As you know our 9th Annual Tricky Tray and Auction will be held on Saturday evening, February 11th at the hall in St. Joseph’s Church in Maplewood. Please mark your calendar and save the date. You won’t want to miss this incredibly fun event. Reservation forms will be sent out in early January.

Last year we raised almost $26,000 at our Tricky Tray/Auction and this year, of course, we want to do even better! The money raised at this event each year has been responsible for major purchases including playground equipment, rock climbing wall in our gymnasium and a complete audio/visual renovation of our auditorium.

WE ARE NOW COLLECTING PRIZES AND WE NEED YOUR HELP.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DONATE?

We also rely heavily on you to help us collect prizes. Here are some ways you can help:

START WITH YOUR EMPLOYER
In recent years Clinton parents have donated items such a Tiffany bracelet, Cirque de Soleil tickets, books, electronics, clothes and accessories. Some companies are willing to donate merchandise and others are prepared to offer a sizable discount. If this is the case, please let us know. In the past we have used a Clinton parent’s employee discount at Macy’s to purchase a slew of great prizes. Prizes in the electronics category are always a big hit, so if you have any connections in that area, please let us know. We have a letter than can be used to solicit donations. Let us know if you’d like a copy.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT OR SKILL?
Turn it into a prize! Some ideas: If you’re an accomplished tennis player, offer a one-hour private lesson. If you can bake, a decorated birthday cake would be a fabulous prize, if you are a fabulous cook, you can prepare and deliver a meal for four.

DO YOU LIKE TO ENTERTAIN?
How about throwing a theme party? You pick the date, time, and theme, and we’ll auction off the invitations. Have you always wanted to host a Mystery Dinner? Mystery guests will make it all the more fun! Do you make a mean margarita? How about putting together a Cinco de Mayo party? The possibilities are endless for this prize—and oh so much fun!

THERE’S NO SHAME IN REGIFTING
Did your child receive two of the same Wii games for his birthday? Instead of letting one collect dust, donate it to the Tricky Tray. Did someone give you a gift card you’ll never use? Someone can use it.

WHO DO YOU KNOW?
An autographed script or backstage tour is always a popular prize. A few years ago Clinton parents starring in Broadway productions of Hair, Wicked, and The Little Mermaid offered backstage tours. A Sopranos script signed by all the featured actors brought in big bucks another year.

WEEKEND GETAWAYS
Do you have a time-share or vacation home that you can spare for a weekend? Is there a hotel you stay at frequently that might offer a sizable discount? Please let us know!

The possibilities are endless and no prize is too big or too small. Contact Cecelia Cancellaro by email or phone 973-763-1730 if you have a prize to donate or if you are willing to be a part of our Tricky Tray committee.

Items from our fall Cherrydale fundraiser will be delivered today, Monday, December 5. Amy Janay and Janet Trzaska will be at Clinton on Monday from 2:30-3 and again from 5-6 for parents to come and pick up their orders.

There are a lot of frozen food items so all orders must be picked up today.

Please contact Janet at meyers1113@aol.com if you have questions.

We have begun planning for our biggest fundraiser of the year: The Clinton PTA 9th Annual Tricky Tray and Auction.

This year our Tricky Tray will be held on Saturday evening, February 11th, at the hall in St. Joseph’s Church in Maplewood. Please mark your calendar and save the date. You won’t want to miss this incredibly fun event.

Last year we raised almost $26,000 at our Tricky Tray/Auction and this year, of course, we want to do even better! The money raised at this event each year has been responsible for major purchases including playground equipment, rock climbing wall in our gymnasium and a complete audio/visual renovation of our auditorium.

This event is a major undertaking and we are the only PTA in our area brave enough to host one every year but,

WE NEED YOUR HELP!
If you would like to volunteer to be a part of our committee, please contact Cecelia Cancellaro (ccancellaro@verizon.net) as soon as possible. We especially need help soliciting prizes, working a shift the night of the event, and being part of a clean-up committee. Contact Cecelia for more details.

We also rely heavily on you to help us collect prizes. Here are some ways you can help:

START WITH YOUR EMPLOYER
In recent years Clinton parents have donated items such a Tiffany bracelet, Cirque de Soleil tickets, books, electronics, clothes and accessories. Some companies are willing to donate merchandise and others are prepared to offer a sizable discount. If this is the case, please let us know. In the past we have used a Clinton parent’s employee discount at Macy’s to purchase a slew of great prizes. Prizes in the electronics category are always a big hit, so if you have any connections in that area, please let us know. We have a letter than can be used to solicit donations. Let us know if you’d like a copy.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT OR SKILL?
Turn it into a prize! Some ideas: If you’re an accomplished tennis player, offer a one-hour private lesson. If you can bake, a decorated birthday cake would be a fabulous prize, if you are a fabulous cook, you can prepare and deliver a meal for four.

DO YOU LIKE TO ENTERTAIN?
How about throwing a theme party? You pick the date, time, and theme, and we’ll auction off the invitations. Have you always wanted to host a Mystery Dinner? Mystery guests will make it all the more fun! Do you make a mean margarita? How about putting together a Cinco de Mayo party? The possibilities are endless for this prize—and oh so much fun!

THERE’S NO SHAME IN REGIFTING
Did your child receive two of the same Wii games for his birthday? Instead of letting one collect dust, donate it to the Tricky Tray. Did someone give you a gift card you’ll never use? Someone can use it.

WHO DO YOU KNOW?
An autographed script or backstage tour is always a popular prize. A few years ago Clinton parents starring in Broadway productions of Hair, Wicked, and The Little Mermaid offered backstage tours. A Sopranos script signed by all the featured actors brought in big bucks another year.

WEEKEND GETAWAYS
Do you have a time-share or vacation home that you can spare for a weekend? Is there a hotel you stay at frequently that might offer a sizable discount? Please let us know!

The possibilities are endless and no prize is too big or too small.

Contact Cecelia Cancellaro (ccancellaro@verizon.net/973-763-1730) if you have a prize to donate or if you are willing to be a part of our Tricky Tray committee.

Don’t forget about our wonderful Winter Craft Fair this Saturday, December 3rd, from 11am to 2pm.

You can get all the details here:

Winter Craft Fair 2011 Flyer

Stop by for Clinton Elementary School PTA night at Perch Home this Thursday evening from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM and get a start on your holiday shopping! 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the PTA.

Don’t miss our Winter Craft Fair on Saturday, December 3rd. All details can be found in this flyer.

Also, we need some recycled materials to use at this great annual event. We are collecting the following items to re-use for some of our craft projects:

Plastic CD cases, bottle caps (metal, from root beer bottles, beer bottles, etc.), unused holiday or everyday cards (the kind you get in the mail or as gift but you might never use), and pine cones.

If you have any of these items, please send them in to school with your child in a bag/container marked “Craft Fair.”