A Night for Foodies
(You Know Who You Are)

The class art projects are endearing and the silent auction is like a candy store for adults, but let’s not kid ourselves.  Many of us are also looking forward to the auction for the food!

The word is, we won’t be disappointed. The chef at Country Club of the South promises to wine and dine us with trays of delectable hors d’oeuvres, a buffet and three cash bars.  The wait staff will circulate throughout the club with a variety of temptations with an international flavor, including coconut fried lobster tails with sirrachi sauce, spanikopita, seared ahi tuna sashimi on Asian seaweed salad, and wild mushrooms in phyllo pastry.

In the main ballroom, guests may visit the Asian Dim Sum Station with vegetable dumplings, steamed shrimp dumplings, egg drop soup and pork sticky buns; a Martini Potato Bar Station with creamy mashed potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes with wild mushrooms and assorted toppings; and a Carving Station with a savory steamship round of beef and pastry-encrusted salmon kulibyaka.

In addition to cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, guests may also purchase wine by the glass or bottle. A fine selection of chardonnays, merlots and cabernets will be offered.

Just before the live auction begins, relax in the main ballroom with a video presentation and two special desserts – a special “World of Treasures” cake created just for High Meadows and a chocolate fountain with fresh fruit.

At check-in, everyone will receive an auction program and a little gift bag with handles to hold your program, cell phone and what-not for hands-free eating, drinking and shopping.  Check your guilt at the door. What happens at the auction is between you and your personal trainer!

                                                     
                             Unique Treats
Every auction has that special “Wow!” item and this year’s event has many for the live auction beginning shortly after 9 p.m.

Wine lovers will be captivated by the “California Wine Country Getaway with Private Winery Tour.”  The winning bidder will receive a trip for two to Sonoma, with four days and three nights at The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, a AAA Four-Diamond resort, round-trip airfare and a private five-hour tour in a chauffeured Mercedes S430 Sedan.  A perfect anniversary or birthday gift.

Attention, guitar heroes and rockers of all ages:  Start practicing those “Layla” riffs.  A Fender electric guitar signed by rock ‘n roll legend Eric Clapton could go home with you. Look for it in the "Celebrity Autograph Room." And bring your credit card.   

                       The Favor of a Reply
By now, every family should have received their invitation to the auction. 
The deadline to RSVP is February 4^th.  Due to the nature of our special food service, the chef at Country Club of the South needs a firm advance headcount.  We must strongly discourage walk-ins.  However, if your plans change at the last minute and you find yourself available to attend the auction, please contact Auction Co-Chairs Andrea Hannon (vieste@comcast.net) or Laurie Nash (ricknash11@bellsouth.net) and be prepared to pay $100 at the door to cover the late-fee charged by the club.

 As indicated on your invitation, a percentage of the ballroom tables will be set aside for “reserved tables of 10” that may be purchased for $1,000 per table. The remainder of the ballroom tables will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for $75 general admission ticket holders.  Other seating options include comfortable sofas and café tables in the lounge and fireplace alcove, plus highboy tables overlooking the ballroom.  There will be plenty of places to discreetly slip off those heels for a few minutes of relief. 

Help Wanted
Lend your time and talents the day of the auction.  Volunteers are needed to help set up the silent auction items.  If this behind-the-scenes work appeals to you, contact Alison Becker (Aab68@mac.com).  Check-out volunteers are needed at the close of the evening. A brief training session will be held in advance for these volunteers.  Contact Amy Pratt (aimpratt@bellsouth.net).  

For Your Safety and Convenience
Why make that long drive home?  The Hilton Garden Inn near North Point Mall will offer auction-goers a special group rate of $79, which includes breakfast. Reservations, call 678-566-3900. Ask about their complimentary shuttle from Country Club of the South.  

Next Issue … Check back soon for a guide to a live auction, where the mystery of bidding will be revealed.  Also look for information on how to purchase the “Up For Grabs” buy-it-now items.

Want to Help With the Auction
But Aren’t Sure How?

 The 2008 Auction Committee has been busy for months, but they still need lots of help, especially with acquisitions.  Acqui - what?  Acquisitions – all those fabulous goods and services donated for auction!  Clare Salkin and her volunteers have been canvassing the business community and our own High Meadows families, but they haven’t talked to everyone. Many businesses are happy to support our school.  They just need to be asked!  And they are more likely to say yes to a regular customer.  Could you ask your favorite store or restaurant to donate a gift card?  It takes just a bit of your time, but the benefit to our school can be huge. Here are more ideas:  

• Own a condo, cabin or beach house?  Consider donating a week or weekend at your getaway.

• Friends with an artist who could donate a work?

• Skiing over the holidays?  Ask the lodge manager to donate a gift certificate.

• Could your Pilates instructor, yoga teacher or massage therapist donate a session?

• Ask your child’s music/gymnastics/riding teacher to donate lessons.

• Attending a child’s birthday party?  See if the jump zone, climbing wall or pottery palace could give a party or a gift certificate.

• Donate hotel points or airline miles – yours or a family member’s.

• Would your vet or groomer donate services?

• Still stumped? What about your own special skills?  If you can make or teach something, it can be sold at auction. Could you donate a dinner party for 8, tennis lessons for 2, a primer on fly-fishing for 1? Can you teach swimming, vegetarian cooking or belly dancing?  

 The deadline for donations is January 15. Donation forms can be picked up at the office or downloaded at http://highmeadows.org/giving/annualauction.asp#

Contact Clare for a list of businesses that have been contacted and categories that need to be filled at 678-234-0010 or claresalkin@comcast.net.  All donations are tax-deductible.  

A Sensation of Inspiration  

Excitement is building as classes work to finish their auction projects.  Objets d’art taking shape include a trio of mosaic lanterns depicting what each child in class holds dear … a chest magically transformed by preschool imaginations … a school of painted fish as seen through a portal … a photo mosaic of a certain High Meadows icon … a stunning coppery fire pit … a paint-paper collage of treasures … and a “table of dreams” showcasing embossed copper palettes.

Check Your Mail
and Mark the Date  

Won’t it feel great to have an elegant evening out and support your child’s education? Auction invitations will be mailed in early January, so start lining up a babysitter for Saturday evening, February 23. Thinking of inviting a guest? Grandparents, other loved ones and friends are welcome at this gala event.

There will be a variety of seating options at Country Club of the South, from cafe tables in the lounge to highboy tables by the bar to large tables in the ballroom. Click on “The Venue,” above, to see photos of  this beautiful facility.  

New this year: A limited number of tables for 10 will be available to reserve in the ballroom at $1,000 per table. Persons wishing to reserve a table should submit full payment and names of each member of their group when making their reservation. 
The remainder of the tables will be offered to general admission ticket holders. 

General admission tickets will  be $75 per person.  Every teacher who donates an auction item will receive 2 tickets “on the house” although families are still invited to sponsor a teacher ticket at $65 apiece to help increase our proceeds for the night.

For your convenience and safety, the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta North Point hotel  will offer auction-goers a special group rate of $79, which includes breakfast.  Reservations, call 678-566-3900.  Ask about the complimentary shuttle from Country Club of the South.