The biggest fundraiser of the year for Roncalli Catholic Schools officially kicked off Wednesday when the online portion of the Pierside Auction began, but the in-person event Saturday is expected to be just as incredible as always.
The local catholic school system has been holding this auction for the past 39 years, and one constant through all the years has been the emcee, John Jagemann.
He has had the microphone in his hands for each of the auctions, except the very first one.
Jagemann tells us a lot has changed over the years.
“It started as throwing up a couple speakers and a couple of microphones, and then it kind of grew into announcing come things,” he explained. “Now, we kind of do some babbling in between the auctioneer and segue the whole thing.”
John tells Seehafer News that he has watched the event grow from a small event to one that is the highlight of the year.
But what makes it all work?
“It comes down to the people volunteering,” John said bluntly. “If you have not been there and seen that night and what it takes…it’s just a tremendous amount of volunteering to put this thing on.”
Jagemann did tell us that not every year has gone perfectly.
He recalled in 2009 he had just undergone surgery and was on a lot of medications.
So, as a backup, John prerecorded the announcements just in case his voice went out.
“So, we came to item 38 and I punched the button and you heard me describing this condominium in North or South Carolina,” John recalled. “It had the pool, it had everything here and a bunch of other…’stuff’. But I didn’t use the word ‘stuff’.”
Everyone in the studio burst into laughter upon hearing that story, which John called his most embarrassing moment over his near 40 years involved in the event.
A mass with Father Matthew Colle will be held at 4:00 p.m., and the auction will officially begin at 5:30 p.m.
You can also check out the online auction items by visiting RoncalliAuction.GiveSmart.com.
