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9th ANNUAL ONLINE MOONRIDGE AUCTION - 2012
This year, we're suspending only the "Biddable" portion of the Auction, which is the part that's held at the off-site auction site similar to eBay (in our case, we would use thefreeauction.com site). Instead, we're doing the same type we did two (or was it three?) years ago - namely: *The Special Auction *The Claim Auction *The Animal Adoption Auction This year, the decision on type of auction to run was decided by you via a poll (http://gmfor-moonridge.livejournal.com/15514.html#cutid4)and I'm assuming the economy and desire to save up for what we hope will be the grand opening sometime in 2013 is what contributed the poll results. In addition, Moonridge itself will have a heavier workload as they continue their preparations for the new zoo. On our end, many authors - myself included - still owe stories from previous years, so we're trying to lighten that burden as well. But we're eternally grateful for patient and understanding winners! J The Animal Auction is once again vitally important this year since, without the charity event at the zoo, they lose out the large donations for animal adoptions, thus, having this part of the auction will now serve for both those who would have attended the event - and those unable to attend. Everyone will have their chance to support their favorite animals by adopting them. Oh, and once again, I must reiterate that contrary to rumors, Garett isstill very much attached to the Zoo and is committed to attending the grand opening, so naturally, as always, this year's online auction event is in his name, honoring both his support of Moonridge and our gratitude for the years of enjoyment he's given us as Blair Sandburg in The Sentinel - and - the years of friendship and sharing of himself at the actual events in Big Bear. The methods for all three types of auctions/adoptions has not changed this year from previous, but for those who are new to our Online Charity Event; who may be coming to us from other fandoms - and of course to remind the pros J - you'll find below the official FAQ that will tell you: *When the auction begins/ends *When I'll begin to accept donation items *How to donate items *How to take part in any/all parts of the auction *How to pay for any items chosen/adopted, etc.
If there's anything in the FAQ that fails to answer a question, please feel free to email directly at my addy which you'll find in the FAQ.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support, love for our zoo and patience with me! Love, aly
**** FAQ When Does the Auction Begin? Saturday, June 16th, 2012.
When Does the Auction End? *Saturday, June 30th, 2012 *I'm very loose with ending time since in the past, fans have grouped together to 'get a deal', and I usually run a 'sale' for items that might still be open. HOWEVER:ALL paypals or checks/money orders will be due no later than July 10th, 2012 in order to make it easier for Moonridge to process within a specific time period.
When Can I Begin to Send My Email Detailing My Donated Items?
NOW (…and until right up the end of the auction! But remember: The sooner you send in your Sale Blurb (again, explained further down in FAQ), the more time folks have to review before the auction begins!) What Can I Donate to the Special Auction and/or the Claim Auction? You can donate anything for the Special Auction. Examples: · Stories from any fandom, any genre, any rating (if previously posted, even if in a limited venue, this should be stated in your blurb - blurbs explained later in FAQ). Just remember: For the special auction, you have the choice as to how you offer the item/s. Examples: 1. You can offer your item/s to a set number of individuals who donate a specific $ amount to Moonridge; ie: "…is donating a TS story to the first 25 who donate $25 to Moonridge…." Or "…is offering this piece of Dr. Who artwork (matted but not framed) to the first 10 people who donate $20 to Moonridge…."
2. Or you can offer your item/s to 'everyone' who donates a specific amount as determined by you: "…is donating timed-out zine novel never published online, to everyone who donates $35 to Moonridge…."
· Zines(this would be offered to first come, first serve unless you have more than one copy of a zine) · Art(any type, any fandom): The art may be pieces you own from other artists, or work you've done for the auction; or it might be offering story covers to authors, icons, interior art work for authors - anything goes, including adult art (and again, if a single piece, first come, first serve) · Arts and Craftssuch as jewelry (fandom themed is always popular), fandom-themed check covers, credit card covers - quilts, knitted items, dolls, needlepoint, etc. - Just about anything you can think of, have, or can create · Song vids or the offer of creating them to order - any fandom · Pod-fics (already owned or willing to create) When it comes to finding items to donate - your imagination is your only limit to possible items to donate that others will be interested in owning! You can ASK for anything in the Claim Auction. Examples: Why? Because this is where YOU ask for something to be 'written' or 'created' just for YOU - by others - and again, your imagination is your guide! Examples: 1. "…will donate $20 to Moonridge for an H50 Steve/Danny H/C story of at least 20 pages long. Am willing to donate for up to five such stories for a maximum donation of: $100…." 2. "…will donate $10 to Moonridge for 10 icons in the White Collar fandom - am willing to donate for up to 5 artists or 50 icons for a total donation to Moonridge of $50…." 3. "…will donate $25 to Moonridge for any artist willing to provide cover up for one of my own fictions (Fandoms are: The Sentinel, Star Trek, the Movie, White Collar, and H50). Am willing to donate for up to 4 cover arts on 4 different stories for a total donation to Moonridge of $100….) How Do I Donate Items? In order to donate an item - as defined above - it's required that you compose what's called a 'Sale Blurb'. Once composed (by using the specific template examples below, which you can copy, paste and then simply replace with your own info, you then send the blurb/s to me via my email at the bottom of the FAQ. When composing your blurb, please use the "handle" and email addy you want us to use and POST. If you'll be donating AND buying, but using different email addys, please let me know! In addition, provide any URL/s to sample stories/art/crafts/ etc. that will give the potential "buyer" a visual. If you have art work, and don't know how to ensure it can't be copied, let me know and I'll be happy to proved a 'watermark' to protect your work. If you have photos of art/fandom memorabilia, crafts, etc., send with your blurb emails. These will be loaded at our website for viewing prior - and during - the auction for all potential buyers to see. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you're going to donate more than one item, and you know now what they'll be, Please place ALL your Sale Blurbs into one email -PLEASE. If you end up adding more items later, no problem, just send more emails as you come up with new items to donate. Here's the only email to use this year to send your blurbs to me: *** SALE BLURB EXAMPLES: (feel free to copy and paste and then change the information to fit your donation)
Sample Blurbs for SPECIAL AUCTION ITEMS (those that will go to everyone-or a set number of people-who donate a specific amount of money): Example 1:"Jane Doe (insert email): is offering five timed-out zine stories that have not yet been posted online. These are all Sentinel slash fictions (J/B) and will go to anyone who donates $25 to Moonridge. Each story is at least 25 pages in length but no more than 100 pages. Once she receives proof of your donation from aly, the stories will beemailed to all those who donated. To view previous stories by this author, go to: (insert URL)" Example #2:"Jane Doe (insert email) is offering a set of 3 Stargate themed refrigerator magnets to the first 25 people to donate $15 to Moonridge. Sample of magnets in photo at right." Example #3:"Joan Fawn (insert email): is offering a handmade check book cover (cover art to be determined by you - any fandom) to every person who donates $15 to Moonridge. Sample of check books can be viewed at: (insert URL) and one sample photo at right…" Example #4:"Jean Stag (insert email): is offering 15 icons to the first 15 people who donate $20 to Moonridge. You decide the subject matter and provide favorite screencaps or photos. To view a sample of her icon artwork, go here: (insert URL)" Example #5:"Jan Buck and Josie Elk (insert both emails) have partnered to offer a Stargate Atlantis slash story (McShep) with cover art and interior art to everyone who donates $35. The story is called "Land of the Giants" and includes humor and h/c. Summary: 'When John touches something he shouldn't, Rodney becomes a giant and the team must find a cure or consider him the newest weapon to fight the Wraith.' To view Jan's other stories, go to: (insert URL) and to view Josie's artwork, go here: (insert URL)" Sample Blurbs for CLAIM AUCTION ITEMS (this is where YOU ask for something specific and hope it's claimed. You can ask for a specific type of story, fandom, plotline, etc. or art, icons, song vids, etc. and may set a limit as to how many people can claim your item, and/or set a $ amount limit) Example #1:"Jane Doe (insert email): will donate $10 for every author up to five (for a total donation of $50) who will write her a short Supernatural story that 'fixes' episode_____ or season______. The story should be at least 10 pages long. Jane will add an additional $5 for each story that includes cover art." Example #2:"Joan Fawn (insert email): will donate $5 for every artist willing to provide her with 5 icons of Joe Flanigan (up to 5 artists for a total donation of $25) Example #3:"Jean Stag (insert email): will donate $50 to Moonridge if any or all of the following authors will write her a TS Slash or Gen ficlet based on this prompt: Blair tells Jim he's getting married. Authors: Arianna, Jael Lyn, Jane Davitt, LitGal, Starwatcher, Panik and/or T. Verano. Only requirement: No marriage but happy ending is up to author. Page count: 5 to 10 pages maximum. Jean will add an additional $5 for each story that comes with cover art" Example #4: "June Cleaver (insert email) will donate $25 to Moonridge if an author will claim the following: A Sherlock slash fiction (Sherlock/Watson), based on the BBC series OR the Robert Downey movies - of at least 20 pages in length, with Sherlock h/c. Example #5: "Harriet Nelson (insert email) will donate $50 to Moonridge if one of the great artists will do a drawing using the photo to the right. To the artist who claims this, we can discuss type of drawing, etc." Example #6: "Donna Reed (insert email) will donate $10 to Moonridge ($100 limit) for up to 10 artists willing to do 10 icons from the following fandoms: Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis, The Sentinel, Hawaii 5-0, Sherlock (the BBC series), Dr. Who (either Doctor 9, 10 or 11), Torchwood, or Supernatural. She's willing to provide the screencaps."
Can I Ask for Stories? Yes. These are called "Claim Auctions". See above. Remember, claim items can be for anything you can think of! In the Special Auction, if I Want to Donate One Item to One Winner, How Would That Work? In the Special Auction, you'd simply do a blurb like samples below and send to me. Then, the first email I receive, followed by the paypal, will be the winner. If the paypal is not received by the due date, the second person who emailed will be the winner and the paypal will be due immediately. "One Winner Only" Sample Blurb #1: "Mrs. Ewing (insert email) is donating a novel- length Sentinel Slash story (J/B) to the first person who donates $75 to Moonridge. This story has never been posted, has a happy ending, h/c, and the winner will have sole ownership. To view samples of Mrs. Ewing's other fictions, go to (insert URL). The story comes with cover/interior art by Crystal Carrington (sample of interior art at right). "One Winner Only" Sample Blurb #2: "Mrs. T. Soprano (insert email) is donating the beautiful wolf sculpture (photo at right) to the first person to donate $75 to Moonridge. The sculpture was done by the famous artist, Luc Laurent and is worth over $150. Winner pays shipping." "One Winner Only" Sample Blurb #3: "Nora Walker is offering the Sentinel cross-stitched, handmade pillow (photo at right) to the first person to offer $40 to Moonridge. Winner pays shipping." If I donate Unfinished Story/ies-Ficlets-Drabbles, How Long Do I Have to Finish for the Winner/s? Everyone is aware of how difficult it is to write 'on demand' - how fickle the muse and how unpredictable RL can be. Therefore, it's our policy that authors have a minimum of 90 days after the end of the auction. Readers know it can take upwards of a year to finish a good story. How Long Must an Author or Artist Wait Before Posting to the Public After the Auction? The winners have sole proprietary use of the story/s or artwork for 30 days (unless otherwise stipulated in the author's blurb). Only by permission of the winner/s can anything be posted earlier. How Will I Know When To "Give" the Winning Item/s to the Winner/s? I will notify both winner and donator via a single email called:
"The Connection Notice".
This occurs when I've received proof of payment (payment methods are explained later in the FAQ). Once the donator receives the email, the ball is in their court to reply and begin the communication process with the winner. It takes quite awhile for me to get out all the Notices and they go out based on first Paypal copies I receive - but if you've paid, sent me the Paypal copy and still haven't heard within 10 days of the CLOSE of the auction, email me immediately. NOTE: If only the winner's name - with no addy -shows on your email from me, right click on it, highlight 'properties' and that will give you the precise email address. If you choose to simply hit 'reply all', please remember to REMOVE my addy from the email. For all Special Auction Items with more than one winner, I'll send out one (1) email to the person who donated the item, but only once the majority have paid. This will list all the paid fans, their email addys and amount paid. Usually, a large number will pay immediately so I end up sending more than one email for an item. Within 10 days of the close of the auction, I'll send out a final email confirming all the payees and those who have NOT paid. If others pay after the close, yes, I'll send out another email, BUT I'll accept late payments only after receiving an explanation email. Once the donator receives the Notice email/s, it's their responsibility to communicate with the winner/s on how they'll receive the story/item. It's also helpful if donators copy me in any communication that confirms the winners have received your item/story information. For Claim Items: I send an email to the individual who created the claim, letting them know how many authors/artists/whatever, actually claimed their item. I include the total they owe. Once I receive their Paypal, I then send out the "Notice" email to the creator including the names and emails of those who claimed their item. At that point, it's up to those who did the claiming to keep in communication with the 'payee'. NOTE: If you claimed an item like a story, icons or other art, do NOT begin work on anything until you receive the "Notice" email confirming payment. For those who donated to adopt an animal: I send a list to Moonridge of everyone who adopted animals, the amount they paid (based on the copy of the paypal) and their email. Moonridge will compare the info to theirs and when the auction is over, they will begin the process of sending donators their 'Adoption Papers' and photo of the animal/s adopted. IMPORTANT NOTE: It's VITAL that you include your snail mail address on your Paypal (or check) so that Moonridge can send you the papers and photos. Without your snailmail addy, they can't send you anything! How Do I Pay? You have three choices: 1. Paypal, check or money order Paypal Instructions:You will be sending the money DIRECTLY to Moonridge via their email, which is: BHenke@moonridgezoo.org Please use the "Purchase" tab but make sure you mark 'other' and adding in your notes that this is for "Charity". In addition, please copy and paste the following: "For the Moonridge Online Charity Auction - Item# (insert number) in Garett Maggart's name." Once you've paid, you'll receive confirmation from Paypal and it is that copy that youMUSTsend to me in order to be marked as paid and receive your item/s. Remember, this auction is FAN RUN and the burden of tracking who pays for what CAN NOT, MUST NOT, be placed on Moonridge! That burden falls to me. J 2. Check/Money Order Instructions: Again, since it's not Moonridge's job to track who's paid. if you choose to use a check or money order, you'll still make it out to: "Friends of the Moonridge Zoo" but you'll actually mail it to me at this address:
Allison French 30751 El Corazon #225 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. 92688
Please include a note stating the items you're paying for, their item #, etc. as well as including the following on the "note" part of your check: "Moonridge Auction Item # (insert number and brief description) in Garett Maggart's name." In the past, checks have been sent to Moonridge, but as sometimes happen, were lost in the mail and, to this day, fans have checks that were never cashed. To avoid that occurring this year, and because the USPO has undergone many cuts, all checks/money orders will be HAND-DELIVERED to Moonridge. Since the final date for me to receive proof of payment or checks/money orders isJuly 10th, remember to mail your checks/money orders to me so that I receive by that date. I will then be driving up to Big Bear to deliver to Betsy. REPEAT OF SPECIAL INSTRUCTION: Again, because many fans who take part in the auction create a special email addy and/or "handle" for the auction, it's important that when sending me paypal copies or checks/money orders, that I have your actual email for communication.
AGAIN REMEMBER: Do NOT mail checks/money orders to Moonridge, but to me. What Constitutes "Proof of Payment"? This can't be said enough.J When you pay via Paypal, they will send a confirmation and/or copy of your Paypal and it's this copy you must forward to me and again, remember to include your address. When you pay via check or money order, I log as I receive them and, when everything is over, the checks and money orders will be, again, hand-delivered to Moonridge. REPEAT WARNING: If you've sent your paypal copy to me, or mailed the check/money order but haven't heard from me or received the Connection Notice within 10 days of close of auction, give me a nudge. Things get busy as the auction ends even for a lazy ass like me! How Long Do I Have to Pay? July 10th How Can a Prospective Bidder View Artwork/Crafts etc? Most will have photos of their donations and these will be posted at the official Moonridge website created and maintained by the wonderful Virginia Sky. If we receive any "adult" art, it will be located offsite and you must write to me or Susan (rassie@comcast.com) for the URL. That page will NOT be public. How Do I Adopt An Animal? Photos and descriptions of all the animals will be posted at the LJ journal site (http://gmfor-moonridge.livejournal.com/) Update Site and, of course, at our official website. Once you've decided which animal/s you want to adopt, simply follow the same payment rules as outlined earlier - BUT - add the name/s of the animal/s you're adopting. Again, once the auction is over and Moonridge has received all monies for the animals, they will send out the adoption certificate accompanied by a photo but only if you've included that all important snail mail addy! DEFINITIONS: Item Identification Number: Every item will start with Garett's initials (GM), then include an identification number assigned based on the order in which I receive your blurb (within each category), then a letter designating the category your items falls (Special Auction will have an "S" and Claim Auction will have a "C"). And finally, the category your item fits into will be represented by initials as defined below: Stories:either SF for 'Slash Fiction' or GF for Gen Fiction Art work:ART for general art and AART for Adult Art (such as nudity, semi-nudity or graphic sex). Song videos:SV. Zines:Z. PodFics: PF Fandom Memorabilia: MB All Other Items: MC for Miscellaneous
SAMPLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS: Let's say the first blurb I receive is for a special auction item and it's a slash story. Then this is what it's Identification Number would be: GM#1SSF GM for Garett Maggart, #1 because it was the first blurb I received for that category (S) for Special Auction and SF for Slash Fiction. This ID # would then be followed by your blurb. GM#1SSF: "Jane Doe (insert email): is offering five stories that appeared only in zines and have nowtimed-out. They're all Sentinel slash fictions (J/B) and will go to anyone who donates $25 for them to Moonridge. Each story is at least 25 pages in length but no more than 100 pages. Once she receives proof of your donation from aly, the stories will be sent to each winner. For samples of her other stories, go here (insert URL)" Now let's say the second blurb I receive is also for a Special Auction story, but Gen. So the ID blurb would have a #2 because it was the second story blurb donation I received, the S is for Special Auction, and the GF tells you it's for a gen story: GM#2SGF: "Jane Doe (insert email): is offering a gen White Collar story, 125 pages long with Neal H/C to everyone who donates $25 for it to Moonridge. For samples of her other stories, go here: (insert URL)" Special Auction Item:This is something that can go to everyone who donates a set amount of money or to a set number of people who donate a specific amount (as low as only $5) of money to Moonridge. These items will only be found at our website. Claim Auction Item:This is an item you want someone else to do/write/make for you and you're willing to donate a specific amount of money to Moonridge if someone will claim your item. You can ask for certain stories, icons, cover art for your stories, etc. If someone accepts your claim, I notify you, you pay, then I connect you to the person who is willing to give you what you've requested. These items are only found at our website. Animal Adoption: This gives you a chance to be a part of the zoo by adopting (helping to care, feed and house an animal via your monetary donation) one or more of a specific group of animals presented at our website. Each animal costs $25 to adopt.
If you have any questions not covered here, please don't hesitate to email me - again, at:
Thank you in advance for your support, donations and generosity. And once again, thank you to the "Moonies", who, this year, will be sending out copies of my updates to lists/blogs/journals that I don't belong to:
Virginia Sky Arianna Rae Gerri Janet Sylvette Ande
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