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Motorized La-Z-Boy Up for Auction, Looking For a Unique Auction Item?
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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.
Balloon Boy Dad Releases Video Footage of Balloon Boy Hoax
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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?
