Boston Athletic Academy: BRAINSTORMING AUCTION ITEMS

[Brand Name]

So yeah, this is where the magic happens, for the BAA Auction starting on February 3rd. There's genuinely an unknown amount of amazing items that on offer that can be given here, given this community's continued outreach, amazing ability, and endless connections. As this is a sporting academy for various sports, there's no need for this to be limited to just baseball. That said, items such as Monster tickets, a painting of Pedro are always welcomed. Given we're a few weeks away from the Super Bowl, which shares its date with our opening, what about something related to the Patriots? An autographed jersey, an opportunity with players? A special tour of Gillette? The items run as deep as your imagination lets them go, regardless of sport, and what is listed here barely reaches the tip of the iceberg.

On a personal level, my item isn't technically related to sports, but more the entertainment side of matters. The same can work for you, you just have to dream it, make it something worthwhile/fascinating, and make it a reality. What can you offer to the enjoyment of SoSH, while simultaneously paying it forward to the kids who need such a service? We would love to hear them, on many facets. Beyond the experiences of the physical items, the games, themselves won here, the impact we make on these kids will last much longer in their memories, that we made their world special and that much longer. So let's fucking go!

 

[Reverend]

OK, so I'm looking for ideas for tutoring "products" to auction off. I'm good at teaching, I think, but bad at productizing what I do

I can offer a full professional work up of a paper with a couple of turns--that's easy enough: e.g. ten pages or less, I won't rewrite or ghost write for anyone, etc. But even admissions essays are fair game, therefore, and I've helped people get into graduate programs at MIT, OxBridge, UCal, etc. Easy enough, and we had great success at InsideThePylon.com with the approach as well, but I won't name any names of some of the success stories.

But I also do a really good introductory to how writing works where I get at some stuff that for whatever reason isn't taught at schools. And it was also part of ItP with great success, but I don't know how to convey why it's of value because it's assumed we all know what writing is for and how it works. So although I've gotten solid feedback from people at times--kids all but shouting and saying, "Why didn't anyone tell me this before??" (actual quotation from a SoSHer kid-ling)--I don't actually know how to state what we're doing in a way that makes anyone want to buy it.

For anyone interested in working on writing, what would you want out of an auction item?

 

[Reverend]

Do we have any yogis or physical therapist types who could recommend a program for (re)lengthening the spine that they might be willing to auction off for a good cause?


Edit Addendum: I'm getting fucking ads on SoSH for belts now.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

I'm in for some artwork to donate. I don't have anything auction-worthy lying around (I don't think), but Sunday's Super Bowl may provide an iconic image worth capturing on canvas. If so, I can crank something out pretty quickly. If not, I can crank something else out pretty quickly.

 

[RG33]

I would be happy to auction off my Week 1 Patriots season tickets for September 2019 that could potentially be the banner-lifting ceremony (typing this out is killing my superstitious self).

As an aside, we could also think about starting a "529 Scholarship Fund" for BAA -- ultimately, you can open a 529 plan for 501(c)3's and have the proceeds go out sporadically to multiple recipients (so, give out $1000 each year). It could be something where part of the proceeds of the auction went into it, and/or where other benefactors of the BAA could invest directly into it via other fundraising that they do. The monies would be invested, grow tax free, no admin/trust department costs like a lot of "scholarship funds", and the 529 Plan could pay directly to the school to ensure the funds are used for the intended reason. May be totally out of left field, but I'd be happy to discuss offline if folks thought it would be of interest (and I have no vested interest and would not be involved to be clear).

 

[jose melendez]

I can probably auction of a Basotho blanket (as seen in Black Panther--forcefield not included) let me check my inventory. I'm also travelling to Bali and Goa soon, so maybe I can get some cool stuff there.

 

[Reverend]

I would be happy to auction off my Week 1 Patriots season tickets for September 2019 that could potentially be the banner-lifting ceremony (typing this out is killing my superstitious self).

As an aside, we could also think about starting a "529 Scholarship Fund" for BAA -- ultimately, you can open a 529 plan for 501(c)3's and have the proceeds go out sporadically to multiple recipients (so, give out $1000 each year). It could be something where part of the proceeds of the auction went into it, and/or where other benefactors of the BAA could invest directly into it via other fundraising that they do. The monies would be invested, grow tax free, no admin/trust department costs like a lot of "scholarship funds", and the 529 Plan could pay directly to the school to ensure the funds are used for the intended reason. May be totally out of left field, but I'd be happy to discuss offline if folks thought it would be of interest (and I have no vested interest and would not be involved to be clear).

Or, like, scholarship funds within BAA that kids could win/be awarded? I like the way you think--this is a great idea.

 

[Reverend]

I can probably auction of a Basotho blanket (as seen in Black Panther--forcefield not included) let me check my inventory. I'm also travelling to Bali and Goa soon, so maybe I can get some cool stuff there.

Didn't someone try to make you eat a bug last time or something?

 

[RG33]

Or, like, scholarship funds within BAA that kids could win/be awarded? I like the way you think--this is a great idea.

Yes, that is what I mean. Ideally, you would start a 529 for “BAA for benefit of Multiple Beneficiaries” — whatever monies are raised for the scholarship get invested - and then each year you give out however many and however much you want (based on whatever criteria you want). You’d obviously want to build a nest egg up to some extent where you could have a sustainable balance that could grow whilst you give out scholarships every year. It would really just depend upon how much you could raise whether or not it was worthwhile to establish the 529. If you raised $2500, you would just be better off giving it out — if you raised $25,000 you could establish the Fund, pay out $1000 in scholarship in year one — hopefully continue to raise funds for it, and get it to a point where you could give out $5000 or $10000 in scholarships each year. The rule of thumb would be you can give out 5% of the Fund annually and have it be sustainable that it lasts forever.

 

[jose melendez]

Didn't someone try to make you eat a bug last time or something?

I offered to eat a whole mouse boiled in salt, a Malawian delicacy on video for $5K. It got like $7 dollars so I didn't do it.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

I've been talking to James, I'll be offering up one of my built models for auction. A good one. In a display case and such. I'll post a thread soon.

 

[Vegas Sox Fan]

There seems to always be talk in P&G about some eating challenge or another. I wonder if anyone would be willing to step up for a McNugget-a-thon where people can pledge a certain amount per nugget or something similar.

 

[Hambone]

The MDC baseball glove thread has me thinking. Didn't we used to have bidding guidelines that would prevent my throwing an extra penny over RGREELEY33's generous bid? Also didn't we keep things open for a bid-off if there were multiple active bidders?

I find it very strange that I'm asking about structure vs creating chaos.

 

[shepard50]

The MDC baseball glove thread has me thinking. Didn't we used to have bidding guidelines that would prevent my throwing an extra penny over RGREELEY33's generous bid? Also didn't we keep things open for a bid-off if there were multiple active bidders?

I find it very strange that I'm asking about structure vs creating chaos.

I got $50 here for Hambone.

If I am victorious, can I choose whether to hunt him or eat him? Or can I sequence it in such a way that both are possible?

 

[EricFeczko]

When do these auctions close, out of curiosity

Do we have any yogis or physical therapist types who could recommend a program for (re)lengthening the spine that they might be willing to auction off for a good cause?


Edit Addendum: I'm getting fucking ads on SoSH for belts now.

If its not too late, I can check with my siblings, Adena (https://www.instagram.com/iamadena/?hl=en ; https://www.adenayoga.com/ ) and Matt (https://www.instagram.com/mattfeczko/?hl=en ; https://www.facebook.com/lungesinleggings/ ), to see if they are willing to auction something off.

 

[Reverend]

When do these auctions close, out of curiosity



If its not too late, I can check with my siblings, Adena (https://www.instagram.com/iamadena/?hl=en ; https://www.adenayoga.com/ ) and Matt (https://www.instagram.com/mattfeczko/?hl=en ; https://www.facebook.com/lungesinleggings/ ), to see if they are willing to auction something off.

Definitely not too late!

Heck, we haven't even gotten around to setting a deadline yet. Although should probably do so... (Thanks for the reminder.)

I don't really know how to read a calendar when baseball is out of season, to be honest.

 

[Reverend]

People have asked so I'll say all auctions will close on March 18th or whenever the auctioneer decides to end it. In that vein, anyone who likes should feel free to put anything else up--the more the merrier, and you don't need my permission.

Except for 'Rip--I wouldn't dream of putting a clock on his art. He does what he wants.

 

[EricFeczko]

People have asked so I'll say all auctions will close on March 18th or whenever the auctioneer decides to end it. In that vein, anyone who likes should feel free to put anything else up--the more the merrier, and you don't need my permission.

Except for 'Rip--I wouldn't dream of putting a clock on his art. He does what he wants.

Sounds good to me either way.

I talked with my siblings. Both are interested in donating something (e.g. class/program etc.) however both are concerned about where they live and whether it will be accessible. My brother currently lives in London, while my sister lives in Hyderabad. So there are a couple of different options:

1) Some sort of 1-1 training program done via teleconferencing.
2) Offer up a classes in London (brother's recommendation)
3) Offer a %50 discount for a yoga retreat (usually costs around 1200 pounds, so would be a 600 pound discount).

Would any of these seem viable? I'm happy to put you in touch with either if you're interested in working out logistics -- also looking for suggestions that would be auction-worthy.