Paying for the reunion - Fundraising Auctions Raffles
What reunion doesn’t need money? There are many ways to raise money if you don’t just divide all your costs and assess everyone equally. Consider some of these ideas and share your ideas with our readers. E-mail us.
A fun and cost-saving event: sold! by Katherine Sinclair
Family reunions are about catching up on what’s new and remembering times past. They’re about barbecues, dancing, baseball and horseshoes. They’re also about money. They can be costly and, unfortunately, some relatives just can’t always afford to come. For eighteen years the Moore family has held a reunion auction to help relieve some of the money pressure.
The Moore Family Reunion is held every two years in British Columbia or Alberta, Canada, where most of the family lives. As relatives arrive from as far as Nova Scotia, Michigan and Florida, they place donations on tables lining one wall of a rented hall. The items are displayed throughout the reunion. Each day as family crowds the hall for breakfast, lunch and dinner, items are examined and admired over and over by young and old alike.
On Sunday afternoon the air of excitement begins. Everyone crowds into the hall talking excitedly, jostling to get the best seats.
It’s auction time. The hosting relative is the auctioneer. The first item is up for bid. Arms wave to place a bid as everyone strives to get that special something they’ve had their eye on since arriving. The smallest relatives stand on chairs to ensure their bids are acknowledged. In the crowd are a devilish few who bid solely to drive prices higher. It’s all part of the game and their antics are the source of much laughter and playful taunting. Hoots and howls of laughter shriek through the room when a price driver gets caught in a bid and ends up buying an item s/he didn’t intend to take home.
The majority of items up for bid are hand-crafted by both adult and young family members or by a family as a group. Relatives unable to attend send items with other family members. One year, items arrived all the way from Argentina from a Moore family living there temporarily.
Items for bid include cacti in decorated clay pots, wooden lawn ornaments of popular cartoon characters, decorative butterfly fans and even crocheted turtles to mop the floor. There have been macramé lawn chairs with the date and “Moore Family Reunion” emblazoned on their backs, throw pillows, homemade wines, jams, jellies and preserves, teddy bears and wooden gingerbread men holding Canadian and American flags honoring relatives from each side of the border, sculptures from a full-time family artist and more.
At the 2002 reunion a beautiful handmade quilt sold to the highest bidder for $235. Bidding closed at $75 for a wooden folding lawn table. The most coveted item of that year was a miniature grandfather clock, handmade of wood and frosted glass, standing only twelve inches high. Sold! For $470.
The auction funds are banked until the next reunion draws near, then forwarded to the next host. A hall is rented, facilities, such as campgrounds, are paid for in advance and all meals, made by the family or sometimes catered, are completely paid for. Everyone has a great time generating ideas and making auction items. And it lowers each family’s expenses considerably, leaving a little extra for the auction!
What do I think about the Moore family auction? One word: sold!
About the author
Katherine Sinclair is a single mother of two teenagers living temporarily in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Her jobs range from free-lance writing to working in BC’s pulp and paper mills. Her permanent home is out in the bush on a small acreage in the community of Sinclair Mills (population approximately 30).
Auctions and raffles are good fundraising fare Patricia Hardcastle, Pocatello, Idaho, wrote at the end of each Jeppson Family Reunion there’s a family auction. Between reunions, family members busy themselves making auction items. Each shows a unique talent: Leah’s embroidered pin cushions, Clayne’s cradles and wooden flutes, Patty’s porcelain dolls, Steve’s artwork, Janice’s tole painted signs, and each auction’s highlight, Grandma’s jean quilts which often go for $1,000 or more.
Each auction raises family fund money, used to finance reunions. Auction money supplements food and lodging costs for college students and children under eight to help young families participate. Families not seen for years are appearing at reunions, which makes older family members gladly spend upwards of a thousand dollars at each auction.
A recent addition is children’s crafts. With over 60 children on the run, the auction became a raucous event! To appease kids and relieve parents, children’s items are auctioned first, then a few stalwart souls take the kids to another room to make a keepsake craft and smash a piñata. It’s truly a “kid-tested, mother-approved” activity.
Eva Melton, Crestview, Florida, reported the 60 people at their reunion raised $1,200 with a raffle and auction. Melton’s mother made a beautiful quilt, a big favorite, sold by raffle. Everyone wanted it. One of Melton’s brothers brought a whiskey bottle filled with change and had people guess how much money was in the bottle. The winner gave the money back to the reunion fund, and it was auctioned to the highest bidder.
Questions seeks answers We asked our newsletter readers for more ideas.
Susie Peevyhouse Hockaday, Rutherford, Tennessee, wrote that her Peevyhouse Family Reunion used to have the same problem as Patricia Murray “and we have a large family! Then three years ago, I had each family bring at least one auction item. This worked wonderfully. Not only does it provide money, but everyone looks forward to it. When they contact me, they always make sure we are having the auction. A cousin does a great job as auctioneer and makes the entire event fun.”
Hockaday continued, “It doesn't hurt to try it. I was amazed at how ours went over. My aunt’s coconut cake brought $25! Last year, I had members write their names on a fabric square. An aunt embroidered names of ones who weren't able to attend on squares. Now, I’m sewing these blocks together to make a wall-hanging quilt to be auctioned at the reunion. I just wish everyone had as much fun at their reunion as we do.”
Tracy Schrader, Alliance, Ohio, whose Snyder Family Reunion is held the third Saturday in October in Letart, West Virginia, wrote, “Every year, we auction crafts we've made or things we no longer want. We make a lot of money — more than we did when we just asked each family to donate money toward the next reunion. Item prices vary. A couple aunts paint and kiln their own ceramics. They sold many of their things. People donated jewelry, homemade jams and bread, seasonal vests and crafts, books, etc.”
Marilynn Stewart, Bear River City, Utah, writes the Stewart Family Reunion has also found an auction a great way to raise money. Family members bring items and Grandma always makes a quilt and embroiders a set of dishtowels for auction. Stewart says, “Grandma’s items always bring big bucks! We always include smaller items for children to bid on, usually a dollar or so. Some family members offer services to be auctioned. One of my nieces auctioned a couple haircuts and cuts hair at the reunion.”
Email your fundraising ideas to editor@reunionsmag.com or send to Reunions magazine, PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211.
Using family resources for reunion fundraising
by Marlynne A. Walker
I have attended my family’s reunion since I was a child. For years the reunion was a simple picnic of about 100 people, accompanied by a volleyball game and certificate ceremony, which honored relatives who passed away. Over the past 20 years the reunion has grown to over 300 people.
I have been working on the reunion’s planning committee, helping to take the reunion (and the family) into the Information Age, by establishing a communications guide, website and fundraising strategy. Our reunion committee, which has grown from four to 14 members in 20 years, has discussed and is implementing several small, inexpensive fundraisers designed to promote the family’s goal of becoming an association and, of course, to raise money.
The Whitfield Family Reunion is held every year. Many family members take the week off to attend the Memorial Day weekend event, beginning Thursday and ending Monday.
We are in the beginning stages of forming a non-profit family association. In the meantime, we tap into internal family resources to raise money for costs associated with booking hotels, buying food and paying for activities. The goal is to keep registration costs low so family members will continue to come to a reunion that is both enjoyable and affordable.
This year we decided each family must bring an item (new or used in good condition), valued at or over $50, to be raffled at the reunion or auctioned on our website. Each item is given to the chair or me so family members do not know who donated what. Keeping the item’s origin anonymous is part of the raffle/auction’s mystery and intrigue.
The only requirement is the item not be a gift that was given by a family member, past or present. The best part is the item can be anything else including gifts from co-workers or friends! For example, one item is tickets to an Oakland Raiders football game a family member can’t use. So far, interest has been greater than expected. This fundraiser is just the beginning of many, toward our ultimate goal of forming a family association.
Reported by Marlynne A. Walker, San Leandro, California.
Brown Family Reunion An auction was used at the 2005 Brown Family Reunion as a fund start-up for their 2007 reunion. Members brought items they thought would raise an eyebrow for bidding. Believe it or not, a miniature stuffed purple dinosaur went for $20. The bid for ancestor/previous reunion photos was a high hitter (raised over $250). Another fundraiser was collecting coins; the person who brought the most in change (quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies) was the winner. The prize was that amount toward her portion of family dues. Rose Washington won with $31.10.
Videos ($10) were also a source of fundraising. It took about one year to create a family reunion timeline video. It included an introduction to Charlotte, North Carolina, and a tribute to those passed. The family felt it was well worth it, and it was received well by everyone. Tears flowed during the Memory Tribute, and laughter filled the room after the completion of the tape. The family was able to help edit the finished version by giving information we did not have. Orders were taken at the reunion and sent later.
Reported by Roxie Branch, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Benrud fundraising A silent auction is also a popular Benrud Family Reunion event, but its proceeds are earmarked specifically to fund the Benrud Reader newsletter and its mailing costs. The newsletter’s early announcement invites members to bring items for an auction which starts on Friday and ends after the talent show on Saturday evening. Objects that inspire bidding wars and competition are encouraged.
Benrud family t-shirts depicting the newest family logo can be purchased, along with picture albums, lapel pins, genealogy books, caps, totes, family videos from prior reunions and a family recipe book dedicated to ancestors Alice Ruth “Toody” Volden, Agnes Peterson and Borghild “Borgie” Jothen, all of whom passed away within the last five years. Money raised from the sale of these items helps offset the expense of newsletters and booking future reunions.
Money raised through memorial donations for deceased family members is held in trust for the creation of a Benrud Pioneer Church that descendants of the family plan to construct at Norskedalen Heritage Center in Coon Valley, Wisconsin, when they raise enough funds. The price tag is estimated at $300,000 and the family has already raised half the money within the last five years.
Fundraising still important at 100 This is an excerpt from the Des Moines Register by Joanne Boeckman who is writing about the Centennial of the Harmelink Family Reunion in 2002.
John Harmelink, a retired livestock auctioneer, presided over the traditional auction of handmade and other goods donated by family members. Jars of jam, hand-stitched girls' dresses and potholders, needlework, china-painted plates, metal items and other goods brought high bids.
Aunt Jo, youngest daughter of John, was astonished that her jars of strawberry jam were selling for $25.
“I went out and picked the strawberries myself the day I made it,” she said quietly from the back row. “But $25?”
When a “Star Trek” hat came up for auction, the bidding went quickly, ending at Vern's bid of $100. It was an inside joke.
“Bunch of thieves in this family,” he said. “This is the third year they've stolen my hat!”
The auction netted $3,000, used to offset costs not covered by the registration fees of $64 per adult and $45 per child older than 3. Any extra goes for the next reunion.
The raffle of a special quilt brought nearly $900. The quilt was designed by more descendants of John: Betty Dorsman of Sheldon, Joan Goetch of Hartley and Carol Petty of Montana.
“Joan and I designed the quilt,” Dorsman said. “She sewed it in Iowa, I in Arizona, then we sent it to Carol in Montana and she quilted it.”
The quilt was adorned with several symbols representing the family, including a Dutch barn with the name Harmelink painted in the dormer, tulips, the four verses of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds,” rolling hills to represent those of Wisconsin and Iowa where their forefathers settled, and stars.
“We've reached for the stars,” Dorsman said. “We're not only farmers, but other occupations. We have many and we've gone all over the world.”
When a name was drawn for the quilt raffle, it went to Sondi. “It was so awesome,” she said.
“You'd think it would be rigged that I won, but the gentleman who drew my name was a minister.”
He was also a Harmelink.
Raffles … Raffles … Raffles everywhere
Raffles to grow
Clara Conner-Petty, Conner Family Reunion, from Toledo, Ohio, reported that they do a 50/50 raffle where half of the money goes to the family who will host the next reunion as their seed money. And the other half goes to the name drawn.
Strasser ingenuity
The 2002 Strasser Family Reunion in Merrill, Wisconsin, did their first raffle to cover costs. Over 130 descendants of Gotffried and Catherine (Weixelbauer) Strasser attended from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, New Jersey and Washington.
In the past Strassers had an auction but sometimes there were so many items to auction it took up a good part of the day. Homemade items were hottest in the raffle. Some of the homemade big hits were bird feeders, birdhouses and wood benches (for lake viewing). Kids raffle items included a movie package with microwave popcorn, candy like jujus, 2-liter bottle of soda and a new or popular movie all in a big popcorn bowl. They made enough to put $200 in the bank for the next reunion.
Laurel Strasser Stine, Merrill, Wisconsin, reported “Reunions take so much planning but we are still getting thank yous in the mail, it is worth it. Seeing everyone reminiscing and enjoying themselves and the beautiful weather is wonderful.”
Meanwhile, in Texas …
Arliss Treybig, El Campo, Texas, writing about her Burt(t)schell Family Reunion.
Donna and Jack Bridwell, West Point, Texas, volunteered to take on several jobs. Donna happened to have an antique raffle ticket “hopper” and wanted an opportunity to use it. Therefore, the job of handling the raffle and silent auction fell to her by default. They did a great job of organizing both activities — from gathering items to displaying them. Their son Dusty made signs for the raffle and silent auction. Gayle Banschbach of Midland sold raffle tickets.
Barbara Black, Evadale, Texas, reported that most Black Family Reunions are financed by members donating food and drinks. Everyone pitches in and brings something for Sunday dinner. A few years ago, a niece started a raffle. Family members bring items which are spread on tables early Saturday. Tickets are 25¢ each or 5 for $1.00. Half of the ticket goes into a numbered bag corresponding to the number on the item. Winning tickets are drawn at specified times. Last year, the drawing took well over an hour; some people went away empty-handed, while others were overloaded. That money is earmarked for supplies (coffee, cups, etc.) for meals. Mementos of the reunion also are available for sale, with profits going to the reunion fund. Black’s daughter began a reunion calendar two years ago, using pictures from the family website at MyFamily.com, with profits going to the fund. Last year, Black’s son made cassette tapes of music played by family members over the years. A sister and her family had a singing group that produced an album, while others have made cassettes from time to time.
Eva Melton, Crestview, Florida, reported that with 60 people at their reunion they raised $1,200, though Melton thought that might be a bit too much fundraising (an interesting twist). They auctioned a beautiful quilt handmade by Melton’s mother. It was a big favorite and sold many raffle tickets. Everyone wanted it! One of Melton’s brothers brought a whiskey bottle filled with change. Everyone bought a chance to guess how much money was in the bottle. The winner donated the bottle to the reunion fund and it was auctioned to the highest bidder.
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