Service Auctions: Fun and Fundraising

Our Auction's theme for 2017 was Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," plus "Through the Looking Glass". Both are satires on politics, royalty, mathematics and academia, fascinating for adults as well as children. Members and friends dressed up characters from either of the books - we had white rabbits, the Queen's playing card gardeners, mad hatters and a couple of Alices prepared to play croquet complete with flamingoes and hedgehogs. Great fun was had by all! We ate a lovely English dinner prepared by Steve W. and Mike F., and raised $7890.00 so far for the church.

Auction Event: Foulkeways Dinner

Auction Event: Spanish Dinner

Folks gathered for a 4-course traditional Spanish dinner at one of our members' homes over the summer: including marinated Idiazabal cheese with rosemary, dates wrapped in bacon with Marcona almonds, gazpacho, seafood paella and flan. A good time was had by all!

Photos by Sandy F.

On Friday March 5, Fellowship Hall was done up in glittery Hollywood style for the theme "A Night at the Movies." Attendees dressed up as their favorite movie stars and directors for a shot at the "Best Costume" trophy. A full dinner was served including hors d'oeuvres, homemade mustard chicken, caesar salad, freshly baked desserts, and beverages donated by Yards Brewing. And after dinner, the live auction was held on the red carpet.

"A Night at the Movies" made over $5,000 for the church. It wouldn’t have been possible without the donations of so many generous people who offered to host parties and bake cakes and teach classes; those who attended and bid on items; and everyone who helped plan, set up, and break down afterward.

Since the “Under the Sea” auction in 2014, attendees have voted for the following year’s theme – starting with 2015’s “Slumber Party”. This year, we voted that the 2017 auction will be “Alice in Wonderland: March Madness.” The tentative date is set for Saturday, March 4. See you there!

On Saturday, March 21, we celebrated our annual service auction with the theme of "Slumber Party". Approximately 40 members and friends donned their PJ's and gathered in the fellowship hall. Jim C. – always the dapper dresser – was the MC for the evening. He was ably assisted by Mike F. who channeled the tooth fairy for the event. The evening opened with a silent auction which was followed by a dinner of pizza (as any decent slumber party would). The live auction started at 7. In total we raised $11,699.00 for our operating fund. It is hoped that when all is said and done that number will increase to $12,000.00 as events that still have open slots are filled. Thanks to the following members of the auction committee (my apologies if I missed anyone) comprised of Sarah S., Kavita G., Steve W., Mike F., Jim C., Leigh and Paul P., Barbara P., Dot F., Brenda R. and Maryellen N. for all their hard work. It was a wonderful evening.

"Under the Sea" was held on Friday, March 7, 2014. Thanks to all who attended, donated, bid, and helped out, the 2014 Annual Service Auction "Under the Sea", was a success! We surpassed our fundraising goal for the year and the attendance was unprecedented. It was also a wonderful social event for the community, and fun was had by all.

Memorable highlights from the evening included hot dog hors d'oeuvres shaped like tiny octopuses, Sandy F's fabulous signs and hats, Elaine M's three little sharks, the Andrewses bidding against each other for the same item, and Betty S's extremely popular homemade marmalade, which garnered the highest number of bids for any one item.

The attendees were able to wander the Sanctuary during the cocktail hour and Silent Auction, sampling seaweed snacks and signing up for events as scenes from under the sea played on the big projector screen. Later, everyone headed down to the fabulously decorated Fellowship Hall for dinner and the live auction. Between Cynthia B's original limericks and Gary S's performance as auctioneer, the audience was kept well-entertained.

The 2011-12 auction featured a space age science-fiction theme. The countdown began Sunday, October 16 with the first of three weekly silent auctions following Sunday Services in the fellowship hall.

On Friday, November 4, we celebrated a stellar dinner party and live auction in our fellowship hall. It was an event for young and old to enjoy.

Overall, we made about $8,500 for Restoration - somewhat short of the $10,000 you asked us to raise at last year's budget meeting. However, there are still opportunities to bid on some of the auction offerings. For example, some of the dinner parties and other social events have spaces available. A shore house is also available for a week during the summer. We'll continue to promote these items throughout the next few months.

Many thanks to all who helped make the event the success it was - especially those who donated and those who bid so generously!

 

 

 

 

Auction Events that Year

VINTAGE BASEBALL GAME AND PICNIC
It was a beautiful afternoon for a ballgame and a UU cheering section enjoyed a game of baseball, 1860's style.

TITANIC DINNER PARTY
A good crowd gathered to celebrate and commemorate the sinking of the great ship, Titanic, on the 100th anniversary of the tragic event.

Members and friends got into the spirit of Motown while donating money to Restoration by "buying" services.