WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Over $27,000 was raised during Missouri State University-West Plains’ 19th annual auction April 5 at the West Plains Opera House, auction organizers said.
Sponsored by Café 37, more than 200 people attended the “Be True to Your School” rock ‘n’ roll-themed event, which included silent and live auctions and a meal, organizers said. One of the featured items on the block that evening was a Vahan diamond bracelet donated by Carter’s Jewel Chest in Mtn. Home, Ark., which brought in $2,450, organizers added.
Proceeds from the auction will be used to support and enhance property growth within the university’s master footprint, organizers said, adding a portion of the proceeds also will be donated to the Tuttle Amphitheater Building Project and renovation and updating of the Garnett Library.
“We would like to thank everyone who participated in the auction,” said Joe Kammerer, director of Missouri State-West Plains’ development office. “The wonderful results could not have been accomplished without the tireless efforts of our auction committee members. The community members we serve gave of themselves, and that made this auction the success it was. We look forward to continuing the celebration of our 50th anniversary year with all of our friends, alumni and supporters.”
Also among the items offered for sale at the auction were those donated by university departments and offices as part of a departmental contest. For the fourth consecutive year, the student services division won the “Highest Dollar Amount Raised” award. The four commemorative basketballs donated by the division garnered a total of $675, auction organizers said.
The history department won the “Top Auction Booster” award, which is a per capita award, organizers said. The submission offered by the two people in that department brought in $109. The total amount raised by all department donations was $1,348, organizers said.
Development office personnel blazed the way for improving department donation proceeds by obtaining sponsors for their donation. Although not included in the departmental contest because of their sponsorship of the event, development office staff partnered with auction committee members to put together a “Downton Abbey”-themed interactive dinner, which sold for $875. In an exciting turn of events, a second dinner also was sold to the second highest bidder. The two dinners brought in a total of $1,750, organizers said. The dinners’ sponsors were Dick Davidson, Sole Café and Broadway Formalwear.
“In order to create this fabulous dinner experience, we knew we needed sponsors,” explained Amanda Niemotka, events coordinator for the development office. “I hope other departments will follow our lead and obtain sponsors for their donations. This makes department donation possibilities truly endless.”
Those departments have just over 10 months to plan their donations for next year’s event. Organizers have set the 2014 annual auction date for April 11 at the West Plains Opera House and the fundraising goal at $30,000. The theme of the 20th annual auction will be “Mad Hat” and will give those planning to attend the opportunity to wear any type of hat they want – silly, fun, beautiful. The possibilities are only bounded by the imagination, organizers said.
Members of the 2013 annual auction planning committee were Heather Bennett, Ruby Collins, Stephanie Cundall, Jackie Grisham, Cindy McFarland, Haley Mitchell, Barbara Nyden, Connie Pfeifer and Kathy Schloss, as well as development office staff members Kammerer, Niemotka, Debbie Martin, Debra Mosley, Susan Turner and Melissa Hinton. Other auction volunteers from the community included Bev and Rick Hamby, Vicki Kimes and Heather Peugh.