GEN: Cake Auctions as Fundraisers

Several folks have commented on using cake auctions as a fund-raiser. When
I was a Cubmaster, our Pack used an auction with a professional auctioneer
to raise money very successfully. It works and is expedient. However,
there are some downsides to this practice:

1. Unless you either cap the bidding or use one of the suggested
techniques mentioned earlier where the bidding is timed, you will find
some families can't afford to participate; e.g. the Cub has no fun sitting
there watching his buddies bid, when he can't. In our Pack we had one
cake go for over $200.00 and none under $50.00. Heck, I couldn't even
afford one!

2. You are going after the wrong source of funds. You are milking the
parents. Remember the old financial wisdom of "use other people's money."
Consider a different approach where you get friends and other folks in the
community to help bear the burden.

3. You are missing an excellent opportunity to teach these Scouts about
money, thrift, and responsibility. Most Councils sponsore a single type
of fundraising - in ours its popcorn. Yeah, nobody wants to sell it and
there are a hundred excuses, but it can teach positive things to a Cub and
help the Council at the same time.

Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F Bowman
Used to be a Beaver, National Capital Area Council, B.S.A.
mfbowman@CAP.GWU.EDU (mfbowman@CAPACCESS.ORG after 12/13/94)

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