What do tickets to a Red Sox-Yankees game have to do with community service?!?
A lot actually!
On December 1st, the Olin community descended upon our Dining Hall with cash and checkbooks in hand for the annual SERV (Support, Encourage, and Recognize Volunteerism) Auction. SERV is the umbrella organization for community service at Olin and, each year, it organizes a auction on campus to raise money for various charitable organizations. This year was the most successful SERV Auction yet (we raised $6,805) and all proceeds were donated to two organizations: half to the Chernobyl Children’s Project and half to Partners in Health.
The event is actually two auctions, one is silent and the other is live. There was a dizzying array of goods and services donated for the auction, from Baked-Goods-of-the-Month to rides to the airport and “Story Time” with Montana Mike (’10) to organizing your home/office/dorm room. And yes, one of the donated items was a pair of tickets to the opening series of the Red Sox and Yankees next April (courtesy of Visiting Asst. Professor of Chemistry Chris Morse). Members of the Office of Student Life and Asst. Professor of Mechanical Engineering Jessica Townsend got in a bidding war…
Note how Prof. Townsend (pictured at right) is staring down her competition!
The tix sold (eventually!) to Jessica for over $200.
Another fun bid was for 75 hours of MANual labor (courtesy of some upperclassmen guys in East Hall):
Affectionately known as the “Man Hall,” these guys not only donated themselves to the auction, they were quite the bidders as well!
Speaking of, those guys were involved in the HIGHEST BIDDING WAR of the day - Movie Night, sponsored by a large group of Olin faculty. From the Live Auction Descriptions:
Movie Night
The Olin Faculty (Rob Martello)
No starting bid
A group of Olin faculty want to watch a movie with you. The winning bidder gets to plan the venue, and the higher the bid, the greater the fun.
The high bidder or bidding team receives the rare, status-filled opportunity to plan and experience a movie night with the faculty! You pick the invitee list (all of Olin? Your suite? Your class? We say, more the merrier!). You pick the Olin location (the residence hall? The auditorium?). You pick several possible dates and times. And you pick the movie (or substitute something else such as a sporting event, TV show, etc.). Note that the faculty retain veto power over all choices, but are looking to have fun with this. Will this be a sci-fi event? Sports? Comedy?
Faculty members who plan to attend, pending scheduling constraints, include Brian B, Debbie C, Mark C, Steve H, Caitrin L, Rob M, Chris M, Oscar M, Joanne P, Mark S, Sarah S, Jon S (if in spring), Zhenya Z., Diana D. and Alisha S. Other faculty will attempt to join the fun once a date and time are set.
If the high bidder exceeds $50.00 the faculty will present a signed “certificate of exceptional and meritorious
excellence” to the winning bidder (or bidding team)!
If the high bidder exceeds $65.00 the faculty will also compose and deliver an ode to honor the winning bidder or bidders!
If the high bidder exceeds $80.00 the faculty will also bring several short features, trailers, etc, to simulate a true theater experience!
If the high bidder exceeds $100.00 the faculty will also bring snacks and treats!
If the high bidder exceeds $125.00 the faculty will also do something fun and/or zany prior to the show!
The excitement doesn’t stop there. Faculty will consider other customizable aspects to this event for every $25 increment above $125 (or will expand the bonus features listed above), and we will take requests.
The upperclassmen watch as the bids rise… $200… $300…
First-years contemplate their next move, as senior Molly pushes the bidding to $500…
The guys (literally) put their heads together to figure out how high they can go…
The winning bid was $525!! Now what I’m wondering is what “fun and/or zany” requests the faculty will take since the bidding went so high!
Some other photos…
Prof. John Geddes chuckling after he made a bid on a donation by Bennett (’09)
Study Away Coordinator and Hall Director David Soo bidding by proxy for Alison Black, Asst. Dean of Student Life (she was busy helping to run the auction)
Nikki ‘10, Brian ‘10, Herbert ‘09 and Ike ‘09 take in all the action
Roland ‘10 looks quite pleased from his birds-eye view from the balcony
Alex ‘10, Assoc. Professor Brian Storey, Professor Gil Pratt, Asst. Professor Mark Chang, Visiting Professor Dave Miller and Jo ‘07 enjoy lunch during the auction.
I definitely think a good time was had by all! I’m already thinking of ideas for my donations to next year’s auction… I’m open for suggestions!
Take care and let me know what’s on your mind!
Allison
allison.bahme@olin.edu
781-292-2203
IM: OlinAdmission
http://www.olin.edu/
