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As auction nears, Rotarians say 'plastic' payment will be accepted
SIKESTON -- Will that be cash, check or ... credit card?
For the first time the Sikeston Rotary Club will accept all major credit and debit cards on purchases made during its annual auction set for Nov. 13-15.
"We definitely think it will enhance the business by having that (credit card payment method available)," said Sharron Lathum, co-chair of the auction, which has been an annual event for more than 30 years.
Lathum said she isn't sure why it's taken so long for the club to accept credit cards as payment.
"When you do something for years and years -- and if it's not broke -- you don't try to fix it," Lathum said.
Lathum said the idea to accept credit cards as payment evolved from public inquiries at past auctions.
The auction will be broadcast live during the three-day event from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sikeston Public Schools Channel 12 and online at www.sikestonrotary.com.
"We have some really good items this year," Lathum said.
Among items up for bid will be a Traeger wood pellet grill, which will be auctioned Nov. 15. Also a chandelier, St. Louis Rams tickets and other gift certificates are among this year's items.
"I think the auction gets better every year, and this year will be exceptionally good," Lathum said.
Back for a second year is the viewing of the auction live on the Internet. "From what I hear from the others, last year went well," Lathum said. "Everyone was really excited to go online and view the auction. Anytime you have another form of media, it enhances anything."
Going online broadens the club's capacity to auction items to people from all over the world, Lathums said.
"Last year we had a bidder from Dallas, Texas, who was just surfing the Internet and found the auction," Lathum said.
Lennie Whitworth, a 52-year member of the Rotary Club, remembers the very first auction, which was in a parking lot on East Malone Avenue east of Main Street where Food Giant is now located, he said. It wasn't long before the event was moved indoors at several locations before settling into the most recent site, the Clinton Building.
"It was a growth of practically nothing to us doing a a reasonable job," the 87-year-old said about the club's fundraiser.
Whitworth said, hopefully, the club will keep trying new things to help raise more funds, all of which basically stay in the community.
Proceeds are used by the local Rotary to fund projects and services for more than 20 area charities. These projects include Sikeston Rotary Park, local Boy and Girl Scouts organization, college scholarship fund, local YMCA building projects, youth baseball and softball and a long-range project for the beautification of Sikeston.
"The Rotary is a tremendous organization, and we have spent several hundred million dollars over the years. Rotary (internationally) made the initial effort to stamp out polio in the world. The first year we did this, we raised over $200 million to get it started," Whitworth said.
Following and during each night's auctions, successful bidders may pick up their items at the Clinton Building on Campanella Drive. A list of the items to be auctioned will appear in the Standard Democrat on the days prior to the auction.
Whitworth said: "The organization does a tremendous amount of good in the world so it's an effort to be kind to mankind."