Hello Friends and Compatriots of Bach in Baltimore,

You’ve all received the email from Rebecca outlining our goals for Bachfest Silent Auction 2021.  The Bachfest Committee has been meeting to outline a strategy of several categories of items to offer our supporters, all in line with the reality of Covid-19 and people basically sheltering at home. This email is the first of several, which we hope will continue to outline each of these categories in more detail, and assist you as you procure your two (2) auction items.

My husband, Mark, and I had planned a trip to Italy for September 2020, but that was cancelled in March by Covid.  So we won the bid at Bachfest Silent Auction for the Dimmock Mountain retreat in Montreat, NC.  I can tell you, this was a perfect Covid-19 Getaway!  It is within driving distance, ie. no planes.  The cabin is nestled in the side of a mountain in a 2500 acre nature conservancy.  Some family members joined us, (from Minnesota even–a 2 day drive), so we had 6 at the cabin for one week.  We spent our time hiking the trails, cooking meals for each other, playing cards, sitting on the front porch in the woods playing guitar and singing.  I’m telling you this to help you think about what a good Covid-19 retreat is.

With that said, we are asking every one of you to consider whether you have the possibility to offer such a retreat to our Bachfest Online Auction.  Maybe you OR one of your family members has a time-share, or a similar type place.  Remember, our bidders will come from all over the United States, and beyond – so these offerings can be within driving distance of Baltimore – or not!  We’ve been brainstorming around ideas like the Eastern Shore, Deep Creek Lake, Havre de Grace, Outer Banks of NC, Tidewater, Berkshires in MA, or any such place in PA, NJ, and in between.  And there may be a few people willing to fly to a warmer place like Florica or Arizona – so don’t discount those options!

1.) The maintenance/cleaning costs for any venues will be determined in advance of the auction with our Bachfest team, deducted from the final purchase price of the top bidder, and given to the contributor of the venue. This DOES NOT replace income that could have come from renting it out for the duration of the stay. That is a donation to Bach in Baltimore.

2.) Any amount bid ABOVE the predetermined value of the stay will be considered a tax-deductible donation to you as the contributor.

Any offerings of this type would be a generous help to Bach in Baltimore as we seek to reach our goal of $8,000 for this year’s Bachfest.  But you would also be helping someone who needs a break and is willing to pay while helping Bach in Baltimore along the way.  With this type of contribution to Bachfest, you may be able to rescue someone who desperately needs to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE – it’s a win/win!

So, please think this over, sleep on it, be creative, and send any questions or offers to nafzigerkaren@gmail.com or elizahadams79@gmail.com.

Thank you,

The Bachfest Committee Chairs, Eliza Adams and Karen Nafziger