First Blackhawk Dessert Auction a success for Cheney athletics

Every now and then everybody needs some kudos. Actually, we should be doing more now to positively acknowledge the work of individuals and organizations than waiting until then.

Last Friday night I had the pleasure of attending the first and hopefully annual, Blackhawk Dessert Auction at Cheney High School. For a first time event, it was fairly well attended, with around 100 or so milling about the high school entry way, examining auction tables and placing bids on a variety of items ranging from toys to athletic gear and apparel, pictures and some fancy adult gift baskets.

There was even a foosball table, minimum bid $75, and a Seattle Macy’s poster featuring then University of Washington and former Blackhawk Steve Emtman from one of the Huskies early 1990s Rose Bowl seasons. Whoever the high bidder on that item ended up being, I believe, was going to receive it signed by Steve.

As for the desserts, there were plenty of those. A $2 entry ticket earned the bearer the opportunity to sample a wide selection along with a soda. Whole dessert leftovers were auctioned off at the end of the event.

Kudos go to CHS athletic director Jim Missel for his hard work in orchestrating the evening, a lot of the effort coming from securing items for auction. Kudos also go to all who attended, good Blackhawk fans who helped raise over $2,200 the first time out of the gate to provide additional funding for Cheney High sports.

It was a good crowd, consisting of parents, athletes, students, coaches and some individuals who have no reason to be involved in Blackhawk sports other than that they believe in supporting their local teams. Parents can become so involved in sports and/or schools while they have kids in the system that it’s easy to see how a form of burnout can occur once those children have graduated and left the nest, as it were. So for those of you who were at the high school Friday who no longer have kids in Cheney schools, thank you for your support.

While there were a good variety of items for auction Friday, lacking were any items from Eastern Washington University. University of Oregon gave readily, but no Eagle gear. In fact, I think there were only one or two items from Washington State University as well – not real, local but a university that draws well from the region.

Wazzu I don’t care so much about, but it was disappointing the university on the hill here in Cheney didn’t contribute something. I asked Jim about that and was told while he did contact my alma mater, apparently there are a number of hoops that need to be jumped through in order to secure gear for such an event.

Maybe next year that won’t be the case.

The whole event lasted around two hours, not a lot of time really when compared to similar auction events I have previously attended. It was clear some good fun was being had by those who believe in Cheney sports – with maybe even a little recruiting going on.

Future plans for the auction include the possibility of holding it again this coming fall. As for me, I managed somehow to double my sports bobblehead collection at one setting, something I need like I need another sock with holes, but happy to do so for the Blackhawks.

Thanks Jim.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.