[molions] Auction Report

From: Brad Baker <midsouthlions@xxxxxxx>
To: MO LIONS Network <molions@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 12:13:18 -0500
Fellow Lions and Friends:
I'm sure you've all been waiting anxiously for a report on our "Give the Gifts" 
XXII Dinner and Auction.
First, I want to thank Lion Lynn Tune of the Germantown Lions Club for her 
leadership, optimism and hard work making this a very successful event.  She 
worked tirelessly for many months making sure we had as many bases covered as 
possible.  Things this year seemed to go very smoothly and it's thanks to Lynn 
for coordinating most of those.
The fund raising committee with PDG Floyd and Lion Carolyn Schriber, Lion Marty 
Greenberg and our office staff Lions Betty Douglas and Jennifer Mastin helped 
incorporate the tried and true plan with new, innovative elements to try and 
keep the event fresh.  And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the devotion of my 
wife Mona and my daughter Lindsey Utley who spent the entire weekend working on 
the silent auction and check out.  These folks are the heartbeat of the 
auction, and keep it viable.
All those who met regularly at our quarterly meetings, who had input into the 
decision-making process, and in particular all those who were here on the 
weekend and pitched in 100% to make the auction bigger and better...to all 
those people a heartfelt thank you.  We could not carry out this complex and 
multifaceted event without everyone's help pulling in the same direction.
There are some things that we could have used a bit more help with.  We were 
short on silent auction items this year, but the quality of the items was 
excellent.  Please start now to solicit items for next year's auction.  It's 
always better to start early.  We had a nice live auction with 15 items (2 were 
consignment items) but could always use a few more and better items to attract 
bidders.
We had some challenges with the scheduling of a fund raiser to assist a mission 
trip to Guatemala at the same time as our event, but about 24 representatives 
from Hamilton Eye Institute (including Dr. and Mrs. Hamilton and a sponsorship 
from the Surgery Center) attended and made significant bids and contributions 
to the event.  We certainly could not continue having the auction, or more 
importantly, continue to help our patients without their generous year-round 
support.  Special thanks to Dr. Chris Fleming and the entire UT department of 
Ophthalmology and to Sherrye Crone of the Surgery Center.
A good time was had by all, and we made well over $10,000 for Mid-South to use 
to continue providing miracles to those in need.  (We won't have exact figures 
for a few days).
Next year's auction is already in the planning stage, with either August 1 or 
August 8 begin considered, again at the Memphis Hilton (depending on 
availability).  We'll be tweaking the event to make it even more exciting and 
profitable.  We will once again need all hands on deck for this critical fund 
raiser, so make plans now to get items, get attendees and get here to work!
I'll have more information about the upcoming November meeting soon.  I hope 
you are all making plans to attend the L. B. Baker Hall of Honor induction 
ceremony on either Friday, November 7 or Saturday, November 8 at the Gold 
Strike Casino and Hotel in Tunica, MS.  This is the highest honor our 
organization bestows and this year's inductees are PDG Henry Lamb from Tupelo, 
MS and PDG B. G. Tatum of Cleveland, MS.  We need a good and enthusiastic crowd 
to congratulate and honor these men who have given so many years of service to 
Mid-South. 
Come on to Tunica in November, bring your friends and fellow Lions...I promise 
we'll have good fellowship, a good meeting and some wonderful food.  It's up to 
you to bring your own luck.
Thanks again for all you do to help those in need.
TOgether in service,
Brad
[molions] Auction Report

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