YOU ARE INVITED

 

To the always festive

 

Annual party and silent auction

 

Of the

 

San marcos river foundation

 

(You may also bid via email!

See www.sanmarcosriver.org )

 

Saturday evening, February 14 TH

 

Price Seniors Center, 222 West San Antonio St.,

San Marcos, Texas

 

    6 p.m.buffet and silent auction bids, WINE BAR,TOO

 

    7:15 p.m. gathering for awards, etc.

 

   

 No admission fee or tickets required.

Many members pay dues at this annual party. 

The silent auction is amazing,

thanks to many generous donors all over texas

 

See A list of auction items below and check back every day for additions.

 

 

 

 Info:  512-353-4628 or Wassenich@grandecom.net

 

 SILENT AUCTION LIST

To bid on auction items, call the SMRF office, 353-4628, OR email by noon Feb. 14, wassenich@grandecom.net, OR attend the annual party of the San Marcos River Foundation. You will be notified the next week if you have the winning bid and were not present, or left early. You are welcome to the party if you'd like to be there to bid.  Dinner buffet at 6, no ticket required.  After a short annual members’ meeting at 7:15 p.m., bids close about 8 p.m. Feel free to invite your friends and bring them to bid, or email bids in.  Remember Valentine’s Day is also the 14th, and many of these items would make good gifts.  A large number of items usually come in at the last minute, and are added to displays at the party, so try to be there in person for the best selection.

  • Item 1. Weekend guided wild cave trip for up to six people, to a west Texas cave preserve with cabin for 1 or 2 nights and much more.  Offered by the Texas Cave Management Assoc., www.tcmacaves.org has photos.  Located between Del Rio and Rock Springs.   Includes guided tour of Deep Cave, one of the most scientifically interesting wild caves in west Texas.  See faults, fractures, rare and unusual cave formations, ancient bear scratch marks, bones, and bats.  Length of the tour is up to you.  3 meals prepared by a cook plus a box lunch are included in your weekend. Also could see a bat flight from Punkin Cave located on the preserve, plus lots of birding and animal watching will be fun.  Cabin has heat and A/C.  Day trip could be done but overnight is recommended due to long drive. Includes authentic cave exploring gear like helmet and headlamp.  Devils Sinkhole State Park is also nearby.  Must be able to hike and be comfortable doing semi-strenuous activity.  Or some people in the group can relax and enjoy the view from the back deck of the cabin, if preferred.  Supply your own transportation there.  A release waiver must be signed.  Some dates are closed on the preserve.   Estimated value $800.  (A wild cave trip to a commercial cave costs $100 per person for 4-hour trip.) Minimum bid $400.
  • Item 2.  Afternoon guided wild cave trip (no sidewalk, handrails, or lighting) for up to six people, to a central Texas cave preserve owned by the Texas Cave Management Assoc., www.tcmacaves.org.  See faults, fractures and unusual cave formations.  Length of tour is up to you and you will be free to explore all parts of the cave.  The trip can be done in an afternoon with a choice of TCMA caves in either Austin or San Antonio.  Authentic cave exploring gear like helmet and headlamp provided.  Must be able to hike and enjoy doing semi-strenuous activities.  Supply your own transportation. Release waiver must be signed.  Some dates are closed.  Estimated value is $600. Minimum bid $300. (Comparable wild cave trip to a commercial cave would cost $100 per person for a 4-hour trip.) Photos of caves will be on display at the auction, and a member of TCMA will be there to answer any questions about the two items above.

  • Item 3.  One hour airplane trip. Donated by Glenn Longley.Aquifer scientist and experienced pilot Longley will give you a tour in his private plane, a 4-seater Cessna 172.  Travel around to see the river and hills and aquifer recharge zone with a very qualified guide, and take photos.  Date and time to be arranged to suit you and Dr. Longley's schedule. Use this trip within six months! Value $200, Minimum bid $100.

  • Item 4. Organic Edible Gardening Design gift certificate from Jennifer Buratti.  For information see www.bohemianbounty.com. The website has examples, photos, and explanations of services.   Value $100.  Minimum bid $50.

  • Items 5 and 6. Canoe Trips on the San Marcos River, Donated by TG Canoes. Two canoe trips on the beautiful San Marcos River including boats, paddles, life jackets, DVD presentation of the trip chosen (so you know where you are going), and shuttle by Duane and Evelyn TeGrotenhuis. Choose 3, 5 or 7 mile trips. See www.TGcanoe.com for photos and details. Bid separately for each trip.  Each trip is for 2 people in their choice of a canoe, a 2-person kayak or 2 solo kayaks. Nervous about canoeing without an experienced person along who knows the river? SMRF can lend a guide in his or her own boat. Value $50 each trip for 2, Minimum Bid $30 each trip for 2.

  • Item 7 Kayak trip for two with lunch on the river, guided by Olympian kayaker Ben Kvanli.  Paddle from Spring Lake Dam to the David and Debbie Power Olympic Outdoor Ctr., east of IH 35.  Read more at www.kayakinstruction.org. Value $100.  Minimum bid $50.

  • Item 8.  A 2-hour kayak rolling class at the David & Debbie Power Olympic Outdoor Center.  Read about the Center and Ben & Michelle Kvanli who teach the classes, at www.kayakinstruction.org. Value $50  Minimum bid $30. 
  • Item 9.  Oil painting by Betty Ritchie, popular local artist.  From collection of late SMRF members Dick and Dorothy Henderson.  Subject is an English garden and thatched-roof cottage next to a stone chapel, nicely framed, 22” x 32”. Value is $800.  Minimum bid $100 is a great deal.
  • Items 10 & 11. Wonder World Cave 60’s vintage mugs.  These are made to look somewhat like beer steins, but could be used for your morning coffee or just to hold pencils.  True San Marcos kitsch!  Donated by Aaron Arguien of LA Landscape Service, 392-7624. Value $15 each.
  • Item 12. ART CLASS at Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos on May 17th & May 24th,  two Sundays. Can be a beginner's level or any level you want.  Ceramic techniques: raku, saggar, tumble, horse hair, fuming and naked raku with Billy Ray Mangham.The first day of each workshop will be spent working with wet clay. Billy Ray will demonstrate simple hand building techniques including pinch, slab, coil, and the use of nails to build sculpture. Day two, (a week later) will be spent decorating and firing using five different approaches to fast fire. Experience the entire clay process in just two days.! Open to all skill levels. Lunch is served both days and dinner the second day plus beverages are included. More details at www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com or call 512 754-8171. Value $250, Minimum bid $125.
  • Item 13. Wine and Cheese Sunset Sail for Two on Canyon Lake with Gary and Virginia Aalen. Their 23.5 ft lovely sailboat is at Canyon Lake Marina (we'll have a photo at the party).  The outing would be for a few hours with wine and snacks provided.  Date to be set as mutually agreeable for purchasers and the Aalens.  Value $175, minimum bid $85.

  • Item 14.  Painting of Rio Vista Falls by Sally Cummings, predominately blue water, gold leaf frame. Overall with frame about 8" x 9". Mrs. Cummings paints rivers and fields, local area, and her beautiful paintings are used on the SMRF thank you notes---a new one each year.  Value $60, Minimum bid $30. 
  • Item 15.  Basket of luxury bath items from Central Market.  Perfect for your valentine. Includes soap, candle, assorted bath, fragrance and lotion items.  Rose scents and eucalyptus are among these fragrances. Pretty basket, pink bow and filler in basket.  Value $50, minimum bid $25. 
  • Item 16. Antique white small square plates, set of 8.   Perfect for luncheons, salads, or desserts.  Very delicate, subtle scallop edges that would coordinate with any pattern or style you already have, whether modern or flowery. 

  • Item 17. A gift certificate for a glass-bottom kayak tour at Aquarena for four people.  Guide included.  Starts with an orientation to learn about what you will see on the tour. No need to be an expert paddler, these kayaks are super easy to float on, and you can even be towed.  The 90 minute tour follows the same route as the larger glass bottom boats, so as to avoid disturbing vegetation or endangered species.  See details on website http://www.aquarena.txstate.edu/Glass-Bottomboats/Kayak-Boats.html  Value $120 for four, minimum bid $75 for four. 

  • Item 18.  A $25 gift certificate for Wake The Dead Coffeeshop on RR 12 near Holland St.  Besides the great coffee, you will hear good music there some evenings, and enjoy terrific baked goods.  Value $25, Minimum bid $15. 

  • Item 19.  $25 gift certificate from Cornucopia.  Everything you need to live a healthy life: foods, snacks, supplements, natural cosmetics, you name it, they have it. Near the big HEB on Thorpe Lane.  Minimum bid $15.

  • Item 20. $25 gift certificate from Root Cellar Cafe and Gallery, 215 N. LBJ, in downtown San Marcos.  Great food, breakfast and lunch, and even dinner on weekend evenings. Private dining room for special events, too.  Minimum Bid $15.
  • Item 21. $25 gift certificate from Joe on the Go, near Colloquium Bookstore by the University on University Drive.   Great snacks and coffee and other beverages too, open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.  Minimum bid $15. 
  • Item 22.  Fitz and Floyd cookie jar, fruits decorate the top, with a basket pattern on the bottom. Value $50, minimum bid $25. 
  • Item 23.  Ceramic hand-thrown lidded casserole dish by Jim Dale, who started his pottery business in Martindale and went on to a successful business in pottery in Salado. Aquamarine blue and tan.  Value $50, minimum bid $25.

 More items are added every day, so keep checking SMRF's website or come to the party to see the full array of items in person.  Bid right up until the deadline that night if you are there at the party. See paragraph at  beginning of list, on the preceding page, for details on emailing or calling in bids, or seeing any additions to the list on SMRF’s website, right up until February 14th. 

Also at the party, a T-shirt sales table will have Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance shirts, PLUS the L and XL deep turquoise official SMRF T-shirts for $10 each.

New items are coming in each day!

Whooping crane tour tickets on the Skimmer from Rockport.

A one of a kind etching on handmade paper, framed.

Several books including Andy Sansom's latest, Water in Texas.

A handpainted cut limestone slab with a Luckenbach bluebonnet scene.

A $25 Zen Pizza gift certificate, located at N. LBJ and Sessoms

A Coldwater Creek boxed watch set with changeable bands.

Handmade earrings by artist Cathy Croom.

Beautiful art quilted pillow of a fish by local artist Ann Allen.

Pendant jewelry celebrating the environment.