Rotary Radio Auction offers fun, some bargains, club support

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com 

Meals and merchandize and scores of gift certificates will be on the auction block Saturday morning for the annual Charles City Rotary Club Rotary Radio Auction.

The event is often the club’s largest fundraiser each year, and collects thousands of dollars that are returned to the community through Rotary projects and student scholarships.

Sometimes the bidding gets frenzied and particular items sell for more than the suggested retail price, but other times real bargains can be had.

Some of the bigger ticket items this year include a collapsible ladder with a retail value of $319, an aluminum rocker chair with a value of $200, a pop-up gazebo also with a $200 value, and a $190 FitBit Versa.

One of the more interesting items is a one-year pass for two adults to the Charles Theatre that includes one movie per week for the two people, along with a medium combo from the snack bar. Retail value is $550.

In addition, gift certificates include restaurants, groceries, vehicle service, golf, gas, clothing and plants.

A complete listing of the items available for bid is on the Rotary website, www.charlescityrotary.org.

Rotarian Tammy Elthon, who helps organize the event for the club, said there is a good selection of items this year, with a total retail value of more than $6,000 as of the club meeting on Monday, with more items still coming in.

Some of the items have been purchased by club members and donated to be auctioned off, but many more have been donated by area businesses and organizations to help support the Rotary Club.

Elthon said the auction is a lot of fun, and she encouraged people to tune in and listen, even when they’re not bidding on a particular item.

The auction will run from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 2, on radio station KCHA, 95.9 FM. 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.

No early bids will be accepted, and items may be sold in a different order than as listed on the Rotary Club website.

Items will be available to be picked by the winning bidders at Circle K Communications, 1003 Fifth Ave., beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.