North Bay's pin up girls

Laura Nichols holds the mock up of her photo for the upcoming 16-month IODE fundraising calendar.

Local members of the Herbert A. Bruce Chapter IODE kicked off their 75th Anniversary year Wednesday by embarking on a risqué fundraising event to benefit the Nipissing Transition House.

In the spirit of the movie Calendar Girls (starring Helen Mirren) where members of a Women's Institute chapter pose nude for a calendar to raise money for a local hospital, so will members of North Bay’s IODE chapter.

Group members say that while they have traditionally been referred to as the ladies who wear hats and white gloves, the calendar offers them the ability to be innovative and think outside the box.

While photographer Ross Nichols’ pictures will be risqué, the group promises that the product will be in good taste.

The goal is to raise $20,000 with all profits from the endeavour used to establish an educational bursary for women from the Nipissing Transition House.

The calendar will be available in July 2008.