Everyone appreciates some appreciation, so my advice to auction committees is to give it to them.  Don’t overthink the task. Grab a pen, the phone, the keyboard … or even a video camera and just say thanks.

Here’s my example of taking a moment to pause and let someone know their actions were appreciated.  I arrived home after a long – a 9 hours long – road trip to find a wonderful box of goodies waiting for me.

A charity auction client was celebrating a gala’s success and sent me a package .  A thank you was in order – my Mom would have been proud.  But I didn’t pick up a note card or send an email, I grabbed my video camera.

Watch the video.

I wanted to share my appreciation and excitement at that moment. There’s no better way to do that than a quick video.  It’s a peak behind the curtain at some behind-the-scene operations, and a genuine expression of how much I appreciated the gift. I didn’t rehearse, I just shared my thoughts for a couple of minutes – and said thanks.

Your school or non-profit could lift the curtain for the occasional short video and say thanks to donors.  Imagine staff saying thanks after they have just opened the day’s mail.  What about the excitement in the office when an auction chair shares an update on sponsorships?

Your nonprofit can create its own reality show by sharing appreciate in a video immediately when the news is delivered.  You’ll be able to capture the initial, unrehearsed thank you on video and share it with your community.

© 2011 Red Apple Auctions Co. All Rights Reserved.

P.S. Want some help landing lots of great items to say thanks for?  I have procurement help, claim your free charity auction item guide.

But when it was quiet a few months ago, I looked at the calendar and selected THIS Thursday as a great day to hold a free call on benefit auctions.  It’s called “The Five Myths Holding You Back From Making Big Money at Your Auction Fundraiser.”

If you haven’t yet registered for the call (click here for details), I wanted to give you some reasons as to how you’ll know if the call is right for you.

1. You’re in charge of planning a benefit auction, and it’s the first time you’ve overseen one.

2. You’ve Chaired an auction before, but you hardly feel like a pro. You’re on the hunt for better information.

3. You sit on a benefit auction committee and want to gather tips to help your group.

4. You’re an “experienced” auction planner (i.e. you’ve overseen one before), but the charity for which you’re planning the auction hasn’t (i.e. they’ve never hosted an auction).

5.  Your committee feels fairly confident with the planning, but you’d like a boost of energy to kick off the event.

6. You’re the self-educated sort.  If there’s a class that sounds interesting, you’re in it.  (I’m like that, too.)

I’m looking forward to leading this call because I enjoy shaking people up a bit with their established beliefs about benefits.  I’ve got juicy information to share that auction planners should hear.

I’m also looking forward to the call because it’s been a few months since I’ve led any free calls, so it will be nice to connect with the wider Red Apple Auctions community of readers in a “live” format.

And I’ll be a bit stressed, too.  My constant fear is that I’ll accidentally press a button that will disconnect everyone from the call.  (It’s not happened yet!)

Register here.

© Red Apple Auctions Co. All Rights Reserved

But today, I’m ranting.  And it’s not on charity auctions.

Since moving to the Washington, DC area, I’ve been annoyed with what I’ve perceived to be inaccurate weather reports around tornadoes.

Announcers will say, “We’ve got a tornado warning in effect,” when the weather suggests they meant to say, “We’ve got a tornado watch in effect.”

• A watch means the conditions are ripe for a tornado to form.  In effect, we should be watching the clouds for a tornado because one could appear.

• A warning is more serious.  In Kansas vernacular, it means grab the dog and take cover because a tornado is ripping through the area.

“Reporters get the definitions mixed up out here,” a fellow Midwestern once agreed.

About three weeks ago while running errands, I heard another on-air reporter confuse the lingo.  This time I decided to correct the language.  I sent an email to the on-air reporter inquiring as to whether she was using the proper terminology.  She promptly emailed back, “Here’s what the National Weather Service sent us.”

By golly, the bulletin she had from the NWS confused me.

Here it is:

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 201 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR…

NORTHEASTERN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND…

* UNTIL 230 PM EDT

* AT 200 PM EDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR FORT

SMALLWOOD STATE PARK…MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…

BODKIN POINT…

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING AND AVOID WINDOWS. IF OUTDOORS OR IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE…MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

Remember:  A warning means that a tornado is occurring or imminent.  But the language in this bulletin said, “…severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado…”

Capable doesn’t mean “sure thing.”  It means maybe … perhaps … it could.

What was going on here?

I emailed the National Weather Service for clarification.  It took two emails and a phone call, but here’s what I learned.

Tornado warnings are issued in two ways:  by eyewitness or by Doppler analysis.

In the Midwest, most tornado warnings are issued after someone sees the funnel.

Because of long sightlines and few trees, it’s relatively easy to see a tornado approaching.  Warning bulletins sound like, “Kansas Highway Patrol has spotted a tornado in Butler County heading southeast towards XYZ… ”

But along the East coast, tornado warnings are most often issued by Doppler analysis.

Because of the hilly terrain and trees in the Washington, D.C. area, tornadoes are difficult to see.  In addition, they tend to be wrapped in rain, so the storm itself hides the approaching funnel.

To compensate, meteorologists watch atmospheric conditions from their computer screen to see if a pattern of rotating swirling clouds emerges.  If it does, they issue a tornado warning.  The resulting warning bulletin sounds like, “The National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated…”

The key is to listen to the report.   How was the tornado identified?

If the reporter says, “Montgomery County law enforcement reported a tornado traveling along I-270 …” it means that the funnel has been seen by human eyes.  It exists.

But if the reporter reads, “The National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated…”  (Or as it does in the above bulletin, “National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm …”), it means the meteorologist’s computer analysis suggests a tornado exists.

I didn’t know the difference … did you?

Glad we’ve got this cleared up.

© 2011 Red Apple Auctions Co.  All Rights Reserved.

P.S.  If you stumbled across this blog for auction fundraising information, start with Benefit Auction Ideas.

Working to make the sale, Jerome sketches a cartoon for a guest to sell his final few raffle tickets

Some men are known to have a ready supply of pick-up lines.

But what about “sell” lines?

Red Apple Auctions’ team member Jerome loves selling raffle tickets.  If he’s worked your benefit auction, you’ve seen him in action.

When his standard sell lines stop working, Jerome has been known to up the ante by tempting guests with another one of his talents:  drawing cartoons.

“I’ve just got 5 more $50 tickets available,” Jerome will egg on a guest.

Jerome's preferred strategy is to work with two lovely assistants. The drawing of a cartoon is often a last-ditch effort to make the raffle sale.

The guest shakes her head ‘no’ adamantly.

“I’ll draw you a cartoon if you buy one of these last tickets from me,” Jerome teases.

Now the guest becomes curious.  Pointing to another guest across the table, she’ll ask, “Is that how he got that cute cartoon?”

With Jerome’s acknowledgement, the sale is quick.  The woman asks that the cartoon be drawn for her daughter. He rapidly sketches the chosen animal and personalizes it with an inspirational saying.

The guest is happy, Jerome cleans out his raffle tickets, and the non-profit is amazed by how many tickets are sold.

(Do you see the extent of the added value taking place within your crowd, thanks to Jerome’s extra push?  This is one example of why the auction floor crew is so valuable at your benefit auction.)

I was the recipient of a simplified version of his cartoons last year when the Red Apple crew surprised me with this handmade birthday card.

Jerome’s generosity and talent was formally acknowledged last week when he was recognized with Ocean City Music Pier’s first ever Immy Award.  The award was created by Mark Soifer, Ocean City’s public relations director.

The purpose of the Immy is to honor imaginative individuals who put their creativity to good use.

I can see why Jerome immediately came to mind, given the thousands of drawings he’s made for people over the years.

Congratulations, Jerome. It’s well-deserved!

Truly!

© 2011 Red Apple Auctions Co. All Rights Reserved.

P.S.  For how-to advice, get Benefit Auction Ideas.

I don’t recall ever posting a job announcement on my blog before, but three circumstances collided this week to make it seem like a brilliant idea.

1. As you read this, I’m on vacation at a lake in Missouri.  I don’t want to write a complex post on my vacation.  This fits the bill.
2. This school is a long-time client.  I’m happy to help them out.
3. With jobs seemingly in short supply in this economy, you, dear reader, might be interested in applying.

Bullis School in Potomac, MD is seeking an Events Coordinator.

You get to plan all kinds of events, including the largest fundraiser of the year: the school auction.

Below is a draft … DRAFT, meaning “not quite accurate” … description of the announcement.  Don’t hold me or Bullis to this description.  I’m sure the school will be posting the perfected description on the Website soon.

Meanwhile, interested applicants are encouraged to email Joanne Szadkowski, Director of Institutional Advancement (or call her at 301-983-5709) without waiting for the posting.  (Tell her Red Apple Auctions sent you.)

Bullis School 10601 Falls Road, Potomac, MD 20854

Events Coordinator: Job description (FT, 12 mos)

-          Participate as a contributing member of the Institutional Advancement Team

-          Prepare and manage budgets for events, organize and execute the following events (and support others as needed): New Faculty Reception, Faculty/Staff Picnic, New Parents Reception, Homecoming Weekend, Alumni Reunion Reception, International Family Reception, Faculty/Staff Holiday Party, Wine Tasting, Gala/Auction (major fundraising event for approx. 400 people), Grandparents and Special Friends Day, Head of School Circle Reception and Graduation.

-          Prepare RFPs and manage contracts with vendors

-          Research and check capabilities and cost benefits for vendors

-          Select and supervise vendors, ensure proper payments and accounting

-          Recruit and manage parent volunteers

-          Supervise creation, production and packaging of event related print materials, including invitations, letters, name badges, signs, gala catalog, and spreadsheets, etc. as needed.

-          Create, compile and maintain invitation and RSVP lists for events

-          Create and manage gala database, run reports and all associated documentation for auction

-          Train volunteers and staff on gala data entry and other tasks

-          Create and submit facilities and food service work orders for events

-          Make phone calls to solicit volunteers, donors, advertisers and participants for gala

-          Send follow-up e-mails/make follow-up phone calls, when possible, for RSVPs to most events

-          Provide guidance to other faculty and staff and Parents Association when questions arise as they plan their individual or divisional events

-           manage MaestroSoft auction database and Maestroweb auction web page

Good luck!

And if you landed on this page hoping to find how-to school auction advice, click on over to Benefit Auction Ideas.

Sheri is an excellent seller at our benefit auctions, as you can see here. She perfected her direct sales techniques after working for years at Nordstrom.

No doubt you know the phrase, “It’s not what you do.  It’s who you do it with.”

Much of what makes my work amazing is the interesting people I’ve surrounded myself with here at Red Apple Auctions.

So for this week’s blog post, permit me to brag like a proud parent as I share with you the success of one of my team members, Sheri.

Many of my auction floor crew come from an acting background.  Sheri is no exception.

About 20 years ago, Sheri was the queen of TV here in Washington, D.C.  She sold merchandise on a pre-cursor to what viewers today would equate with a QVC or a Home Shopping Network channel.

The program eventually ended, but to this day, Sheri still gets recognized from her long-running stint on that show. 

In the last year Sheri has become particularly involved on the other side of the camera … as a producer.  She and her business partner Rich West are doing exceptionally well producing “shorts.”

(A short refers to any film not long enough to be considered a feature film.)

Their first short, “Spanish Lesson,” is currently appearing in film festivals around the USA. (Sheri recently was in Las Vegas for a premier!)

Their second is “The Last Paperboy” and just won a film competition sponsored by Signature Theatre, a well-respected theater here in the DC area.  The film is about the decline of the newspaper industry, as seen through the eyes of a paperboy.

I encourage you to watch the 5-minute flick and visit Wonder Pictures Facebook page for more details.  (Why “Wonder Pictures?”  Because if the film is good, it’s a wonder.  )

P.S.  If you landed on this page hoping for more traditional Red Apple Auctions gala information, you need “Benefit Auction Ideas.”

© 2011 Red Apple Auctions Co.  All Rights Reserved.

And certainly we have many videos from clients and guests sharing their opinions of our work in their own words.

Some clients even send cookies!

But it’s still nice to have the personal touch of a hand-written thank you note.

The head honcho of events at Camillus House in Miami, FL is the epitome of old-school manners. Like clockwork, she sends me a note or letter every year.

Thanks, Marcy!   (And congratulations on raising over $1.6 million. It’s crucial money Camillus House can use to serve the homeless.)

You can read what she wrote below.

Happy Birthday to Red Apple Auctions.

Red Apple Auctions turns five today.

(It’s a quiet celebration, as I’m out of town speaking to other benefit auctioneers in San Antonio, TX .)

I still remember driving down to City Hall and completing the paperwork to “birth” my business.  I’d decided it was time to get serious about my hobby.

I brainstormed possible names (filling a whole page with ideas), did some research, let it sit with me to get an internal read on what felt right, and opted for “Red Apple Auctions.”

As clients referred us and as others found us online, we now have a “family” of  benefit auction aficionados from all over the world.

To celebrate our big achievement (Is it a birthday or an anniversary for a business?  I’m confused.), I’ll be offering goodies for all of you throughout the course of the year, including a FREE telecourse on auction technology I’m announcing tomorrow in my  Benefit Auction Ideas e-zine. (The e-zine is also free).

Thanks for being part of our extended network.

© 2010 Red Apple Auctions Co.  All Rights Reserved.