Charity Auction 2010 Planning

[Luke]

We did two weeks last time.

And another week would do nothing but give buyers opportunities to increase bids. Three weeks would give more than enough time to create a sense of urgency.

Just speaking from my personal experience. It's in the collective admin's hands, but I'd love to see us double last year's donation. Adding extra time for people to add products as well as bid on them can only help.

[Killette]

Who do we contact about donating items and when would you guys like them by?

[Hobie-wan]

Who do we contact about donating items and when would you guys like them by?

Last year, people that were donating things too pictures and sent to the mod running the show so they could be added to the biddign thread. After the bids were done, the donater shipped them out to the winning bidders.

[dsheinem]

Who do we contact about donating items and when would you guys like them by?

All in good time! expect an announcement early next month!

[Anapan]

Is there a charity that buys puppies from the SPCA and gives them to sick children?

[dsheinem]

I just posted a poll here: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=25276

I added the ones people seemed most vocal about supporting in the comments above.

I also added the The Epilepsy Therapy Project. I did this primarily because the beneficiaries of the last two charity drives (last year's auction and a smaller fund raising effort the prior year) were tied to some real-life problems that forum members were going through. We have a forum regular that has had some medical issues this year related to seizures, so I thought it made sense to include an option related to that.

I also thought that since some kids can't enjoy gaming due to the fact that certain patterns can cause seizures, it might be nice for gamers to help them out in some small way. Maybe our donations can eventually help these people enjoy games again...

[dsheinem]

So, it will be the Make a Wish foundation! Awesome charity!

Now we need to finalize dates. I am partial to December 1-17, as those are dates where I can keep up with it (especially during the second week) as it is a lot of work! Any real objections to this date?

Also, do we want to run it in the same fashion as last time (via a thread with bids in the thread), or do we want to move it to something like Game Gavel if they would let us do it for free?

I am inclined to just leave it in the thread, have people pay me via PayPal, and I will send a check to Make a Wish after everyone has paid. This worked last time, so I say if it ain't broke...

Please share your last thoughts about logistics. I plan to use November to campaign to get item donations, so time is of the essence!

[aaron]

i liked last year's method. i think dec 1st through the 17th would be perfect. that's my vote.