WMHT Channel 17 Great TV Auction
Article and Photos by Danian Zheng:
WMHT is the main local non-profit public TV station for the Capital
District area. It is the only station where you can watch non-profit-driven
educational programs such as BBS news, “Sesame Street”,
NOVA science series and Ken Burns’s documentary film series.
It is a beacon for the original TV contents designed sorely for
spreading knowledge and culture instead of earnings and viewing
rate.
WMHT Great TV Auction is a major fund-raising event for WMHT each
year where the WHMT underwriters, i.e., local businesses, put their
services and goods up for auction. All income from the sales is
donated to the WMHT operation fund. For many years, the CCC members
have helped WHMT fund-raising through these Great TV Auction events.
During this process, CCC became more "visible" in the
Capital District.
This year CCC is honored to be the opening group on Saturday April
22nd from 1:30 pm-6:30 pm to kick start this weeklong event. Our
group, led by Yun Li from GE Global Research Center, consists of
30 CCC volunteers including Jian Li, Lining He, James Zhang, David
Lin, Angela Wang, Angela Mu, Xi Wang, Wendai Wang, Danian Zheng,
Jason Wan, Tehyuan Wan, Ming Xu, Tony Sun, Weiqing Chen, Yongzhi
Niu, Jimmy Wang, Zuozhi Zhao, Zhiqing Lin, Qiuyan Tang, Kunyang
Li, Xiaoxi Niu, Hua Wang, Zhaohui Yang, Yuexi Xiong, Joshua Xiong,
Junlei Zhang, Boyang Zhou. Their ages range from 14 to beyond 40.
Most volunteers answered telephones on camera to take bids from
bidders. Some sat in the confirmation room and called the bidders
to confirm the highest bid. Teenagers enjoyed running around to
help transfer and organize the bids between callers and the center
station.
The live auction was broadcasted from the nice new all digital
WMHT studio. Most volunteers have never been in a real TV production
studio with all these fancy lights and cameras. For them the work
is both exciting and exhausting. The work flow goes as following:
First the auctioneer, such as Marianne Potter from Program “Insight”,
and Wally Altes from “the Bottom Line”, as well as our
guest auctioneers Lining He and Weiqing Chen announce each group
of items. Then the bidders started to call in to place bids. Typically
the calls peak up half minutes right before the bidding ends. While
taking calls the volunteers have to focus really hard on the big
projection screen in front of them, where the latest item descriptions
and bid prices are displayed. Then they can suggest how much the
bidder should bid up. After the bid is taken, the bid record is
handed over to the bid center. After each round of exciting and
stressful bidding closes, the whole bid taking group will burst
into cheers and applauses. In the confirmation room, the volunteers
call the highest bidders up and confirm with them that their bids
are received. Then ask the bidders for the payment and preferred
shipping methods. These volunteers don’t get the treat and
fun of showing their faces in front of a camera. However, everybody
was working very diligently to help wrap up every bid.
The station also prepared thoughtful little toys to boost the morale
of the volunteers. Lovely cartoon party crown and party glasses
were distributed to the kids and adults during the intermission
of the program. A warm and party like atmosphere lightened up everyone’s
heart. During the 5 hour schedule, the volunteers also enjoyed the
delicious Lo-Mein and fried rice from Capital Buffet and refreshments
the station prepared. They also took time to socialize, chat and
relax. As one of the teenagers said, “ This is cool. I will
surely come back next year!”
For more pictures, click here
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