If you show up to this year’s Rockingham Rotary Club event for the barbecue, be sure to stick around for the new silent auction. A new bidding process hopes to strengthen the success of the fundraiser by allowing participants to place their bids throughout the evening in a slower fashion.
“We always have so many items, and so with that, there’s a rush,” said David Wood, president-elect and auction chair. “I think even the auctioneer tries to do two a minute.”
Wood said that in the past, many items are often sold for significantly less than they are worth, and the new silent auction will allow bidders to spend more time considering their purchases over the course of the night.
“I just think that there are items that need special attention,” Wood said.
The silent auction will be held in addition to the main auction, which begins at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6. Ronnie Hawks will serve as this year’s auctioneer.
Treasurer Anne Edwards has been involved with the planning of the new auction.
“What we’re planning on doing is having a station within the Armory where people can come by when they come to eat or look around, and they can bid on silent auction items,” she said. “From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the bids will be open on paper. Each item will have a certain price that we want to sell it for … Those that reach our price or beyond will be closed and we’ll bill that person.”
Up for grabs are signed sports memorabilia, NASCAR racing items, furniture, jewelry, gift certificates and top of the line gift packages, Edwards said.
“They will be worth every penny you spend, remembering that it all goes to charity and back into the community in which we live,” she added. “They will still be affordable, but will be nice packages worth bidding silently on.”
The club will continue to accept donations for auction items until the day of the event. Anyone interested in donating to the silent auction can contact Anne Edwards at 704-694-7608.
The 57th annual Rotary Auction and BBQ will be held at the Rockingham Armory on Nov. 6.
— Staff Writer Mallory Brown can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at mallorybrown@heartlandpublications.com
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