My name is Sandy Hyman and I’ve been actively volunteering at Ewalu for more than 20 years at various activities including work weekends, being an active board member, camp grandma, etc. One of my longest volunteer opportunities is the quilt auction.
Many things make a quilt auction successful and Ewalu has always had a great auction.
You need a team which includes staff and volunteers. They get together several times during the year as quilts arrive at camp. They measure and gather quilt information, entering the information into a computer. After that, each quilt is folded and stored until time for the auction.
Reminders are sent to quilt donors during the year reminding them to get their completed quilts to camp in time to get into the auction.
About six weeks before the auction, a poster is printed and mailed to each of the churches to hang in their church as a reminder of the upcoming auction and festivities.
Early in the week before the auction, a decision is made on which quilts and items will go into the auction and which will be sold in the Country Store. This is done to keep the number of auction items at a reasonable number so that the auction will not run too late.
All items are then arranged in an order that will provide a good mixture during the auction. Once we know the order, the auction book can be finalized and printing and assembly begin. The cards for the quilts are also printed at this time.
Once the quilt cards are done, the quilts are put in order so they are ready to go on display. The ones to be displayed in Cedar are pulled at this time.
During this week the grounds are set up for the auction, wooden stanchions are put in place, wires strung to hang quilts for display. Bidding cards are also numbered at this time.
Now we have arrived at the day before the auction. Materials are gathered for the registration table. Signage is put up so people can find their way around. Country Store quilts and items are put on display. Quilts that will be displayed in Cedar are hung on this day. The two tents arrive and are put up. Benches are gathered from different areas of camp and placed under the tent. The auction wagon is put in place and decorated. Any other decorations are put in place to welcome the guests.
On the day of the Quilt Auction, a decision is made by 7:00 a.m. about the possibility of rain, where the quilts will be hung, and where the auction will be. Quilts are then hung and straightened by 9:00 a.m. when the quilt viewing begins.
As guests arrive they are welcomed, given directions to where all the quilts are being displayed, where the Country Store is, and their questions answered.
At the end of the auction guests who have made purchases are directed to the checkout.
The Ewalu Quilt Auction is a wonderful place to meet up with old friends and make new ones. I do this every year.
Reminder: The 2019 Quilt Auction is only seven short weeks away. If you or your church have quilts ready to go be sure to get them to Ewalu as soon as possible so they will get into the book.
The date of the Auction is Saturday, Sept. 21 with activities beginning at 9:00 a.m. – Worship at 11:00 a.m. – Lunch at Noon – Auction at 1:00 p.m.
Sandy Hyman (Pictured on Right)
Lifetime Ewalu Volunteer
