Mardi Gras school auction: One idea to recruit a new auction committee

Today is Mardi Gras, so it’s the perfect time to tell this story.

In one fell swoop, some long-time Gala Co-chairs “recruited” a new auction committee *and* announced they’d no longer be overseeing the school auction.

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If you’ve chaired an auction, you know it’s demanding work.

Though rewarding, interesting, and even fun, it is also time-consuming.

Furthermore, some find that if they are good at the job, it’s hard to get out of the role.  No one volunteers to take over so the Chair remains Chair by default.

After a few too many years of chairing their school auction, here’s how some Moms cleverly announced they were stepping down.  

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True to the Mardi Gras theme, the committee covered the venue in purple, gold, and green.

I was particularly impressed with the addition of a parade float.

One Dad was a New Orlean’s native.  He took responsibility for fabrication of the float.  The plan was to use it to kick off the live auction.

As the last dinner plates hit the tables, the spectacle began.

Guests could get their photo taken on the float.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” one co-chair announced over the mic, “Make way for the Mystic Krewe!”

With that cue, the DJ blasted “When the Saints Come Marching In” over the speakers.   Adding to the ruckus, a makeshift band burst through the double-doors, led by a trumpet-playing Dad with attitude.

Behind the band, the float was wheeled into the space.

When the attendees realized that the float was going to be “driven” down the narrow ballroom aisle, guests sprung into action.

Gala tables and chairs were shoved into other tables and chairs to make the aisle wide enough for the parade route.

The co-chair and I stared.

Guests shouting.

Guests waving their arms to be thrown beads.

Guests dancing to the music.

Guests pushing the gala tables further apart to allow more space.

“It’s working,” she said, eyebrows raised.

I was impressed, too.  It was one of the most on-point Mardi Gras activities I’ve seen.

And here’s the clever closing idea the Auction Co-Chairs pulled off.

Authentic king cakes from a New Orleans bakery served as both centerpieces and dessert.

As the program ended, the co-chairs came to the front to talk about the legend of the king cake.

“Did you enjoy the king cake,” they asked their fellow parents, “Do you know the tradition of this cake?”

Each king cake has a baby plastic Jesus baked into it.

“If you were the lucky person to find baby Jesus in your slice of king cake, please stand up,” they asked.

At each table, the charmed winners stood.

The co-chairs continued …

“The legend of the King Cake is that the person lucky enough to find the baby toy Jesus in their cake slice is responsible for planning the next party,” they explained.

“Friends, you are looking at next year’s auction committee.”

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Mic drop.

Game over.