:::::::::::::::::::::::SAVE THIS DATE:::::::::::

:::::::::::::::::Saturday Evening, Febuary 26 2005::::::::::::::::::::::

Roberts Elementary School Auction

Each year, the Roberts PTO hosts an auction to provide a fun, exciting way of contributing to our school. This one event raises at HALF of the money in the entire PTO budget. Besides offering a chance to shop, bid and buy, there will also be delicious food to eat and friends to visit with. We hope you can be there – and can bring a friend or two!

Donations

For ideas on items and events that you might donate see our ideas page. Use the Parent Donation form to donate an item.

For those of you who have not been to an auction or don't understand what happens at an auction, below is an explanation of what happens. Hopefully, the explanation will provide clarity for all families and we will have great at attendance from all across the wonderfully diverse Roberts family. Even if you can’t attend the auction, there will be plenty of opportunities to contribute – auction items, time, food – almost anything will be gratefully accepted!

A SILENT AUCTION

When you enter the auction, you will be given a BID NUMBER. This is the number you use instead of your name when you want to bid on an auction item. The items that have been donated for auction will be placed on tables around the room (including a project from each classroom at school and special trips offered by the teachers and staff). Next to each item will be a BID SHEET where you can write your number and how much you would be willing to pay (bid) for the item. Your bid must exceed the minimum, or the previous bidder’s bid. In some cases, items will have a minimum increment amount – your bid must increase by at least this amount. As the evening progresses, other people may bid on the same item, exceeding your bid. Part of the fun is checking to see if your bid is still the highest bid, or if someone else has topped your bid. You can keep writing your number and increasing your bid amounts on the sheets until you have reached the limit of what you are willing to spend on that item, or until the silent auction closes. The Auction Committee will be closing the bidding at tables throughout the evening, so you will need to stay on top of the items you REALLY want!

THE LIVE AUCTION

In addition to the items sold in the silent auction, during the latter part of the evening, we will have an auctioneer to auction off a few of the best large items. The auctioneer will introduce the item and ask for bids. Interested bidders can shout out how much they want to bid if interested in purchasing the item. It is fun, fast and furious, but it is only for a small number of items.

SUMMARY

One of the great things about auctions is that you can spend only the amount of money you are comfortable spending. The final cost of items maybe small or large, and many great deals can be found. It is very important to remember: every dollar you spend at the Auction GOES RIGHT BACK INTO THE SCHOOL. So please, set the date aside and plan to ATTEND!

More information regarding this auction will be forthcoming in future Tuesday folders. Should you have any questions or would like to help, please contact a member of this year's Auction Committee: Malcolm I. Ross (mross5@houston.rr.com), Roxanne van Ravenswaay (rvanraven@ix.netcom.com), Robin Lanier (familialanier@yahoo.com) or Grace Pierce (chair) (gracepierce@sbcglobal.net).