Thursday night activities!

As is tradition, Thursday night will be a mix of work and fun. Starting with interactive group work and moving in to our annual scholarship auction. This year's auction is a blend of a basket raffle and live auction. See below for more details about how you can help fund scholarships for NYS school librarians to future events.

The auction and mixer is a “kick back and relax” while you support a great cause kinda’ night; it DOES NOT count for CTLE hours. After we hold the PD session, we will turn the meeting room into an auction house where ALL the proceeds will go to the scholarship fund for 2023.

The scholarship auction is an integral part of the Institute. ALL the money raised at the auction goes directly to providing scholarships for the next year's Institute! We want to insure that the auction remains successful so we can provide the opportunity to others next year and yet be responsive to people's concerns and ideas brought about in evaluations.

1. In response to those who noted many items languished waiting for bids; we are asking for NEW items - in the past, we have had fun with kitchie "white elephant" yard sale items, but we feel the time for that has passed. In order to have bidders feel like they have gotten something of quality for their money, we are requesting that all items brought this year be new.

and,

2. response to those of you who mentioned that it was a shame so many colleagues leave this event, SSL will be offering DOOR PRIZES during the auction time. You MUST be present to win these items. We appreciate that after a day of learning (which we all know can be overwhelming) that you spare an hour of your time to socialize with us and support the scholarship fund, so we are going to thank you for "sticking with us".

SO... how can you help us?

Everyone is encouraged and invited to contribute a “basket” with items that you think others might want to bid on. Group them together in a cute container or wrapped in clear plastic so we can see them!! The better the items, the more money we will make. Feel free to partner up with someone -- ask members of your SLS or your affiliate to contribute to a “group basket”. In the past we have had “Movie night” – “Great Picture Books” – “Something for the Chef” – “A Wine-rs Dream” – type theme baskets but we have also had conference registrations, handcrafted pocketbooks and quilts and framed prints offered. The sky's the limit on what you can bring to donate so get creative! Need an idea? Google “theme baskets” and you’ll see what we mean.

Don’t forget that all money made goes towards scholarships for next year’s institute, so please bring along your checkbook!!

We are looking for volunteers to help organize all the baskets on Wednesday afternoon between the end of the session and dinner. Please consider donating a little time for this.

Questions about the auction / Institute Scholarship fundraiser can be directed to: Lisa Perkowski at ssledleadership@gmail.com or Awards Chair, Dawn Presssimone at dpressimone@waynecsd.org.