OC Auction!

Yes, it's that time of year again! Right now my life is all about our schools auction. Ontario Christian is gearing up for this years Benefit Auction Dinner. (that link will take you to the benefit website) So if you try to get in touch with me or try to distract me in anyway it may take more effort. AUCTION! AUCTION! AUCTION! AUCTION! I'm all about the visuals right now baby!

This is one of our biggest school fundraisers and it's rather large and consuming. Luckily I am not the only person pulling it off. We have a rather large committee and several chairs that are committed to making this night a hit.

Somehow I have found myself part of the input committee. (Shocker, I know) Our job is to make sure every item donated is accounted for, logged into the system and website and a visual is made for it. But that's not the all of it. Since we know the inventory we are part of several other committees simply by osmosis. My partners and myself are going to be eating, sleeping, and yes, dreaming auction. But don't get me wrong, if you know me then you know how much I enjoy doing stuff like this.

The closer we get to our Benefit date of April 1, 2011 the more you'll probably see me online late at night and more than likely not making any sense at all! If you see me on campus it's ok to stop me and talk to me, I won't bite you.

If you have never been to our benefit auction dinner then you just have no idea the great things that are in store. Without giving too much away when entering the hotel banquet rooms where we have set up you will find many, many tables set up and displaying all of our silent auction items donated by people and businesses all around us. Our teachers get into the spirit and donate their time for special parties and sleep overs or things like that. One year I purchased a swim party for Elena and she got to have a swim party at her teachers house with a few close friends. Talk about a memory! What's funny to see are the bidding wars that go on at the end when we are closing out the tables. I love the spirit of competition!

When we close the tables we move to our Benefit dinner. Our auctioneer then opens bidding on our live auction. We auction off trips, large or more expensive items donated, Our more popular classroom experiences. Some of our classrooms create artwork and that is then made into a quilt. The excitement over these quilts will just baffle you the first time you see it in action. Our students work hard on their artwork in the hopes of being chosen for the quilts. We get some really amazing quilts from them! Our bidders dig deep into their pockets to give back to the school. Many are Alumni, or have students and they want that personal memory.

The first time I went to auction I was just floored by the momentum of the place. Just when I got used to the whole silent auction part we moved into the live auction part and those paddles were flying high in the air. Our auctioneer of last year was invited back again. He's entertaining and brings excitement to the room. I can't tell you exactly what's in store for our other entertainment this year (it's a surprise) but you definitely will be moved and will be sad you missed it.

Now that I have told you where I will be this next month you're thinking to yourself this can't be that big. Oh, but it is. Anyway, I need to get back to work. I just wanted to take a break from designing the visuals to say hi and share what I have been up to lately. I'm sure you will hear from me because I will need sanity breaks every now and then. Not only that but I do have a life outside auction and I do live it. So there will be updates on what goes on in my world. Of course I'm going to be my usual sarcastic self. I'm going to be running all over the place as I pick up donations. BTW - if you want to donate something to the auction let me know....

Anyway, there is still some time before we take control of the DoubleTree's Banquet rooms and begin setting up for our night. So much to do yet so little time. Gotta run for now. Remember, it's ok to stop me and say hi!

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa