Re: Cake Auction Ideas

I think the whipped cream idea is a good one, too. However, I have stopped
recommending we do auctions (it is discussed and decided at a leader's
meeting/committee meeting). We did Parent/Cub bake-offs and auctioned the
cakes the first three years I was with the Pack with profits going to the
Pack treasury (needed at the time). At the auctions, I noticed some things
I didn't like.

The wealthier members of the Pack were getting the "good" cakes and were
bidding the "living hand-to-mouth" members right out of the room with their
very disappointed child, especially when the lost cake was their own. Our
solution the next year was to put a maximum bid of five dollars on each
cake and the maker of the cake has the right to bid five dollars with no
competition to get his cake. However, we didn't have much of an auction.
Most bought their own cake and the few who didn't either started a bidding
frenzy with a 25-way tie for the highest bid of five dollars (pick-a-number
solution), or drew no bids at all and having rude comments slung. The real
disappointing thing is the cakes that looked the worst were the ones where
the boys had a significant part in making it, as it should be. I usually
bought those, but the auction was providing a format for ridiculing these
cakes by some inconsiderate kids. I gave my speech about how that kind of
thing was not appropriate, but the damage was already done by then.

We still do the bake-off part, but we have recently decided to do other
activities rather than the auction part. Fortunately, we are doing well
financially thanks to scout show ticket and popcorn sales. Even if we
weren't, I don't want to see those couple of kids hurt like that again.
There are too many other fun things that can be done at a Pack Meeting. I'm
glad it works so well in other Packs. It can be a lot of fun, but I'm
afraid it is not right for us.

Craig McGarrah
Cubmaster -- Pack 132, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Osceola Chapter Adviser, Aal-Pa-Tah Lodge #237
mcgarrah@mindspring.com

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