hard work you put in provided the ultimate payoff. The idea that you were instrumental in allowing military families — families who give up so much in defense of our country — to escape from an often harsh reality for a few hours makes your jobs even more appreciated than you will ever know.

A general theme that was impressed upon military attendees at catersource was how to turn special events up a notch, how to take events to the next level and make them truly memorable. It's up to you to really get those creative juices flowing. As fashion consultant and television personality Tim Gunn always says, “Make it work!”