Paddle Parties

Ever heard of Paddle Parties? Well, I hadnt until a few weeks ago. My neighbor asked me if I wanted to set up a table at a Paddle Party in Galena. It only cost $15... Heck why not..., but what is a Paddle Party. Well, it is a fund raiser party. They invite individual small businesses/crafts to set up tables. People come in and buy a Paddle. Every paddle has a poker chip with the same number. The chip goes in a bucket. Each vendor donates 2 items valued at at least $20 to be auctioned off. The first round of auction starts. The vendor introduces themselves, and what their first item is. Then it is Paddles up and Quarters in the bucket.... oh, I left that part out. When someone wants to bid, a quarter is collected for each paddle someone holds up (you can buy as many paddles you want). So basically you are bidding a quarter per paddle for the idem. The person in charge of the party, draws a poker chip out of the bucket and that person (if they had bid) wins the item! For that first round of auction, all the quarters collected, goes back to the vendor. Once all of the vendors have presented, there is a short intermission, giving people time to buy food, and wander around each vendor and look (or buy) their items. Then the round of auctions go again, but this time, the charity retains all the quarters bid. It was so much fun, I am going to do another one! Watch for time and place to be announced soon!