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Fall Auction Event Job Descriptions
Note: All volunteers that are planning on working at the event and not participating as a guest may attend free of charge. Dinner in a volunteer lounge area will be provided to these non-guest volunteers that participate for a minimum of 4 hours during the event and may bid on items via the process in place for guests when the volunteer is not required to be on duty. Many of the committee & volunteer positions below may also attend the event as a guest and will be required to purchase a ticket to attend dinner in the main dining area.
Co-Coordinator Positions (2 or 3 people):
Emily Schiffman, Julanne Lorimor, Jen Hagen
Oversee all of the Committee Heads listed below (PR, Silent, Live, Event and Guest Relations Coodinators). Schedule and run meetings to keep the team on track. Set up a master calendar for the event planning. Assist each of the coordinators in recruiting volunteers for their positions. Make sure that communication to the team members is top priority. Establish dates, location and timing of the event 10 months prior to event date.
The Fall Auction Coordinator should recruit two additional co-coordinators to work closely with them during the planning of the event. These co-coordinators should plan for a two year volunteer time to work as an assistant the first year and then manage the event the following year with a new volunteer stepping into the assistant position. This will maintain the continuity of information that is not included in this manual or that may arise during the planning process.
Co-Coordinators are expected to attend the event as the “host/hostess” for the evening and socialize with the guests. It is important that you are visible during the event and focusing on the guests, not the running of the event. You will have excellent people in place to run everything behind the scenes.
Public
Relations Coordinator:
Oversee the following volunteer positions: Graphic Design, Program & Paddle Design, Media Relations, Sponsor Soliciation. Assist these people in completing their duties outlined below:
Graphic Design: SCOTT SUMMERS
- Create designs for invitations, posters, advertising, save the date mailers, and parent flyers.
- Coordinate with a printer to prepare the above. Invites & Save the Date card printed at Modern Postcard last two years. Excellent quality and price.
- Coordinate with the Media & Advertising Manager to prepare the ads for news publications.
- Order necessary envelopes & return envelopes. (Order at least 1500-2000 invites & envelopes). Account at Modern Postcard: sonomacharter, password: jaguar.
- Design & print raffle tickets to be included in the invitation. (print locally)
- Design & print RSVP card to be included in the invitation. (print locally)
- Design & print Best Of Live Raffle Tickets (50 each).
Volunteer Time: Approximately 10-20 hours sometime from March to April. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Qualifications: Must have prior Graphic Design experience.
Parent Communications Coordinator:
- Design Flyer template for all meeting announcements for Wed. Folders. Coordinate the flyer info with email or phone announcements to families.
- Print and photocopy needed flyers for delivery to the office.
- Create flyers for donation requests to the parents
- Set up a table before and after school during ticket sales (about 2-3 times per week for 2 weeks) to encourage parent ticket purchases.
Program & Paddle Design:
- Prepare layout for the event program.
- Work with the Graphic Design Manager to obtain any needed graphics for consistency of design.
- Work with the Database Manger to obtain Silent Auction Lot information.
- Work with the Live Auction Manager to obtain Live Auction Lot information.
- Work with the Underwriting manager to obtain necessary graphics for advertising.
- Deliver design to the printer and make arrangements for any binding or collating needed.
- Design Paddle layout (if needed). Work with Underwriting Manager to get this designed & printed.
Volunteer Time: Approximately 10-20 hours right before the event. (Paddle can be completed earlier). This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Qualifications: Must have prior Page Layout experience.
Program Editor:
- Obtain all the information needed from various sources for the program.
- Director’s letter
- Board Chair’s letter
- Event Co-Chair’s letter
- Auction Rules & Guidelines
- Menu
- Live Auction Listing
- Donor List
- Advertisement list
- Misc.
- Prepare all in a word doc for the Program Layout person to drop into the layout.
- Proofread the final version
- Coordinate
the printing of the Program (printed locally) with the Program Layout
person.
Media Relations & Advertising Manager:
- Prepare press releases for the Sonoma IT & The Sun regarding the Event.
- Create a relationship with the local papers to get as much coverage as possible.
- Coordinate with the Advertising at both papers to obtain the best ad rate.
- Follow thru to make sure that all advertising is scheduled and completed.
- Coordinate the distribution of Posters.
- Be creative in ideas for publicizing the event. Examples: Table Tents in restaurants, Farmer’s Market, Insert in the Chamber mailing, Rotary, Kiwanis, Soropt. Newsletters, Advertisements in other School Fundraiser Programs.
- Photos for the newspaper, press releases have greater impact with a photo. Coordinate a pre-event photo with some visual interest.
Volunteer Time: Approximately 20 hours from June until the Fall event. Heavier time commitment during the month preceding the event. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Qualifications: Prior Media/PR experience a plus, but not required.
Sponsorship Solicitation:
- Contact parents with solicitation options
- Work with the SCS Board to obtain a list of potential sponsors
- Send out Sponsor packets with request and follow up with phone calls
- Attend community meetings asking for sponsorships for the event
- Remember, your best opportunities are with parents, grandparents and alumni that own businesses and would be interested in sponsoring the event.
Volunteer time: Approximately 15 hours, depending on follow up time.
Silent Auction
Coordinator:
Oversees the following positions: Underwriting Coordinator, Written Solicitation Coordinator, Procurement Coordinator, Database Entry, Storage & Tagging, Packaging & Display, Auction Check-out & Reconciliation.
Underwriting Manager:
- Find & encourage various businesses to underwrite specific costs of parts of the event in exchange for advertising in the program and at the event (large posters or other type of ads).
- Underwriting possibilities:
- Invites ($500 – name would be on the invites as “sponsored by ___”),
- Programs ($500),
- Various sponsorship levels (Gold Sponsor $1000, Silver Sponsor $500, etc. – listed in program. (includes advertising in the program and two free tickets to the event, etc.)
- Wine/Bar Sponsor with signage at the bar.
- Paddle sponsor for live auction – print their ad on the paddle.
- Real Estate, Insurance, Financial Advisors, Dentist, Orthodontist, Plastic Surgeons, Print Store, Loan Companies, Lawyers, Accountants, etc. Anyone who has a service and may not want to donate a gift cert. Many businesses have Advertising budgets they can use instead of a donation budget.
- Responsible for ordering and staging any signage at the event. This person will have a one-on-one relationship with our Sponsors.
- Provide the needed copy/graphics to Program Design for sponsor recognition in the program.
- Send special thank you gifts to our sponsors after the event.
Volunteer time: Approximately 20-40 hours from January thru June (some follow-up time needed right before the event). A few hours after the event to send thank yous to the sponsors. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Written Solicitations: KRISTY LEWIS (One additional person needed here)
- Send out letters to the following in January/February:
- Wineries
- Amusements & Entertainment
- Lodging
- Golf
- Spas
- Major Corporations – Wall Mart, Target, Safeway, Cisco, HP, Apple, Microsoft, Etc.
Volunteer time: Approximately 40 hours over the course of the year. High concentration of time during January & February to create and send letters. Can be divided among a team of people, but need one person to oversee the details. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Procurement
Manager:
1. Organize a team of people to contacting only targeted local donors that have been chosen from past donor lists. We will not be targeting all businesses, just key places.
2. Coordinate Wednesday folder inserts with donation ideas for the parents. All Parent donations should be received by one month before the event (except perishables).
3. Coordinate one person to contact “non-retail” donors such as Home businesses or At Home Party businesses (Southern Living, Jafra, etc.).
4. Work closely with Auction Software Database Entry and with Storage & Tagging.
Volunteer time: Approximately 30-50 hours over the course of the year. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Donation Pick-UP for Wine, Etc: CARRIE PIERCE
Database Entry: 1. MELANIE LUQUE 2. LISA MIYASAKI
- Enter all donation information as donations are received.
- Provide Program Design Manager information regarding Silent Auction Lots.
- Place gift certificates in folders and set up a filing system.
- Print bid sheets for auction event.
- Oversee the reconciliation process after the event is over.
Volunteer Time: 20-40 hours. Position can be shared with others when software program becomes web-based. This position can also attend the event as a guest, but will need to be available for troubleshooting.
Qualifications: Prior computer experience.
Storage & Tagging:
- Receive & tag with a donation number each item and deliver to storage.
- Transfer description information to the database entry person.
- Verify that all information is present from the Donor and follow up with any missing info (name, address, market value, etc.). Addresses are crucial for Thank You’s!
- Arrange for transportation from Storage to the Event.
- Work with the Auction Close Manager to arrange any transportation back to storage for left over or non-claimed items.
Volunteer Time: A few hours a week once the donations start rolling in. Several hours on the day before the event to coordinate transportation. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Packaging & Display: (4-6 PEOPLE NEEDED): MELANIE LUQUE, LISA MIYASAKI
- Group items into clever packages to increase value and give placement to less desirable items.
- Write descriptions for the packages & provide information to Program Design.
- Coordinate the display of the auction items at the event. Work with the site coordinator to arrange tables, cloths, lighting, sound.
- Coordinate creation of Acrylic displays. Obtain Acrylics (rent from Woodland Star).
- Prepare any signage needed to distinguish the table groupings for closing (table signs, balloons, etc.). Determine colors for tablecloths for each closing group. Coordinate rental of clothes with the Rental Manager.
- Match bid sheets to items, mount bid sheets on cardstock for display. Obtain pens for each item.
- ON the DAY of SETUP: Don’t forget to fill in the table number on the bid sheet and have the silent auction runners pull the items using the bid sheet (not the quick pay receipt). (Note: check to see if there is a Pick List option in the software). Have inside each bidders folder a large ½ sheet of paper with the bid number on it so that when those items have been grouped, this can be attached to the bag or placed in the floor in front of the items.
Volunteer Time: Approximately 10-15 hours the two weeks before the event for packaging and the entire day before the event for set-up. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Live Auction
Coordinator: JEN HAGEN
Oversee the following volunteer positions: Live Auction Solicitation, PowerPoint Display & Equipment, Runners & Spotters, Auctioneer, Bid Winner Gifts (e.g. extra bottle of champagne for the table of the bid winner).
Live Auction Solicitation:
- Work with specific businesses or parent donors to obtain 10-15 live auction lots. Review past auction lots for ideas of what worked and what didn’t.
- Work with the Art Director & School Director to come up with a few class produced projects that will be auctioned during the live auction. All class projects must be easily transported or arrangements for delivery after the event must be made in advance. )
- Write descriptions for each live auction lot for the program and Powerpoint display.
- Coordinate the display (posters) of each live auction lot in the Live Auction area.
- Work with Powerpoint Display representative to provide photos/pictures of Live Auction lots.
Volunteer time: Approximately 40-50 hours prior to the event. Set up time on the day of the event. This position can be shared with several people. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Pay It Forward Coordinator: SAMANTHA CHAPIN
Work with the team to determine a local non-profit recipient to receive the proceeds from the “Pay it Forward” auction lot. Coordinate with the non-profit’s board to obtain logos, information and solicit the auction lot.
Cluster Project Coordinator: SAMANTHA CHAPIN
- Obtain
ideas for cluster projects in coordination with the Art Instructor or
Parent Volunteers.
- Find
parent helpers to coordinate each of the cluster projects.
- Coordinate the delivery of the cluster project to the event and delivery to the winners if needed (if it is large).
Fund-a-Need Information: SAMANTHA CHAPIN
- Work
with the school director to determine the item for the fund-a-need at the
auction.
- Obtain
photos and pricing on the items that will be asked for in the fund-a-need
- Submit
photos and other info to the Power Point Display person for inclusion in
the Live Auction.
- Create
a poster board display of the Fund-a-need for the silent auction
area.
Power Point Display & Equipment: MARC SLOOP
- Prepare a power point display of the live auction items to coordinate with the live auction. Scan or obtain digital photos for each lot.
- Prepare an entry slide with a “welcome” and event graphics for background visuals.
- (Optional). Prepare a power point presentation about the school that will run in the background during the dinner hour.
- Obtain necessary equipment for the display.
Volunteer Time: Approximately 10 hours the two weeks prior to the even to prepare the Powerpoint. Two hours during the live auction itself. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Qualifications: Computer experience, specifically PowerPoint or other presentation software.
Runner, Spotter and Scribe Coordinator:
- Enlist about 7 volunteers to act as runners/spotters during the live auction. Spotters will identify to the Auctioneer anyone in the audience who is bidding on an item. Runners will provide Live Auction winners the receipt for signature and Live Auction item envelope immediately to each winner at the table during the event.
- Enlist 3 volunteers to act as “scribes” recording winning bid numbers and dollar amounts.
- Set up a training session with these people prior to the event.
- Obtain any needed flashlights, clipboards or other supplies for the spotters.
- Print the Live Auction Listing, Bidding Frenzy & Fund-a-Need pages for the event scribes.
Volunteer Time: approximately 1-2 hours during the live auction. Another 1-2 hours to enlist volunteers (this is an easy one to fill). This position must be available as a volunteer for the entire evening.
Bid Winner Gifts & Attendee Gifts:
- Obtain Champagne on ice for high bid winners or other bidders that the Auctioneer may use to give away as needed.
- Have
a volunteer ready to deliver the champagne & glasses at the
Auctioneers direction.
- For
2007 we included a nice portfolio display with the live certificate that
was presented to each winner with the champagne. These can be purchased or hand made.
- Solicit
a small gift for the guests.
(2007- small truffle in a box )
- Package
& display the thank you gifts for the exit (or for the table if small)
at the end of the event
Volunteer time: Approximately 10-15 hours prior to the event (much of it completed from March to June). This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Auctioneer Manager:
- Hire a professional auctioneer to coordinate the live auction.
- Have another volunteer that is very familiar with the items to do the Auction Lot descriptions just before each bid request.
- Both Auctioneer & Auction describer should be in the silent auction room helping to generate interest on various special lots.
- Arrange for a sound system in the silent auction room and stools for the Auctioneer & Auction Describer to travel around and make themselves stand out above the crowd when generating interest.
- Note: These two people should have a bit of “chemistry” to play off of each other and entertain the crowd.
- Possibly get a letter from a Celebrity (or more than one) congratulating the attendees on their generosity (to be read by the auctioneer prior to start or in the middle of bidding).
Volunteer Time: Approximately 3-4 hours prior to the event and during the entire silent & live auction time. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Event
Coordinator:
The Event Coordinator oversees the following volunteers: Site Coordinator, Decoration Team, Catering Manager, Entertainment Manager, Equipment & Rental Manager, Raffle & Coat Check Manager, Valet Company.
The Event Coordinator is the point person to collect all information contained in the invitations and provides it to Graphic Design & Program Editor Volunteers : Name of the band, menu, date, raffle ticket text, underwriters, list of preview special live auction items, timing of everything (silent auction, dinner start time, live auction start time), raffle prize information, cost and number of premium tables, cost of tables for 12, cost of individual tickets, Pay it Forward recipient, Event Chair contact information, etc.
The Event Coodinator also handles all dealing with the venue unless another site coordinator is recruited. Event Coodinator may not attend as a guest and will need to be on-site during setup and during the event.
Site Coordinator: (Need 2 people) 1. JEN BLACKWOOD 2. __(OPEN)____
- With the committee establish a date for the event.
- With the committee, determine a location.
- Finalize contract with the location manager.
- Coordinate any outside contractors needed for the event (catering, lighting, AV, heating, etc.). Work with Event Coordinator on this part.
- Establish necessary spaces for the following:
- Silent Auction Area
- Live Auction/Dinner area
- Dancing area
- Volunteer’s & Entertainer’s dining area
- Entertainment changing area (green room type area).
Decoration Team:
- Design a decorating and lighting concept for the main dining room/Live auction area for the event and the guest entrance. Submit budget to the Steering committee by April 07.
- Purchase or create the needed decorations.
- Install the decorations on the day of the event.
- Plan for removal and transfer to storage of the decorations after the event.
- Design general table décor and Premium table decor and work with the Rental Manager to obtain cloths and other rental items.
Volunteer time: Approximately 40 hours total from March until Fall, depending on the number of volunteers on the team. At least 8 hours on the day before and day of the event. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Qualifications: Previous large format event décor a plus, but not required. Great ideas and a vision for event design is all that is needed.
Catering Manager:
- Plan the menu and food stations.
- Supervise the Catering process during the night of the event. Troubleshoot any problems that arise with the Event Coordinator.
- Contact Lagunitas for a beer donation (at least two months prior) with a solicitation letter. (Keg only, bottles not allowed at Lodge).
- Contact Pepsi/Coke/Aquafina/etc. for soda and water donations prior to event. (See Pattie Bongiovani for help with this)
Volunteer time: Approximately 3 hours prior to the event. Supervision during the entire event. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Qualifications: Prior catering experience a plus, but not required.
Entertainment Manager: JEN & KEN BLACKWOOD, CHARLEY EISLER
- Research & hire the entertainment for the event (bands, performers, etc.)
- Work with the Rental manager to obtain any items needed for the entertainers.
- Supervise the entertainment process during the night of the event. Troubleshoot any problems that arise with the Event Coordinator.
Volunteer Time: Approximately 10 hours prior to the event. Supervision during the entire event. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Equipment & Rental Manager:
- Research the best rental rates from various companies for supplies and equipment needed to run the event.
- Rent any needed sound or lighting equipment for the Silent Auction Room and the Live Auction area.
- Work with the Decorations Team to rent any needed items.
- Work with the Silent Auction Packaging & Display team to rent needed table cloths or lighting.
- Receive and inventory all rental items during the day of the event.
- Inventory all rental items after the event and oversee the return of all rental items to the rental companies.
Contacts:
Lighting & Sound: Diversified Stage, Aaron Miller 707-793-9161
Table Settings: Wine Country Party, Diane Barker, 707-940-6060, www.winecountryparty.com
Volunteer time: Approximately 10 hours prior to the event (during September/October). Supervision before, during and after the night of the event. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Taxi Vouchers:
- Contact the local taxi company and obtain about 10 vouchers for the evening that can be used for guests if needed. SCSF will pick up the cost of the taxi.
- Make sure the vouchers are in an area where either hotel staff or an event coordinator will be observing guests as they leave. Probably the checkout area, but they may be busy helping guests and if someone needs a taxi, they may skip the checkout process.
Raffle
Manager:
- Coordinate the set up of a raffle table in the main entrance near registration.
- Recruit volunteers to staff the raffle ticket table.
- Recruit volunteers to sell raffle and “best of live” raffle tickets during the silent auction (roaming among the guests).
- Note: There will be 3 raffles:
- General “cash” raffle that will be included in the invitations
- “Best of Live” Raffle – 100 tickets @ $100 each to choose the best item out of the live raffle.
- “Rose”, “candy” or “Balloon” sales: $25 each for a mystery gift cert that is worth at least $25, possibly more.
- Supervise the drawing and contact of raffle winners for each raffle event.
- All Raffle volunteers need to have a clipboard where they can write down the bid number and number of raffle tickets sold. This page should be taken to data entry at the close of the silent auction.
Volunteer time: Approximately 2-3 hours prior to the event to arrange volunteers, 1 hour for initial set up and then supervision during the entire event. This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Kid’s Raffle Manager:
- Work with Lynda and Laurie to coordinate start date and end date of the kids auction.
- Prepare the flyer insert and envelopes with 10 cash raffle tickets each to go into the Wednesday folder. (250 sets)
- Lynda will purchase the kid’s raffle prizes and coordinate that portion.
- Prepare enough extra envelopes with 10 cash raffle tickets each for the office to have. (150 sets).
- Outside of envelopes should have a space for the following info to be written: Child’s name, amount enclosed. Also include the due date for all tickets to be included in the kid’s raffle.
Guest Relations – Audience Development:
The Guest Relations Coordinator oversees all positions that have an impact on the guest experience both prior to the event and at the conclusion of the event, including: Mailing List Manager, Invitation & Thank You Manager, Registration Manager and Auction Close and Check-Out Manager.
Mailing List Manager:
- Gather all the necessary mailing lists: Alumni, Chamber, Preschool Enrollment, Prominent Guests, School District Board, Council Members, SCS Board, Lists from School Families, etc.
- Enter lists into the Auction Database for mailing labels.
- Purchase postage – consider getting a bulk mailing rate through the chamber with their member list for $150.
- Order at least 1500 invitations. Remember that this is more than just an invitation, it also generates awareness about the Sonoma Charter School.
- Coordinate the sending of the Save the Date postcard – mailed about 8 weeks before the event). Save the Date card can be mailed to a more select group of potential attendees.
Volunteer Time: Approximately 20-40 hours anytime from January till June. (All info needed before invitations are sent). This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Invitation
& Thank you Manager:
Coordinate with Graphic Design to create & print invitations and “Save the Date” post-cards.
- Create a team of volunteers to assemble and mail the invitations.
- Coordinate a phone team to follow up with calls to specific invitees.
- Prepare the Auction Donor Thank you notes as the donations begin to come in.
- Consider sending a post card to the auction donors with a final “we did it! And you helped!” type of thank you.
Volunteer Time for Invites: About 5 hours for design & printing coordination for the invites. Approximately two 4 hour sessions to assemble & mail invites (depending on number of volunteers).
Volunteer Time for Thank You’s: 8-10 volunteers, about 4 hours each (if all are handwritten). This position can also attend the event as a guest.
Registration & Checkout Manager:
- Track ticket sales
- Assign bid numbers
- Prepare Bidder folders, (note: Have inside each bidders folder a large ½ sheet of paper with the bid number on it so that when those items have been grouped, this can be attached to the bag or placed in the floor in front of the items.)
- Obtain Cash Drawer & credit card processing equip.
- Utilize Auction Maestro software for guest check-in and “quick check” set-up
- Solicit & Train volunteers for registration & checkout process.
- Supervise the data entry volunteers for the duration of the event.
- Work closely with the Auction Close Manager.
- Arrange for volunteers to help with the financial check-out process and provide any necessary training. (need about 4 volunteers)
Volunteer time: Approximately 5-10 hours prior to the event and then 5-6 hours during the event. Registration volunteers can be split into shifts if needed. An additional 30-40 hours post event to reconcile the data and process the final payments.
Qualifications: This person will have to obtain prior training on the software used for registration & checkout.
Auction Close Manager:
- Arrange volunteers (4-6) to close each table and retrieve bid sheets at the close of each section. Send bid sheets to data entry (and/or filing) for the check out procedure. Have closers well trained on the timing and watching the auctioneer closely. Leave pink form with the item at all times. Once data entry is complete, the computer prints out a pick list of the items, match with the bidder’s folder (staple together) and submit to the runners for retrieval. All pink forms must remain on the tables even after the item is taken. This will help solve problems later on. Let the guests know that a full receipt will be sent to them after the event is over if they submitted for quick pay.
- Arrange volunteers to help with the distribution of items once the auction is closed. (need about 10 volunteers)
- Arrange for volunteers to help with clean-up of silent auction room and repacking of display items. (need about 6 volunteers)
- Set-up transportation for leftover items to be returned to Storage after the event. (Sunday). Work with the Storage & Tagging Manager on this part.
Volunteer Time: Approximately 2-3 hours prior to set up volunteers & training. This person will be responsible to supervise the checkout process during the entire event. This person will not be able to attend the event as a guest, except during the silent auction. Their job begins once the silent auction starts to close and will be required to stay in the check-out area for the rest of the evening. Includes those who are staffing the close-out area, although it may be completed in shifts. No tickets are required for these volunteers and dinner will be provided.

