Virtual Auction

This was our 33rd annual Dinner and Auction.  It began as a Seafood Dinner and Auction and for many years our club members would dig clams/oysters, a member of our club and friends would scuba dive and bring up some unusual sea creatures/fish/octopus, and we would import fresh Salmon from Alaska for the event.  Even though the Seafood menu is gone, I mention it because it was in contrast to a “wild game” dinner put on by another service club.  Here’s your chance to serve racoon or other wild delicacies.

This is a complex event and requires a dedicated committee to work 6-8 months to ensure a success.  After securing the location and auctioneer, the committee sets to work in rounding up about 25 great “live” auction items and 25 to 40 silent auction items.    We seek out a really important need within the community for our “Raise the paddle” portion of the auction.  Perhaps it is the school district, an important social service agency, a local college or the hospital.  This helps us to fill nearly all of the 220 seats in our venue.  As the event draws near, it is time to develop the bidders’ catalog and write the script for the auctioneer and emcee.  The Dinner and Auction format requires about four people at computers welcoming guests, registering the bidder numbers and credit cards, updating the bidder’s tally as the silent auction closes and as each “live” auction item is sold, gathering all of the items and certificates and providing a smooth check-out at the end of the evening.

When this event is a Dinner and Auction, we serve a really great meal, champagne reception, dress up and charge about $75 per person, which includes about $25 in profit.

This year, of course, the Dinner and Auction, became just a virtual Auction.  Software from Schoolnet or Auctria make doing this type of auction quite easy.

It isn’t easy.  There are some businesses that are very supportive every year and others who are not.  It takes a lot of asking.  We do purchase a couple of items and a large discount.  While we don’t use auction catalogs, there are many companies who provide auction items for listing in your catalog without obligation.  If the reserve is not met, they don’t sell and the auction sponsor is not obligated in any way.