Family Reunion Auctions: Ideas on How to Run Them
Let me guess. You are planning a family reunion and one of your relatives has suggested holding an auction to raise money for expenses incurred.
What a good idea!
Like many other families, my family started holding an auction to cover the costs of producing the event.
The money raised from the auction is used in the months leading up to the meeting for expenses such as renting the facility and purchasing utensils, coffee, and related supplies. My cousin buys the meat (for which he is reimbursed) and graciously smokes it from a melt-in-your-mouth grocer on his farm. We also buy fun prizes to reward the “oldest attendee” or “farthest traveler”. Winners of several other games also receive small gifts like travel-size lotions and hand sanitizers.
For our first auction in 2005, we sold 23 items and raised $610. Everyone was delighted! Since hosting the meeting has typically only cost ~$200, an account was opened at the credit union to hold the extra cash. Refunds are made from that account. Because that first event was so successful and covered our costs, we have since put less emphasis on everyone bringing an item.
We announced our first auction through a mass email to the family. Everyone was asked to bring something to sell at our inaugural Family Reunion Auction. Because the concept was new, many people had questions about what would be an appropriate item to carry. We gave examples of items we had heard sold at our friends’ family auctions.
When guests arrive at our gathering, we put their donated items on a separate table with a sign that says “Auction Items.” Guests come to the table to browse and, after lunch, I start the sale. If no one in your family it is an auctioneer, I encourage you to find the most outgoing member of your brood and ask them to play the part. (If you have a very large gathering, it might be worth hiring a professional profit auctioneer who is likely to take a small percentage of the gross or charge a modest flat fee.)
We do not number items, write descriptions or use offer numbers. One of my cousins manages the clerk and they all pay the clerk in cash or by check after the event. It’s a low-tech, low-effort auction, but it still makes money.
Items sold are usually handmade by the donor or have some personal meaning to the family. For example:
• Canned tomatoes
• A dozen kolaches
• Crochet items
• A basket full of all Kansas products (wine, snacks)
• Wahoo game board with marbles and dice
• Bird house
• A collection of freshly picked garden vegetables
• Reprinted photos of Grandma and Grandpa
• A scrapbook of Grandma’s saved sayings, recipes, and other clippings, including some in Czech.
• Cookie basket
• Old postcards kept by Grandma and Grandpa
• Painted Christmas ornament
In short, our family auction has served its purpose and has become a tradition. I predict the same will happen with your event!
