A few years ago, a school development director started to vent. Her volunteer Auction Chair was insistent on calling the catalog an “ad book.”
“She’s driving me nuts!” my client confided, “She keeps calling our catalog an ad book, and she’s confusing our other volunteers. I don’t know where she picked that name up.”
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As I work with benefit auction committees across the USA, I see remarkable diversity in the names we use to describe identical activities.
What we call a “bucket raffle” in D.C. becomes a “tricky tray” about five hours north in New Jersey. If you skip the northern route and turn your car south instead, you’ll hear it called a “Chinese raffle” even before you cross into North Carolina.
And Fund a Needs / appeals are notorious for using multiple monikers. Already in 2010 I’d compiled a long list of names for a basic cash appeal. Even this Thursday I’m working an event that has advertised its appeal as both a “Fund a Dream” and “Gift from the Heart.” In the same paragraph, no less.
Program books are not immune to this name game.
In today’s video, you’ll see how some of my clients have chosen to differentiate among auction catalogs, programs, ad books, preview books, and addendum.
In your part of the world, you might recognize the materials I share, but call them something else entirely.
That’s cool, too.
We just need to ensure that whether we call our materials Bruce or Caitlyn on the outside, we know we’re talking about the same thing inside. Practice consistency in your terminology to avoid confusing others.
In your part of the world, you might recognize the materials I share, but call them something else entirely.
That’s fine, too.
We just need to ensure that whether we call our materials Bruce or Caitlyn on the outside, we know we’re talking about the same thing inside.
Practice consistency in your terminology to avoid confusing others.
Would it help you to see some programs / catalogs up close and personal?
Visit this page to see if I have any auction catalog/program collections currently available for sale.
Reviewing catalogs is a good way to get ideas without traveling to another city and paying the $150+ ticket to attend.
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