When: Saturday, April 28th, 2012

Where: St. Catherine of Siena’s of Trumbull

To View last year’s the Program with all silent and live acution items listings, click HERE.

At this time we are seeking donations for silent auction items such as:

• Tickets to sporting events

• Sports camps

• Vacation Time-share or Rentals

• Corporate donations

• Spa or resort servicesl

• Restaurant Coupons or other Gift Certificates

• Lawn services or other household services

• Be creative

Click HERE  to dowload a copy of donation and sponsorship form, which you can use to let us know what you would like to contribute to the event or use it to post an ad for your business or service or to solicite donations and/or ads for the program book from local community businesses

We also ask parents and friends to donate toward our “Classroom Themed Basket.”  A listing of basket themes will be provided in March.

Spring Auction ~ Frequently Asked Questions!

The Saint James Spring Auction is one of the largest fundraisers our school holds each year, and it keeps getting bigger and better! We need the help of the entire school community to make this year’s event the most successful yet!

We need auction items and corporate sponsorships from local businesses. Most importantly, we need you, your family, friends, and neighbors to come have a fun and exciting time at the auction!

Below are some frequently asked questions about the auction:

When and where will the 20112auction be held?

This year’s auction is April 28th, 20112 at the McClinch Family Center (at Saint Catherine of Siena Parish) in the Nichols section of Trumbull. The address is 200 Shelton Road. From Stratford, you take Nichols Avenue (Route 108) to Shelton Road and the church is ½ mile down on the right hand side. St. Catherine of Siena’s web site, www.stcatherinetrumbull.com has detailed directions.

The evening’s events are as follows:
6:30PM to 8:00PM – Silent and Chinese Auctions
8:00PM to 9:30PM – Buffet Dinner and Live Auction
9:30PM to 11:30PM – Music and Dancing

How much are the tickets?

Tickets are only $40 per person BYOB or a cash bar. This includes scrumptious appetizers and a delicious Italian buffet dinner prepared by the head chef of Vazzy’s Restaurant. The evening will be filled with exciting silent and live auction items and will finish off with music and dancing!

How do I make my reservations?

Invitations will be sent home before the event and posted online as well.  You .   Advance registration is required by April 16th. No walk-ins can be accepted. Call (203) 375-5994 with questions.

Do I need to fill my own table?

NO! Come alone, come as a couple, bring a friend or come as a group! Table size will accommodate 6 to 10 people. Requests to sit with a group will certainly be honored.

What do I wear to the auction?

Typically dress ranges from nice business casual to fancy cocktail attire. Wear your dancing shoes!

I have never been to an auction . . . how does it work?

When you arrive at the auction, you will receive a paddle with a number on it (couples can share if they prefer). You will use this paddle number when bidding on items. Two types of auctions will take place – Silent and Live. The following is a brief description of each:

• Silent Auction – Silent auction items range from gift baskets with all sorts of goodies, gift certificates, art work, services for your home, wine, event tickets, etc. There are usually DOZENS of silent auction items to choose from! Each item has a sheet of paper in front of it called a bid sheet. The bid sheet lists a minimum bid amount (say $20) and a bid increment ($5). If you would like to bid on the item and you’re the first one there, put your paddle number and your opening bid of at least $20. (Note: minimum bids vary for different items). If someone has already bid before you, you need to bid at least the amount of the bid increment higher than them. So, if the person before you bid $20, you would need to bid at least $25. You can bid as high as you want as often as you want and on as many items as you want! When the bidding closes (around 8PM), members of the auction committee collect the bid sheets, and the highest bidder wins the item! We’ll let you know during dinner which items you’ve won.

• Live Auction – The live auction is a lively and exciting event that occurs during dinner. Live auction items are usually large items like golf outings, weekends away, or fine jewelry! The auctioneer will start the bidding at a certain amount and you raise your paddle to join in the fun! Going once . . . going twice . . . sold!!!

Are there any other items for sale at the auction?

YES! We will have gift bags for sale for $25 apiece. These work like grab bags. You will draw a number and receive a gift bag labeled with the corresponding number. The gift bag will contain at least $25 worth of merchandise, but many will be worth more than $25! Items will range from gift cards to local shops and restaurants to bottles of wine, and other fabulous items. Quantities are limited.

How can I pay for my auction items?

Before the night is over and you head home,  you have to check-in to the office to pick-up your winnings.  Cash, checks, and credit cards (MasterCard and Visa) are accepted for auction items you win. Please note: Only cash and checks can be accepted for the Chinese Auction tickets and Gift Bags. All items must be paid for and collected the night of the auction.
The auction committee sincerely hopes you will consider attending the auction this year. Don’t miss this wonderful evening with great food, excellent company, exciting prizes, and, most importantly, fundraising for our children’s school!

Please feel free to share with us any comments, questions, or suggestions you may have for the auction committee. To share your suggestions or to speak to a staff member regarding the auction, contact the school office, (203) 375-5994 and ask for Victoria or e-mail us info.sjschool@gmail.com or auction.sjschool@gmail.com.