Bidders were high and glad to be at La Conner Rotary Club auction Saturday
Share
Tweet
August 31, 2022
Ken Stern
OUTBIDDING HERSELF – Marty Pease was a generous soul at the Rotary Club of La Conner's annual auction in Maple Hall Saturday night. The former club president, Bidder 450, was so enthusiastic she bid on items that she had donated. Almost $100,000 was raised in service to children and learning.
Inflation? What inflation? Recession? Not here. The only thing moving up in price at the La Conner Rotary Club auction Saturday evening in Maple Hall was live auction bids. The only thing low that evening were members' hands digging deep into their pockets for their wallets to pay for the items they purchased.
And dig they did, raising $91,000 for the many programs they manage and support for children and youth in La Conner and internationally. It was as if club members were doubling down on being together Aug. 27, their first live auction in three years, having been shut down by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and again last year.
Club President Adam McGarity set the stage for the fundraiser in his welcoming remarks. The auction and dinner's theme was "Imagine" and the night's purpose "supporting literacy and education."
McGarity challenged his willing listeners to imagine a world with every child having a full belly, with a new book to read every month, with polio eradicated. "Take the next step with us," he invited them, the tables of eight each filling Maple Hall. "Make it happen. Bid often and bid high. It takes a generous heart and an open wallet."
They followed his exhortation and opened their wallets wide. The 13 live auction items raised $13,217, going for between $225 and $2,750 for a week in California wine country. Auction item donors Christi King and Marty Pease nudged birds higher by holding their cards up for their own items.
The silent auction brought in $9,046.
Asked to raise their bid cards for fund-a-need, they did, for $41,175. At the high end, three members donated $5,000. At the low end, 83 times individuals bid $25 to be the last bidder for a couple of fine bottles of wine and wine glasses, generating $2,075. In between, someone gave $2,500, three gave $1,200, eight gave $1,000, and folks contributed on down to 16 offering $100.
Doug VanderSanden won the 50/50 raffle, giving him $1,500 in auction bucks. He donated it back and it was auctioned off. Brandon and Kate Atkinson bought it for $1,500 dollars.
The money kept flowing in, with the dessert dash totaling $5,017.05. Sponsorships added $7,000.
Terry Brazas was recognized with the Club's 2022 Paul Harris Recipient for his long time and varied support of community activities while owning the Farmhouse Restaurant. There was a heartfelt video postcard of longtime customers sharing memories and honoring him, led by farmers Dave Hedlin and John Roozen. Brazas in turn praised the Club as his most frequent and consistent meeting group, with their standing weekly Monday night dinner gathering.
It takes a village. Other service club members volunteered to support the evening, with PEO for registrations, in the back office and running numbers during the auction. Rotary Club of Fidalgo Island members recorded bids and tended bar. Cathy Squires, a longtime Farmhouse Restaurant server, who handled the Monday night dinner meetings, was in charge of the La Conner High School students who served, helped clean-up and cheerfully did whatever they were asked All members of the Rotary Club made the evening possible.
Full disclosure: The Weekly News donated as an auction sponsor.
Reader Comments(0)