I am confused, if the teachers can not be there for the auction because of the open house, doesn't that mean some of the parents will not be there because they will be with the teachers? I would quickly send out a new schedule to include everyone, you want the teachers on your side. We do our open house at the beinging of the year and everyone meet together before breaking up into the classrooms, do you have this in your schedule giving time to hold the auction as well.

I think unless you can rearrange the schedule for that night you may need, for the sake of future relations, find another time to have the auction. But before you give up totally on this night work with the administration to see if you can shorten the night by having class visiting time compressed and then have everyone, including the teachers meet in the 'auction room' to finish the night. If the principal has any group information to communicate they could do it then and then start the auction. let us know what you do!

Those are marvelous ideas...except I forgot and left off one "detail"...it is a live auction, not a silent auction. Keep helping me think though, I appreciate it!!

Could you display the baskets before the Open House so the teachers could bid before and then leave it open 10 minutes following the Open House so they get time to buzz over to the auction and be a part of that? Or for that matter even have a representative from your organization keep the teachers up to date on certain baskets that they are eying and have the rep sign the teachers name on the basket? Just some ideas. I hope that it works out!

Our Open House and Basket Auction is this week!! We thought we had everything thought out. But now it has been brought to our attention (by the teachers) that we scheduled the auction during Open House and they will not be able to participate. We did this so we would have the majority of people in attendance during the auction (and so we wouldn't be there all night!). Now we are in a quandry...Do we respond to the teachers and delay our auction, or do we go ahead and have it during Open House as scheduled???? Notes have already been sent, but can be retracted. HELP PLEASE!!!