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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From Renee Valdez, Fundraising Co-Chair<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(703) 966-0836<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Renee Valdez <a href="mailto:reneerome@yahoo.com">reneerome@yahoo.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The success of the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV) is built on the generosity of our members to contribute time, talents, and money to our movement. However, if we can make fundraising fun, this is even better. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our 2021 NFBV Action Auction provides the opportunity to raise funds to support our new NFB of Virginia Silver Bells Program for blind and low vision seniors. When we donate an item, the proceeds of that item will go directly to support our Silver Bells program.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our 2021 Action Auction will be conducted mostly online using the 32Auctions web-based platform with a small portion of carefully selected items sold through a live auction conducted during the convention over the Zoom platform. We suspect less than 10% of the items will be sold at the live auction.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Here is how it works:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=A><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Identify Auction Items<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal>Members identify items to donate which others from across the Commonwealth or across the country may wish to purchase. Remember, quality over quantity is important. As the donor of the item, you are responsible for shipping the item to the individual and paying for the cost of shipment. A glass figurine that sells for $15 might cost $10 to ship, making it less effective as a profitable auction item.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>These items might come from people’s homes, from businesses within your community, or may be items made by our members. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=2 type=A><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Document your exciting Items on our Web Based Form<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Every auction item should be documented using the web form found at <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/auction">http://www.nfbv.org/auction</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The form will ask you for information about the donor, a catchy name for the item, a detailed text-based description of the item that clearly communicates the benefits to the purchaser, a photo of the item (if appropriate) and both the minimum you would accept and your guess at the fair market value of the item. All items donated should be submitted quickly but must be submitted no later than October 15, 2021 so our team has the time needed to make them live on our auction site.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=3 type=A><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Review by Auction Team<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Each item suggested will be reviewed by or auction team led by auctioneer Laurie Wages and Fundraising co-chair Renee Valdez. They will determine which items will be sold through our live auction, which items will be sold through the online auction only, and which items are more suitable for a door prize. They are the authorities on this auction and their decisions are final. <o:p></o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=4 type=A><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Item Established in 32 Auctions<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many NFB state affiliates have used the mostly accessible 32 Auctions platform to list auction items and run online auctions. Once reviewed by Laurie and Renee, Oscar Montiel has agreed to serve as the administrator for our 32 Auctions site to capture the details for each auction item. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=5 type=A><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Check things out, share with your friends and families, and start Bidding<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>All auction items will be available to review on our 32 Auctions site. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><a href="https://www.32auctions.com/nfbv21">https://www.32auctions.com/nfbv21</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>You can look at the auction items without registering but you will not be able to bid on the items unless you register. You can place a bid, define a bid that escalates to a maximum price, and watch the interest in your items. You will be able to bid online on all items, but some will be marked that they will also shift to Zoom Live Auction. for almost all items, the bidding closes on Sunday, October 31 at 5:00 PM. For a small subset of Zoom Live Auction items, we will conduct an interactive live auction during the Saturday (10/30) morning and evening sessions and the Sunday (10/31) afternoon session over the Zoom platform where you will be able to bid for items by raising your hand in Zoom. We are only doing a very small number of items and numerous state affiliates have made it work over Zoom at their state conventions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>For Zoom Live auction items, the final bid at the live auction is the final bid.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>The auction is not limited to our members. You can encourage friends, family, colleagues, and anyone to register on 32 Auctions and bid on the great items available. If you wish to bid on a live auction item but will not be available on October 30, place a high bid on the item and your bid just might be our highest bid for the item.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast>Laurie will run a fast-paced live auction over Zoom. You will want to practice raising your hand in Zoom and if you win an item, you may be asked to unmute yourself to tell us who you are if we can’t tell by your name in Zoom. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=6 type=A><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Check out over the phone<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The 2021 NFBV Action Auction closes on Sunday, October 31 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. We are establishing a small team to call people, walk people through the auction items they won and collect payments with a credit or debit card using Square. Our team will be calling people between Monday November 1 and Wednesday, November 3 to collect payments. Your items will not be sent until we receive your payment. At that time, we will also gather details about where exactly to ship your items. If you wish, you can define that a specific item is shipped to an address other than your home, allowing you to purchase an item for a friend or give the items as holiday presents. All items must be shipped to addresses within the United States.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=7 type=A><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Shipping Items<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After payment is collected, the team will send the donor an email copying the auction item winner outlining where each item they donated should be shipped. The donor is expected to ship all items by November 10. If it is possible to provide the winner a tracking number from UPS or USPS, that would really help. The Virginia affiliate will not be paying for shipping costs. This is the responsibility of the donor. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We hope this detailed explanation explains the process and has you excited about donating items and bidding. However, we know there will be questions. We are excited for your questions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Renee Valdez <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(703) 966-0836<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Renee Valdez <a href="mailto:reneerome@yahoo.com">reneerome@yahoo.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>