Formidable Trio at Possible Dreams Auction

By ALEXIS TONTI

When Rick Lee and Susan Klein first stepped behind the podium of the Possible Dreams Auction in 2000, they thought it was a one-time deal, a way to support longtime auctioneer Art Buchwald, who was still recovering from a stroke, and to keep the momentum rolling for the annual benefit.

But when Mr. Buchwald returned the next year, he decided he wanted to turn the auction into something of a three-man show - indefinitely.

"When they first suggested it, I was so nervous that I went around and offered the job to everyone I knew, including a friend of mine who was a professional auctioneer for Skinner," said Mr. Lee, an antiques dealer. "And everybody said the same thing - ‘No, I'd be too nervous.'

"And that's when I decided, if everyone feels this way, then there really is no reason to be nervous."

Mr. Lee added: "Of course, there's always the initial shock of facing 450 people, but Susan and Art are up there, too, which makes it easier, and you just go."

Ms. Klein, a professional storyteller and Island native, agreed that the support they provide each other is critical.

"We all know the job we have to do and we do it. The energy is electric. It's like a sound wave, it's up and down, and whenever there's a dip there's always someone there to pick it up and carry it along," said Ms. Klein.

Monday night will mark their fifth year as assistant auctioneers. Seating for the 26th annual benefit begins at 4 p.m. in the garden of the Harborside Inn in Edgartown; the auction starts at 5. The cost of admission is a $25 donation.

All of the evening's proceeds go to Martha's Vineyard Community Services. The money supports the agency's otherwise unfunded programs, among them Early Childhood Programs, Women's Support Services, Visiting Nurse Service and the Island Counseling Center.

"Rick and Susan have a gift for keeping in front of us why we are there. Every year each of them interjects some note about what the evening is about. It's unscripted and it's very much from the heart. Everyone gets caught in the moment, everyone feels it," said auction chairman Kerry Scott.

Ms. Scott added: "But they are outrageous. When they get on a roll you can't get a word in edgewise. It's like having two unruly kids."

"Rick and I do play off each other. We have a very easy friendship. We met up there on the podium, and now we're sort of like siblings - not always peaceful, but we have a lot of fun," said Ms. Klein.

By now they have settled into their roles. Ms. Klein and Mr. Buchwald introduce the dreams and provide commentary. They have a natural rapport with the audience, mixing gentle humor with sharper jabs. Mr. Lee runs most of the bidding, urging people to continually up the ante for the dreams, which range from tickets to sporting events and movie premieres to walk-on television roles and celebrity dinner dates.

Together the formidable trio has raised more than $1.3 million.

"They are fabulous on their feet. You can only choreograph that kind of mad garden party so far," said Ms. Scott. "They have a way of making people feel good about bidding and about what they're bidding on. They have this great dynamic where they banter back and forth with each other and the audience."

Both Mr. Lee and Ms. Klein defer to Mr. Buchwald as the grand master of the auction.

"The opportunity to have Art back after his illness was such a gift to all of us. That man has worked relentlessly for this event. He works behind the scenes all year long - he is the spark that has ignited the energy of the whole thing," said Ms. Klein.

"So much of the excitement is Art's rap and how he gets everybody enthused. We identify certain people, people we know and who we can tease along - another $500 here and there - and then all of a sudden the person behind him gets into it, and then we're really going," said Mr. Lee.

"Each of us has the cadre of dedicated under-bidders. They're the people who want the dream, but who have their limit, they only want to spend $5,000 or $6,000. But they get it going. Without them we wouldn't have an auction," said Mr. Lee.

Ms. Klein called the phenomenon "contagious inspiration."

"It really fires up the crowd - we have to stay on top of it," she said. "We stand up there and look out over this half-circle, and there's spotting and shouting and we try to have eyes all over the place. It gets pretty raucous sometimes.

"That willingness of the crowd to be playful is critical. And we have to keep things rolling, keep the auction moving as fast as we can. The audience can't hold up for more than three and a half or four hours - and frankly neither can we," said Ms. Klein.

"People are generous beyond belief, and people in the audience respond to that, even those who are just watching really rally around those numbers climbing," she said.

And both say that spirit of generosity is what keeps them coming back.

"To help raise money for something that directly benefits the Island is incredible. In order to maintain a year-round, Island population you need these services. Although the auction is in and of itself a social event, you don't want people to lose sight of why they are there," said Mr. Lee.

"I believe deeply in the work provided by Community Services. It is an extraordinary group of people, a true steadfast support service. We are not aware of all their clientele - by the very nature of what they do that's confidential. But they are there for everybody on this Island," said Ms. Klein.

Work on the auction will continue until the last minute. Already this week, several dreams have been added to the night's bill, including an offer of two seats at Kenneth Cole's fall fashion show and a $1,000 shopping spree in New York city.

In addition, the Yard and the Tabernacle have collaborated to offer tickets to the Broadway Meets Dance night at the Tabernacle, with an invitation to the patrons' party and a chance to meet Brian Stokes Mitchell, the Alvin Ailey II dancers and gospel singer Ella Mitchell.

"I still feel like I should be paying them to be the assistant auctioneer. It's flattering and humbling," said Mr. Lee. "All the years I'd been coming here, Possible Dreams was always the highlight of summer fund raising as I knew it to be. I used to stand in the back and wistfully think, gee, can I buy something?

"Sometimes I still think that - I'm just standing in a different place."