Internet Turns 40
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On October 29th 1969, the first transmission between two computers took place between the University Of California and the Stanford Research Institute. After this amazing occasion, however, it wasn’t until the mid 1970’s that engineers developed a way to link networks together to create the internet. Today the internet is accessed by more than a billion users and that’s only the beginning of the facts. Did you know 1 out of 8 couples married in the U.S. last year met via social media? If Facebook were a country, it would be the world’s 4th largest between the United States and Indonesia (note that Facebook is now creeping up – recently announced 300 million users). One out of 6 higher education students are enrolled in online curriculum. 80% of Twitter usage is accomplished without a personal computer. People update their Twitter anywhere, anytime. Imagine what that means for bad customer experiences. There are over 200,000,000 blogs. 24 of the 25 largest newspapers are experiencing record declines in circulation because we no longer search for the news, the news finds us. The facts are staggering.
Some feel that the internet is as important as food, water, air, or even life itself. In fact Finland has just become the first country in the world to declare broadband Internet access a legal right, not a privilege mind you, but a legal right for all its citizens.
The internet is vital to your success, whether you are an auctioneer or a nonprofit organization. If you are in the world of business and are not using all that the internet has to offer — blogs, social networks and all the other streams — because you feel it takes up too much time or it is just used for socializing, you are not maybe losing revenue you are losing revenue. Hire someone that can connect you to these online opportunities if you do not have the time yourself. Are you ready for the revolution?
Despite the new look, Jay Leno’s new show’s viewer ratings are dropping. Some say it’s because he changed his comedy writers. Others are saying it’s his time slot. But one thing is for sure, if his show continues to lose viewers, his show will not be on very long.
The news comes as Leno’s ratings continue to soften. Six weeks since his 10 p.m. debut of “The Leno Show”, he hit a series low (1.2) on Friday. Then episodes on Monday (1.4) and Wednesday (1.5) were the lowest yet for those respective nights, with Tuesday (1.8) matching its low.
Hosting a fundraising event is very similar.
The time slot of your event is important. You might have people accustomed to a Friday night and switching to what appears to be a better time slot, like a Saturday, could have negative effects. Just like Jay Leno switching his time slot. However, hosting an auction on a Saturday is traditionally the best day for an event and usually brings in larger groups of potential donors. Although having a better time slot (like Jay Leno) is not the only thing to rely on.
Jay Leno’s comedy writers and their group meetings are a lot like the planners and committees of well-ran profitable fundraising events.
Planning the time the auction starts, when to have the food, scheduling entertainment that adds and not distracts from the event, and when the event will end. The list goes on and on. (For a free detailed list of how to plan a successful charity auction, contact us.)
By the time the television show starts and is live on the air, there is little that can be done to affect the show just like an auction. It’s the time and hard work spent before the event that will make the night a success.
To have an event filled with energy and guests that aren’t just following the mundane motions of going to a fundraising auction but are involved, excited, and emotionally connected to the charity auction, takes the commitment and professionalism of a group of knowledgeable people ready for the curtain call.
Taylor Mitchell showed signs of being a great success in the folk music industry at the young age of 19. Her new album, “For Your Consideration”, was well-liked and led her nomination for the Canadian Folk Music Award for young performer of the year!
Tragedy struck while hiking Tuesday in the highlands of Nova Scotia, when she was attacked by two coyotes. A group of hikers scared the coyotes away and she was taken to the hospital and air lifted to Queen Elizabeth Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. Tragically the injuries were so severe that she did not recover. This bright rising star died October 28th 2009.
As a benefit and charity auctioneer, I hope her legacy and mind for the arts lives on not only through her music and followers, but through some form of foundation.
It’s sad that many folks make an impact in our life and we don’t carry on their legacy. It should be our goal to continue their positive impact in the world. This reminds me of the story of the butterfly effect or the way the ripple of a wave can have an impact across the globe. It’s the positive impact, like Taylor Mitchell’s life, that needs to be planted so it lives on.
These are the minds that need to continue to affect and inspire us and also get people to believe in something bigger than ourselves.
Think of someone that has affected your life or an organization that has made an impact. Help that voice continue to be heard and you will have thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, backing you saying, “I am here to stand up and be counted for the cause!”
Charity Auctions and Halloween Themes
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Yellow Zoot Suit For Auction Theme
All successful benefit auctions offer lots of “treats” – the silent auction, games, live auction, and emotional appeal, but how can you make the event more memorable for your guests?
Halloween always sparks many people’s creativity for wild themed costumes and fun creative parties. Wanting to break the mold of the traditional charity auction? Consider “Halloween 2.0″. Your charity auction could incorporate a costume party or just celebrate Halloween all over again at another time of year, just like Christmas in July. However, don’t get “tricked” out of a good charity auction by not planning ahead. Included in the theme can be neat ideas for the food, a costume contest, the ideas are endless! You may consider memorable clips from Halloween-type movies such as Charlie Brown’s The Great Pumpkin, Fat Albert’s Halloween Special, Nightmare Before Christmas, etc. Make sure that all your staff, and even the auctioneer, agree to come to the event in costume. I am sure you have a Halloween enthusiast who works or volunteers for your organization. If you choose a themed-costume party, consider hiring actors or performers that promote the theme in a dramatic way. A local acting school or high school drama club may agree to do this at no charge.
So consider having a ghoulish time at your next auction.
To your guests say, “Boo
and don’t forget to bid too!”
In August 2008, Dennis Anderson, an auto body mechanic, was arrested for drinking and driving after he crashed while driving his motorized La-Z-Boy. Dennis installed a lawn mower engine, wheels, radio, and headlights. He even equipped this one of a kind contraption with a steering wheel and seatbelt.
Ok, this item might not be for you but I don’t know how many times I have seen one of a kind items sell extremely well at auctions. The facts remain true one of a kind or interesting items can sometimes bring in large financial gains, even if it’s just a flower pot or a chair. I am not sure if that’s what this man had in mind when building this. Either way it’s now up for auction. Late night talk shows have even been making jokes about it! This item has drawn a lot of attention from the news papers and news stations along with a lot of internet attention. Imagine that kind of free publicity at your next auction?
So the next time you think of a fundraising auction, think of this strange but interesting story and you might come up with a unique idea that will bring a lot of marketing attention or a lot of money. Maybe even both!
Toastmasters Best Table Topic Speech Award
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Excellent effort, Kevin!!!
I recently searched out a professional speaking group and was told that there is no better in the world than Toastmasters. A past National Speakers Association President stated a local Toastmasters group that meets here in Colorado is one of the top in the United States, so I decided to look no further.
Needless to say, no one informed me that I, as a new member, would have to participate in the speaking competition contest that week. I was not familiar with the requirements or expectations from the veteran judges. Amazingly, I won the award for “Best Table Topic Speech,” which is known as the toughest to win because the entire club competes. All attendees, who range in number from 50-100, present one to two minute impromptu speeches on surprise topics unbeknownst to the speaker.
I always say that it’s no mistake that the world’s most expensive cars, antiques, and horses, all over the world, are sold at live auctions. This is because a great professional auctioneer is a great salesman, orator, and communicator, always perfecting his craft.
The father of Balloon Boy, Richard Heene, finally released video footage that he recorded in his backyard. The 3-minute video shows the launching of a home-made contraption that started an epic news story about a boy and a balloon. On October 15th, News helicopters showed live footage from the air of the balloon zooming through the sky, allegedly with Balloon Boy inside. Evidently, the Heene family planned the hoax a couple of weeks before the incident and has now admitted that the balloon boy stunt was all for publicity.
People all over the world, just like me, believing that Balloon Boy was inside, watched the balloon soaring through the air, their hearts filled with dread. Some of us could not keep our eyes off the screen, hoping for some glimpse of a positive outcome. Some of us could not watch, afraid of the possibility of observing the horrible demise of a little boy. Some prayed with shaky hands and pounding hearts and some, with the means, could not stay home and watch, but jumped in their helicopter to try to help in the rescue. I was amazed at the varied and overwhelming response to a (supposedly) desperate situation.
Despite the fact that you now may feel cheated out of your heartfelt concern and prayers, try to remember your emotions when you believed that this 6 year-old little boy needed rescuing. Many of us would have done anything we could to help save Balloon Boy. Isn’t it amazing how a single video could impact us like this? But this balloon story really captivated the entire world for several hours!
The nonprofit organizations that I know exist to help people with a need. Your job as a charity fundraiser is to expose the need with an emotional appeal and that, on its own merits, will inspire people to act upon the need. Your donors have resources, like time, money, and their devotion to your cause, that they will be more willing to give when they can feel the need. I highly recommend including an emotional appeal in your live fundraising charity auction. A short 3 minute fundraising video is easy to create and can captivate your audience in a way that nothing else can. How could your nonprofit benefit from a fundraising video presentation in the emotional appeal at a charity auction event?
