FAUSA’s Historic Virtual Getaway and Auctions
The results are in and the 2020 version of the Getaway and Annual Meeting established a new trend in community building and FUNdraising, simultaneously! The world-wide pandemic forced us to re-evaluate our traditional way of meeting and fundraising... and we are liking the results! The combination of Zoom, the online video communication service, and the online auction platform OneCause, allowed us to reach many more of our members virtually and without incurring meeting or travel expenses! Participation by many members who had not previously attended a Getaway increased so the FAUSA ‘community’ continues to grow by reaching out through cyberspace! There may have been a few technical glitches along the way, but overall they were minor inconveniences; and with more practice FAUSA can continue to enhance the value of membership by providing more opportunities to meet virtually! Of course each of us can hardly wait to see one another in person again, but until that time arrives.... let’s make the most of the FAUSA Zoom Rooms!
Auction Review
The online auctions also netted very positive results with a record amount of FUNdraising achieved... almost $18,000!!!
"Magnificent, amazing, excellent".... the superlatives all apply!
Since we were online, the Silent Auction was held over the course of a week (or it could be longer for a future auction, if we choose) and with Zoom we were able to offer talents or experiences to be delivered virtually at a mutually agreed upon time. The Live Auction, also conducted on Zoom, was LIVE-ly thanks to our stupendous auctioneer’s positive energy! Who else but Carol-lyn McKelvey can raise $260 for a coffee mug with a pair of socks? And sell TWO of these packages!!! A huge SHOUT OUT to Carol-Lyn!!
R(a)ise Up for 2020
A new feature was the R(a)ise Up for 2020. As the evening progressed challenges were set, met and over achieved!! Thank you, thank you to Sal and Carol Lalani who announced they would match the $2020 fundraising goal. And there were many more of you who pitched in generously to the tune of $7220!!!! Wowza!!!!!!
Thank You
So as you can see this first-ever virtual meeting and online auctions may bear repeating! There will surely be some tweaks and streamlining performed, so stay tuned for breaking news and see what’s coming up for FAUSA through the remainder of 2020 and beyond! Thank you to each of you who joined the virtual Getaway and Auctions 2020!
Please provide feedback (if you choose) to philanthropy@fausa.org.
Auction items #9, Oh the Places you will go!
The virtual auction catalog for FAUSA’s Got Talent and More! offerings is NOW online.
You will be able to see all of our offerings once you register. We have received over 50 wonderful donations of talents, experiences and items from our amazing FAUSA members and friends. You are certain to find many items and activities you will want to bid on! Bidding for the virtual auction items begins at midnight on Saturday, Sept. 26 and will end on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8:15pm EST. Quilt tickets are still available here!
Travel
For our last virtual auction highlights email, we’re focusing on travel...virtual and real! Explore, plan and go!
Spend a week in a Maine Cottage ("Camp"). The camp is on Forest Lake in Windham, Maine. This is newly renovated, lake-front property has 2 bedrooms and a loft, 1-1/2 baths, washer/dryer, kayaks, paddleboard, and plenty of R&R! Within 20 minutes of downtown Portland, Maine.
Zoom Lecture: Gardens Lost, Gardens Found: Italian Tradition, Anglo American Inspiration. Elizabeth will take us on a virtual tour of the Gardens in Rome from the Imperial Era to the 21st Century. Dream of green and spring!
Private Travel/Vacation Consultation with a professional AMEX agent. Vacations can be very personal so here's an opportunity to discuss in private your dreams and goals for future travel with a travel professional. Leslie can give you advice on where and when to GO in these and post-Covid travel times. This offer is for a couple or an individual.
Therese, who has traveled widely to many little known and unique locations, will give a virtual photo tour on the hidden beauty of Slovenia, a country in Central Europe, famed for its mountains, ski resorts and lakes.
Auction email 8: Bling
We have some fantastic adornments and accessories for you today, donated by FAUSA members for FAUSA’s Got Talent and More! virtual auction of talents, Sept. 27-Oct. 3. The catalog of over 50 items will be out this weekend! A summary of offers that have appeared in these weekly emails can be found here.
For our first selection, here is your chance to work with the maker, Liz, to design a unique pair of handmade knit-wire earrings with your choice of pearls, beads and wire for yourself or a gift! See website for other examples of earrings: lizbjanson.com.
And who can resist this blue topaz and quartz tennis bracelet in sterling silver donated by Carol?! This exquisite tennis bracelet comes in a beautiful blue glass and sequined gift box; ready to give to that special someone or keep for yourself!
Louis Vuitton Men's Leather Wallet, discreetly embossed LV initials. It’s ideal for holding credit cards, bills and receipts. A great gift for an exceptional person in your life. This luxury item holds a cherished place in the heart of the donor. Please bid generously to help keep a legacy alive.
Burberry handbag, black leather with iconic plaid side panels, interior side zip pockets and phone pouch. Magnetic clasp across the middle for added security. You won’t believe the excellent condition of this gently used handbag from Marilee’s friend who has donated generously to our FAUSA auctions before...you know what a great bargain you’ll be getting!!
#7: Info & Art
Wow! The deadline for donations has passed, and we are thrilled to announce that we have over 50 offers of talents, experiences and items to share with you for our FAUSA’s Got Talent and More! virtual auction of talents! Thanks to all of you who have donated, and for everyone else, we’re sure you’ll find plenty of experiences and items of interest to you! A summary of offers that have appeared in these weekly emails can be found here. We’re working on the catalog and will be sending information later this week about how you can register to see and bid on these wonderful offers.
Remember that money raised goes directly to support FAUSA’s philanthropic projects such as its Annual Grant/Banner Project and the Educational Award that FAUSA sponsors for The FAWCO Foundation.
Fine Art Items
This Sunday’s email focuses on a few of the items of fine art that will be available for your bids. We chose a few for today's selection of original etchings, prints and a beautiful piece of calligraphy.
The first one is an exquisite canvas of Emirates iconic horse donated by FAUSA member, Joan. This is a 7.25" square framed piece of canvas calligraphic art of a horse from the United Arab Emirates, still in its box.
A set of 4 framed signed etchings of Nuremberg, by 4 different artists (one is an original) donated by Marilee is our second featured item. These 13.5" x 11" framed etchings were purchased in the late 1960s in Nuremberg. Each is of a landmark by a different artist, one of them is a signed original.
And finally, a framed and signed etching of San Francisco’s Fisherman's Wharf; 28" x 23" by Josef Eidenberger. He was born and trained in Austria, came to the US in 1973 and created a series of California etchings which added a new dimension to his European scenes. Exhibitions of his work and his contributions to the art world are too numerous to mention. Since his death in 1991 at the age of 92, the value of his work has risen sharply.