Tennessee benefit auction planners, this post is just for you.Admittedly there's nothing in this post about smoking. But all three rolled off my tongue as I typed. Let's cover the other two.The Tennessee Auctioneer Commission, a regulatory board under the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, published two articles in its Fall 2015 NewsLine newsletter. One addressed the sale of alcohol and the other looked at charitable gaming at auctions. I found the articles easy to read and ... Read On >
Administration
Bruce or Caitlyn? What (if any) differences are between an auction catalog, preview catalog, ad book, addendum & program
A few years ago, a school development director started to vent. Her volunteer Auction Chair was insistent on calling the catalog an "ad book." "She's driving me nuts!" my client confided, "She keeps calling our catalog an ad book, and she's confusing our other volunteers. I don't know where she picked that name up." =========== As I work with benefit auction committees across the USA, I see remarkable diversity in the names we use to describe identical activities. What we call a ... Read On >
25+ non-traditional venues for smaller auctions in the DMV
Got a smaller benefit auction in the Washington, D.C. metro area? I've got a number of clients who have 150 - 300 guests. They are often seeking out interesting, non-traditional venues for smaller auctions here in the DMV. Below is a list of some spots I've seen work or have known my clients to be reviewing. Each will present unique challenges and benefits. UPDATE 2020: Reviewed for accuracy ===================== Washington, D.C. venues AjaxDC (industrial open space plan) - ... Read On >
In 2 weeks! FREE training: How to ask for auction donations, money, and more
I've got a complementary training coming up that EVERYONE involved in your auction should attend. It's about learning how to ask. Imagine being so confident with the idea of asking for donations that your team was EAGER to pick up the phone, pound the pavement, or chat up strangers at a dinner party. Can you envision how would your auction change? You'd get a lot more quality donations, bigger cash gifts, and nicer sponsorships. That's exciting! Auctions begin with a confident ask. ... Read On >
Ban catchy titles in your silent auction displays
Years ago, when I was new to D.C. and searching for a job, my friend (a human resources professional) and I hysterically laughed as we took turns verbally reading job descriptions in The Washington Post. We'd substitute the language of the job posting with what we believed was the true intention of the post. In other words, we did this: Job description language What that really means Seeking dedicated employee = expect to stay many late nights Creative work ... Read On >