Rockingham Rotary Club members are busy garnering support, and items to put up for auction, from the local community for their 54th Annual Rotary Club Auction on Nov. 3.

“We’re shooting high this year, but we can do it,” Susan Freeman, secretary of the Rockingham Rotary Club said.

This year’s auction goal is to earn $60,000 or more.

Last year’s club auction drew in over $54,000 in revenue which went to local charities and organizations in Richmond County.

According to Freeman, this year’s auction has the potential to break records for the club. If the goal is reached or exceeded, the Rockingham Rotary will have grossed $1 million in donations for the community since their first auction event.

New for this year’s auction, the club has instated a grant application process for those seeking donations and funding from the Rotarian Club.

According to Freeman, the application process was initiated so the Rotarians have an efficient process of allocating funds raised from the auction, since they have limited funds available for distribution.

Last year, the club had over $107,000 worth of requests, according to Freeman.

Each year the auction draws in droves of people to participate, donate and volunteer during the event, according to Freeman.

“It’s a packed house all day,” Freeman said. “It’s a huge deal.”

Most Rotarians take nearly two days off just to set-up and work the event.

During the auction, the club will host a bake sale and set-up a Country Store. The Country Store, in essence, is an indoor flea market available to everyone.

Anyone can donate items to either the auction or the Country Store, according to Freeman.

In addition to the sales, Rotarians are selling $5 raffle tickets which enter the buyer into two drawings for VISA giftcards, one is $1,000 and the other is $500.

For $75, one of 450 tickets can be purchased which put the buyer into a drawing for a new 2009 Chevy pick-up truck.

At the auction, the club will also host a barbecue and barbecue chicken plate sale. The chicken used during the sale is being donated entirely to the event by Perdue, Freeman said.

All the proceeds raised by the Rotarians will benefit the local community and organizations, according to Freeman.

The annual Rockingham Rotary Club Auction will be held National Guard Armory on Rockingham Road.

n Staff writer Bryan Stewart can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 15, or by e-mail at bstewart@yourdailyjournal.com