Want the chance to bid on a wonderful vacation? Win a one-of-a-kind origami quilt? Get “fun stuff” worth at least $50 for only $15? Or support the good work of NCRF by becoming an Angel or joining the Legacy Society? Then be sure to visit the NCRF Booth during the 2014 NCRA Convention & Expo July 31 – Aug. 3 at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel to support the court reporting and captioning professions through the many philanthropic activities offered by the Foundation and funded through charitable contributions.
For the first time at the NCRA Convention & Expo, NCRF is holding a silent auction of fabulous vacation property rentals, including:
- A cabin in Percy Quinn State Park, McComb, Miss., donated by Geanell Adams, RMR, CRR, CRI, Greenville, Miss.;
- A cabin in Shaver Lake, Calif., donated by Janice Foster, RPR, Visalia, Calif.;
- A cottage in Provincetown, Mass., donated by Tammey Pastor, RPR, New York, N.Y.;
- A vacation home on South Lake Tahoe, Calif., donated by Sandy VanderPol, RMR, CRR, Lotus, Calif.;
- A two-night stay at the Desert Springs Resort, Palm Desert, Calif., donated by the Marriott Corp.;
- A two-night getaway at any Omni resort and spa, donated by Omni Hotels and Resorts;
- A two-night stay at any Caesar’s Entertainment Group hotel in Las Vegas, plus round- trip airport limousine transfers and dinner for two at any Caesar’s Entertainment Group restaurant, donated by Caesar’s Entertainment Group; and
- A spa package donated by the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla.
The silent auction is exclusive in that bidding on the vacation properties will only be available to convention attendees and will take place on site in San Francisco from Thursday, July 31, through Saturday, Aug. 2. Bidding will close during the President’s Red Carpet Party on Saturday night, and the winners will be announced. Participants need not be present to win.
Not looking for a fabulous vacation? Then convention attendees are encouraged to try their luck at winning a beautiful, hand-made origami quilt, created and donated by NCRA member Jane LaPorte of Columbia, S.C. The quilt is adorned with flowers meticulously hand-stitched in a Japanese origami style. Some of the flowers are distinguishable, such as bleeding heart, thistle, pansies, petunia, and fox glove; others are whimsical. There are hundreds of different fabrics in this quilt — including some from Bali, Taipei, Alaska, and Hawaii, and 50 different fabrics in one flower alone. Raffle tickets are $10 each or 3 for $25.
And back by popular demand are NCRF’s infamous Grab Bags. No peeking allowed, but you can shake and feel them. Every bag is different and may hold novels, practice tapes, work-related reference materials, jewelry, notebooks, candy, and other fun stuff. Each bag is valued at $50 or more and sells for only $15. Great gifts for students!
Convention attendees are also encouraged to stop by the NCRF booth and join the more than 100 2014 Angels who have already committed their support by donating $1,000. The gift provides a great tax-write off, and those who donate during the Convention will be invited to attend the exclusive Angels Luncheon on Friday, Aug. 1. Attendees can also learn more about how to join the 25 current members who are part of NCRF’s esteemed Legacy Society by designating NCRF as a beneficiary either through a will, an insurance policy, or stock donations.
Other treasures featured at the NCRF Booth include the 2014 San Francisco Convention Commemorative Pin that will be offered for $5 each, an array of past convention pins available for $1 each, and the popular 2013 Nashville Convention & Expo pins, available for $5 each. Visitors to the booth can also become part of NCRA history by signing the “Official Convention Register,” a time capsule of sorts, documenting convention attendees since the early 1900s and housed in NCRF’s Robert H. Clark Library at NCRA headquarters in Vienna, Va.
If you are interested in bidding on the vacation properties, taking a chance on the quilt, becoming an Angel Donor, or joining the Legacy Society, be sure to stop by the NCRF Booth in the Expo Hall, or contactB. J. Shorak, NCRF deputy executive director, at 800-272-6272, ext. 126, or bjshorak@ncra.org.
Finally, don’t miss the NCRF Seminar scheduled for Friday, Aug. 1, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Powered by NCRF: New Tools, Tips, and Takeaways to Fuel Today’s Court Reporter, where Merilyn Sanchez, RMR, CRR, NCRF chair, and Jan Ballman, RPR, CMRS, NCRF chair-elect, will showcase the Foundation’s new Tool Box, a collection of tools and programs that court reporters can leverage to promote themselves and the profession. The seminar will take place in room Imperial A.
