[postlink]https://beenaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-16th-auction-day.html[/postlink]endofvid
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April 16th was Auction Day on the MV explorer. There were 3 parts to auction day: 1. a raffle for small ticket items, 2. silent auction for medium ticket items, and 3. a live action for big ticket items. Some of the raffle prizes included "first off the ship,", Philadelphia cream cheese, and a backpack with patches from all the countries we visited. There were about 50 items, and the winners were announced interspersed with the auction items. The annual live auction took place on the evening of April 16th at 8pm. At first I was surprised to learn that the ship auction raised over $50,000 last year. However, after the auction began, the shock wore off. This ship is full of high rollers with money to burn, I mean give.
Okay, I was being facetious with that last comment. The proceeds from the auction really do go to a great cause. The fundraiser is held to help generate scholarship funds for future voyages. As a recipient of a great deal of scholarship money from Semester at Sea and the Institute for Shipboard Education, I know first-hand just how much of an impact these scholarships make. Without my scholarships, this trip literally would not have been possible. With that said, I completely respect the cause and the end goal.
However, I must note that I found the means, or auction process, to be thoroughly entertaining and a great example of flossing at its best. And some of the more financially privileged kids certainly stepped up to the challenge. The international students really came to play. Not to say that A notable number of the highest bidders were some of the international students on the ship from China and Europe. It was quite the spectacle watching kids pay upwards $300 for private ship railing space or raise the ships flag as we come into Ft. Lauderdale on the last day. Weekend excursions or 1-day dinners with members of admin sold for $600. Students paid up to $250 to pie members of admin and even $50 for a bottle of Pepto Bismol that was signed by our on-ship physician, Dr. Mort Chiles. From $400 for a photo DVD of our voyage to $700 for a hot air balloon ride in California, the financially prudent side of me cringed at how much some of the items were going for. However, the socialist, egalitarian side of me was delighted by the re-distribution of wealth that was happening right before my eyes. At the end of the day, I’m just happy that we were able to raise a lot of money to make this amazing voyage possible for future students.
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April 16th was Auction Day on the MV explorer. There were 3 parts to auction day: 1. a raffle for small ticket items, 2. silent auction for medium ticket items, and 3. a live action for big ticket items. Some of the raffle prizes included "first off the ship,", Philadelphia cream cheese, and a backpack with patches from all the countries we visited. There were about 50 items, and the winners were announced interspersed with the auction items. The annual live auction took place on the evening of April 16th at 8pm. At first I was surprised to learn that the ship auction raised over $50,000 last year. However, after the auction began, the shock wore off. This ship is full of high rollers with money to burn, I mean give.
Okay, I was being facetious with that last comment. The proceeds from the auction really do go to a great cause. The fundraiser is held to help generate scholarship funds for future voyages. As a recipient of a great deal of scholarship money from Semester at Sea and the Institute for Shipboard Education, I know first-hand just how much of an impact these scholarships make. Without my scholarships, this trip literally would not have been possible. With that said, I completely respect the cause and the end goal.
However, I must note that I found the means, or auction process, to be thoroughly entertaining and a great example of flossing at its best. And some of the more financially privileged kids certainly stepped up to the challenge. The international students really came to play. Not to say that A notable number of the highest bidders were some of the international students on the ship from China and Europe. It was quite the spectacle watching kids pay upwards $300 for private ship railing space or raise the ships flag as we come into Ft. Lauderdale on the last day. Weekend excursions or 1-day dinners with members of admin sold for $600. Students paid up to $250 to pie members of admin and even $50 for a bottle of Pepto Bismol that was signed by our on-ship physician, Dr. Mort Chiles. From $400 for a photo DVD of our voyage to $700 for a hot air balloon ride in California, the financially prudent side of me cringed at how much some of the items were going for. However, the socialist, egalitarian side of me was delighted by the re-distribution of wealth that was happening right before my eyes. At the end of the day, I’m just happy that we were able to raise a lot of money to make this amazing voyage possible for future students.
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