PineCone Bluegrass Blast and Silent Auction

PineCone's first ever Bluegrass Blast and Silent Auction will be held on Saturday, August 16, at Lake Benson Park in Garner. All proceeds from this event will benefit PineCone, the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music. Our goal is to raise $5,000 for PineCone's reserve fund so that PineCone can continue to present the finest traditional music in performances in Raleigh and the surrounding communities.

Please join us at this event for an afternoon and evening of bluegrass and Silent Auction. The Silent Auction opens at 3 p.m., and bidding will continue into the evening. At 6 p.m., the Gibson Brothers will dazzle us with their energetic and eclectic bluegrass harmonies in a free concert sponsored by the Town of Garner. We are also planning some fun bluegrass jammin' during the afternoon. This is a great opportunity to work with and get to know other PineCone members, so come out on August 16 to enjoy beautiful Lake Benson Park and the PineCone community -- All in support of PineCone!

How Does a Silent Auction Work?

Before the auction, PineCone members and friends donate items for the auction. At the auction, bidders receive a bidder number. The donated items are displayed on tables, and rather than bidding via an auctioneer, bidders write their bidder number and their bids on bid sheets. Bidders can bid on multiple items and can enter new bids when others outbid them. Towards the end of the auction, tables begin closing several at a time. When a table closes, the highest bid for each item wins.

Bidders can arrive at any time during the auction and begin to bid. Arriving early gives you plenty of time to survey the offerings and stake your claim on your favorite items. Be ready to up your bid before the auction closes!

We Need Your Donations!

We need your donations to make this Silent Auction a success. This is the perfect occasion to pull out those Christmas or wedding presents that you have never used. We welcome used items in excellent condition, but keep in mind that a silent auction is not a garage sale or flea market, so please be discriminating in your donation choices, or call 854-1925 for advice.

Examples of auction items:
1. Musical instruments or musical paraphernalia
2. Art items, such as jewelry, pottery, folk art, paintings, or sculpture
3. Gift certificates to restaurants, spas, or stores
4. Lessons, such as banjo lessons, tennis lessons, or knitting lessons
5. Sports equipment, gardening equipment, or tools that are new or in very good condition
6. Tickets to sporting events, such as the Hurricanes or Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord NC
7. Services, such as pet sitting or home repair
8. A musical performance for a special event
9. Use of a vacation beach cottage or mountain home

Donation Forms

To donate items, you must fill out a donation form and send it to PineCone. To submit a donation form:

• Complete and submit the online donation form. An email will be generated about your donation, and you will be contacted later to verify your donation. Jump to online donation form.
  
• Print out a copy of the PDF of the donation form. Mail this form to the PineCone office at the address listed on the form. Download PDF donation form.
  
• PineCone members can also send in the copy of the donation form included in PineCone's newsletter, Traditional Review.

Note that if you have multiple auction items, you may need to send multiple donation forms.

We Need Volunteers to Help!

The success of the auction depends on you. We need many volunteers to answer questions about the auction, register bidders, record bids and determine winners, act as cashiers, determine how to provide some food, and clean up. For more information or to volunteer, contact Pat at 854-1925.

Planning for Supper at the Bluegrass Blast and Silent Auction

Because of the possibility of rain, we have decided not to offer a complete BBQ supper, as was mentioned in the June newsletter. Instead, we hope to organize a member picnic or potluck, with volunteers bringing food and desserts. In August, if it seems likely that the weather will be favorable, we may decide that we can provide some BBQ at a reasonable cost, with members providing side dishes and desserts.

Please help make this event fun for all by joining the food committee to help organize supper for this event. We want everyone to have a good time AND be well fed on August 16, so call 854-1925 to let us know that you can help!

PineCone Silent Auction Online Donation Form