The Evening in Review
When a song touches your heart, it can physically grip you, making your heart race or tears come to your eyes. Certain songs can bring back memories long forgotten of joyful times or moments that caused sadness. Music has an incredible effect on the people who hear it, feel it, experience it. On Saturday, May 2, 2009, the St. Paul Lutheran School Annual Auction was a composition of sights and sounds, memories and experiences such as a grand symphony, sweeping the audience away with a sweet melody that continued long after the song had stopped.
Before the doors opened at 5 p.m., attendees were already lining up to enter the school. The sold-out crowd of 360+ and the host of volunteers behind the scenes, the caterers and production crew were ready for the event! There was a lot of excitement in the air, and music was playing in every silent auction room. As attendees entered the “jazz club” by way of a red carpet entrance, many people caught their collective breath. The decorations carried them into another dimension, with long black velvet curtains and dramatic colorful lighting transforming the school’s gymnasium walls into an impressive display of “club” atmosphere. Decorations were master-minded by the volunteers from Q Creative in Chicago, Illinois, hosted by co-worker and St. Paul parent, Mrs. Krista Aders.
The walls were lined with Oral Auction items, including stunning class displays featuring theme songs from “Heard It Through the Grapevine” to “9 to 5” and “Toyland” to “Get on Your Feet.” The items in the class displays included a hand-crafted bar, toy box and club house. Other items included a flat-screen TV, an elliptical machine, a computer, airline tickets, patio furniture, a fire pit, and much more.
The open bar was serving a selection of soft drinks, wine, beer and iced coffee, but the highlight was the champagne fountain spilling over with sparkling wine.
Appetizers were available in the jazz club and throughout the school as servers passed a variety of hors d’oeuvres to nibble on while wandering the hallways.
The Silent Auction rooms opened at 5 p.m., filled to capacity with items ranging from $5 to $1500. Each room was categorized with themes such as “The Softer Side,” “The Playroom,” “The Finer Things,” and “Just for Men.” “God’s Bounty of Baked Goods” was the last room to close before everyone made his way into the jazz club for a prayer before the delicious dinner, followed by a special dessert of custom-made piano cakes created by Krak-n-Jaks Bakery.
Tony and Lisa Mengwasser, auction co-chairs, welcomed everyone and kicked off the rest of the evening with a special drawing: Evelyn Stover won third place ($1000 cash), Linda Roberts won second place ($1000 cash plus $1000 shopping spree from Krekeler Jewelers), and Brent Williams won first place ($2500 cash plus $2500 diamond earrings from Krekeler Jewelers).
After the drawing, Tony and Lisa introduced the auctioneer for the evening, Mr. Brad Detring, a former St. Paul student and proud alum. Assisted by his sister Jenna, Brad hosted the remainder of the evening, encouraging bidders to stretch their limits and give for the sake of the children.
School Principal, Mr. Duane Giesselmann, addressed the crowd mid-way through the auction items, enlisting their help to ensure that current students don’t have to be turned away due to unexpected financial issues. Mr. Giesselmann asked that everyone do what he could to help keep the students at St. Paul. Hands shot into the air without hesitation, resulting in a total of $10,000+ specifically ear-marked for tuition assistance. This was the beginning of answered prayers for the evening, and the crescendo was yet to come.
As the auction items were sold, a multi-screen projector system allowed bidders to easily view the items on the auction block. A spotlight kept the attention on the auctioneer, and spotters placed throughout the crowd ensured that no bid would be overlooked.
During the event, multiple donors graciously offered a second identical item to back-up bidders to allow more people to get what they wanted and to raise additional funds for the school. Brad kept the pace moving quickly and efficiently, making his way through the trips, quilts, Cardinals tickets, dinners, special packages, services, one-of-a-kind artwork, furniture, and much more.
By the time the last of the 104 Oral Auction items was sold, everyone was filled with energy as the rhythm of the evening continued to pulse through the crowd, even during the check-out process. Items were gathered and payments collected Saturday night and Sunday morning, as the final numbers were processed. While the auction committee had scaled back expectations for the funds raised this year due to the ailing economy, God conducted a miracle right before our eyes. The 2009 auction became a record-breaking event for funds raised, with gross receipts of $140,000+. After all expenses are accounted for, the net result for school funds is expected to be approximately $120,000.
This income ensures that the school will continue to provide a music teacher, computer teacher, physical fitness instructor, and a reading resource teacher, as well as providing tuition assistance to the students who are in need. The Board of Education will parcel out the remaining funds based on the original wish list which included new math textbooks, computer equipment and upgrades, science lab equipment and other items not currently in the school’s operating budget.
With the school celebrating its 135th anniversary during the 2009-2010 school year, students, parents, teachers and staff continue to look to the future – to the next 135 years of teaching children and helping them grow in their love of Christ. There have been many miracles over the years to celebrate. One of the most current miracles is the fact that in a slow economy, when pockets are shallow and belts are tight, God still poured songs into many hearts to fill them with a melody of generosity.
From the 2009 Auction Committee, we want to thank everyone who participated in the planning and execution of this year’s event, as well as everyone who donated and/or purchased items to make the auction an exceedingly successful event, surpassing all expectations!
Anyone who is interested in serving on the 2010 Auction Committee should contact the school at (573) 756-5147.
Auction Committee
St. Paul Lutheran School
608 East Columbia Street
Farmington, MO 63640
(573)756-5147
e-mail: auction@stpaulauction.com
