As was stated in the Trumpet, we are going to include the purchase of two tickets to our Auction as part of our mandatory fundraising for the 2010-2011 school year. This was a decision that caused a significantly larger amount of stress than it should have, as we are very aware of how every dollar spent can effect some of our families. However, after much discussion with the school board we chose to adopt this policy.
As everyone should know, the Auction has become our primary fundraiser, and its success is the number one reason we are able to charge a tuition that is below what we spend each year per student. Despite its importance, we are now into our second year where no one has signed up to chair the event. It is a daunting task with the unspoken implication that “each year must do better than the previous year.” While this is not the case, we do depend on the funding that the auction generates.
It has to be remembered that every family at Holy Angels that pays the parish rate for tuition is, essentially, in receipt of a scholarship and these scholarships are funded, in part, by this event.
Yet, every year, we enter into Auction season with questions about the procurement of items, putting together a successful evening, in addition to the multitude of details that must be addressed. We always seem to approach the final week before auction with questions about attendance, with ticket sales low and the constant nagging regarding the success or the failure of the night. I, along with the school board, feel it is not fair to those who step up and lead this event to always require them to worry if individuals will even attend. Secondly, it is unfair of the school to expect the committee to work without a budget of any sort, based upon lack of ticket sales.
Most importantly, we want our families at the event. We have families who have been at the school for over ten years who have never attended this great event. It is really a great night and a lot of fun, whether or not you bid on items. The community of our school is highly regarded throughout the area and it is important that all our families are part of this. With this in mind, we hope you are supportiveof this decision, and more importantly, that we will see you at the Auction!
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