1. Computer Engineer Barbie® – Silicone representin’ Silicon? She brings a whole new meaning to Valley of the Dolls.

2. Dolly Forever Barbie® by Christian Louboutin – Isn’t it comforting knowing little girls everywhere can begin yearning for $700 shoes before they reach puberty?

3. Malibu Barbie® – Before melanoma, there was the sun-worshipping, tan oil-endorsing quintessential Calfornia girl who encapsulated the ’80s. Her must-have accessory? A bubble gum pink Jeep (sold separately).

4. Fetish Barbie – While she’s not an official Barbie, Nancy Farmer’s irreverent s & m scenes take the doll and her eternal soul mate to a level only adults with a sense of humor can appreciate.  

5. Totally Hair Barbie® – Also known as the best-selling Barbie of all time thanks to her down-to-her-toes hair (ew.) To commemorate, here’s the hilarious commercial from her release in ‘92:

At the end of January, excessive rains caused devastating mudslides destroying the only land route in and out of Machu Picchu (blessedly the ruins themselves weren’t harmed), and the Urubamba River flooded the Sacred Valley. The international media focused on tourists getting airlifted to safety, but little about the communities that have had not only their villages destroyed and crops washed away, but lost their livelihood in tourism as well. Aracari Travel Consulting, a tour operator based in Lima, is targeting assistance programs to individual societies in an effort to make a significant difference. Marketing manager Nila Boquin is setting up an organization with the Patakancha village set high in the Sacred Valley. ‘We have a long standing relationship with this particular community and as you can imagine the locals are suffering since they work as support staff along the Inca Trail and it’s been closed since the end of January.’

Inkaterra owns some of the top lodges in Peru and while thankfully there was minimal damage at two properties in the affected region (which they attribute to the excellent drainage system built by the Incas), all reservations have been cancelled through March. Staff is on paid leave and has been aiding the locals with money, clothing and personal assistance, especially to those whose adobe homes were washed away in the deluge. Inkaterra is determined to not lay off any of their 500 employees, but this will be impossible if visitors do not return soon. As of now, the estimated partial reopening of Machu Picchu and rail service is April 1; getting travelers back is another challenge. As Claire Andre, Research and Development Manager highlights, ‘Tourism must come back on track. Machu Picchu is Peru’s icon but not the only destination of great interest in this country very rich in archaeology.’

The mega 8.8 earthquake that hit Chile on February 27 and subsequent major aftershocks have killed an estimated 452 citizens, affected more than 2 million, cost $1.2 billion in infrastructural damage and caused mass looting and panic. While most tourist areas such as the Atacama Desert, Easter Island and Patagonia were thankfully spared, Chile’s travel industry leaders are still doing everything they can to help their compatriots. Jesus Parrilla, Vice President of the ultra-luxe explora lodges says, ‘While counting its blessings [that the lodges were not affected], explora is encouraging employees and travel agency friends to donate to humanitarian organizations in Chile. Employees have been asked to donate clothing, blankets, diapers and non-perishable food items through Hogar de Cristo. Monetary donations are being channeled through Red Cross Chile, while personal and work hours can be dedicated to the rebuilding process through A Roof for Chile NGO. Monetary donations from employees are being matched by explora, which is also donating toiletries, blankets, slippers, furniture and mattresses.’

Please continue to support these hard-hit areas with generous donations, especially Haiti which, due to rampant corruption, instability and crime, lacked any tourism structure even before the earthquake. As for Peru, their greatest hope for recovery is the rebound of tourism to the region…. and soon. The government-run travel organization Promperu, LAN airlines and private entities have collaborated on trip packages up to 50% off usual rates in the Cusco region, where 90% of the residents rely on tourism.

Photos courtesy of Michelle Finkelstein.

• Best Talk on the Carpet
• Biggest Mysteries
• Breast Dressed
• Best and Worst Moments
• Best Hair and Makeup

[Photos from Flickr owned by AbbyReal]

A Simple Trick to Improve Raffle Ticket Sales & the Guest Experience – Visually track raffle sales among guests

Do your guests and your volunteers a favor. Each guest who buys a raffle ticket should be given a visual identifier to alert others that he’s purchased.

This avoids the common annoyance to guests: multiple people approaching to sell raffle tickets.

Assume you have three teams of volunteers roaming the crowd to sell raffle tickets for a diamond bracelet. Team #1 approaches Mr. Smith and sells him two tickets.

Within minutes, Team #2 approaches him. “I just bought tickets,” he says. Is he fibbing? Team #2 isn’t sure, but they move on through the silent auction.

Team #3 catches Mr. Smith at the bar. They ask him if he wants to buy raffle tickets. “I’ve already bought two tickets,” he sputters. Team #3 is surprised at how grouchy he is. After all, this is a gala, right?

How many times will Mr. Smith be asked to buy raffle tickets? And how much time is wasted by Team #2 and Team #3 who keep approaching guests who have already bought tickets?

Visual identifiers serve three purposes:

1. Your guest will not become annoyed from being asked multiple times if he will buy a ticket.

2. Your volunteers know who has purchased a raffle ticket and who hasn’t. They can focus on making new sales.

3. The visual identifier serves as a simple marketing tool to alert other guests about the presence of a raffle.

There are many inexpensive visual tools you can use:

* Blink-y lights in necklace, pin, or ring form
* Paper bracelets, similar to those used at large outdoor festivals or bars
* Cloth bracelets
* Metal pins
* Hawaiian leis
* Flower boutonnieres
* Plastic necklaces
* Stickers (They come in a multitude of shapes and colors to fit many themes.)

This is a low-cost, simple trick which will work wonders through greater productivity from your raffle volunteers, better sales from your raffle, and guests in a better mood.

Visit Sherry’s Red Apple Auctions blog for advice and photos on charity auctions.

This article has been published with permission from Red Apple Auctions LLC.

Photo Caption: Simple, inexpensive ideas like bracelets and badges let you visually track raffle sales among guests.

Which are your favorites?

[Photos from Flickr owned by AbbyReal]

Event

Date: Friday, March 19, 2010

Chair: Courtney Bocci

Event411: The Fashion Show is one of the largest annual fundraisers for the Junior League of San Francisco and this year, we will celebrate the 84th anniversary of the show and our 22nd year of partnership with Macy’s. The Fashion Show events consist of a champagne luncheon and black tie diner gala. Both events include cocktail receptions, silent and live auctions, and a runway fashion show featuring Macy’s spring apparel. All of the models in the show are Junior League women and family members that have been professionally trained for this event.

Beneficiary: Currently, the community programs that JLSF supports are: Compass Community Services, International Rescue Committee, San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center and Support for Families of Children with Disabilities.

What is it about the organization that made you willing to take on the role as event Chair?

I have wanted to chair the JLSF Fashion Show since before I was a member of the Junior League! I grew up in the Bay Area and I remember attending the Fashion Show with my mother when I was a teenager and thinking to myself that one day, I wanted to be standing on stage as the chair of this event. After joining the Junior League in 2005, I worked on several sub-committees for the Fashion Show and I received an enormous amount of training in all aspects of the event so I felt perfectly prepared to take on this role. I am also very fortunate to have the guidance of more than two dozen past Fashion Show Chairs who are actively involved as advisors and supports of the event.

What will be special about the event? If this is an annual event, what will be new elements added to this year’s event?

The Fashion Show has been at the same location (the Fairmont Hotel) for the past 51 years and it has been produced by our incredible event partner, Macy’s, for the past 22 years so it’s challenging to come up with new elements that haven’t been done before. However, this year’s event theme, “Through the Looking Glass”, has proven to be quite inspirational. We have themed the event from start to finish; from the event décor to the set design and show segments, to the gift bags and even the menu. Every aspect of the event heavily reflects the theme. I don’t want to give away too much, but the ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel is being transitioned to the point where it should be unrecognizable to annual attendees of this event… You’ll have to attend the show to see what I mean! I am also very excited to have Trina Turk as our celebrity designer this year. We will have a special segment in the show featuring Trina Turk clothing and she will be making appearances at both events.

What constitutes success for you with regards to the specific event you’re chairing?

I am truly honored to be overseeing such an important event, in terms of its historical significance to the League and also in terms of its ability to align so many individuals, groups and corporations together to help support the current focus area of the Junior League of San Francisco, Supporting and Strengthening Families in Need. In my mind, the event will be a success if we surpass our fundraising goals and if we leave attendees excited to return to the show in 2011. The JLSF Fashion Show is the longest running event of its kind in the nation so it’s extremely important that we build momentum each year so that we can continue its legacy.

How do you balance the quantifiable goal of raising money with the goal of broadening goodwill?

The mission statement of the Junior League of San Francisco is that we are an organization committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Since its inception in 1911, the Junior League of San Francisco has provided the community with an estimated 6 million volunteer hours so while raising money is vital to the continued success of our organization, we believe it is equally as important to develop and train our members to their full potential so that they can give back to the community.

What plans have you made to address problems that may arise?

Having worked in the special event industry for years, I know that problems arise with almost every event. It’s inevitable. Instead of being afraid of the unexpected, I have surrounded myself with an incredibly talented Steering Committee in addition to the most talented and trusted vendors in the events industry and I am confident that we will easily overcome any challenges that arise.

Are there any pre-event parties for benefactors?

We hosted a wonderful Patron Cocktail Party in the end of January for our individual patron and corporate sponsors. The event was a “Mad Hatter Cocktail Party” and was held at RF-80, Robert Fountain’s design studio. We were so fortunate to have Paula LeDuc Fine Catering partner with us to do themed passed hors d’oeuvres, as well as Bartender’s Unlimited, Patz and Hall Vineyards and Jax Vineyards. It was wonderful to see men and women of all ages cocktailing in their finest hats – people didn’t want to leave!

We will also be hosting an exclusive cocktail reception in the newly renovated Penthouse of the Fairmont Hotel preceding both shows for our individual patron and corporate sponsors.

What background do you have to take on the role as Chair?

I have worked in the special event industry for more than ten years and have planned events ranging from dinner parties for ten to sporting events for tens of thousands so the planning of this event has been second nature to me. My professional experience has taught me that if everyone does not share the same goal and work together as a cohesive team, the product will suffer. It wasn’t until I joined the Junior League in 2005 that I learned how to fundraise, but the training that JLSF provided enabled me to couple my professional experience of planning events with fundraising. I have found my role as chair to be strikingly similar it to my position and daily interactions at Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, only I’m having interactions with my steering committee, advisors, committee members, corporate partners, donors and the League Board as opposed to clients and vendors. While the Fashion Show Chair is responsible for guiding the process, it takes the efforts of the entire Fashion Show team to bring the event through to fruition

What will be the most compelling event element?

The most compelling event element will be the same as it is every year – the models (our League members as well as a few of their significant others and children) walking down the runway in this professionally produced show. This has always been the highlight of both the luncheon and dinner events.

What are you wearing to the event?

I have a red, Oscar de la Renta dress for the Champagne Luncheon and a black and white Monique Lhuillier gown for the Black-Tie Dinner Gala. I never intended to dress in my show colors of red, black and white, but it happened to work out that way… I think I was destined to own these dresses! I will also be wearing a Macy’s gown on the runway at the close of both shows, but I don’t know what it looks like yet as our show fittings haven’t occurred. Stay tuned!

What is your fundraising motto?

Don’t be afraid to ask for a donation – the worst you will get is a no!

What qualities make an event Chair successful?

You have to be approachable to your committee members, event partners and vendors and you have to recognize where your downfalls are. I have volunteered for organizations where after working as a committee member for almost a year, the chair didn’t know my name. It made me feel horrible about myself and it was frustrating that all of my hard work had gone unnoticed. One of my goals for this year was to make all 65 of my committee members feel recognized and appreciated, but I knew that would be challenging because I am horrible with names! So I decided to take Polaroid headshots of every committee member at our first meeting and I studied those photos as if they were flashcards until I knew everyone’s name by heart. This extra step enabled me to have a personal relationship with each of my committee members which in turn made them want volunteer alongside me.

What external resources do you use in your fundraising efforts?

My mother-in-law, Debbie Bocci, is my fundraising mentor. She actually chaired the JLSF Fashion Show in 1990 and is still actively involved with the League. This year, I am fortunate to have her serving as my Sustainer Advisor and I am thankful for her wisdom, advice and ongoing support. She is a brilliant fundraiser and her guidance has been invaluable.

What was the best charity event you’ve ever attended and why?

I absolutely love the Black and White Ball. Aside from being able to wear my favorite color combination of black and white, I love rotating through the most beautiful venues in San Francisco all in the same night and being treated to such a wide variety of musical performances. I always leave this event feeling thankful that I live in this incredible city.

What is one fundraising tip you’ve learned that you’re willing to share?

Always say thank you – the easiest donations to secure are from people who have donated to your charity before; but it is highly unlikely that someone will donate twice if they weren’t properly thanked the first time around.

What are three words that best describe you?

Organized, passionate, dedicated.

Do you have a fabulous fashion show theme think is worth sharing? Tell us in a comment below!

The Celebration: Upon entering the swanky Avalon hotel in Beverly Hills, stars and Hollywood headliners strutted their love of mother Earth on the signature green carpet in honor of the 7th annual pre-Oscar party, where they were treated to music performances by bands including Good Charlotte, eco-friendly gowns, and the unveiling of the new Chevrolet Volt – a plug-in car that will become available to the public in the late fall.

The Celebs: Of the innumerable stars who support Global Green, Leonardo DiCaprio, James and Suzy Cameron, Jessica Alba, Benji and Joel Madden, Serena Williams, Mel B, Nicole Scherzinger, Nia Vardalos, and Juliette Lewis and many more were in attendance.

The Cause: Raphael House – a San Francisco shelter for families.

The Chair: Jessica Moment

The Credentials: A group of the organization’s longstanding supporters and devoted volunteers along with enthusiastic newcomers gathered at Slide Lounge to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails while ringing in this year’s “Speakeasy” themed gala. Raphael House Chairman of the Board Claudia Ross gave a brief speech, thanking attendees for their dedicated commitment to Raphael House and to families experiencing homelessness. Guests donned feathers, fedoras, and pearls in true speakeasy style and were only allowed entry upon delivering a password at the door.

Photos courtesy of Drew Altizer Photography

What is it about the organization that made you willing to take on the role as event Chair?

I was willing to take on the role of event Chair for IEFT’s, A Night for African Education, because it is such an important cause to me. I believe that educating the children of rural Tanzania is the foundation for change and the most powerful tool that we can give these children to escape their extreme poverty. When I was volunteering with IEFT in Tanzania, I was able to see firsthand how important education is to these underprivileged children, not only for the betterment of their communities and for the future of Tanzania, but also on such an individual level as well. Working with these children, I was able to watch them grow and learn. I saw them ultimately become empowered by education and really gain a sense of increased personal worth. It became clear to me that these children don’t want to be just a statistic, they want to be somebody, and I can’t think of anything more important than that. I believe that IEFT is an organization that is really making a difference for these children through their tremendous efforts in providing quality, sustainable education for the indigenous children of rural Tanzania and their communities.

What will be special about the event? If this is an annual event, what will be new elements added to this year’s event?

This year’s IEFT event is special because last year was our first annual event in Chicago, and with all of the amazing support we received from the Chicago community, we are elated to be hosting again this year. So, in an effort to try and grow last year’s event, we wanted to make this evening more special by hosting a gourmet dinner with a premium host bar, live entertainment, and a silent auction. In addition, Ashley Holmer, IEFT’s Co-Founder, will also be in attendance to welcome guests and share her experiences working with the children in the African bush. She will also be presenting a video that highlights the successes of Orkeeswa Secondary School and the organization’s student sponsorship program.

What constitutes success for you with regards to the specific event you’re chairing?

A successful evening for me would be to raise as much money as possible for the next construction project at the Orkeeswa Secondary School, a $100,000 two-classroom structure, housing a Library and Computer Lab powered by solar energy, as well as for our guests to have a fantastic time in gratitude for all their continued support, and to ultimately raise awareness for such an important cause.

How do you balance the quantifiable goal of raising money with the goal of broadening goodwill?

I believe that it is a collaborative effort to balance the quantifiable goal of raising money with the goal of broadening goodwill. Once the awareness is created, even in a tough economy like this, our community continues to reach out and contribute what they can to help others in need.

What plans have you made to address problems that may arise?

Last year’s event ran pretty smoothly, but as for this year we have really grown and are throwing a much larger event. So, if there are any unforeseen issues, I plan to stay calm and adaptable to have them resolved as quickly as possible. Being a theater producer by day, I am used to dealing with unforeseen problems all the time. So, despite any issues we may experience that evening, the show must go on.

What background do you have to take on the role as Chair?

My family and I have been involved with Catholic Charities for many years. My grandfather also established the DeSantis Foundation, which helps support Catholic Charities, the Big Shoulders Fund, and several bread lines in the Chicago area. I am currently serving as a director.

What will be the most compelling event element?

I think that the Orkeeswa Secondary School video will have a very compelling impact on the guests. It’s such a powerful element because you are able to see a day in the life of an indigenous Tanzanian child, what extreme hardships they face, and the positive impact IEFT’s involvement is making in their lives. Every time I watch the video it has a profound effect on me, especially because when I traveled to Tanzania, I had the privilege of working with these bright students and getting to know each of them on a personal level. I will never forget listening to their incredible, yet heartbreaking stories, the sounds of their laughter, or their beautiful smiles that are forever etched in my heart and soul.

What are you wearing to the event?

I will be wearing a Ralph Lauren Black Label dress and Maasai tribal jewelry that I brought back from Tanzania.

What is your fundraising motto?

It sounds a bit silly, but “doing it makes you feel good.” I can’t think of anything that makes me feel better then when I am getting involved, volunteering or simply raising awareness. It really gives me a great sense of worth knowing that I am giving back and being a better person.

What qualities make an event Chair successful?

I think that a successful event Chair must possess intelligence, confidence, passion for the cause, great communication skills, perseverance, and a little pizazz. I also think that is essential to able to know how to work a room properly.

What external resources do you use in your fundraising efforts?

I use PR resources, attend other fundraising events, and am constantly networking. I have also started to use Facebook, because it is a really fast and easy way to get in touch with so many people.

What was the best charity event you’ve ever attended and why?

I don’t think I can single out one charity event that’s been the best. I have been to quite a few and pretty much always have a really good time. I definitely think it has something to do with all the great energy at a charity event. It’s also really fun to see everyone dressed up and in good spirits, enjoying themselves and the fabulous evening.

What is one fundraising tip you’ve learned that you’re willing to share?

One tip I learned is that you can’t do it all yourself. It’s important to get the help of your friends and volunteers, and to collaborate with as many people as you can. I’m always pleasantly surprised to see how many people are willing to help. It’s amazing what some people will offer or bring to the table when it’s for charity.

What are three words that best describe you?

Genuine, determined, and spunky.

Do you have an event in Chicago that you would like us to feature? Tell us in the comment box below!

The Bling: A spectacular collection of one-of-a-kind jewels and minaudieres from BVLGARI’s Vintage Archive Collection, all of which were on-display at the brand’s 125th anniversary retrospective exhibition in Rome as well as the assembly of a Sotirio Bulgari watch and a breathtaking diamond and sapphire parue.

Photos courtesy of Drew Altizer Photography