On The Mark: Church auction is a real hoot

It's a good season for church bazaars. You can find one-of-a-kind handmade items and artworks, edible lovelies and lightly used items. I'm used to silent auctions. But I've never lived in a community where a congregation hosts its auction live.

Every November, the women of Cromwell's Bethany Lutheran Church hustle to solicit contributions, sort and arrange them for best viewing, and price items not for auctioneering. Two Bethany members, brothers Billy and Rob Switzer, were emcees at last Saturday's event, something they've done for years.

What a performance it is. Reminiscent of a summertime farm auction, Bill the auctioneer brays out possible prices and fields responses. Rob holds up items, paces the front of the room, ad libs on its merits, who made it, and why we shouldn't pass it by.

The 60 or so participants sit at round tables, kibitzing and raising our round and numbered paper plates for items we wish to bid on. We've already dined on a feast of meat, potatoes, veggies and so many pie and dessert options that you might find yourself trying more than one. And, of course, coffee.

I'm cautious about bidding. I have my sights on a few items. Always these include Joyce Hakala's handmade Christmas wreaths - two this year. The auctioneers save them for last, because that will keep people glued to their seats. One of Joyce's daughters, Sheryl, and I trade quick staccato beats, waving our signs until the bidding hits $75. We each drive home with one.

Two of our church members have taken up painting: Deb Nichols and Geri Lind. I bid on and won a Geri watercolor - two birches, leafless in winter, backed by pale shades of blue and violet. Deb's painting evoked avid bidding, too. And quilts - many, in varying sizes, colors, degrees of detail. In the end, few items remained as we lined up to pay.

The event generally clears between $2,000 and $2,500 annually. Proceeds fund missions for hunger relief and more. Beneficiaries include Lutheran World Relief, Damiano Center, Twin Ports Seafarer Ministry, Union Gospel Mission, Tri-Community Food Shelf, Lutheran Social Services for Youth Shelter, and the Women's Shelter. This year, organizer Barb Lehti said, "turnout was not as good but we made more money."

One person missing at recent auctions is longtime pacesetter Yvonne Davis. Every year, she famously bid on almost everything to create competition and energy. Some things she won, and she passed them on to our Clothing Depot. Now in a nursing home with Alzheimer's, Yvonne cannot join us. I think several of us are attempting to follow her lead and boost prices. I miss her energy, humor, and leadership.

Ann Markusen is an economist and professor emerita at University of Minnesota. A Pine Knot board member, she lives in Red Clover Township.