The results are in and the 2020 version of the Getaway and Annual Meeting established a new trend in community building and FUNdraising, simultaneously! The world-wide pandemic forced us to re-evaluate our traditional way of meeting and fundraising... and we are liking the results! The combination of Zoom, the online video communication service, and the online auction platform OneCause, allowed us to reach many more of our members virtually and without incurring meeting or travel expenses! Participation by many members who had not previously attended a Getaway increased so the FAUSA ‘community’ continues to grow by reaching out through cyberspace! There may have been a few technical glitches along the way, but overall they were minor inconveniences; and with more practice FAUSA can continue to enhance the value of membership by providing more opportunities to meet virtually! Of course each of us can hardly wait to see one another in person again, but until that time arrives.... let’s make the most of the FAUSA Zoom Rooms!
Auction Review
The online auctions also netted very positive results with a record amount of FUNdraising achieved... almost $18,000!!!
"Magnificent, amazing, excellent".... the superlatives all apply!
Since we were online, the Silent Auction was held over the course of a week (or it could be longer for a future auction, if we choose) and with Zoom we were able to offer talents or experiences to be delivered virtually at a mutually agreed upon time. The Live Auction, also conducted on Zoom, was LIVE-ly thanks to our stupendous auctioneer’s positive energy! Who else but Carol-lyn McKelvey can raise $260 for a coffee mug with a pair of socks? And sell TWO of these packages!!! A huge SHOUT OUT to Carol-Lyn!!
R(a)ise Up for 2020
A new feature was the R(a)ise Up for 2020. As the evening progressed challenges were set, met and over achieved!! Thank you, thank you to Sal and Carol Lalani who announced they would match the $2020 fundraising goal. And there were many more of you who pitched in generously to the tune of $7220!!!! Wowza!!!!!!
Thank You
So as you can see this first-ever virtual meeting and online auctions may bear repeating! There will surely be some tweaks and streamlining performed, so stay tuned for breaking news and see what’s coming up for FAUSA through the remainder of 2020 and beyond! Thank you to each of you who joined the virtual Getaway and Auctions 2020!
Please provide feedback (if you choose) to philanthropy@fausa.org.
The 2018 Getaway and Annual Meeting was surely a ‘Weekend to remember with friends I can’t forget!’ The DC Planning Committee really deserves all the kudos, the SHOUT OUTS, and FAUSA’s eternal gratitude for their excellent attention to every detail of the weekend. 
