Ready, Set, Start Bidding!

Reservations are in.  The finishing touches have been put on class art projects.
The Acquisitions Committee has cataloged the last bit of merchandise, and the Decorating Committee is counting the days.  There is a whirlwind of behind-the-scenes activity, at school and the Country Club of the South, to get ready for the big evening on February 23^rd.  Here’s a guide to what awaits you.

                                                        Silent Auction

Once again, our families, teachers, staff and community have come together to support our school by donating more than 300 spectacular items for the silent auction.    With minimum bids of $5 to $20 on many items, there is something for everyone and every budget.  This is where you’ll find the highly coveted social outings with teachers,  Queen or King of Carpool honors,  luxury rentals in New York and Boston,  beach homes at St. Simon’s and the Outer Banks,  a sushi chef-for-a-night,  a guitar signed by Eric Clapton, celebrity artwork,  class baskets and packages for golf, whitewater rafting, ocean fishing and kayaking.    The generosity on display will be incredible!

Silent auction items will be displayed in two areas, the Club Room and the Lounge & Lobby, and grouped by category, such as “Family Fun,” “Great Escapes” and “Lads and Lasses.”  Each item will be displayed with a tent card and bid sheet.  The tent card will provide a description and important details, such as valid dates, occupancy limits and expiration dates.   The bid sheet will show the item’s retail value, the starting bid – typically about 50% of the value – and the minimum raise.

The left side of the bid sheet is titled Bidder Number. This is where you will enter your bid number from the back of your program – not your name.  Next, record your bid amount, making sure you’ve upped the ante by at least the minimum raise.  After you make your bid, you may want to check back often.   A 10-minute warning will be announced before the closing of each category so that you can run over your best friend -- just kidding – so that you can politely move through the crowd to enter your final bid.  Competition for some items will be friendly but fierce!

Bidding closes at 8:30 p.m. in the Club Room and at 8:45 p.m. in the Lounge & Lobby.

When a section is officially closed, no more bids can be recorded.  Sorry, no exceptions.  Bid sheets will be collected and taken to checkout, where the last bid number and amount will be recorded as the “winning bidder.”   Tent cards will be left in place on the tables and the winning bid number written on each.   It’s recommended that you take a quick look in the silent auction areas before heading to checkout at the end of the evening to see if you’re a lucky winner.

 
Live Auction FAQ’s

When does the live auction begin?
Shortly after 9 p.m. in the Main Ballroom. The auctioneer talks fast, so be sure to be in the room when the bidding begins.

Where do I find my bidder number?
The back cover of your program shows your bid number.  This will be your “paddle” during the live auction.  Programs will be handed out at check-in.

How many items will be auctioned live?
Nineteen items will be auctioned.  Up for bid are art projects from each class from preschool through 5^th grade and one project from Middle Years, plus a romantic trip for two to California wine country.

Will class projects be on display before 9 p.m.?
Class projects will be on display all evening in the Main Ballroom.

How does an auction work?
The auctioneer will make some opening remarks and then begin with the first item.  Each item will have a pre-set minimum bid, which is the lowest price for which the item can be sold.   Raise your “paddle” showing your bid number to get the attention of the auctioneer or one of his spotters when you want to make a bid.  The auctioneer will announce each bid and, when bidding ceases, the winning bid.

Who is the auctioneer?
Scottie Chesin will be our auctioneer.  He has worked many charity and benefit auctions, including the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Legacy Gala and events for Habitat for Humanity, Pace Academy, Blessed Trinity High School, Holy Spirit Prep School, The Cottage School and Alpharetta High School.

Is the live auction a high-pressure event?
Not at all.   This is High Meadows, not Sotheby’s!  The bidding may become energetic, but it’s done with good humor in the spirit of raising money for the school we entrust to educate our children.

When does checkout begin?
9:45 p.m.

What is accepted for payment?
Payment by cash or check is preferred due to the fees assessed on all credit charge payments, but we will accept plastic.

Is there sales tax on auction items?
No.

Are auction purchases tax-deductible?
The amount deductible as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes is limited to the excess of actual purchase price over the “Estimated Donor Value,” or fair market value, of the item.

Must all items be taken home that night?
All items must be removed from Country Club of the South by the end of the evening.  Cars may be pulled up to the entrance to load large items.

Where is Country Club of the South?
Find it at 4100 Old Alabama Road in Alpharetta. Just four miles east of GA-400 by way of the Holcomb Bridge Rd. or Haynes Bridge Rd. exit. The entrance to the club is directly across the street from Autry Mill Middle School.

                                                          In Case You’re Wondering . . .

If I’m out-bid at the silent auction and think the live auction may be too pricey for my budget, must I go home empty-handed?
Absolutely not!  Buy an “Up for Grabs” ticket for just $25 and you’ll be the guaranteed winner of something valued at $25 to $100.   You could take home a very nice bottle of wine, a gift certificate to a great restaurant or spa, or the grand prize, a Tiffany necklace and $100 gift card to a local jewelry store.   Only 25 tickets will be sold, so don’t procrastinate.   Look for a member of the Auction Committee walking around with a tray of numbered rubber ducks.  (We’re serious.)  Select your duck, provide your bid number and keep your fingers crossed.

I bought my ticket last month but now I’ve come down with the flu.  I had my heart set on getting the project made by my son’s class.  Can someone bid for me?
If you can’t make it to the auction, you might get a friend to bid for you and pay for the item.  Such an arrangement would be a personal agreement.  The Auction Committee would not have a role.

My husband/wife has been called away on a last-minute business trip.  Is the auction mostly a “couples-only” event? 
Not at all!  Although many couples attend, plenty of people come solo or with a friend.  The auction is the once-a-year event where you’ll have a chance to catch up with other parents (not just exchange waves in carpool line), talk to your child’s teacher about something other than narratives (imagine!), and maybe make some new friends.  Be ready for a fun evening!

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