You are Invited to Attend the December Annual Holiday Charity Event & Auction

The holiday auction is a long-standing holiday tradition passed down to the Elkhart County Board of REALTORS® from the previous Elkhart Board of REALTORS®. The day begins around 11:00 AM with the arrival of REALTORS®, AFFILIATES,OFFICE STAFF and other guests carrying packages large and small for the auction. The Board's entertainment committee is on hand to help deliver donations to the many auction tables set up in the middle of the room and to direct guests to the auctioneers table to get a bidding number. After getting a bidding number, everyone seems to go straight to the tables that display all of the amazing donations. Above the OOOHs and AHHs you can hear people trying to decide what items they will bid on this year when the auction begins.  

At 11:40 the line begins to form so everyone can fill their plates with the bountiful holiday meal. Along with the meal, complimentary red and white wine is available at the tables that are adorned with festive holiday centerpieces to be auctioned through out the day. The room is buzzing with noise and excitement as everyone eats and waits for another auction to begin.  

After the buffet line is seated the Board President begins the program by recognizing the organizations who will receive the funds raised at the auction. This year, Dave Myers will introduce representatives from the Elkhart and Goshen Salvation Army and from the LifeLine organization. In addition, thanks will be given to the Entertainment Committee Chair - Mark Kramer and his committee - without these people we would not be able to run such a successful event. For many years, Duane Troyer & his staff, have volunteered their time, talent, equipment and staff to set-up and run the auction, with thanks going to other member auctioneers who will assist in the event.  

Santa, traditionally played by Larry Mitchall with substitutes by Bob Shultz, enters the room with a HO HO HO signaling the beginning of the auction. All the Entertainment Committee Helpers put on their hats and make their way to meet Santa and the volunteer auctioneers, headed by Duane Troyer. Duane gives the audience the ground rules and usually chooses a dramatic item to kick off the auction and the bidding and socializing begins.  

The auction continues non-stop until every last item has been purchased. Some of the crowd leaves during the day and some of those will return for the annual after party - yet to be decided - and some stay until the event is finished somewhere between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Duane stays behind with the several others to tally the winnings and pack up the equipment. The total monies raised will be announced to the group at the after party and this year we will try and beat last year's total of $16,000.  

So now you know..our thanks to past participants for their consistent generosity and we encourage everyone to participate in the event by bringing an item and purchasing items. Its fun and its for Charity, a great combination! See you there.  

And remember, please let us know if you are attending so we can have seats and food for everyone. We give it our best guess each year but as those without seats last year may remember we are not very accurate when left to guess! Last year we had record high attendance of close to 300 people, awesome, but many forgot to call.

If you have a donation and cannot attend, we will be glad to pick them up! Just call the Board Office at 875-3283.

Proceeds from the Auction go to:

Elkhart Salvation Army

Goshen Salvation Army

Lifeline

Come and join the fun!