ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service, Aug. 21, 2007) - There is still time to qualify for a chance to win a 2008 Ford Mustang, an all-inclusive, five-night stay at Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., or Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch, Germany, one of five $100 gift cards to military exchanges and commissaries, various electronic products or a mountain bike.
Morale, Welfare and Recreation patrons who "Dress the Dog" at participating MWR food and beverage facilities can win big prizes simply by eating hot dogs this summer.
Sponsored by Hebrew National, the "Dress the Dog" promotion features a frequency card program: buy six half- or quarter-pound hot dogs and receive a free quarter-pound hot dog from MWR. When customers redeem their frequency cards for a free hot dog, they can enter their name into a sweepstakes drawing for a chance to win the big-dog prizes.
"We are enthusiastic with the way the 'Dress the Dog' promotion has been accepted," said Keith Elder, director of Business Programs at Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command, in Alexandria, Va. "We are hearing that it is a big success and people are really enjoying it. Some of the facility managers are actually using the 'Dress the Dog' promotion to branch out and expand upon that idea and make it into an even bigger event."
Heidelberg's MWR ran a "jingle contest" during their Fourth of July celebration, Mr. Elder said. The purpose was to create awareness for the promotion in the community. He said nine children shared their jingle with event attendees. Four-year-old Macaela Gray of Heidelberg took top honors with the best jingle. Armed Forces Radio will play her song as a means to advertise the hotdogs through the duration of the promotion.
The "Dress the Dog" promotion is one of the largest promotions MWR has offered, said Roger Weger, chief of the Army's Branded Restaurant Program. The promotion is featured at all of the Army's branded restaurants and snack bars around the world.
Mr. Weger likened the hot dog with fun memories and the experiences that children and their Families enjoy throughout the summer.
"What's a picnic, a softball game, or a round of golf without a hot dog'" he said.
The promotion, which began June 1 and runs through Sept. 30, is spearheaded by the Army's Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command Business Program Directorate. It is open to all branches of the military.
"The U.S. Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, and Air Force have already made this promotion available to their installations," Mr. Elder said. "We're happy to have the other military branches as partners to offer all military servicemembers this fun and exciting promotion."
Commissaries also are participating in Hebrew National's summer retail promotion to "raise your hot dog IQ (inner quality)." As part of an effort to cross-promote the food service and retail promotions, Army MWR is facilitating placement of shelf talkers in the commissary, advertising both promotions and providing patrons with a second opportunity to win great prizes on-line.
"The four-month promotion is designed to provide great food, outstanding prizes and overall service to all our patrons," Mr. Elder said.
Approximately 100 facilities throughout the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are participating in the promotion. According to reports from managers, Camp Lejeune, N.C., leads the group with 12 facilities participating.
"I think 'Dress the Dog' is a perfect promotion for this time of the year," said Mr. Weger. "The patrons love the frequency card, which then enters them into a sweepstakes drawing for a chance to win big prizes.
"The managers love this promotion because it is simple," he continued. "Everything they needed is in the box that arrives at their location; all they have to do is open it up, put it up and they are up and running. So we are off to a good start and we are very pleased."
To learn more about the promotion, visit <a href="http://www.mwrpromotions.com"target=_blank> www.mwrpromotions.com</a>.
(Margaret McKenzie writes for the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command Public Affairs.)
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