Northern foundation slates auction for Saturday

The Montana State University-Northern Alumni Foundation will host its annual Northern Alumni Auction Saturday. The event is an effort to raise money for scholarships.

For $20 a ticket, attendees will receive dinner and get a chance to partake in three auctions. There will be a silent auction where audience members will get the chance to make bids on items throughout the night. The main format of the event will alternate between a traditional live auction and what is called a Chinese auction.

A Chinese auction is a cross between a raffle and live auction. During the auction, a timer is set, usually for about 60 seconds, and participants, each with a numbered paddle, give a dollar to one of about 50 student athlete volunteers positioned around the room. When the timer goes off, the bidding ceases. An auctioneer then calls out a litany of numbers and the person with the paddle whose number is called out last is the winner.

Jim Bennett, the foundation’s executive director, said rather than relying on a large sum of money from a small group of winners, this model collects small sums of money from everyone.

“There are a lot of live auctions throughout the year,” said Bennett. “This is just a different twist and a lot of fun.”

Bennett said it has not been decided which items will be bid on at which auction, but prizes will include gift baskets, artwork and assorted items donated by local businesses and individuals. Larger prizes will include a weekend ski package in Whitefish, dinner for eight at Chancellor Greg Kegel’s house and a barbeque smoker.

Bennett said last year the auctions took in a combined $17,000 used for athletic and academic scholarships. But beyond the prizes, the event provides community members, faculty and students both past and present with a chance to interact.

Though doors will open at 6 p.m., the dining and bidding won't start until 7 p.m at the Student Union Building Ballroom.