Anthrocon Charity Auction FAQ (2008 v10.0)

Overview: Anthrocon's selected charity for 2008 is the Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue. To declare your intent to donate to the Anthrocon Charity Auction, please send an email to charity-2008(at)anthrocon.org stating your name, email address, and what you intend to donate.

Please be sure to read the FAQ below and the Charity Auction Rules web page.

• What is the Anthrocon Charity Auction?
• What is the Charity this year?
• What is the background of the Anthrocon Charity Auction?
• How can I help?
• What else do I need to know about donating items?
• What will happen to my donation at Anthrocon?
• Do you have any written rules for the Anthrocon Charity Auction?
• Are there any deadlines?
• Will the convention handle the Charity Auction's proceeds?
• Is this affiliated with the Anthrocon Art Auction?
• Who is arranging the convention and auction?
• What if I would just like to make a cash donation?
• Is my donation tax deductible?
• What is the Anthrocon Charity Auction?

  The Anthrocon Charity Auction is an event on Saturday afternoon of the convention that offers unique items and products to bidders to raise money for a charity, chosen annually by the convention.

• What is the Charity this year?

  Anthrocon has selected Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue, a bird rescue, education, and adoption organization, to be our beneficiary for 2008. They will be at the Charity Auction and will also have a table in the Dealer's Room where you can meet them and some of their feathered friends.

  Here are some words from PPR about their organization:

  Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue was created because of an increasing need for a safe haven for unwanted, lost, neglected and abused pet birds in the Pittsburgh area. PPR is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization comprised entirely of dedicated volunteers who take pet birds into our homes until we can find new permanent homes for them. We are a NO-KILL shelter.

  Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue conducts monthly education seminars open to the public to teach people about the specialized care that is required to keep their pet birds healthy and happy. Our education seminars focus on health care, housing, proper nutrition, and in depth information on parrot behavior problems. In addition, we provide individual counseling services to those who are experiencing behavior problems with their feathered friend.

  PPR relies solely on public donations, membership fees, and small adoption fees to carry out our mission. 100% of all donations go back into the organization to provide medical care, nutritious food, and plenty of toys to keep the homeless birds happy.

  More information about Animal Friends can be found at their website, http://www.pittsburghparrotrescue.org/. If you have any questions about Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue, you can contact their representative, Roberta Weisensee, at 412-761-2268 and zazubird(at)prodigy.net.

• What is the background of the Anthrocon Charity Auction?

  The Charity Auction at Anthrocon started when the convention began back in 1997. Over the years, Anthrocon has raised nearly $75,000 for various charities. Anthrocon's Charity Auction has consistently been among the highest performing fandom Charity events by dollar amount annually. Here is a breakdown of approximate (convention) totals by year:

  1997: Therapy Dogs - $2,200
  1998: Whiskers - $3,200
  1999: Great Valley Nature Center - $3,600
  2000: National Greyhound Adoption Program - $6,500
  2001: Reins of Life - $7,200
  2002: Canine Partners for Life - $13,200
  2003: Support Our Shelters - $8,300
  2004: Forgotten Felines & Fidos - $7200
  2005: Greater Philadelphia Search & Rescue - $6,400
  2006: Western Pennsylvania National Wild Animal Orphanage - $8,400
  2007: Animal Friends - $7,608

• How can I help?

  If you are interested in donating to the Anthrocon Charity Auction, send an email to charity-2008(at)anthrocon.org stating what you are donating, your name, your preferred email address if it's different, and details on the donation (what is it, medium, artist/provider, etc.). Your information will be recorded for the convention. This information is for approval purposes only - details should be provided with the required information card at the convention.

• What else do I need to know about donating items?

  If you are donating an item (artwork, sculpture, animation cel, etc), it must be G to PG rated (PG13- or R-rated items accepted only with prior permission). You may either bring it to Anthrocon if you are attending or you may send it via postal mail. Write to charity-2008(at)anthrocon.org to receive the address that postal mail items should be sent to. If delivered by mail, the item must include a 3x5 card with pertinent, legible information such as the donor, artist, medium, and any other important information a bidder should know so that the item may be properly auctioned. If delivered at the convention, please do so at the Charity Auction display, open during Dealer's Room hours outside of Allegheny I (Westin) before the auction. You will be required to fill out a 3x5 card with the aforementioned information for display and auction purposes. Items donated also must be unique - they cannot be available anywhere else at the convention. And please: we appreciate your generosity, but do not donate multiple copies of the same item!

• What will happen to my donation at Anthrocon?

  Your donation will be on public display at Anthrocon until the Charity Auction. Items will be auctioned one at a time, although certain items may be combined into lots if the number of donations is very high. Once the convention is over, you will be emailed with the price your item sold for if you have provided an email address.

• Do you have any written rules for the Anthrocon Charity Auction?

  The new, revised rules are available on the Anthrocon webpages at www.anthrocon.org. They cover many small details of the Auction that are not covered in this FAQ.

• Are there any deadlines?

  If you plan to send an item by postal mail, we will check with you before the convention (unless you request otherwise) just to drop a friendly reminder about when the convention is. We will need all mailed donations to arrive not less than two full weeks before the convention (no later than June 14th). Any donations sent after that date may be returned to you unsold.

  To be included on the Bidder Information Sheet, a list of all known donations at the time of publication which is distributed to all registered attendees, donations need to be confirmed by email before June 20th. Donations may be confirmed after that date and made at the convention, but they will not be able to be included on the Bidder Info Sheet.

  If you plan to bring your donation to the convention, you may drop it off at the Charity Auction display during open hours. In either case, you will receive one or two emails shortly before the convention to alert those who have agreed to donate and not sent their donations that the convention is a short time away so there is no ambiguity about whether a donation is coming or not.

• Will the convention handle the Charity Auction's proceeds?

  Except for cash donations sent before the convention date, no. Unless the Charity is unable to attend the convention, a representative from the Charity will be present at the Charity Auction and will collect the donations as the items and services are purchased. The proceeds will, at no time, be in the possession of Anthrocon staff.

• Is this affiliated with the Anthrocon Art Auction?

  Only in that it is at the same convention. The Art Auction will only auction items submitted for the Art Show. The Charity Auction items on display are being solicited and auctioned with no affiliation to the Art Auction. You may submit art to the Art Show and merchandise to the Charity Auction independently.

• Who is arranging the convention and auction?

  Dr. Samuel Conway arranges the convention and you may direct questions concerning the convention in general to him via the convention at anthrocon-2008(at)anthrocon.org.

  Brian Harris arranges the Charity Auction, and any questions involving the Charity Auction at Anthrocon should be directed to charity-2008(at)anthrocon.org.

• What if I would just like to make a cash donation?

  If you would like to donate to the charity before or after the convention, please visit their website for instructions. If you wish to make a cash donation at the convention, the Charity will be present in the Dealer's Room during scheduled hours.

• Is my donation tax deductible?

  If you have made a donation that has a cash value, it may be. Please contact Roberta Weisensee at zazubird(at)prodigy.net for the tax-exempt information, if it is available.

If you have any further questions, have no hesitation about contacting us and you will receive a quick reply. If you know anyone else who would like to donate to the Anthrocon Charity Auction, please pass this information on. Thank you for helping us constructively help others, assist our community, and provide an enjoyable convention.

- Brian Harris
Anthrocon Charity Auction Director