Thank you for joining the RIPPLE Discussion about RDI’s First Annual Gala Auction/ Dinner!
We are excited to share that we are planning our first RDI Gala dinner and silent and live auctions for Thursday, March 19 – 2009. Less than a year away! This event will help to kick off the Regards to Rural VI Conference. Both events are being planned for Salem at the Salem Convention Center.
First off- Mark your calendars! Tickets will be $125 per person (this is a fundraising event).
Exciting- Staff and board will be invited to bid on items as well – and we hope you do!
Shortly, we will be sending out an outline of what we’ve been thinking about for the auction. We are excited to hear your ideas!
We can use your help with several things for the auction here are some of our deadlines:
Immediate deadlines:
1. First, we need to find and auctioneer and secure the date! Auctioneers get booked up fast! We are looking for a really great auctioneer who is reasonable, high energy, fits with RDI values wise, and is available on March 19th. We are considering various auctioneers and getting bids so if you have someone you know please let me know so we can contact them. We would also LOVE to find someone who is willing to comp or discount their services for RDI. The going rate seems to be around $2,500 – but that is based on two bids thus far. We need to have bids by May 20th so please get your ideas to me by the 2nd week of May at the latest.
2. We are looking for Chairs for the auction – Doc and Connie Hatfield are at the top of our list. They are ranchers from Eastern Oregon and past RDI board members. They have High Country Beef a rural Oregon grown business that now sells beef to Burgerville who uses it exclusively in their burgers (eat at Burgerville! Support Oregon grown!) Do any of you know Doc and Connie well? Kim knows them, she talked with them on several occasions and they have fond memories of the Center for Rural Affairs who had them come and speak at a past annual meeting many years ago. But, I’m hoping one of you knows them even more! So let me know if you would be willing to ask them or introduce me so I can ask them in my new role here at RDI. (ASAP)
3. Ideas of the types of auction items you’d like to see available (ASAP)
Summer deadlines:
4. Ideas of folks to invite (who like to spend money at auctions for a great cause – RDI!) we estimate we will need to invite nearly 1,500 people in order to meet our goal of 200 actual attendees (by June 15th or sooner)
February 2009 deadlines:
5. Ideas for actual hot ticket auction items and help procuring them–some ideas: trips including airfare (or not), timeshares, package deals, art work, raft trips and overnights, an Italian dinner prepared at a private home for 6 to 8 people – or things you would consider as really cool! (deadline for auction items is February xx, 2009)
6. We need 12 to 15 volunteers to help the night of the auction (first volunteer training for the auction is _______)
7. We need help in procuring auction items starting now and going until February 2009 – do you have a connection to Delta Airlines? Does your Aunt Minnie own a timeshare in Hawaii? These kind of connections result in amazing auction items that get people really revved up to bid. Let me know if you have connections and are willing to help out. Or if you would introduce me and I could call with your good reference. (deadline Feb. 11, 2009)
Soon, I will be sending out more information about the auction and what I’m envisioning for the evening. I invite your input, ideas and help!
Thank you for any and all help you can provide! We know you are all very busy people!
Kim and Katie
