The SSAR is currently looking for two individuals to become volunteer co-chairs for the Live Auction Committee. This is a great opportunity for students or other interested individuals to serve SSAR and see the inner workings of the Society. Live Auction Committee Co-chairs would run the annual live auction that takes place at JMIH or SSAR stand-alone meetings to raise funds for student travel. Below are the responsibilities of the positions, which would be divided between the two co-chairs and other committee members. If you have any questions about the responsibilities, please contact SSAR Secretary-Elect Vinny Farallo at vincent.farallo@scranton.edu. If you are interested in the position, contact SSAR President-Elect Tiffany Doan at tiffperu@yahoo.com.
Prior to the annual meeting:
- Solicit donations several months prior to the meeting (typically in Herpetological Review and through SSAR social media)
- Coordinate with the local meeting host to have auction items delivered
- Answer e-mails from would be donors
- Solicit auctioneers prior to the meeting (e.g., fellow herpetologists who will be attending the meeting)
- Coordinate with the meeting planners to ensure we have appropriate space for auction items
- Coordinate with the Student Travel committee to ensure student travel volunteers are able to watch auction items being displayed (some travel winners can be used to help with live auction as well)
At the annual meeting:
- Oversee and organize the items as they are donated (some people ship items early, others drop off at the meeting)
- Determine what items will be used for the silent and live auctions
- Set up items for display (or solicit student volunteers) including filling out bidding sheets
- Coordinate with the SSAR treasurer to receive payments from auction items for the silent and live auction
- Move live auction items to the Live Auction event room, organize and setup all items and designate bidding lots to ensure we finish on time
- Solicit and coordinate student volunteers to show off items during the auction