http://www.spcawake.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=110241

Anyone going to/volunteering for this? I signed up for a volunteer shift. I could probably afford to buy the ticket but I definitely don't have money to blow in auctions and stuff so I probably won't go to the actual event

/iwishihadmoremoney

9/21/2011 1:14:27 PM

Thought about it... until I saw the ticket cost. No thanks.

9/21/2011 1:23:46 PM

well...... it's a black tie charity event. what were you expecting?

9/21/2011 1:24:55 PM

A lower ticket cost, obviously.

9/21/2011 1:29:26 PM

if you can't fork out the money for a ticket and all the auctions you could volunteer like me

9/21/2011 1:32:16 PM

I see no information regarding volunteering for this event.

9/21/2011 1:33:50 PM

I'm a regular volunteer so I'm on the mailing list

warning. words.

Quote :

"Dear SPCA Volunteer: We need your help for the Fur Ball on 10/2/11. Please join us in presenting the SPCA's largest and most prestigious fundraiser. The 2011 Fur Ball, to be held on Sunday, October 2nd, will be an elegant and wonderful evening that includes one of the area's largest silent auctions, an exciting live auction, music, delicious hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and spirits. The State Club at the Park Alumni Center on the Centennial Campus at 2450 Alumni Drive will play host to the Fur Ball. This is our gala, black-tie event. Not only is it a fun night for people – it’s the most important night of the year for homeless animals in Wake County. If you are interested in attending as a guest, the tickets are $125 and can be purchased online here. VOLUNTEERING: If you would like to help at the event, choose from the tasks noted below. (No youth opportunities for this event.) Please reply to Christine Rahn (BalmerBird@gmail.com) with your 1st and 2nd choices. Please do not “reply” to this email directly…thanks! A huge thank you to Christine for helping coordinate the schedules for the big events! Tough Truths: 1) You may not volunteer for an early shift and then stay as a non-paying guest; you are welcome to schedule volunteer activities for the duration of the event if you do not want to leave after your early shift. 2) You cannot partake of alcoholic beverages if you are volunteering! BidPal INFORMATION and REQUIRED EVENT TRAINING: BidPal will be used again this year. BidPal has developed an innovative solution that wirelessly automates and accelerates the auction process by enabling guests to place bids on silent auction items at any time and from anywhere during the event. Using a BidPal device, guests browse items and monitor bids wirelessly. The BidPal device constantly updates guests with the highest current bids, generating competitive bidding and increasing funds raised. All silent auction areas will close at the same time since the bids are handled electronically. The following volunteers must attend the training by BidPal professionals at 4:15pm on Sunday, October 2 (right before the event). After the training, you should have a little time to get a bite to eat in the volunteer area before beginning your shift. Registration BidPal Distributors Sponsor Seating Stewards Inside Traffic Live Auction Promotions Auction Information/BidPal VOLUNTEER OPTIONS : The following are tasks and shifts. (#) is the number of volunteers needed per task. (No youth opportunities for this event): Saturday (October 1st) Set Up (3) 10:00am to 1:30pm Most of the set up is done on Saturday, predominantly by Fur Ball Committee members, but extra hands are needed with logistical tasks: preparing nametags, double checking setup arrangements, distributing programs, etc. Casual clothes are fine for this task (but no jeans are allowed in the State Club). Sunday Set Up (2) 9:00am to 12:30pm We will still need to do some last minute prep work on Sunday morning. Casual clothes are fine for this task. Night of the Event: Arrival Time: Please check in at the Volunteer Room prior to your shift. There will be special Volunteer food and non-alcoholic beverages in that area for volunteers working the event. Formal Attire required for the following tasks. (Gentlemen, Tuxedos are not required but fine if you own one, dark suit and tie are fine.) Registration (6) 4:15 training, then 5:00 to 7:30 Help direct guests to their name badge on registration tables and welcome them to the event. 1) At the end of this shift you will be expected to leave or continue as a volunteer having signed up for Auction Check-out or the second Bar Cashier shift. 2) If you have purchased a Fur Ball ticket and want to volunteer as well, this is a good task to choose so you can attend the remainder of the event as a paying guest and we thank you for your service. BidPal Distributors (6) 4:15 training, then 5:00 to 7:30 Distribute BidPal devices to guests by first entering their name and phone number into the device and then provide brief explanation to guests on use of device. iPhone users preferred because the key pad is the same and you will need to be proficient, accurate and fast. Volunteers Coordination (1) 4:00 to 9:30 Help get volunteers oriented as they arrive for the event, assisting Jan Hill and Silent Auction Coordinator. Supervise volunteer area during the event and check out volunteers after completion of their shift. You will spend the night in the volunteer sign in room, so bring a book or such. (Formal attire not required, but asked to wear white top and black pants) Seating and Live Auction Promotions (3) 4:15 training, then Sponsor Seating Steward (see above) 5:30 to 8:00, then Promotions (see below) 8:00 to 10:30 During the live auction, you will help direct auctioneer’s attention to bidders throughout the crowd and encouraging bidders. Requires good eyes and being light on your feet. You will be moving about in the sponsor area during the full period of the live auction. Between training and 8pm you will be working as a Sponsor Seating Steward (see above) so this is a two task/shift assignment. Puppy Photography Assistant (2) 5:30 to 9:00 1 for Initial Information Collection: greets guests, confirms payment, collects payment on BidPal, and collects emails for electronic delivery of photos. 1 for Puppy Wrangler: puppy care, handing puppies to people for photos and taking puppies from people. Auction Information/BidPal (11) 4:15 training, then 5:30 to 10:00 Work the various "silent auction" tables acting as security and promoting bidding with BidPal Auction Check Out/BidPal Collectors (3) 8:30 to 10:30 Assist with onsite payment, printing of receipts, collection of BidPal devices and item pick-up. (One volunteer will be standing at the door collecting BidPal devices for those guests not going through check-out.) Clean Up Crew (4) 10:15 to 11:45 A VERY GOOD DEAL. ATTEND THE MAJORITY OF THE EVENT AS A GUEST. Enjoy food and the non-alcoholic drinks while you bid. Then, change into your white button shirt and dark pants (really) to assist with end-of-event takedown. You can party for several hours, but know you will be breaking a sweat for these 90 minutes as we need to have everything out by 12 midnight. Help take everything down and clear out remaining auction items. Thank you for your help and remember: Please do not “reply” to this email directly…thanks! Reply to Christine Rahn with your 1st and 2nd choices. (No youth opportunites for this event) Thank you. Jan Hill, Volunteer Services Director SPCA of Wake County 200 Petfinder Lane Raleigh, NC 27603-6075"

9/21/2011 1:36:29 PM

Barred from partaking in alcohol? Deal breaker.

9/21/2011 1:39:00 PM

So I can wear a black tie with my dog costume and be ok?

9/21/2011 2:03:20 PM

You can't drink and you can't volunteer time to get into the event? What?

I've never heard of something like this....usually when you volunteer at events you get drink stubs, reduced ticket prices, or other freebies to encourage people to volunteer. Most people aren't going to do it without some sort of incentive.

9/21/2011 2:27:58 PM

.... I am doing it because I believe the spca does a lot of good work and saves a lot of animals who would be put to death otherwise and I can take 3 hours out of my morning to help them set up one of their big fundraising events of the year since I'm too poor to actually contribute in the money dept

but that's just me I guess

9/21/2011 7:05:43 PM

I got my dog there, which in their words "saves 3 dogs". Then I purchased some overpriced goods from their store.


but that's just me I guess

9/21/2011 9:19:43 PM

that was more towards the other guy who made it sound like the only reason anyone would want to volunteer for something was with some expectation of something in return

but w/e i might as well have posted this in chit chat

9/21/2011 9:38:11 PM

I was serious btw. I just bought a Wilfred costume and thought that would be a great event to debut it.

9/21/2011 9:41:22 PM

9/21/2011 9:48:53 PM

I attended this event last year.

9/21/2011 10:10:19 PM

125/person!

9/21/2011 11:04:28 PM

ok well i'm officially going to be helping set up on Saturday morning. so.....

bump for puppies!

9/24/2011 9:59:34 AM

have fun!!!

9/24/2011 10:57:16 AM

What, I'm on the board of a bike non-profit so I know full well what it takes to get people to volunteer. You have to provide most people some incentive besides the "feel good" factor: the ability to socialize with other volunteers, benefits to the organization (in our case cheap part prices, specialty tools, and the ability to use the shop off-hours), and other perks.

Most people are conditioned by our economic system to want something in return for their time. I think it's fair that they get rewarded.

9/24/2011 12:34:35 PM

isn't the point of volunteering giving freely of your time without expecting something in return? I mean i understand what you're saying and I know you're right, but it just makes me lose a little more faith in people

9/26/2011 9:25:56 PM

what part of volunteering are you not getting? you might get a t-shirt and thats all you should get.

9/26/2011 10:45:11 PM

my mom went to this... how did it turn out?

11/11/2011 1:50:06 PM

Quote :

"isn't the point of volunteering giving freely of your time without expecting something in return? "

Yes. Sadly a lot of people don't see it this way.

11/11/2011 1:51:31 PM

The point of volunteering is the perks.

[Edited on November 11, 2011 at 2:01 PM. Reason : is]

11/11/2011 2:01:23 PM

Will they be serving fur burgers?

11/11/2011 2:05:09 PM

I'm still not sure why y'all are so shocked about reasons people volunteer besides the "feel good" factor. I'm just trying to be realistic. If you want long term and consistent volunteering, you simply need to give people a little something back, whether it's tangible or intangible goods.

11/11/2011 3:59:51 PM

hell, for good golf tournaments (PGA, Senior, etc), you have to almost always pay to volunteer. Usually its in the $30-$50 range. But you get some sweet swag in return, its worth it, especially when you get to be involved in tournament operations.

11/11/2011 10:19:19 PM

clearly you people have never been the ones trying to organize a group of "volunteers" who are more interested in the event than their task to actually do the work necessary

11/14/2011 4:01:51 PM

^ lol yeah I've had to deal with that a few time. It'd almost be easier and more worthwhile to just pay some people minimum wage to work those events than get volunteers.

11/14/2011 4:10:06 PM

Quote :

"125/person!"

For real. Those dogs better be delicious.

11/16/2011 10:57:56 AM