With this final post of the year, I salute those of you who moved forward with a virtual gala this year. Were you brave? Were you a realist? Were you desperate? Who knows and who cares – you did it! Those fresh tracks in the snow are your footprints, and you can update your LinkedIn profile with "virtual gala" experience. The year 2020 pushed us to adapt. “The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm,” said Confucius. You ... Read On >
Sherry's Life
Election Day – My simple political platform
When COVID-19 arrived in March, the advertisements and emails landing in my in-box started to change. Most companies and organizations addressed what was dominating the news cycle -- coronavirus. They expressed concern for those who were ill, those working on the front lines, and those who lost their jobs. But not Wayfair. Wayfair pounded my inbox with a steady stream of emails each week, advertising cheap ottomans, discounted lighting, trendy decor, and more. Their inattention to the ... Read On >
Whose fault is it when the fundraising auction fails?
Over the last two years I renovated my house. I purchased windows and five major appliances as part of the remodel. Nothing was cheap -- the cost of some of these purchases hovered around the price of a car. Shortly after the sales process was complete, I started getting sales calls, asking me to buy extended warranties. All these conversations got me to thinking -- if one of these appliances or the windows start to give me problems, I may have a hard time knowing if the problem was ... Read On >
Fundraising auctioneer nightmares: When all hell breaks loose
The National Auctioneers Association recently sent a survey to fundraising auctioneers, asking them about "tough situations that might arise during a benefit auction." They listed possible situations that may occur. I've posted them below and expanded on the suggestions. I don't pretend to have seen it all, but I have seen a lot since becoming a fundraising auctioneer. And if you have experienced a minor set-back or even a catastrophe at your fundraiser, you're not alone. This post may ... Read On >
Red Apple Auctions’ blog makes Feedspot’s Top 25 Auction Blogs list
In April during the busiest part of my spring travel season, I received an email from Feedspot. "I would like to personally congratulate you," the email began, "Your blog at Red Apple Auctions has been selected by our panelists as one of the Top 25 Auction Blogs on the web." Woohoo! The Red Apple Auctions blog landed at #15 on the best auction bloggers list. It's nice to be recognized for something that takes some time to produce. When I looked at their list, I noticed that most ... Read On >