June-2010 - Auctioneers` Association of Alberta

INDEX
Message from the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Executive & Past Presidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Changes to Auction Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Government of Alberta News Release “Re-used Vehicles” . . . . . . 6, 7 & 8
Letter from “Cindy DeVouge” Cancer Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Avoiding Pitfalls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 & 11
2011 Convention Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
First Annual “All Around Canadian Auctioneer’s Championship” . . . . . . 13
Rules & Guidelines for Auctioneer’s Championship. . . . . . . . . 14, 15 & 16
Competition Application for Auctioneer’s Championship . . . . . . . . . . . 17
25, 40 & 50 Year Pins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Registration for “Vern Scown Memorial Tyro Contest” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Memorial Tribute to “John Pomerleau” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21
Archive Article on John Pomerleau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23
Auctioneers Charged with Collusive Bidding in Portsmouth . . . . . . . . . . 24
HAROLD RAVEN
GENERAL MANAGER
BERNI SMITHMAN
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Bay #1, 4768 Riverside Dr.
Red Deer, Alber ta T4N 2N7
Phone: (403) 342-2000
Fax:
(403) 347-9290
–1–
Letter From The President
Hello Everyone!
The demand for auctions keep increasing every year; with this
spring probably being one of the busiest. Since I have become
President, we have been dealing with some government issues.
The survey that our members had completed about the changes to
some of the regulations has been accepted by the Minister and will
be in effect July 31, 2010.
Another survey was sent out regarding the sale of used vehicles by auction. Wade
Michener, Wayne Orsten and I met with Robert Ireland to discuss why the government was
asking for a survey on this issue. We feel the buyer should inspect the vehicle prior to
nd
bidding. I attended the AMVIC Annual General Meeting on June 22 where Wade
Michener will be representing the Auctioneer's Association for another year. It was great to
meet all of the association leaders that are involved in AMVIC. Thank you again to the
directors and past presidents who have attended some of these meetings. The auction
business is a great industry to be part of.
Have a great summer and remember not to book any
sales during our convention in February. It will be a great one.
Robert Lind
President
–2–
2010 - 2011 Executive
PRESIDENT
VICE-PRESIDENT
PAST-PRESIDENT
SECRETARY-TREASURER
DIRECTORS
Robert Lind, Buck Creek . . . . . . . . . . . (780) 542-0123
John Perlich, Lethbridge . . . . . . . . . . . . (403) 331-9911
Brad Neal, Sherwood Park . . . . . . . . . . (780) 990-4367
Lorraine Klepper, Red Deer . . . . . . . . . (403) 340-2070
John Arnold, Lethbridge . . . . . . . . . . . (403) 382-3832
Pete Conway, Innisfree . . . . . . . . . . . . . (780) 592-2360
Darrell Domes, Calgary. . . . . . . . . . . . . (403) 276-3375
Darrell Johnston, Red Deer . . . . . . . . . . (403) 352-3675
Ben Kellert, Barrhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (780) 893-3619
Robert Lind, Buck Creek . . . . . . . . . . . (780) 542-0123
Dale Menzak, Vegreville . . . . . . . . . . . . (780) 632-9851
Wade Michener, Calgary. . . . . . . . . . . . (403) 333-7355
Don Montgomery, Blackfalds . . . . . . . . (403) 350-0523
John Perlich, Lethbridge . . . . . . . . . . . . (403) 331-9911
Gerald Zimmerman, Wetaskiwin . . . . . (780) 361-7437
COMMITTEE
AMVIC & Automotive – Wade Michener
Canadian Liason: Don Montgomery
Education – Don Montgomery & Dale Menzak
Media – John Perlich
Membership – Pete Conway
Legislative – Robert Lind & Ron Sekura
Tyro – Darrell Johnston
Investment – Frank Hall, John Arnold, Ron Sekura & Brad Neal
Web Page – Ben Kellert, Darrell Domes
2011 Convention – John Perlich
2012 Convention – Don Montgomery, Ben Kellert &
Gerald Zimmerman
Nominating – Pete Conway
Auction Competition – Ron Victor, Frank Hall, John Perlich
Magazine – Darrell Domes
TERM
EXPIRY
DATE
2013
2013
2011
2012
2012
2012
2013
2011
2012
2013
2011
PAST PRESIDENTS
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
Brad Neal
Brad Neal
Wayne Orsten
Wayne Orsten
Ron Victor
Ron Victor
Colin Spencer
Colin Spencer
Dave Sharp
Dave Sharp
Ron Sekura
Ron Sekura
Elgar Paras
Elgar Paras
Linda Baggaley
Linda Baggaley
Larry Graham
Larry Graham
Delton Wolff
Delton Wolff
Catherine Clausen
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
1969
1968
Wes Spencer
Wes Spencer
Frank Hall
Ron Sim
Frank McInenly
Bob Balog
Jim Schlenker
Norm Moore
Keith Erdmann
Bob Smithens
Scott Hunter
Karl Zajes
Joe Perlich
Bud Haynes
Les Handley
Larry Irvine
John Allen
John Allen
Roy Campbell
Tony Perlich
Mike Lawrence
–3–
1967
1966
1965
1964
1963
1962
1960
1959
1958
1957
1956
1955
1953
1952
1948
1947
1946
1942
1935
Garfield Ogilvie
Don H. Hutton
Earl Galvin
Walter Kitt
Vern Scown
Vern Scown
Earl Lanyon
Keith Sim
Frank Gwartney
J.C. Robertson
Ted Newby
Ted Newby
Alec Sim
Don Ball
Archie Boyce
C.S. Smith
Joseph H. Reed
Clarence Damron
Arthur Mitchell
Changes to auction rules improves service
to buyers and sellers
Changes to the Public Auction Regulation come into effect July 31. That means
auctioneers will be able to pay consignors more quickly and transparency for bidders
will be improved.
The changes are the result of the provincial government's public consultation last fall.
The current Regulation requires auction businesses to keep money from auction sales
in a trust account for up to 21 days before paying consignors for items sold at an
auction. Amendments to the regulation will allow auction businesses to use a general
account to pay consignors immediately after the sale.
Other changes to the Regulation include:
o
Auctioneers will be required to announce at the beginning of the sale
and after each break in the sale if an employee or agent of the public
auction business intends to bid on items at the auction sale.
o
Auctioneers will be allowed to re-open bidding to two or more
competing bidders recognized at the close of bidding (fall of the
hammer) if there is a dispute over which bidder was successful.
o
All funds from the sale of goods consigned for public auction,
whether the goods were sold by public auctions or by any other
means, must be deposited into the auction business's trust account.
o
Auction businesses will be given the option to pay a consignor from
their general accounts before collecting the funds owing from a buyer.
o
Auction businesses must transfer all fees, commissions or other monies
owed to the public auction business from its trust account within 21 days
of the date of the sale.
For more information on these amendments refer to Service Alberta's tipsheet
Auctions – Buying and Selling and the Business InfoSheet – Auction Business Trust
Accounts on www.servicealberta.ca or call the Consumer Contact Centre toll-free at
1-877-427-4088.
Scott Hood
Director of Fair Trading (as delegated)
Consumer Services
–4–
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–5–
Government of Alberta News Release
Dealership must assess mechanical fitness
on used vehicles
Submitted by Wade Michener
May 14, 2010
Edmonton... To provide potential buyers more information, the province will now
require all dealerships to have a licensed journeyman technician complete a
mechanical fitness assessment on used motor vehicles prior to their sale.
“This is about providing consumers with more information about their purchases and
increasing consumer confidence and awareness,” said Luke Ouellette, Minister of
Transportation. “Our focus is on increased transparency and these regulation
amendments will do just that. I would like to thank the motor dealers for their ongoing
support and input in helping to develop these important changes.”
Alberta Transportation worked closely with the Motor Dealers’ Association of Alberta
in developing the amendments to the Vehicle Inspection Regulation, and will continue
to work closely with the motor dealers in communicating the changes to consumers.
“With this change, Alberta motor dealers will provide enhanced protection for
consumers looking to purchase used vehicles,” said Denis Ducharme, Motor Dealers’
Association of Alberta. “When purchasing a used vehicle at a motor dealer in Alberta,
you know exactly what you’re buying.”
Previous to these amendments, dealerships completed a certificate indicating the
overall condition of the vehicle without requiring a complete mechanical assessment.
Under the revised regulations, a mechanical assessment will be completed by licensed
journeyman technician with a trade certificate as an Automotive Service Technician or
Heavy Equipment Technician under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act.
A mechanical fitness assessment will be valid for 120 days from the time of
completion. This is a change from 14 days for the previous certificate. The extended
time period recognizes the broader nature of the assessment.
More information about the amendments to the vehicle inspection regulation
is available on the Alberta Transportation website at
www.transportation.alberta.ca/4251.htm
...continued on page 7
–6–
Highlights of regulation changes
May 13, 2010
Costs
Dealerships are required to provide the mechanical fitness assessment prior to the
sale of used vehicles. There is no cost to consumers. There is also no obligation to the
consumer to purchase the vehicle, if they are not satisfied with the results of the
assessment.
Timelines
The amended regulations came into effect April 12, 2010. Alberta Transportation has
worked closely with the Motor Dealers’ Association of Alberta and the Alberta Motor
Vehicle Industry Council to develop a standardized mechanical fitness assessment
form and to communicate the amended regulations to dealerships. Alberta
Transportation will continue to work closely with motor dealers in implementing
these new regulations in the coming weeks.
Auctions/Brokers/Consignment
The amendments to the vehicle inspection regulation apply to used vehicles sold at
brokers and consignment sales. The amendments do not apply to auction sales.
Concerns
Consumers with concerns about dealerships or implementation of the new regulations
should contact the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council at 1-877-279-8200. The
Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council is responsible for administering and enforcing
automotive industry regulations under the Fair Trading Act.
...continued on page 8
–7–
Mechanical fitness assessment form
May 14, 2010
Alberta Transportation worked closely with the Motor Dealers Association of Alberta
and the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council to develop a standard form to be
completed by a licensed journeyman technician. The assessment form identifies more
than 60 vehicle equipment parts, including equipment in the powertrain, lamps,
instruments, brakes, steering, suspension, frame and body, tires and wheels, and
electrical. The form indentifies if the individual part is compliant or non-compliant.
Copies of the form are available on the Alberta Transportation website at be
www.transportation.alberta.ca/4251.htm
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–8–
Hello to the Good Folks at Alberta Auctioneers
th
I will be leaving the Society as of April 28 to pursue other opportunities. I wanted to
let each of you know that It has been a pleasure to have the good fortune to work
with all of you over the years. The Auctioneers’ commitment to the Society has been
admirable, and I am going to miss coming out to meet with you annually and share
with you what your funding has been doing.
I do hope that you will continue the good fight to assist the Society in eradicating
this awful disease!
Your new contact person in Major Gifts is:
Diana Gallivan, M.A. CFRE
Manager Major Gifts and Gift Planning
Canadian Cancer Society - Alberta/NWT Division
200, 325 Manning Road NE
Calgary, Alberta T2E 2P5
Phone Number (403) 541-2493
Fax Number (403) 205-3979
Again thank you for giving me the opportunity to spend “time and space” with
such a great group of people!
Cindy DeVouge
Celebrate. Remember. Fight back. Relay For Life is more than just a fundraiser – it's a
12-hour event to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost and fight back
against the disease. Join the biggest cancer fundraising event to make the biggest
cancer fundraising event to make the biggest difference. Visit cancer.ca/relay to
register.
–9–
Avoiding Pitfalls
Submitted by Bud Hayness
A recent letter from a Lawyer to one of our Members has once again prompted me to
bring up the importance of clarity in contracts and also how to possibly avoiding pitfalls
that may occur. I know that the older more experienced Auctioneers would never have
any such problems, but perhaps this may be of help to some of our new Members. In
this particular case, a lady had hired an Auctioneer to conduct a complete household
dispersal Auction for her, which included packing up the whole household, moving it to
storage, then moving it to the hall where the sale was to be held. When the whole
procedure had been completed, the lady contacted a Lawyer and complained that the
amount was not enough. The letter explained that the lady had told the Auctioneer that
she would have to live on the proceeds while she was suing another party for some
damages. The Lawyer in the letter informed the Auctioneer that the amount the lady
received seemed too little, and that the end result to her was less then what the Auction
company had taken. Also in his opinion the item were sold too cheaply. (He neglected
to say if he was an Auction Appraiser or what his qualifications were).
The facts of the case were, that the lady had told the Auctioneer that she was selling her
house and that everything was to be sold and it didn’t matter what they sold for.
Everything was to be packed up, moved, stored and then moved to the sale premises,
and the expenses were to be deducted from the proceeds as well as of course the
Auctioneer’s commission. Fortunately this Auctioneer had a clearly defined contract,
but as can be expected, the amount of the cartage was indeed quite high and the end
result was not good.
We have learned from experience, that when the consignor wants a full move with
packing etc. it is better that they pay the Mover themselves, because when they receive
the final settlement it appears that the Auctioneer received an exceptionally large
amount of commission, when indeed he was just collecting for the Mover. There are
cases when deducting the expenses is the only way it can be done as in some
bankruptcies etc., but in any case the various charges should be clearly defined and
agreed upon in advance.
Some early warning signs are if a person ever says that it doesn’t matter what things sell
for because in most cases that means either they are emotionally upset, or possibly they
don’t really own the items and they want a quick payout and be gone. It is a good plan in
most cases to have some kind of idea what the Consignor is expecting, and don’t ever
use those fatal words, “Don’t worry, it’ll sell”, when a consignor questions you about
value of any item. Of course, “it’ll sell”, but the Consignor might have a far different idea
of what might be a good price.
...continued
– 10 –
The part of a negotiation can often be the crucial part, as we all want to book the sale
and don’t want to scare them off. I usually just ask the person what they were hoping for,
and often they are quite reasonable. If they are expecting too much, I give them low
figure followed by an optimistic one and explain why. Perhaps the most interesting
situation I had was when an elderly man wanted to put a reserve on a Walker Colt
Revolver. When I informed him that we didn’t take reserves he made ready to leave,
and then I asked him what sort of reserve he was hoping for. He said “I wouldn’t want it
to go for less then $8,500, so I said “I’ll write you a check right now for 10,000, but you
really should just leave it.” He left it and we sold it for $42,000, and he write me a nice
letter saying he was ecstatic! That was a good one, but sometimes there are sales that
you really don’t want, and the hardest thing an Auctioneer has to do is say “NO” when
the situation just doesn’t feel right. Having served on the “Complaint” committee for
many years, I have seen cases when the Auctioneer got into lots of problems with trying
to satisfy unreasonable clients, so that is why I say always make the contract clear in
every way.
Another thing I used to advise new Auctioneers was not to take on a sale of things they
knew nothing about or were not capable of handling themselves. A good plan is to
“partner-up” with an experienced Company, or even refer the Consignor to a Company
that does that sort of thing because at least you will be respected by that Consignor. I
have done this many times and have often had the Consignor insist that we be involved
in the sale in some way, such as acting as their representative to arrange the negotiations
etc. which is actually a good business in itself.
Something to remember is that is different in the Auction business, then many others, is
that you have to try and satisfy both the buyer and the seller. But the most important
thing perhaps is, you can usually get a room full of buyers if you have a room full of good
merchandise so get out there and round up those Consignors. Bob Smithens of Calgary
always used to say, “We are always Auditioning, and out in that crowd could be
someone with the future sale of the year just looking for us.”
I hope this may be of some help, and I’m always willing to talk Auctions with any of our
new members so drop in when you are in town.
Bud Haynes
– 11 –
Come join us
2011
C O N V E N T I ON
February 3rd - 5th, 2011
The Coast
Lethbridge Hotel and
Conference Centre
529 Mayor Magrath Drive South
Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 3M2
Phone: 403.327.5701 Fax: 403.327.5075
1-800-663-1144
Comfort rooms - $105.00
Superior rooms - $115.00
Premium rooms - $125.00
– 12 –
2011
C O N V E N T I ON
First Annual
See Rules & Guidelines (pages 14, 15, 16)
– 13 –
2011
C O N V E N T I ON
Canadian All Around Auctioneer Championship
“Hosted by the Auctioneers Association of Alberta”
RULES AND GUIDELINES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Entry deadline is January 27, 2011
Dress appropriately for a professional presentation.
Contestants shall be 18 years of age or older and must be a current, active
(paid) member of the Alberta Auctioneers Association at the time of the
entry deadline.
Contestants must register for the Convention.
Entry fee of $100 must be paid and received by the Association on or
before the contest deadline.
Competing order will be determined prior to the event by a drawing
conducted by Competition Committee.
Competitors for the women's division will be drawn first followed by the
men's division.
Competing order will be announced at the mandatory Orientation Meeting
the morning of the competition.
All contestants must attend a mandatory Orientation Meeting scheduled 1
hour prior to the competition at the competition facility. In the event a
contestant is not present during the initial roll-call, their name will be called
two additional times at 15-minute intervals. In the event a contestant is not
present when their name is called the third and final time, they will be
disqualified from the contest, without return of entry fees.
The Competition will be at the Coast Lethbridge Hotel on Saturday, February
5, 2011. 11AM
There will be 5 judges in which a minimum of 3 will be Auctioneers.
In the event a judge cannot complete his/her duties during the preliminary
competition, all scores submitted by this judge will be thrown out. An alternate
judge will be named to replace the judge during the final competition. In the
event a judge is unable to complete his/her duties in the final competition, all
scores submitted by this judge will be thrown out and no alternate judge will be
appointed.
Past champions are eligible to judge in future competitions.
Contestants shall be introduced in both the preliminaries and finals. If the
contestant is not present when called to the podium, he or she will be disqualified.
– 14 –
2011
C O N V E N T I ON
14. Each contestant will sell a pre-determined amount of items consecutively
in both the preliminaries and in the finals. All contestants will sell items
provided by the Association, its members or third party donors' with an
equal value to other contestants' items.
15. At the conclusion of the preliminary competition, contestants will be
presented with a medallion as recognition for participation in the event.
16. On the scorecard used for the bid-calling segments, the total possible
points in each category will be as follows:◊ Presentation - 20 points, ◊
Chant/Voice – 45 points, ◊ Effective Auctioneering - 35 points.
17. The lowest scores will be eliminated and the remaining scores will be
averaged for the contestants' final scores.
18. If a tie score occurs in the preliminary portion of the competition, scores
will be recalculated to include the contestant's low score. In the event
there is still a tie, the contestant with the highest score in the Chant/Voice
category will be selected. If necessary, the third tie-breaker would go to the
contestant with the highest score in the Effective Auctioneering category.
19. The scores from the preliminaries determine who enters the finals.
20. The number of finalists for each division (men and women) shall be based
on a sliding scale:◊ 14 or fewer contestants = 4 finalists, ◊ 15 to 25
contestants = 5 finalists, ◊ 26 to 35 contestants = 7 finalists, Maximum
contestants is 35 on a first come basis.
21. Finalists will be announced after the conclusion and the scoring of the
preliminary competition.
22. The scores from the preliminaries will be used as the tie-breaker in the finals.
23. The following prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the competition:
◊ Champion – $2000 cash prize, Championship trophy and Belt Buckle
◊ First Runner Up – $500 cash prize, Runner-up trophy and Belt Buckle
◊ Second Runner Up – $250 cash prize, 2nd Runner-up trophy and Belt Buckle
24. Winners will serve as an Alberta ambassador (when appropriate) which
may include opportunities with professionally produced television spots,
media interviews, public appearances, and seminar presentations at
Provincial and/or State Auctioneer Association Conventions (based on
requests and acceptable scheduling of champion).
...continued
– 15 –
2011
C O N V E N T I ON
25. Contestants will not be given the exact order of finish. However, within two
months after the contest, each contestant will receive his or her own scores
and will be given the high, low and median scores for the preliminary bid
calling and final. A high, low and median score will also be released for the
overall combined scores.
26. The Competition Committee will instruct the new champions on guidelines
for conduct and roles in representing the Alberta Auctioneers Association
and the auction industry with the media and others.
27. A video of the preliminaries and the finals will be produced by the
Competition Committee and made available for purchase approximately
two months after the conclusion of the competition.
Entry Deadline January 27, 2011
QUESTIONS? Call 403 340-2070 or visit www.albertaauctioneers.com
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– 16 –
INDEPENDENT
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2011
C O N V E N T I ON
Competition Application
BY EMAIL [email protected]
BY FAX 403 340-2019
BY MAIL RR1, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 5E1
Contestant Information
Name (include current designations)
Company
Address
Phone
Cellular
Email
Graduating Auction School
Year of Graduation ______ Jacket Size – S M L XL XXL
– 17 –
2011
C O N V E N T I ON
25
Allen Antoniuk
Neil Campbell
Roy Fjordbotten
Carmen Hokanson
Hazel Isley
Agnes McInenly
Les McIntyre
Wayne Ollive
James Pollock
Paulette Rivard
Sharon Sim
Barbara Stewart
Kevin Tink
Miles Wowk
40
Brent Schlenker
Dennis Tink
50
Eldon Couey
Roy Greenwood
Bob Laackmann
Bryan Tink
– 18 –
Memorial Tribute to John Pomerleau
Submitted by Bud Hayness
March 20, 2010
I just received the news that John Pomerleau, Founder of Western Canada School Of
Auctioneering, (at Lacombe), has passed away March 8, 2010.
He was born Feb. 10, 1930. I first met John when he and Ron Michener were doing
Car Auctions for Dealers around Alberta. I was running Red Deer Auction, and we
also bought cars at Auctions, for our own Sales. John believed in the Auction business
with all his heart, and was not shy about it. Some people thought he was perhaps too
outspoken, but at least you always knew what he really thought about any subject,
and he never ever lied to me.
For example when he first called and asked me if I would come and be an Instructor at
the Auction school he was starting, he said “I wanted the best Auctioneer for the
Antique Sales class, and I called Earl Galvin in Calgary (who was the best known at the
time), and he told me I was crazy as there were too many damn Auctioneers in Alberta
and we didn’t need anymore, so I’m asking you because you are known to be the next
best.” This was fired at me like a machine gun and I was so impressed by his honesty
that I said yes. Besides, being second to Earl Galvin was not an insult, because I went to
Earl’s Antique Sales and admired him very much. The School was a great success, and
we turned out some of the best Auctioneers over the following years.
...continued page 21
TS
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– 20 –
2011
C O N V E N T I ON
Vern Scown Memorial
Tyro Contest
Friday Feb. 4, 2011
REGULATION:
THIS IS A CONTEST FOR ANY AUCTIONEER THAT HAS
GRADUATED FROM A RECOGNIZED AUCTION SCHOOL
IN THE LAST TWO (2) YEARS. MUST BE A MEMBER
OF AUCTIONEERS' ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA.
“Free” Convention Registration for all Tyro Contestants
REGISTRATION
Date:
Name:
Address:
What School was Attended:
Date Graduated from Auction School:
Are you a Member of the Auctioneers’ Association of Alberta?
Signature:
– 19 –
YES
NO
John employed Auctioneers from different types of Auctions because he often said,
“the students don’t know what type of selling they might have to do, and the fastest
Cattle Auctioneer might not be able to sell Fine Art, unless he had some kind of an
idea what was involved.” John had Les Bishop at the school, and when my Daughter
Linda was attending, Les had the girls go to a different part to practice bid-calling so
he could help them develop their voices, which she always remembered, because
that showed how John really cared about the students. John also had a policy that any
graduate could return at any time and take part in a class if they felt that it would help
them.
We used to do a public auction for each graduating class to sell at and I would give
each student a new one dollar bill as “the first Dollar they ever earned as an
Auctioneer”. One day many years later, John said, “You have given out over $1,500 to
those new Auctioneers, was it worth it”? I replied, I enjoyed it just as much as you did,
and he just laughed and agreed with me. John put up a hard front to the students, but
as many found out, he had a soft heart and did his best to help them, even after they
had gone on to run their own operations and sometimes needed his “Touch”.
Many times he would call and say “We have to go to such and such a sale, it’s his first
big one”, and away we would go for the day. Many times we just stood in the crowd,
but of course if invited to come up and sell, John would perform, and besides telling a
good story, he could sing a song or even sell an item in French just for fun.
I am pleased to have called John my friend, and I know many top Auctioneers in
Canada who will never forget him.
Sincerely,
Bud Haynes
For more information, contact:
RICK WATTIE - Auctioneer/Instructor
Phone: (780) 453-6964 Fax: (780) 447-7307
Toll Free: 1-888-453-6964
Email: [email protected]
– 21 –
Archive Article - Training Auctioneers
March 3, 1988
by Lynn Neumann Mcdowell
Submitted by Bud Haynes
Auction fever - It’s what made an unknown Red Deer, Alberta women go against an
antique dealer and offer 95,000 for a Victoria Cross last spring, setting three world
records in auctioneering. It’s a combination of elements: the suspense of competition
and the hush that descends as bids rise to dizzying heights. Perhaps, most important of
all, there’s the hypnotic chant of the auctioneer.
The magic of the chant is practised by about 1500 Canadians, approximately 1000 of
whom live on the prairies. In Alberta alone, they move over $5 billion each year
according to the provincial auctioneers association. And the majority of these
auctioneers learned their art from Blackfalds, Alberta, farmer John Pomerleau - the
man dubbed by one national magazine as “the fastest mouth in the west”
Since founding the first auctioneer’s school in Canada 15 years ago in Lacombe,
Alberta. Pomerleau has watched his students routinely take first place at the Tyro
chanting competition, open to all first-year auctioneers in North America and held
annually at the Alberta auctioneer’s convention.
“We’ve only lost the trophy once in 15 years,” said Pomerleau. “If you ask me, that’s
pretty darn good.”
The “we” in his statement comes from personal involvement with each student. Even
though he’s taught more than 1200 Canadian auctioneers, he still keeps tab of his
former students and seems more pleased with their success than with his own.
Lynda Hayness was the caller who sold the Victoria Cross for $95,000 said
Pomerleau. Christies of London, the world-famous auction house confirmed that
Hyness set the world record for the sale in three areas: the highest price ever paid for a
Victoria Cross, the first sold without a minimum bid, and the first auctioned by a
women.
Another female auctioneer, Donna Croswell, was in Pomerleau’s first class. He admits
he wasn’t thrilled to see a women in what’s always been a man’s profession. But she’s
done well and Pomerleau was pleased to find Croswell’s daughter enrolled in the
session last August. “That’s three from one family”, he said. Donna Croswell’s
husband is also graduate of the school.
Promerleau’s interest in people is probably the key to the success of his school. He’s
often on the road, helping graduates conduct their first auction. “A bad first auction
could be their last, he said.
...continued page 23
– 22 –
Like many people serious about their craft, he’s concerned about standards. Many
provinces require each auctioneer to complete a course at an approved school and
will even give financial assistance for attending approved courses. At Pomerleau’s
school, the Western Canada School of Auctioneering, the students go flat out for 12
days from 8:30 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.
Not everyone who comes gets their credentials. “We’re no diploma factory,” said
Pomerleau. By about the third day, it’s obvious who’s serious and who’s just “spending
Daddy’s money,” he said.
From the family farm in Blackfalds, he set out as a 16-year old first to Edmonton to make
wooden boxes, then on to the gold mines of Yellowknife. After the north, he retured to
Blackfalds and started his own construction company and farm.
Neither his farm nor company kept him fully occupied during the winter, so he went to
Billings, Montana, to take an auctioneering course. One day while sitting on his tractor,
he wondered why he had to go across the border to get an Alberta licence. Why was
there no auction school in all of Canada, he asked himself.
When he couldn’t come up with a good reason, he went to see lawyer Roger Holteen
about getting a school incorporated and licensed. When Holteen told him what to
expect in legal fees, Pomerleau decided to offer him a partnership in the venture
instead.
So after 27 years of chanting throughout the United States and Canada, Pomerleau now
spends much of his time teaching at the three sessions offered each year. There are now
other schools in Canada, some started by WCSA graduates, and Pomerleau’s
instructional materials are showing up in some of the other schools.
But it’s hard to imagine the material coming alive as it does when Pomerleau talks from
his experience: not many people have conducted auctions for the deaf.
In each class, Pomerleau greets another 25 to 30 would-be auctioneers. He will
welcome them to “the second oldest profession” and teach the seductive rhythm of the
auctioneer’s chant.
– 23 –
Auctioneers charged with collusive
bidding in Portsmouth
by Geoff Cunningham Jr.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
PORTSMOUTH — Two auctioneers have been arrested and charged with crimes
alleging they engaged in illegal bidding practices that sought to artificially inflate the
price of an antique painting being sold during a December auction. Licensed
auctioneers Stephen J. Bennett, 52, of at 171 Aldrich Road in Portsmouth, and Harold
French, 52, of 74 Route 27 in Warner, are both facing misdemeanor charges of "collusive
bidding" and conspiracy to commit collusive bidding stemming from their actions at a
Dec. 10, auction held at the Frank Jones Center.
The complaint alleges Bennett engaged in collusive bidding in an effort to inflate the
price of a painting he was under contract to sell at the auction. Detective Cpt. Corey
MacDonald said Bennett was acting as the auctioneer at the auction while knowing
French — the eventual winning bidder — was making false bids in attempt to inflate the
price. MacDonald said such acts are essentially viewed as fraud or theft in that
individuals bidding at auctions do so under the assumption they are bidding against
individuals with a real money interest in a given item being sold. "He is just bidding to
drive up the bids," MacDonald said.
The detective said the alleged "collusive bidding" practices were brought to the attention
of police by the owner of an antique "maritime" themed painting that was being sold at
the auction and was the subject of the inflated bidding. Bennett - the owner of Stephen
Bennett Auction located at 161 Court St. in Portsmouth - turned himself in to police on a
warrant on Tuesday, according to police. Bennett is also facing misdemeanor charges of
false imprisonment and simple assault that stem from an alleged incident that took place
on Dec. 21, at his downtown business. Police say Bennett had unprivileged physical
contact and then blocked the path of the owner of the painting as he was attempting to
leave the auctioneer's office. Bennett was released on $2,000 personal recognizance
bail and will be arraigned on May 10, in the Portsmouth District Court.
French was also arrested on Tuesday for his part in allegedly inflating the price of the
painting by making false bids. French was released on $2,500 personal recognizance
bail and will be arraigned in the Portsmouth District Court on May 10. Portsmouth Police
Cpt. Mike Schwartz indicated both French and Bennett appeared at a disciplinary
review convened by the N.H. State Board of Auctioneers on Monday. Schwartz said that
board will deliberate on May 3, concerning violations of N.H. Board of Auctioneers
Administrative rules.
MacDonald has been a member of the Portsmouth Police Department for 13 years and
said he can't recall his department levying collusive bidding charges, which he said are rare.
– 24 –