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NEW STUFF
 | | Mark saves the day...Again. |
Back again was the thoughtful Mark Roberts, filling in for the demure Rich Shearer. "If you want something you've never had before, do something you've never done before." A thought worthy of the very famous Fran Voll, to whom it's attributed.
GUESTS
Rotarians: Lafayette Noontime Royalty
Troy Feddersen, president elect
John Sherry, past president,
(But where was Alicia Cragholm?)
Guests:
Amy Goodheart, Town Hall Theater
Damon Casatico, buddy of Nancy Baglietto
MOST IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gentlemen's room is under construction and inaccessible. Ladies' room door doesn't lock. Deal with it.
It is possible to get raised hands, sometimes. Prez Peeks asked who was owed change from a Raffle ticket purchase. 57 hands went up. The change stayed where it was.
 | | Even Dave likes the new look. |
David Waal shaved his mustache after only 35 years. A little surprise for Laura. She was, well, surprised, since she had never known Dave to be without one. By the way, speaking of the Waals, they are once again generously hosting the Demotion Party (surprise, Thomas) on June 24th. If you haven't been to their place, you haven't been.
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THINGS
Krysten Laine is swooning. Motorama in two weeks. You have to feel sorry for the publishers of the District 5160 newsletter who sort of overlooked the event. Krysten is, well, resolving that issue. A committee meeting will be
 | | Cruising into the final turn! |
held Monday night June 6th, 7:00, at Urban-Suburban. Krysten asked for volunteers to attend meetings of other local clubs and pitch the Motorama and Gala. She also assured us that tickets can be sold right up to the day of the event.
Amy Goodheart, true to her last name, allegedly sold Ron Brown two tickets (cute, but not true), and donated two Town Hall tickets to the club for a performance in 2011-2012.
 | | John, king of the 3/4 Century. |
John Fazel holds his 12th annual 3/4 Century Club luncheon at Orinda Community Church. (He's trying to catch up with the Perry, Iowa folks who have put one on for more than 3/4 century.) The speaker will be a WW II WASP (female pilot). John asks for volunteer help, whether for five minutes or three hours. This is always a hugely successful event.
On the same day, Project Homeless Connect will have its annual county event, according to Bob Heinen. Bob's a little less flexible; this is strictly a half-day volunteer job.
The veneer of the Canoe is finished, says Pat Flaharty. Watch for an article about this vessel in the Wednesday Lamorinda Weekly.
 | | Brad helps kids at risk too! |
And Brad Davis continues to administer his baby, the Garden Park Apartments. They're having a graduation ceremony with a Hawaiian theme on June 9th at 4:00 to 7:00. Of course, if anyone feels like helping ....
THE GALA IS LIVENING UP
Damon Casatico is an auctioneer. Helluvan auctioneer, as stated by Mark Roberts who has been around a block or two in these matters.
Damon started Charity Benefit Auctions in 1983. This was after he attended auctioneer school in Kansas City, shrewdly choosing this over a big-rig driving job in Fresno. After getting some
 | | Damon has the fire and the spirit |
training at a giant firm, he went for the small family business. He attended a great many auctions, which meant buying tickets, but it was well worth it to learn what they did wrong and how much money was left on the table. This caused him to start his own company.
His business card specifies that it's a "Gala Auction Company", which is not altogether inappropriate right now. He generously imparted to us some of the things he's learned.
First, there is much more to it than talking. "If you don't know what it's for, you won't be successful."
He noted that most periodic auctions are repetitive and mechanical. He has sought to foster a team of caring people to help build the actual environment to be user-friendly and entertaining, but never losing sight of the good cause. Among his tips:
- Study up on items beforehand.
- Rather than closing down a silent auction table by just cutting everything off, liven it up by making it into a mini-live auction conducted by one of those assistants. (By the way, "silent auction" makes it sound dead, whereas "cocktail auction" is more spirited.)
- Start live auction while the last people are still eating, so as not to lose the majority who are peaking for the evening.
- Never badger guests; keep it light and fun.
- Don't have a podium, be more mobile. (Shades of Rich Shearer.)
- Start a table auction with a contest among the tables where a guest who is given the paddle conducts an auction of the centerpiece, and the table raising the most money gets a prize.
- Have a game of "heads and tails". Participants get up to give $20, then are eliminated by coin flips until a winner is determined.
- Don't save the best for last, because some bidders (who may not win the last item) refrain from spending anything on other items in the meantime.
Keeping the team on top of things avoids the cookie cutter approach in favor of a fresh and flexible event.
 | | Auctioneers can turn disaster into triumph |
An example of the team approach was a sale of a puppy which Damon conducted. The apparent winning bid was a cool $26,000. The bidder made one mistake - his bidding took place while his wife was out of the room. When she returned, there was hell to pay. But having assistants right on top of the first and second bidders tables saved the day, as the second bidder bought the item and things were so peaceful at the first bidder's table that he later bought a $100,000 item.
It is important at a live auction to give details of the items well beforehand. Marketing is key. Websites and catalogs are OK, but expensive.
Unique items are the best. For example, one very successful item in the past has been a reserved parking spot at the front of a school. (Of course, our club is not without unique items, e.g., Tay's shaved head and Fillinger's wig.)
Damon hasn't always done everything perfectly. There was the story about one of his early efforts when he received a note that his fly was open, which may have distracted somewhat from the bidding. He's learned a lot since then. He obviously has the skill and charisma to spark any event he handles.
But Krysten got in the last word. It was, of course, SELL THOSE TICKETS!
CALENDAR
Saturday 6/18/11 - GALA DINNER, 6pm, Veteran's Memorial Bldg.
Sunday 6/19/11 - MOTORAMA - Postino's lot, 9am to 4pm
Friday 6/24/11 - Thomas Peek's moves on - 5:30pm, Waal's home
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