Rotary Radio Auction Saturday morning will feature almost $8,700 worth of items for bid

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The largest total value of items in the club’s history will be up for bid Saturday morning during the annual Charles City Rotary Radio Auction.

Sports getaways, romantic evenings, gift certificates, tools, meals and more will be on the block from 9 a.m. to noon, and the total retail value is almost $8,700, said Tammy Elthon, a Rotary Club member who helps organize the event.

Some items sell for less than the suggested retail price and some highly sought-after items sell for more, but all the money goes to Rotary to support the club’s community projects and scholarships.

Particularly interesting in this, the 11th year of the Rotary Club fundraiser, is the assortment of sports event packages and other events being offered, Elthon said.

At the top of the sports category is two rooftop Wrigley tickets to the Chicago Cubs v. Milwaukee Brewers baseball game on Aug. 1, with a retail value of $453.

Other sports packages include two Green Bay Packers tickets for a game at Lambeau Field in the 2020 season, $275; four tickets plus parking pass to the Iowa Hawkeyes game against Nebraska Feb. 8, plus a $50 Kwik Star gift card, $200; and two Minnesota Twins tickets in the Delta 360 club section, $114.

For a different kind of getaway, there’s a Mall of America family package for four that includes the Nickelodeon Universe rides and attractions, XD Ride Virtual Adventure, Crayola Experience and Moose Mountain miniature golf, with a retail value of $500.

Another option is tickets for two to the North American tour cast production of “Frozen, the Broadway Musical,” at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis on May 16, with a value of $250.

For movie lovers, the highest-value item on the auction this year is a year-long pass for two to the Charles Theatre, including large drink and popcorn combo, with a retail value of $676.

Other local activity options include rounds of golf at Wildwood and Cedar Ridge golf courses, Bayou Bend mini-golf, bowling, swimming passes, a night stay at Otter Ridge Cabin, and five sets of a candlelight dinner for two on Feb. 13 at Dave’s Restaurant.

There are also dozens of gift certificates for area restaurants and services, one-of-a-kind crafted toys and artwork, certificates for vehicle service or washes, meat and grocery certificates, tools, electronic devices, kitchen appliances and more.

A complete list of the items can be found at the Rotary website, www.charlescityrotary.org, under the Radio Auction link.

The auction will run from 9 a.m. to noon on radio station KCHA, 95.9 FM, as well as 103.3 FM and 1580 AM. Up to several items will be available to bid on at any one time, and winners will be announced when the bidding on an item has ended. To bid, call 641-228-1000.

Kay Winkelman, the current Rotary Club president and a marketing consultant at KCHA, advised people against trying to bid on the auction while streaming the radio station online.

Because of the delay in the streamed program, people listening that way may not have the latest bids or be in time to bid on an item before it sells.

Items will be available to be paid for and picked up by the winning bidders at Elthon’s business, Circle K Communications, 1003 Fifth Ave., Charles City, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, and at Circle K during regular business hours next week.