Sold! HOSC auction benefits community

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Siuta B. Ika
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  From the days of the Roman empire to the current age of the internet, auctions have been held as a way to sell personal items for monetary gain, or to fund causes such as military campaigns or medical research.

Every year, the Holloman Officers' Spouses' Club, or HOSC, holds an auction on base for a slightly different cause.

"This is the biggest fundraiser we do," said Linda Penning, HOSC president. "With that money we give back to the community. Last year we gave out 11 scholarships worth a total of $17,000 and more than $14,000 went to charitable outreach."

The scholarships they have given out in the past have been worth as much as $1,000.

"The scholarships are for college and are open to everybody," said Penning. "It's not just for officers' wives or dependents, it's for enlisted members and dependents as well as civilians if they have a tie to the base."

Patti Ren, an HOSC auction volunteer and previous scholarship recipient, listed the benefits of the scholarship she received more than six years ago.

"This put me on the right path and has led me to get my Master's degree," she said. "This got me to think about what I actually could achieve. If I can get it so can you and I've helped other people who are trying to get it. For me the $1000 went a long way. It was one more class I could take and more books I could get without spending money out of my own pocket."

Ren also said another benefit of the auction is, each year, it allows her to get her holiday shopping out of the way.

"Last year I was able to get my Christmas shopping done early," she said. "I got my husband a nice electronics gift basket. There really is something for everybody there."

In addition to electronics gift baskets, there are many other items to bid on, said Penning.

"So far we have a lot of home-based companies that have donated items, spa packages, a 42-inch plasma television, horseback riding lessons, art work, tanning packages, movie night baskets and gift certificates," Penning said. "And also there's the dinner with the wing commander and his wife for 10 or more people, where they will serve you a seven-course dinner. Last year was a New Orleans style theme where they made crawfish and enjoyed a Cajun boil. Who wouldn't want to be waited on by the wing commander?"

To kick off this year's event, there will be a wine tasting, followed by a silent auction, leading up to the live auction and dessert auction.

This year's event is also open to the local community, not just the base populace, said Penning.

"If you don't have access to base, we just need certain things and we can get you on base that night for the event," she said. "We can fit 200 in the club and last year we had about 125, so we are hoping to increase our turn-out."

The event, dubbed "Wine Tasting and Jazz," will be held Nov. 18 at the Raptor's Nest and is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

"It's going to be great. We're going to have a wine tasting and just have a lot of fun," said Penning. "We're going to have jazz music and the auctioneers are always great at keeping it lively. It's just a really fun and relaxing night that is open to anybody. There will be lots of prizes to bid on and it all goes toward a great cause that helps everything the HOSC does."

Although tickets are currently on sale, you can still buy tickets at the door.

"All of the HOSC board members have tickets available," said Penning. "You can find us at the Thrift Store on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or if you're not sure, just show up to the event on November 18."

For those in the local community without base access who wish to attend the event, please contact the 49th Security Forces Squadron at (575) 572-7171 to get on the event's pass list for the night.

For more information on the auction, call Kathy Budak at (575) 551-1060.