AUCTION! AUCTION!

[Jeff]

      Some of you may recall that I was heavily involved in the "Tree of Hope" project this year. The 2001 U.S. Capital Christmas tree project. In fact many of you were very instrumental in the project as you helped me . Well, the Forestry Forum is still involved.  We were honored with the responsibility of creating and hosting the website for the upcoming online auction of the ornaments that adorned that tree.  I won't take the time here to tell you everything about the ornaments other then they are very special. Many are art objects of blown glass, hammered copper, wood turnings and carvings. Almost any kind of medium you could imagine. Many of the ornaments were created in memory of  those that fell September 11. Once you visit the site, click on the ornament link to learn more.

     The proceeds from this auction will be going to Habitat for Humanity and The Arts. This one tree, The Tree of Hope, continues to touch many, many people. I wanted you as members to be some of the first to take a look at the site.  I encourage you to try to buy an ornament, but even if you don't feel that you will bid on an ornament, you might want to register as a bidder so I can let you know when we start  putting the ornaments up so you can view them. Another way you can help it this; there is a link at the bottom of the auction pages where you can tell a friend(s) about the auction, please help us do that!

The Website for the auction is at http://www.ornamentauction.com
The Tree of hope website is at http://www.holidaytree2001.org

The auction will be heavily publicized. People from all around the country have expressed interest, and guess what? Our link to the Forestry forum will be there.

Here is the auction announcement as it appears on the Tree of hope website.

ORNAMENT ONLINE AUCTION!
The Tree of Hope Planning Committee is excited to offer official Tree of Hope ornaments for auction. In an effort to expedite the on-line auction experience, we request that you pre-register at your earliest convenience. Note that this is not required, but will make it easier for you to bid on items as soon as they become available. We anticipate placing items for bid on the web-site within the next few weeks.
And don't forget to pass on the news!

[Jeff]

Here are some examples of the ornaments. Remember, most of these ornaments are about plate size. They had to be, they were on a 74 foot tall tree!

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[RavioliKid]

Jeff,

Once again, excellent work! I have registered. Who knows, maybe I'll even win an auction!

I did have a concern that you might be trying to sell the CHILDREN'S ornaments. They were cute, and all that, but I am not about to buy any. I could turn my classroom into a sweatshop and make all the toilet paper tube ornament I could ever want.

Oh, wait...I already did that... :D

[timberbeast]

Cool,  Jeff!  You're a good man!

[Corley5]

Just registered 8)  So when do we start?  This ought to be fun

[Jeff]

The lions share of the ornaments will arrive fromm D.C. in Lansing sometime this week. I will probably shoot down there one day to help Habitat for Humanity get the cataloging started. Each ornament needs to be photoed numbered and described digitally, then packaged for shipping, then eventually the data has to be entered into the auction. Don't know how many will make it back from D.C. that will be worthy of sale, but over 6000 went out there

Hopefully by the end of the month we will start the auctions!

[DanG]

That's great, Jeff. Congratulations on a job well done.

You say the ForestryForum link is gonna be on there? Does that mean we're gonna have company? I hope that don't mean I'm gonna hafta shave and warsh. It ain't even spring yet! :-[