JKLM School Auctions - do you really have to go?

[Anonymous]

Our preschool auction is a fun social event.

[Anonymous]

I am going to the Janney auction to check out the cool SAHMs.
Have they ever thought about auctioning off a date with some of them?
That would really raise a ton of money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Has DCPS thought about putting a progressive tax or administrative fee, like 40 or 50 %, on the auction proceeds from JKLM schools? Then DCPS could share the bounty with the schools that are unable to raise their own extra funds.

JKLM doesn't get nearly as much $ as other schools w high poverty/title I funds. They do these fundraisers to make up difference

[Anonymous]

I am going too. I assume I won't meet you as you will be staying at home to avoid the "cool" people so you can complain about them later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am going to the Janney auction to check out the cool SAHMs.
Have they ever thought about auctioning off a date with some of them?
That would really raise a ton of money

I love amusing posts among all of the usual DCUM bitterness. Thanks for making me laugh!

[Anonymous]

KLM parent here (ie. not Janney). Obviously this is a #WTOP problem - but do find the 'moms' in charge very unwelcoming and it feels very high school (or sorority president-y) vibe. I'd prefer just to give more to the school than go through this exercise in social status (which is what I will do).

[Anonymous]

I think you are writing a lot of cliqueyness into the scene that honestly isn't there people. I'm on the auction committee for the...ohhh... umpteenth year in a row. And when we ask for help - NO ONE steps up. The whole those "bitchy SAHM" 'tudes are ridiculous, this is a full-time job for a couple of months and instead of rolling your eyes and blaming me when the auction doesn't pull in the money to pay for your kid's class aide, you should offer some damn help once in a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:KLM parent here (ie. not Janney). Obviously this is a #WTOP problem - but do find the 'moms' in charge very unwelcoming and it feels very high school (or sorority president-y) vibe. I'd prefer just to give more to the school than go through this exercise in social status (which is what I will do).

another KLM parent here. why don't you volunteer to organize the auction next year? I have never done it, I have just spent a few Saturdays setting it put (bringing in tables, setting up items and decorations, picking up trash from the floor, bringing in boxes of juices, wine, food and so on, but I have seen the people who take care of organizing the auction working hard since the beginning of the school year (and the last two presidents were both working full time). many more people take the unglamorous task of contacting last year donors, business that could possibly be interested in donating and so on (auction items don't have legs and don't show up by themselves the night of the auction). among them are parents of kids in my kids' classes who this year spent time at school during the day working with the kids to create an item that will be sold at the auction (no, in my case they are not bored SAHM, but a working father and a working mother). the vibe I see is very different that the one you describe (maybe we are not at the same school?).

[Anonymous]

At our KLM-type the PTA leadership team has lawyers rather than sorority girls. The sorority girls dominate some of the committees though.

We go to the auction sometimes. We just wander around and chat with randoms and ignore drama. If it is dull we take off and head somewhere nice for a drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am going to the Janney auction to check out the cool SAHMs.
Have they ever thought about auctioning off a date with some of them?
That would really raise a ton of money

A JDate with. JMILF?

[Anonymous]

We will go to our first one this year - because I want to support thr school and it might be fun. We're not at Janney, but if we lived across the street we would be -- and neither at our school nor at Janney do we see "cool cliquey" moms. Maybe I'm missing it. But even if I am, who cares? I have too much else goIng on in my life to even notice!

[Anonymous]

I went to the J auction for the first time last year, plan to go again. Much more fun than expected. I do not buy into the hype, many other parents are a lot of fun.

I appreciate all the effort that goes into this, it is no small thing. Also, the teachers put a lot of their own effort into auction items beyond class projects and I appreciate that as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you are writing a lot of cliqueyness into the scene that honestly isn't there people. I'm on the auction committee for the...ohhh... umpteenth year in a row. And when we ask for help - NO ONE steps up. The whole those "bitchy SAHM" 'tudes are ridiculous, this is a full-time job for a couple of months and instead of rolling your eyes and blaming me when the auction doesn't pull in the money to pay for your kid's class aide, you should offer some damn help once in a while.

Ha, I'd say +1 except that our auction is a "full-time job" for our committee, all of whom actually have full-time jobs. I am one of those people and we BEG others to help on the committee, and almost no one steps up. You can imagine how I feel when I see people complain about having to go to auctions.

[Anonymous]

Not at J, did not attend school auctions but provided monetary donations at the $1000 level from three friends in corporate America. Their employers made the donations for about four years. This was accomplished without attending the kick-off gathering, monthly committee meetings or the post-event volunteers coffee. Helped my kid and others while saving my free time for family and friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not at J, did not attend school auctions but provided monetary donations at the $1000 level from three friends in corporate America. Their employers made the donations for about four years. This was accomplished without attending the kick-off gathering, monthly committee meetings or the post-event volunteers coffee. Helped my kid and others while saving my free time for family and friends.

However you can help is great. I'm sure it was really appreciated.

To earlier posters about cliquey moms --All this snarking is ridiculous. If you don't want to go then don't. I'm a new KLM parent and I haven't been involved in the auction this year, but from what I've seen so far, those so called "cliquey" moms are just women that have spent an amazing amount of time working really hard to make their school better. Spending so much time together they get to know each other and form friendships. This is how it works in real life. If you want to make friends put some time and effort in. If you don't want to, don't have the time, have other friends, etc, then don't. That's fine too but stop complaining about it.