District IX Report - 2010/05
Contributor
Lora Knowlton has submitted the following article, chronicling one of the largest RC auctions in the country. Lora is a well-respected modeler in the Rocky Mountain area and has been project manager for our annual AMA Expo in Ontario the last two years.
Event overview
While many people were preparing for Super Bowl parties, members of the Jefco Aermod'lers RC Club were hard at work preparing for the club's 36th Annual RC Auction.
Held February 5–7 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds near Denver, Colorado, the event drew nearly 500 buyers, sellers, and spectators and offered over 1,150 items for sale. A huge selection and variety of items were available—airplanes, jets, cars, helicopters, gliders, radios, engines, tools, and even a few RC boats.
Setup and check-in
The club "moves in" to the fairground exhibit hall on Thursday. Over 66 club volunteers dedicate themselves to fun, hard work, and more fun over the busy weekend.
On Friday there are numerous tasks to accomplish:
- Arrange and cover display tables
- Arrange the auction item check-in area
- Set up the computer and data input stations
- Prepare the volunteer check-in and hospitality area
- Secure the cash-out and pay areas
- Set up the official auction block
Friday is also the first official "check-in" day. About 90% of all items for sale are checked in that day. Sellers bring their wares labeled "Buy It Now," priced, shrink-wrapped, packaged, and ready to hopefully fetch top dollar.
Auction layout
After items are checked in, volunteers move them into the exhibit hall and arrange them carefully to create a visually appealing auction area. Kits are stacked underneath tables; aerobatic planes are placed diagonally on end against the outer walls; Giant Scale aircraft are arranged on the floor in a special roped-off area; engines, radios, and other items are scattered throughout the tables, with no spare table space to be found. There are miles of aisles filled with airplanes and goodies.
There is a definite sense of excitement in the air. Several attendees were seen checking their wallets to make sure they had plenty of money for the weekend.
Auction days — Saturday and Sunday
Saturday and Sunday are the big auction days. Club volunteers take turns sharing the microphone and acting as auctioneer. It's amazing how many wannabe radio DJs the club has!
Runners transport items from the table areas to the auction block, carefully ensuring items are taken to the sold or "pass" tables. Data-entry volunteers rotate turns entering bidder number, item number, description, and selling price for each transaction—reading glasses are a required piece of equipment for this important task.
Steve Mangels, the auction coordinator, maintains a profound sense of calm and serenity during the auction—must be the calming colors of his brightly colored shirts!
Steve reported: "Everything ran fairly smoothly with only the normal amount of problems and errors. This year was a bit of a challenge as we included a number of new systems and procedures such as a new Buy It Now system and a new Pass table operation. We are constantly trying to reduce errors, and overall we are pleased with the outcome of the auction. This year was no exception."
Jefco Aermod'lers RC Club president John Lipe reported: "Our annual auction was a success from several viewpoints. The proceeds will help our club retire some of the debt incurred when our runways were repaved last fall. The auction functions not only as a vehicle for buying and selling hobby products, but as a social occasion to exchange ideas and new technology and to visit with old friends. The combination of these attributes furthers our hobby far beyond just having an auction."
Conclusion
The Jefco Aermod'lers RC Auction is not only one of the club's major annual events, but also another opportunity for members to bond, have fun, and work together as a team. Oh, by the way, many of our hard-core event volunteers did make it to their Super Bowl parties on Sunday!
Remember: keep the sunscreen on to keep the cancer off when you go out to the field to fly. Until next time.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
