12/11/07

Twelve drummers drumming

Fa-la-la-la-LAAAAA…

It was a brisk and windy day, snow flurries swirling everywhere (or was that on Monday Night Football?)…yes, a perfect setting for "chestnuts on the fire" (only things missing were the chestnuts and the fire) …..But it didn't keep many people from coming out and enjoying a perfect setting for the

Berkeley Kiwanis Club's always festive annual Holiday Auction!

 

Eleven pipers piping

To start with, the City Club did it right and looked beautiful. Then the Kiwanis team put another layer on top of it, with its own touch. The tables were filled with offerings too great to meet the eye. Exotic cookbooks, strange and rare wines, unusual

 

 

 

candies and concoctions, hard-to-find antiquities and inequities, and a mind-boggling array of treasures, large and small, old and new,  unique and ordinary, hot and cold, tall and short.

Ten lords a-leaping

Young Prez P. Khong was poised to kick off the event in fine form and awaited the City Club's finest to set up the gourmet buffet. Oswaldo and troups showed up shortly. Meanwhile, Sec'y J. Rosano barked orders all around (ignored by most as usual) and made seemingly important announcements over the mike. (the other 8 lords were standing by)

Nine ladies dancing

Yes, they were dancing and prancing -- Chair V. Carpenter, Asst Chair D. Haughin, Honorary Member S. Silveira, Past LtGov R. Bliss, Neophyte Treasurer S. Hearn and others were scurrying around, busy as elves, hanging stockings, gay apparel, and sugar plums all over the place (not to mention boughs of holly figgy pudding, and frankincense, incense and nonsense).

Eight maids a-milking

As said, the tables were filled with great treasures, many of which were hand crafted by the amazing L. Hannawalt (rumors have it that hubby B. Hannawalt actually chipped in and handsomely at that), jams, preserves, and other creations by V. Carpenter, S. Silveira, R. Bliss, and others, all of which drew handsome offers.

 

 

 

Seven swans a-swimming

The silent auction took off with much anticipation and intense bidding. To the rescue came the famous UCB Circle K (there were at least 7)  having been poised to run and run, and did more than keep up with the fast-paced auction, and handled the check-out table for fast final payment and processing, when we finally filed out, drained of energy but filled with satisfaction.

Six geese a-laying

We had some very generous donors, ranging from the Berkeley City Club, Olympic Circle Sailing Club, Tilden Park Golf Course, Oakland Raiders, SF Giants, Cal Bears, Northside Travel, Berkeley Ace Hardware, Rist. Venezia, H's Lordships. We also had table sponsors Berkeley Ace Hardware, Immediate Past President J. Egeberg, and upstanding Kiwanian J. Piercy (aka the "Christmas Grumpy"), and table centerpieces by the always-crafty R. Bliss.

Five golden rings

There were some very special guests today. First, we had esteemed representatives from our favorite sister clubs, not to mention likes of Oakland, Alameda, Albany-El Cerrito, San Leandro,  and Hayward-Castro Valley. And of course, there were very special guests and spouses, especially at today's sponsor tables. BUT LAST AND NOT LEAST, we had some very special B. K.'ers that we don't see often, of the likes of R. Frisbie, L. Iodice, J. Asher (of course, the latter doesn't have nearly the excuse….)

Four calling birds

Well, it seemed like there were four, but was it really two – of the best barkers in the world. Both S. Silveira and J. Rosano traded volleys and vied to finish this auction on time (thereby outdoing our sister club in Oakland last week). Well, needless to say, our venerable auctioneers met and exceeded this amazing challenge, even closing a few minutes ahead of time.

 

 

 

Three French hens

As the Silent Auction tables were winding down, with a fervent frenzy, the Live Auction got off with much anticipation and ado. There were so many grand prizes, it's impossible to record here. Top prizes included 3 gourmet and exotic dinners hosted by generous Kiwanians, such as an oversized barbeque extravaganza on the Carpenter's deck (won by ???), an Italian gourmet bash at Villa Leonardo  (won by J. Piercy), and the perennial favorite JR's Cioppino Feast (won by D. Leonard).

Two turtle doves

A night's lodging and dinner at the City Club (won by ???), and the Jeff Tedford Football (meaning next season will be what this season was supposed to be), won by F. Bliss.

And a partridge in a pear tree!

Event chair (the amazing) V. Carpenter announced, just before going to print, that according to preliminary results, this event has just set an unforeseen record of proceeds exceeding $7,000! (all of course for SERVICE!) Yes, although many accolades go to many others, as recorded above, it is hereby proclaimed that

Virginia Carpenter is our special partridge for 2007!