| If you're a non-profit organization involved in research | | | | research. That's another good use of the ship: Getting |
| (or have access to research labs), realize that you | | | | people on the craft and allowing them to "see" what |
| might have a hot commodity for a live auction item | | | | happens .... it helps to sell the organization's mission. |
| sitting under your nose. | | | | In Washington, DC, the Smithsonian Institution has a |
| Tours of research labs - or somehow giving guests | | | | number of lesser-known research facilities that make |
| the chance to participate in a research excursion - has | | | | for unusual auction donations. |
| a panache that some find appealing. For instance, | | | | The Feather Identification Lab (jokingly called "CSI for |
| many years ago my family was fascinated with a | | | | Birds") of The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural |
| behind-the-scenes tour (although probably not "too" | | | | History is one such facility. This group analyzes |
| behind-the-scenes, considering the location) of the Los | | | | feathers and body material found after "bird-strikes," |
| Alamos National Lab. The tour was years ago, and | | | | the term used when birds collide with aircraft. When |
| they still enjoy talking about it! | | | | US Airways Flight 1549 landed in the Hudson River on |
| One of our clients is an organization founded by a | | | | January 15, 2009, it was the Feather Identification Lab |
| scientist. The non-profit has researched the same pod | | | | which identified the birds as a flock of Canada Geese. |
| of dolphins for 25 years, studying these creatures in | | | | The Osteology Lab of the Smithsonian Institution is |
| their natural habitat in order to better understand them. | | | | another popular "research" auction item. The most |
| As part of their research, the scientists are out at-sea | | | | exciting part of the tour is often said to be watching |
| in the Caribbean ~90 consecutive days each year. | | | | the Dermistid beetle colony. The colony is used to |
| One of the items offered in the group's auction is the | | | | prepare bone specimens. Dead mammals and birds go |
| opportunity to live on-board the ship for 10-days and | | | | into the tank, and the beetles swarm over the |
| participate in the research. For six days, the winning | | | | specimen, naturally cleaning the bones of all flesh. This |
| bidder helps with various research projects. The final | | | | allows the specimen to be 'skeletized.' Certainly neither |
| four days are devoted to relaxing activities like | | | | of these labs are common-place to most guests |
| snorkeling and island-hopping. As the trip occurs during | | | | attending your auction. |
| lobster season, everyone on-board enjoys yummy | | | | If you have access to a research lab, consider how |
| meals. The trip has sold well; selling in the 5-figures for | | | | you might mold it into an auction item. Someone in your |
| the past two years. | | | | audience is likely to find the behind-the-scenes access |
| The group also offers a "lunch cruise" on its research | | | | interesting, and allowing guests an |
| vessel. Five guests enjoy a leisurely lunch onboard | | | | up-close-and-personal tour enables you to more |
| while sailing around the intercoastal waterways and | | | | personally share with them the mission of your |
| listening to a scientist talk about the latest in dolphin | | | | organization. It's a win-win situation! |