Swampscott up for bid

SWAMPSCOTT – Lights, camera, auction.It?s that time of the year again for Swampscott High School TV Production classes? main source of annual funding and most-watched event of the year – the live TV auction, which runs May 26-29 from 7-10 p.m.But the time to become involved is now, TV Production teacher Tom Reid said.With community members joining student and alumni hosts for the 12-hour live broadcast across four days, with approximately 300 items donated for bid and a goal of raising about $15,000 by at least 20 TV Production students, it is also the students? biggest hands-on project.Reid is still seeking businesses to become sponsors and to donate auction items. And if a business donates $150 or more, its 60-second ad will be streamed for six months.Businesses will provide the information and students will add the graphics. Sponsors may donate cash, gift certificates, services or items, he said.?I would like to emphasize that businesses only have one more week to register,” Reid said. “Our focus is getting more sponsors. We have 100 sponsors now, but we are hoping for 200 to 300. Businesses can sponsor up until the last day of the auction – the morning of the (May) 29th.”The auction raises about $14,000 to $15,000 for the studio, Reid said.?That number is great, because kids can feel a sense of pride,” Reid said. “They help to raise most of our budget themselves.”Forty students are involved, including TV Production/Media Literacy students and alumni. Other people involved are administration, including Principal Edward Rozmiarek, who is giving up his designated parking spot for a week for an auction item; local politicians, local celebrities and public library staff.The live broadcasts can be viewed on Comcast Channel 15 in Swampscott and on Verizon FiOS Channel 40 in Swampscott, Nahant and Lynn.Businesses can join in by emailing Reid at [email protected]; or calling 781-941-0007; fax 781-599-2034; mail to Tom Reid, Swampscott High School, 200 Essex St., Swampscott, 01907, or downloading the form on SwampscottTV.com.All sponsors will receive a full-screen ad, but $150 sponsors will receive the same full-screen message board ad plus a one-minute commercial either on-site or at SHS studio; a copy and daily airtime through December.Reid said items should not require expenditures, which means businesses should offer cash value for gift certificates versus half-off certificates.Although an appraiser who has worked at the Antiques Roadshow will evaluate collectors? items, the auction will be on the light side.?Most of the auction is funny,” said sophomore Elizabeth Rizk, who first participated last year. “We?re high schoolers, and we like to laugh. We don?t take it too seriously. We keep it light. Since we?re not a professional studio, if things don?t work out as planned, we just laugh about it.”Rizk said there is live entertainment, including music and stand-up comedy from 10 to 10:30 p.m., immediately before the results are announced. Seven students man the phone lines from 7 to 10 p.m.Rizk, who manned the phone lines last year, said hopefully the money raised will allow the crew to switch from standard to high-definition picture quality.Auction items range from sports tickets; original artwork by local artists; clocks, a chocolate gift basket to sports collectibles.