Greetings CAA Members:
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! When you read this, you will have already celebrated Thanksgiving and be planning for the end of the year. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and were able to share it with family and friends. It feels like just yesterday we were all in Denver at our 2009 CAA convention. It sure seems that each passing year passes faster, the older we get. Thank you for your membership in the Colorado Auctioneers Association, we appreciate it. Your CAA Board has been busy working for you.
On November 7, 2009, the CAA sponsored a Benefit Auctioneer seminar in Denver. Gary Corbett planned and presented this at no charge for CAA. Thirty CAA members attended the session at the Crowne Plaza DIA. Gary’s expertise, wit and humor kept everyone entertained while they learned the intricacies of planning for a successful benefit Auction. That evening Gary was the Auctioneer for a large benefit Auction at Invesco Field at Mile High. Many members also attended the event and were able to assist Gary with the Auction by working the ring. Gary did an excellent job on this seminar, on a day when he had a large benefit Auction to prepare for and conduct. The CAA is very grateful to you Gary for sharing your knowledge and skill in such a cordial and professional manner. Thank you!
Your CAA Board recently conducted a Board meeting in Denver. Some would refer to it as a marathon, as it lasted six hours. There were numerous items of business to discuss. Your Board worked very hard to make decisions that will keep the CAA on a path to continued success. While we discussed many items at this meeting, the main item was this year’s CAA convention January 8-10 at the Crown Plaza Denver International Airport. The convention committee has been hard at work planning, what I believe, will be one of the best educational and networking opportunities available to Auctioneers anywhere.
I am extremely pleased to announce that the CAA Board voted to conduct the 2010 CAA convention in memory of Chuck Cumberlin who passed away earlier this year. Chuck was a Champion Auctioneer, a National and State Hall of Fame member, Past National President and more than anything, a mentor and friend to numerous Auctioneers across Colorado and the United States. We all miss Chuck. The Board also voted to create a traveling trophy for the Colorado Champion Auctioneer that will feature a likeness of Chuck. I think Chuck would have liked nothing better than to have his name associated with the Champion Auctioneer contest. Please help support the Auctioneer Contest at this year’s convention and help Chuck’s legacy live on forever.
As I stated above, this year’s CAA convention is January 8-10 at the Crown Plaza Denver International Airport. Please set some money aside now to attend and look for registration forms in this newsletter. This convention features speakers of National prominence including Christie King, NAA Vice President; Kevin Borger, 2009 IAC Champion; Robert Mayo, NAA Director, Auction Technology Instructor and technology guru; Charles Reams, a noted Colorado Attorney and other speakers to help you take your business to the next level. The convention includes two tracks through most of the time so that everyone will find something of interest. While there will be an emphasis on bid calling there will also be classes on legal issues, benefit Auctions, technology and more. We have designed the convention so everyone in your organization can learn something. Bring the whole crew!
Your CAA Board reached several other decisions at its recent meeting. We, like most other organizations across the country, are facing financial shortfalls. The CAA is healthy financially but must also look to the future to maintain this health for years to come. After much input from members, the Board decided to put the membership dues back on a calendar year basis. This will be much easier to administer and most members said they wanted it this way. Look for further details here. The Board also voted to keep the convention registration fee under $200. This year’s fee will be $189. This does not cover the entire cost of the convention for each attendee. The CAA makes this shortfall up and funds its entire yearly budget through money raised at the Fun Auction. Please plan to bring some great items to sell at this year’s Fun Auction.
The Board also voted to make a change to your membership benefits. Starting in 2010 there will be a fee of $75 to post unlimited Auctions on the CAA website. The Board knew that to maintain the health of the CAA we needed to raise more money from ALL of the members, not just those who attend the convention. They also did not want to penalize CAA members who do not conduct their own Auctions. All members will be listed on the CAA website as a member benefit. Those members, who want to post Auctions, will be required to pay a yearly fee of $75 to post unlimited Auctions. As several Board members stated, “This $75 is less than one small newspaper ad and is good for the entire year. It is a bargain.” Look for more information on this here.
The CAA Board will host a panel discussion at the convention to address legislative issues that affect the CAA. There have been numerous requests from CAA members this year that the CAA look into the establishment of a Colorado Auction License Law. Pushing forward with this is not something that the Board can or will do on its own. Attend the convention if you have an opinion on a State License Law and have your voice heard.
Thank you all for your membership and active participation in the CAA. Please remember, if you need help with an upcoming Auction, look to other CAA members first. As well, support the advertisers who advertise here and let them know you appreciate their support. I hope to see you all at our 2010 Convention January 8-10 in Denver. May you all have a prosperous remainder of 2009, a very Merry Christmas and an extremely happy 2010. See you in Denver!
David P. Whitley, CAI, CES
CAA 2009 President |
