Each week we will be sending out snippets about live auction items.  Every week will be different, so keep track of what you see so you can get groups together and bid on packages at the Hop!  You can always follow up on the website where a cumulative list will be posted.

Raffle tickets are on sale now! This year’s winners will receive cash!  Total prize money will be $7,500.  Tickets will be $20 and coupons on the back of the ticket stub can be redeemed for over $30 in value.  

Come “W(h)ine” About Winter

Mark your calendars for the next open house on Saturday, February 25th from 5:30-7:30 pm at the home of Steve and Tami Goodhue, 3210 Foxley.  Please contact Lisa Snyder (lisa.snyder@sigler.com) or Dhuha Akili (dakili@rocketmail.com) with questions or visit us on Facebook.   The Live auction committee would like to say a special thank you to Amy and Nabil Salama for hosting the collection party in January.  We have a great start to our “cellar” but we need your favorite to make it complete!

Proceeds from the 2012 Rock Hop will continue to support the learning of each student in our district through the use of technology and literacy.

Classroom Basket Letters will be coming home on February 3^rd.  Donations for the themed baskets are due back on March 9^th.  These baskets have been key in helping our silent auction be a success.  Get creative with your donations and look for new themed baskets this year!

Sneak Peek #1 of a few LIVE AUCTION PACKAGES:

CHRISTY LOVE AND THE YOU KNOW WHO BAND is coming back to Ames to rock the vineyard!  SAVE THE DATE the concert will be June 29^th from 6:30pm-11:00pm.  Don’t miss the Gilbert summer concert bash of the year!  Buy your tickets early on your Rock Hop invitation! 

START YOUR ENGINES!  You and a guest will enjoy exclusive club seating while you take in the excitement of Indy Car racing in style at the Iowa Speedway in Newton.  The thrills are on for two days of racing on June 22nd and June 23rd. After you’ve watched the pro’s, it’s your time to get behind the wheel of a real Sprint Cup Stock Car.  To racing school you’ll go and experience your own thrill of racing at over 100 mph!  Two lucky winners will get a twelve lap shootout driving experience by The ORIGINAL Sprint Cup Stock Car Racing School. 

GILBERT LIFETIME ATHLETIC PASS! This is your golden ticket for a lifetime of Gilbert athletic entertainment.  Winning bidder receives 2, lifetime activity passes to any Gilbert Community School athletic event.  The passes will grant admission to each home sporting event with the exception of events sponsored by state athletic associations, such as sectional or district tournament games held at Gilbert.  Proceeds will benefit the Gilbert Education Foundation and the Gilbert Sports Boosters.

BIRTHDAY BASH WITH THE DES MOINES MENACE!  A soccer themed birthday your child will never forget!  Your child and 11 friends will be allowed entry into the stadium prior to the general public to take advantage of the giant inflatable bounce house, slide, and kick center. The package has all the extras!  It includes tickets to the game, a hot dog and drink voucher for each child, Menace t shirts for all 12 kids, they get to be on the field sidelines during warm ups (take pictures and get autographs), a special visit from the Menace mascot (Maniac) to the birthday kid in the stands during the game, a public address birthday announcement during the game, and to top it all off an autographed soccer ball, for the birthday kid, signed by the Menace players!

Sneak Peek #2 of a few LIVE AUCTION PACKAGES:

VIP PARKING at the High School-get your very own 24 hour reserved parking spot at the high school!  The parking spot will be in the first row, first stall from the north.  This VIP spot will be yours from April 1, 2012- June 1, 2013.

Sight-Seeing in Santa Fe, NM:  Spend up to a week in beautiful sunny Santa Fe, New Mexico. This stylish southwestern condo has three bedrooms (sleeps 6), 2.5 baths, 1590 sq. ft.  It is conveniently located 1 mile to Santa Fe’s historic downtown square and a 1 hour drive from Albuquerque Int’l Airport.  Includes washer/dryer, wireless internet and cable TV.  After a day of shopping or activities, relax on the patio in the hot tub, spend time by the fire, or take in the beautiful views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and city lights from the elevated decks.  Nearby seasonal activities available are skiing, hiking, horseback riding, rafting, golf, and so much more!

1, 2, 3 Jump!  Check skydiving off of your bucket list! Two adventurous individuals get to experience the ultimate thrill of tandem skydiving. Take in the thrill of freefalling with the comfort of an experienced instructor.  Also included in your package is the celebration after your jump at the Ladora Bank Bistro which offers a unique dining experience. Enjoy a bottle of wine and fresh food offerings in the elegantly remodeled and renovated historic bank in Ladora, Iowa.

Hoiberg Hoops!  Back by demand!  One of the most popular items ever offered! A dream come true for that future Gilbert letter winner you have at home! Fred Hoiberg will work with 12 lucky kids; 6^th grade and under.  These lucky kids will get to learn from Coach Hoiberg how to shoot like the pros!  Part of the package for these lucky kids also includes their own pizza party!

Spring Spruce Up:  The Gilbert FFA will send a group of motivated and hard working young people to your house. Package includes up to 24 labor hours of yard work, trimming, mowing, raking, planting, mulching and weeding.  

Sneak Peek #3 of a few LIVE AUCTION PACKAGES: 
Get Pretty for Prom!  4 lucky girls will get ready for the 2012 prom together on April 14th from 9am-11am at Finesse.  They each will get their hair done “up style”, manicures, make-up applications and lunches from the Café.

Pheasant Hunting Trip- Four hunters get the unique and exclusive opportunity to enjoy 2 days of pheasant hunting with an experienced guide at the Big Springs Hunting Preserve located near Searsboro, Iowa and four $25 gift certificates to Brownells. Enjoy comfortable accommodations and a delicious homemade breakfast at the newly renovated and completely refurnished, Linden House bed and breakfast.

One of a kind Pendant-Ames Silversmithing has created in 14K white gold, this unique pendant which centers on a natural color black cultured pearl from Tahiti and is accented with a beautiful pink sapphire weighing .31ct and three diamonds weighing .19ct. TW.  The pendant is finished with a 14K white gold 18” Franco chain.

Take me out to the ball game:  These are your four hot tickets to attend the Cardinals vs Brewers for Saturday, April 28, 2012 in St Louis at Busch Stadium.  You will be seated in section 146, rows 11 & 12 and the seats are 12 & 13 in each of those two rows.  This great game will be between the 2011 Central Division Champions and the 2011 World Series Champions.  Enjoy 2 nights stay right by the ballpark at the Sheraton City Center.

Get Your Game On! Let Tracy Paustian Deal, former ISU women's basketball player, help your child improve his/her game with a two-hour basketball clinic. This is a "must" for anyone interested in improving their basketball skills.  Limit of 12 participants, ages 14 and under. Participants will also enjoy pizza and ice cream at the end of the clinic. 

A Day on the Lake: Enjoy a day of boating, skiing, and/or tubing, food, drinks and fun in the sun on Clear Lake.  Up to six people will be able to kick back and relax on the lake with your cruise director Steve Risdal.  Enjoy lunch, drinks and snacks at a Tiki Bar.  Rest comfortably, in two rooms for two nights at the Heartland Inn in Clear Lake, Iowa for the nights of July 13 & 14, 2012. Your evening will be filled with laughs and good times, over dinner, with great conversation and good stories. This package includes a $200 travel voucher to be used for the evening dinner at a restaurant of your choice.

Dinner with Friends:  Ten friends get to enjoy a classy evening and dinner at Aunt Maude's restaurant. The winning bidders will be served an unforgettable seven course meal paired with world class wines. The menu will consist of the freshest local produce and meats with a few extra treats prepared by our chefs Steve Heller and Brian Malone. The wines will be specially selected to match all the courses by Brian Gould. An evening you and your friends will truly enjoy. Leave your car keys at home! Your night will begin and end with a luxurious ride to and from your destination in a fully loaded limousine. The limo is equipped with a fusion disco laser show, leather seats, fiber optic ceiling, and an incredible sound system and LCD flat screens.

BBQ Bash at the Barn! Food... Friends...Fun - The perfect summer night! A gathering of friends, playing lawn games and chatting, with world class BBQ and all the fixin's plus beverages galore! Wine, beer, margaritas and non-alcohol choices - this casual atmosphere will guarantee a great time. Up to 100 people are invited to join hosts, the Taylor's and Gibbons' at the spectacular Taylor Barn. This venue is ideal; a short drive just east of Gilbert Corner and you will feel like you've entered a retreat. The beautiful barn is just off the lake, where you will enjoy the sunset as you visit with your friends and toast the summer. Must be redeemed during the summer of 2012, on a date the suits everyone's schedules.  Great group bid package! Last year seven couples bought this package. Each couple was then able to invite a group of their own friends to the party.

Sneak Peek #5 of a few LIVE AUCTION PACKAGES:  
Night out on the town- Live it up with a celebrity style night out on the town! 12 trendsetting guests will try to avoid the paparazzi by being chauffeured in their own luxury 12 passenger Ford Expedition limousine from CIT Signature Transportation. They will arrive in style to a fabulous dinner at one of the area's finest restaurants; Pazzesco Pasta and Chop House.  Use this unforgettable night for that special birthday celebration or maybe even prom 2012! A dinner reservation has been made for 12 people on April 14, 2012 at 6:00 pm if the winning bidder chooses to use for prom.

Born to be wild- Back by popular demand! Get your motor runnin’.  Head out on the highway!  4 lucky ladies will be in for a 6 hour motorcycle ride with the one and only Rubber Knife Gang!  This package is legendary at the Hop!              

ISU Football VIP Package- Start the ISU football season off in VIP style!  Enjoy an exclusive VIP game-day experience at ISU’s Home Opener game against Tulsa. 4 Lucky fans will be enjoying insider's access to all the excitement on Sept 1, 2012.You will have the VIP treatment enjoying a parking pass next to the stadium and 4 tickets to the ISU Athletic Department Balcony suite where you’ll watch the first game of the year in style!  Food and soft drinks provided.

Christmas Workshop at Coe’s- 15 friends will enjoy a unique evening with Coe's owner and decorator extraordinaire Dan Brabec at Coe's Floral and Gifts.  You will enjoy wine, appetizers, laughs and conversation while you receive expert decorating tips, along with all the supplies to create your fabulous Christmas home accent creations!

Poker anyone?-   A Beautiful 3-in-1 game table set with four rocker/swivel chairs is perfect for turning that area of your house into that casino you always wanted or to complete that man cave!  This ball and claw style table has removable /reversible combination dining poker top and bumper pool.  Whether poker is calling you or bumper pool, don’t fret as accessories are included.  To ensure this is your perfect game table, you even get to choose your wood finish and covering for the chairs.  

Sneak Peek #6 of a few LIVE AUCTION PACKAGES:  
La Dolce Vita~The Good Life- A collection of over fifty bottles of wine, each bottle labeled with a personalized tag sharing a story written by its donor.  With your new wine collection enjoy an unforgettable Italian experience for eight with Gustare Michael & Chef Brian Gorman at your home.  Enjoy the expertise, cultural education, entertainment, and outstanding authentically prepared Italian food & wine presented while passionately recalling memories of their time spent in Italy

Take the Stress Out of Christmas- Make decorating for Christmas easy and fun this year! All American Turf Beauty will provide and install a lighted 48" wreath as well as upwards of 100' of roof lighting for your home.  A consultation by Shelley Billings, followed by a customized and personalized floral arrangement made with your choice of fresh or silk flowers.

Cyclone Football Proud…..At the Bergstrom- 14 Lucky boys will get to play football in the Bergstrom football indoor practice facility with Coach Rhoads and his players.  The boys will have a 1 ½ hour football clinic at the Bergstrom with one-on-one attention from Coach Rhoads and ISU football players.  Food and refreshments will be provided after the clinic. 

Get Away From it All- Escape to The Elms Hotel and Spa in Excelsior Springs, just 30 minutes from Kansas City.  This trip is perfect for a romantic weekend for 2, a girlfriend’s getaway or a hangout with friends to celebrate a special occasion.  Experience the luxury of the facilities that have just undergone a multi-million dollar renovation and re-opened to receive and pamper their guests in April 2012.

Do you have Facebook friends? You can now follow the Gilbert Education Foundation on Facebook look for Gilbert Education Foundation, Iowa.  Having trouble finding us? Check our tab on the Gilbert homepage for help.

 

"Dedicated to Leaving an Everlasting Legacy"

Click HERE to Access the Foundation's Webpage