Raising funds, avoiding embarrassment

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Commentary
By Robert Herrington

 

I was on the verge of embarrassing my wife at the 2012 Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville Auxiliary Auction. I wasn’t underdressed, nor had a lowered zipper or wardrobe malfunction. Sipping on a mixture of regular and Diet Coke, it wasn’t that I had one-too-many adult beverages. From the outside, I acted perfectly. No, it was what I did with our electronic bidder – or better yet what I was bidding on – that was the cause for the potential embarrassment.

The auction featured approximately 100 silent auction items and eight live items. With some of the wealthiest businessmen and families from the area in attendance, the chance of winning any of the live items, like Sullivan’s catering dinner at our house for us and eight of our closest friends, was unrealistic. The winning bid of almost $4,000 was a tad more than a journalist and county employee could afford.

Instead, Maggie and I focused on the silent items we thought others would overlook. A signed Tyler Hansbrough Indiana Pacers jersey was of interest until it reached $420 (it ultimately finished at more than $700). After talking it over, we agreed the money would be going to a worthy and needed cause, so we made some bids. A starting bid, a raise there and pretty soon we had almost a dozen items on our electronic bidder with winning checkmarks or outbid words flashing on it.

While I may not have won the Wal-Mart gift card or the White Castle package (this would have ensured my wife’s embarrassment), we did win three items. But more importantly, we had a great time and left happyily knowing the club could provide programs and make renovations from the funds raised that night.


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