Auction Madness!
Almost five years ago a group of dedicated Nelson PTO parents decided to bring new light to the Nelson School and the Nelson community by beginning a fundraiser that would not only bring all community members together, but be considered one of Nelson's most beloved events of the year. The first year, 2008, the event was an evening affair with Keene State College's Jazz students providing the background music, elegant food and beverages and many adults silently bidding against each other for the wonderful display of services, handcrafted, and new items. The success of the evening provided enough funds for the PTO budget for the following year.
The second year, 2009, the children were asked what they thought should be the auction goal. A slide! was the immediate response. And so it began, the quest for services, locally made items, foods, gift certificates and the like. This first live auction, with auctioneer Chris Wallenstein was also a huge success. Set up the night before, we invited folks to come all day on Saturday to view, visit, catch up on the town news and get ready for the Saturday night event. The children's excitement could not be contained! Of course they raised enough funds to purchase the new slide and even a new laminator for the school. Before the second annual auction night had ended, many donations were already in the works for the following year!
The third year, 2010, the children decided quickly that new swings were needed for their school playground. 'Can we do it?' 'Of course we can!' was their mantra as the date came near. Donations kept coming, some old favorites (what would we do without Priscilla Walter's pies, Betsey Church's mint brownies, Charlie Lang's pickles or the Ferguson's Granite Lake Boat Tour, just to name a few?).
Folks once again spent the day, looking at all of the wonderful items on display, deciding which they were going to bid on. The children were right and, of course they made their goal. Not only were we able to purchase a set of new swings, but provide a scholarship to the Matt Frazier scholarship fund as well, and we had finally added to the annual PTO budget.
Last year the school children began learning about growing their own plants and their sights for the fourth annual auction, 2011, were set on a multi-year project: a greenhouse and gardening. Community members, local artists, school families, businesses and friends once again came forward to donate to this wonderful night. Calendars were marked immediately once the date was set. Chris Wallenstein once again was on board as our auctioneer. (Where else can you get a yearly Nelson School T-shirt to wear at the Old Home Day bike race?) Even the youngest school children caught on to the "buzz" about this fabulous event. After all, the older children have been an integral part of this fundraiser for three previous years! Again, the goal was met, community friends delighted with their goods and services and donations were already coming in for the next year!
This year will be the Fifth Annual Nelson School Live Auction, April 28, 2012 at the Nelson Town Hall. Five years of building community spirit, making new friends through donations and attendance, getting Christmas shopping completed months in advance and teaching our children that if you put your mind to it, anything can be accomplished. We have given them the gift of courage, confidence, and pride in their ability to create, the ability to ask for a donation of a talent or good and the graciousness to say 'thank-you'. So, save the date. Who knows what surprises will be in store for this year's event? What I know is that this tradition may be termed a Nelson School PTO fundraiser, but to the children and the community it is so much more! We hope to see you there!
