The Original AW Silent Auction Thread

Silver King · Jul 3, 2006

I've been thinking of a way to help AW. It seems the most pressing needs at most times are of a financial nature. The boards need dough to stay afloat. I propose we have an auction, and the proceeds go to help sustain AW. I have no idea what we could bid on. It might be a small trinket, or something of greater value, like a signed portrait of our lovely hostess. She could inscribe the photo with a personal message to the winning bidder, such as, "Oh, Silver King, you're my favorite member! I await your every post with hurried breaths and watch in wonder as your pearls of wisdom fall from the night skies like neon rain, soaking the parched forums until they're awash with new life..."

She'd need an awfully big picture to fit all of that in, but you get my drift.

Is an auction possible, or am I out of my mind? If we could generate interest, what would be a suitable prize? The idea is for the award to carry little monetary value but rather a more sentimental flavor.

rtilryarms · Jul 3, 2006

So far AW is doing OK I think. Some of us make donations but it is not required. Rarely, and I think the incident where we were out for a week was the first, AW had to appeal for donations.
Jenna has otherwise footed the balance on all costs.

The only other time we talked about money was when the regulars on the EZboard AW voted to move to a new server without advertisements. Again it was an optional donation and we made the move. I made a very small contribution and I was never asked for more.

What we are missing is the Community Treasure Chest we used to have. When I saw it thinning out I would PayPall 5 bucks or so. I kind of miss that.

So I am all for exploring auction stuff, maybe new authors auctioning off signed books, etc. You never know when someone makes the bigtime.
It could be worth something someday.

I think there is a donation link somewhere for the legal fund because I know we are sometimes getting into scraps since we take on just causes.

Thanks for the idea.

Chacounne · Jul 3, 2006

Just to mention,

I do have two more hand-embroidered bookmarks for sale, with the money going to the AW rebuild/legal fund. Check the bargins forum, or PM Dawno or me for details.

Trying to be helpful,
Chac

Deleted member 42 · Jul 3, 2006

AW is moving, eventually to a new server, and backup RAID. The monthly costs for the site are in the hundreds. Most of the traffic is from the Water Cooler. Now, not all of us can donate money. But there are other ways of helping; Chacounne has bookmarks, Dawno has opened up a Cafe Press Store, James D. Macdonald has a list of books and DVDs he's referred to in his Learn Writing with Uncle Jim thread. Take a look at the donate link in my signature for some suggestions about these and other ways to help.

SpookyWriter · Jul 3, 2006

I would like to get my Benefactor points back, thank you. Hahahahaaa...for $5.00 I can become a mod!

Silver King · Jul 3, 2006

Hey, Chac, can I bid on those bookmarks? If so, I'm in for a $100.00. I'll bid on only one, though, and we can save the other for another auction.

Going once...going twice...

Jean Marie · Jul 3, 2006

We could sell Spooky to the highest bidder...

SpookyWriter · Jul 3, 2006

Jean Marie said:
We could sell Spooky to the highest bidder...

Yuk yuk yuk...highest evil bidder would suit me, lallalaaaaa....

Silver King · Jul 3, 2006

If we're counting pennies, then how can we possibly come up with an equation? Let's just say, for the sake of argument, that we apply the same denomination to each.

Trinket = $100.00

Spooky = $100.00

It doesn't work, sinse Spooky's worth is a variable that's multiplied by at least a thousand.

So we're back to where we started.

BardSkye · Jul 3, 2006

rtilryarms said:
What we are missing is the Community Treasure Chest we used to have. When I saw it thinning out I would PayPall 5 bucks or so. I kind of miss that.

That was before I joined, but it sounds like a great idea. Do we have any of our technologically-savvy members who could put something like that up again? Maybe a little glass icon at the top that fills and empties as the coffers do?

I know a lot of us just can't afford even 5 bucks here and there--gotta feed the kids first--but some of us can, and do. A little thingy like that would act as a reminder to those of us who can without being overt.

SpookyWriter · Jul 3, 2006

How about if I donate the proceeds from my award winning essay?

The greasy Mechanic.

Silver King · Jul 4, 2006

BardSkye has a great point about being "overt." Most folks are more comfortable donating privately. The purpose of this thread is to raise a few dollars publicly, and to raise awareness among the community that AW could use our help from time to time.

I threw what appears to be a high dollar amount out there not to be showy, but simply to cut to the chase. (When my wife finds out, she'll have a tumultuous fit that's beyond description.) And besides, I really, really want one of those hand-embroidered bookmarks Chacounne mentioned, if she'll allow us to bid on them.

I'll be away from the boards for several days, and while I'm gone, I dare anyone to outbid me. I double-dare ya...

Dawno · Jul 4, 2006

Hi everyone - I would be happy to monitor an auction for Chacounne's last two bookmarks - what I need is permission from the site owner to use her site this way - all the other fund raisers are offsite.

-or-

We might need to take this to another location - I have an idea for that as well. FYI - I don't want to use eBay for such a limited effort, especially when it means paying them fees. So far I'm absorbing all the costs so your total donation goes to AW (fees, taxes, shipping) and I don't mind - but I'd rather not set up another site unless we have to.

The very best way to contribute is directly - I have a button on my blog and at my website - or if this link works you can use it. If you don't want to use PayPal here's a snail mail address:

Absolute Write
PO Box 621
Islip, NY 11751

Meanwhile, I'll see about getting this idea rolling.

btw - this is a slideshow of the stitchery patterns - these are samplers and not bookmarks, it's just a way to see the lovely craftsmanship you'd find on your beautiful bookmark if you were the winning bidder.

Deleted member 42 · Jul 4, 2006

I can locate/emotionally bribe someone do do a "gauge" for us, but why not use one of the ones writers use, and instead of tracking words we'll track dollars.

That I could get set up in minutes, and I'd willingly host the page. I might be able to get it to work within vBulletin, but I'm not promising.

Godfather · Jul 4, 2006

This auction is an interesting idea.

We're all artists here, aren't we?

Dawno · Jul 6, 2006

Attention! Let the Bidding Begin!

OK - I have official approval to host a Silent Auction here on this thread. Put info in your sigs - tell your friends! I'm also going to change the thread title a bit to help get folk here.

Here's how it works - from now until 9pm Pacific Sunday Night I'll accept PMed bids for the remaining two bookmarks.

Let us call them bookmark 1 and bookmark 2.

Please, if you want to bid on both send 2 PMs. Double bids in one PM are disqualified. I will accept bids with a minimum of one dollar increments - you can up the bid by any amount over that you like, one dollar is the smallest increment, so no adding ten cents, I'll just delete the PM.

The Starting bid on bookmark 1 has already been made by Silver King at $100 to kick this idea off, so it stands as the first bid.

Bookmark 2's starting bid is $20. You can start bidding now.

I'll post where the bids are as often as I can - but I do have to sleep - so I probably won't be posting bids between around 11 pm and 7 am Pacific time.
Last bids at 9 pm Pacific on Sunday are the winners - I'll post the winning bids. PM the winners and if they give permission I will announce who they are, otherwise you can stay anonymous.

I will send the payment instructions to the winning bidder. I will ask that the winner go to the AW Donation button (It'll be in my sig soon) and donate the winning amount directly and email me a copy of the PayPal receipt. When I have that I will notify Chacounne and the two of you can discuss what your beautiful and unique bookmark will look like.

If you have any questions, just PM me. Happy Bidding!!

Chacounne · Jul 6, 2006

Thank you, Silver King, for inspiring this, and for putting in such a generous first bid; Jenna, for allowing this to happen; and Dawno, for setting it up and conducting the auction. If anyone would like an idea of what the bookmark will look like, please PM me

Thank you for helping me to help a community I love,
Chac

Dawno · Jul 6, 2006

Chacounne said:
If anyone would like an idea of what the bookmark will look like, please PM me

Or to see all kinds of stitches, scroll up to post #13 to see the animated example I posted above

SpookyWriter · Jul 6, 2006

Dawno said:
Or to see all kinds of stitches, scroll up to post #13 to see the animated example I posted above

Hey. That thing is freaking me out. The numbers keep changing. How are we supposed to bid on a number changer thingy? Can we change our bids too?

Dawno · Jul 6, 2006

Spooky, you don't bid based on that - that's just a sampler of the stitch types and there were a lot of samples so I numbered them.

Forget the numbers on the animation. If you want a bookmark and you don't want to bid against Silver King just PM me with your bid on bookmark #2 - it has nothing to do with the animated sampler #2. If you want to outbid Silver King then bid at least $101 on bookmark #1 and we're off to the races.

Although I can see how it might be confusing.

Godfather · Jul 7, 2006

You know, I would really love to get one of those.

Alas, as you know, I am but a boy. Lacking a credit card.

Chacounne · Jul 7, 2006

Just bringing the thread back up to the top, so people can see it.

Hugs,
Chac

NeuroFizz · Jul 7, 2006

Dawno and others...I have something I'd like to offer up for a silent auction, if it is allowed.

It is a book of poetry:
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (1940 copyright)

Details:

Published by Doubleday, Doran & Co.

Hardbound with a burlap-like cover that is green front and back, but faded to tan on the spine.

316 pages, large 81/2" x 11" format

Introduction by Christopher Morley

Illustrations by Lewis C. Daniel (some in color)

Originally purchased for my mother - her (maiden) name is inscribed with the date November, 1940.

Aside from the faded spine, it is in excellent condition.

I'm not sure of its value (others may be able to help). Sentimental value is low to medium (I have a number of original books of my mother's, but she would be happy to see this go toward a writing resource like AW.)

Dawno · Jul 7, 2006

Once the bookmark auction is over (and folks - BID!!) I'd be happy to do that!

Chacounne · Jul 7, 2006

Just kicking the auction back up to the top of the forum

I know there are bidders just waiting out there

Hugs,
Chac

The Original AW Silent Auction Thread

Megalops Erectus

Crossbows and Handgonnes

Deleted member 42

Megalops Erectus

calm waters ahead

Megalops Erectus

Barbershoppin' Harmony Whore

Megalops Erectus

Shiny!

Deleted member 42

back door man

Shiny!

Shiny!

Shiny!

back door man

The grad students did it

Shiny!