A Modest Proposal

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but Kathy and I both left the
auction feeling "used".  Though things were moving way too quickly DURING
the auction, after it was over those feelings started creeping in.  We can
tell others must have been feeling similarly by the way everyone cleared
out so quickly instead of the usual lingering, talking, etc.

The purpose of the plant auction is to provide our memberS with some cool
plants that the otherwise might not have access to.  This was undermined
by the the two people in the front who outbid everyone else, irregardless
of the specimen being offered.  While I am sure Heather will take care of
the plants she bought, I have no doubts that many of the rare specimens
will end up as Arrowana food in Sasquatch's tanks.

I would like to propose two things to the board.

First, by way of apology to the members, I propose we order 20 or 30
potted Anubias nana (wholesale around $2-3) to distribute free to anyone
who attended the auction and who actually shows up next month.  Kathy and
I will bring some of our own cuttings for free as well. Also, I propose we
order a set of "unusual" anubias (like that A. congo) for each of the 10
runners, recorders and auctioneers & others who helped that night. This
would be contingent on Sasquatch's check actually cashing.

Second, I propose that we amend the rules of the auction to "cut people
off" at, say, $300 or 25 items, whichever is more.  Kathy suggested
another possibility of voluntary cutoffs value to be entered at
registration time.


Anyway, that said, everyone did an excellent job running the *&!@ thing.
We were supposed to have four computers, which would have handled the
registration simultaneously with the bidding, but two of the computers
didn't work with the scanners.  I promise to test the "extra" systems
BEFORE borrowing them next time!  I didn't see how the runners managed
with the tagging system; maybe Don or Bob can comment on how that ran.

>From memory, we cleared just over $1600 -- $400 of this was in splits, and
$300 is owed to Delaware Aquatic, and about $100 to Sam for the driftwood.
So if Sasquatch's check clears, we will have netted around $800.  (If his
check bounces, we will net about $100).

Hey, just thought of something -- we could accept payments via PayPal in
the future.  We can talk about that at the board meeting.

  - Erik

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com