CMA’s book auction at the national convention raised $900 for the Student Press Law Center while helping students and advisers find interesting reading material, sometimes at bargain prices.
The SPLC answers nearly 1,000 requests from college media for legal help annually, and the annual auction gives CMA members and budding journalists a chance to show their appreciation with their wallets.
“SPLC is our champion,” said Sally Renaud, CMA past president. “It has the ability to help CMA members and their staffs quickly navigate legal hurdles.”
While $900 is a tiny percentage of the SPLC budget, more than the money is at stake, said Frank LoMonte, SPLC executive director.
“Every dollar that a person spends on a book at the auction or puts into the bowl at the awards ceremony is a vote of confidence that helps us attract the five-figure institutional grants we depend on to keep the doors open,” LoMonte said.
Small donations also are important to the SPLC staff personally, LoMonte said.
“When you see people giving up their time to work that auction table out of the goodness of their hearts, it energizes you to keep doing this work that can be so exhausting,” he said.
In addition to books, this year’s auction featured a pencil box hand made by CMA member Nils Rosdahl from more than 20 pieces of printer’s type. Rosdahl displayed a model at the auction table and promised to customize one for the winning bidder.
Renaud said she hopes to see the book auction expanded next year to include more non-book items. For example, a recent auction to benefit SPLC at a high school journalism conference included signed Twins memorabilia, cameras, iTunes gift cards, local restaurant certificates, classroom books and more.
CMA members can help by collecting books and other items – starting right now. Put a box in your office, and when it’s full, send it to our fall 2012 collection point:
The Alestle/Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Morris University Center Room 2022
Edwardsville, IL 62026
Attn: Tammy Merrett-Murry
CMA members make auction a success
CMA members donated their books and their time to make the annual auction to benefit the Student Press Law Center a success.
Book donors included: Amanda Banner, James Niedbalski, Mike Grundmann, Michele Corriel, Frank LoMonte, Dan Reimold, Elena Jarvis, Judy Gibbs Robinson, Kelley Callaway, Debra Garfinkle, Susan Smith and Nils Rosdahl.
Volunteers included: Steve Wilkes, Nils Rosdahl, Nicole Hill, Peggy Elliott, Kelley Callaway, Stacy Sparks, Macon McGinley, Susan Smith, Elena Jarvis, Dana Peck, Kim Zarkin, Bob Adams, Julie Freeman, Alexa Capeloto, Tammy Merrett-Murry, Clay Scott, Mandi Bryson, Pat Winters Lauro, Judy Gibbs Robinson, Mike Trice, and Ron and Margie White.
