Annual Private School Dinner/Auctions

[Anonymous]

How much did you spend/will you spend this year? What'd you buy? Did you actually have fun at the dinner?

[Anonymous]

Dinner was fun, bought nothing; outbid by heavy hitters on everything!

[Anonymous]

Evening was fun and I'm glad we went. Purchased items (deals) in the silent and online auctions. Live Auction items way out of our league.

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir Newbie here - what is the typical attire for the auction?

[Anonymous]

how much do live items generally sell for?

[Anonymous]

also would love to know the typical attire for the beauvoir auction - i'm assuming people wear everything from casual/pants to super dressy?

[Anonymous]

yeah, you see everything from pants suits to gowns. most people wear "cocktail" attire.

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir mom here. The "volunteer moms" go nuts - check out Washington Life Magazine to give you an idea of what cocktail passes for. Beauvoir Auction Night is basically prom night on steroids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how much do live items generally sell for?

I am a Beauvoir DCUM and have attended for the last 4 years. It really depends. The vacation packages go for 2-3 times what they're worth. The unique gifts (private tour of museum, lunch with a senator, or hanging with a famous for DC celeb) can fetch some eye-popping amounts. The class projects/donations go for thousands and thousands of dollars. But those are truly priceless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beauvoir mom here. The "volunteer moms" go nuts - check out Washington Life Magazine to give you an idea of what cocktail passes for. Beauvoir Auction Night is basically prom night on steroids.

I am a SAHM, our family is pretty typical in that DH works long hours and we spend our weekends doing tons of kid-centered stuff. Between work, family commitments, and just plain being really tired all the time, DH and I don't get out much without the kids. The auction is one of a few predictable nights in my year that I get to dress up and see other adults, sans kids, and have the possibility for some conversation. I also spend most of my days in casual attire--jeans, t-shirts, fleeces, and often smell like whatever I've been cooking that day, or whatever I've been digging out of my yard that day. I enjoy dressing up, don't get many chances to do it. I get annoyed when people call it the "prom" or make other derisive comments about those of us who enjoy the rare chance to wear something other than my same old SAHM clothes.

[Anonymous]

Well, I'm with you 16:41, right down to the imbedded garlic smell in my fleece. But there is a difference between simple cocktail dress and flowing ball gown with an up-do.

So when I finally get out of my yoga pants and get a sitter, it doesn't necessarily follow that I need a new Judith Leiber bag and a gown that requires brand-new "structured undergarments," you know? I think the derisive comment above was directed at some of the over-the-topness.

[Anonymous]

It does have a bit of prom feeling to it, I think. I mean, I know folks may not have the chance to get out a lot, but I just can't get excited about partying the night away with school parents! I'm happy to just write a check and go out with my friends.

[Anonymous]

Personnally, I do not attend these things ... I support the school in other ways. BUT, if someone really enjoys going and gets a kick out of really dressing up ... how does that harm anyone else?! To each his own and quit trying to pick a fight over something so trivial.

[Anonymous]

People call the auctions prom because the event has the same social dynamics of high school, IMO.

The Cliquey SAHMs put together an event, that only they think is "fabulous" and then they go around and tell each other how wonderful they are. Many times they drink heavily and make asses out of themselves. Then after the auction they get to talk about how tired they are and how much it took out of them. These people are insecure bullies, social climbers and control freaks. The auctions are not about the teachers, kids or schools, oh no--it is about a small group of women trying way to hard.

I vote for raising tuition and eliminating auctions.

[Anonymous]

Completely agree with the earlier posters who said that while it might not be their cup of tea -- nor mine -- if other parents enjoy these events and they help the school, what's the harm? I'd rather just write a check and then have a night out with DH and good friends, but to quote the great Sly Stone, "different strokes for different folks."