Auction

Now we are getting to the fun part: the GAL Benefit Auction! Here at the preview we see quite a large donation of cellos by Hammond Ashley Associates.

Steve Kinnaird got some wood donated by Ervin Somogyi at the silent portion of the auction. He is scampering off, quick like a bunny, to the cashier so he can get back in time for more bargains.

At the live auction, Harry Fleishman brought a crew of his alumni up on stage to testify to the value of his guitar making course. Must have worked. The course was successfuly bid for by Natalie Swango of Luthiers Mercantile.

The crowd is jovial, but also ready to pounce on a bargain. Our staff auctioneer, Kurt, gives each bidder a nickname. This year they included Original Beardo, Mean Guy, Renaissance Man, Pretty Lady, and Alaskan Madman.

Duane Heilman donates an instrumenat made of a Spam can each time: it’s a tradition. This year’s model was special. It is made of a Spam With Cheese can! Chris Herrod was the lucky bidder. Duane says that missing this year’s convention was more painful than the kidney stones that kept him home.

And speaking of tradition, The Little Man was back from Ohio where he spent two years with Don MacRostie of Stewart-MacDonald and gained a lovely dial indicator. And now he is on his way to Alaska with lucky bidder John Mickelson (auction nickname Alaskan Madman.)

The Duke of Pearl found something he liked at the auction: Jay Hargreaves’ snazzy hand-painted shoes. They weren’t for sale, but he can dream, can’t he?

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