04.17.08

What to Bring to The Auction – Administration Committee

Posted in Running A Non-profit Auction, Uncategorized at 11:19 am

(Out of order, but I just ran an auction so it’s fresh in my mind.)

Auction Item Set-up

(the period before the auction when you fill the room with auction items)

Bring:

 the pile of bid sheets (NOT on clipboards),

at least 3 labels for each item with the item number and title typed on – these will be placed on items that have mysteriously lost their number and on all associated packing materials that are hidden under the tables during the auction.

pens or pencils for bidding,

 the computer, printer. cables, paper, extra ink,

tape,

A  box with items for the evening:

staplers (roughly one for every 40 items)

marker pens (3-10, depending on the size of the event and how bad you are at holding on to things)

Cashier sign, money box

Help desk sign

Payment labels for those who have left their credit card on file (Thanks them for pre-registering credit cards and directs them to go directly to item pickup)

Payment labels with cash, check and accepted credit card company boxes and space for number, expiration date and signature.

If you have more than 75 items and they are not arranged in numeric order around the room plan on rearranging them while the results of the bidding are being processed. Bring signs for where you will move items to. (For instance Items 1-30, Items 31-60, etc.)

Shopping bags for those items that can be reasonably be packed.

Table seating/Registration Support

Walk-in registration sheets – for some reason there are always a few people that come to a formal event without a reservation – frequently someone’s Aunt Mary who dropped by unexpectedly. Even if they are just appearing for 1/2 an hour during the cocktail hour to show support, it is imperative that you capture their name and address and assign them a bidding number so that they can buy somthing if the spirit moves them and you can get their item to them if they leave early.

Don’t Let Your Computer Consort With Spammers

Posted in Just A Thought at 11:11 am

I don’t use a spam filtering service because the people I want to communicate with use Hi in the subject line, use multiple exclamations and capitals and even sometimes commit a double entendre to writing – all of which get their emails tagged as spam. (Don’t even get me started on how I was suppose to figure out that someone previously unknown to me wanted me to officiate at a swim meet with “Cool Lap” in the title – & neglected to say swim anywhere in the subject line.) So I get spam.

 Lately some of the mail has openned on one click (no doubt doing something on my computer), has sent out confirmations as soon as it’s openned so the spammer knows they have a valid address , and sending out a message when I permantly delete the message.

How do I stop spammers from knowing that my email is being monitored by a live person (hopefully)? After getting a batch of spam, I’ve taken to unplugging from the internet while I delete the spam and then empty the deleted items folder.  I then go to the outbox and delete it again and reempty the deleted items folder.

 Is it really worth the hassle? Hard to say but it seems like a get a big spike in spam after I watch a confirmation that goes out on a spam message.

04.05.08

Life Lessons of a Military Wife Carnival 8 Up

Posted in Uncategorized at 8:36 am

There’s a newish carnival that’s up for Military Wives.  The collection’s a bit scattered so there’s something for everyone. (VMW – Veteran Military Wife was kind enough to post my submission on Educating Kids/Military Budgets.) Enjoy!