HOW THE BENEFIT AUCTION WORKS

The Guild is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization, and our benefit auction is our only regularly held fundraising event. In addition to being an excellent fund-raiser for the Guild, it is also a lot of fun and a highlight of the Convention. Here’s how it works:

Anyone may donate items to be sold at the auction. These generous donors will receive a receipt and thank-you from Guild Headquarters following the Convention. Items donated are tax deductible at the value placed on them by the donor. (The purchaser cannot take a tax deduction, as they are buying something, i.e., receiving a benefit.) Auction items will be available for inspection in the University Center during the exhibition hours on Thursday, Friday and early Saturday. Each item will have its own bid sheet. You can begin bidding on any of the items during the exhibition by writing in your name and your bid amount. By Saturday, the auction items will have been separated into two groups: “silent auction” and the traditional “live auction.” Items marked “silent auction” will be sold by using the bid-sheet method only. These items will be sold at staggered times per table on Saturday afternoon (exact time will be listed in your program). The rest of the items will be sold in a traditional live auction later that evening. You can begin bidding on “live auction” items on the bid sheets, and we’ll begin bidding at the highest bid on the sheet. All items are, of course, sold “as is.” You can pay with cash, a traveler’s check, a personal check, or credit card. (Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express.) The sky's the limit! For both auctions, you must be prepared to ship or take away the items you purchase. A shipper will be on hand Saturday evening at 5:00pm and Sunday morning in the UC to ship your items home.