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The Rockingham Rotary Club is gearing up for its 57th annual Auction, which will kick off Nov. 6 at the Rockingham Armory. According to David Wood, auction chair and president elect, the auction serves as the largest fundraiser for the Rotary Club each year.

In addition to the yearly truck raffle, barbecue and live auction, a special silent auction has been incorporated into the event.

“The silent auction is new,” Wood said. “It will run all day inside the Armory and will conclude about thirty minutes prior to the live auction.”

He added that bidders can expect items such as professional sports memorabilia, college sports autographed items, gift certificates, gift baskets and possibly some vacation giveaway packages.

The traditional live auction will follow the silent auction from 7 to 10 p.m. with Auctioneer Ronnie Hawks, and will include items like used vehicles, bicycles, exercise equipment, furniture, paintings and Christmas items, Wood said.

Barbecue pork and chicken plates prepared by Tommy Deese will be sold during the day for $7 per plate, and will be available for eat-in, take-out or delivery. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner will follow from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Wood said the big draw is the yearly truck raffle, in which 400 tickets are sold for $100 a piece for a chance to win a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado.

A second raffle will be held for a $1,000 Visa gift card and a $500 Visa gift card. Tickets will be sold for $5.

The event will also include a bake sale and Country Store throughout the day with various cakes, pies, brownies and cookies, sold by the slice or as a whole. These goods are typically made by different cooks throughout the county, Wood said, as well as donated by local businesses.

According to Rotary Treasurer Chip Cloninger, all proceeds go back into the community.

“We netted over $61,000 last year,” he said. “This was through the auction, the barbecue, truck raffle, baked goods, concessions, the Country Store and Visa raffles. It’s really a lot of fundraisers packed into one day.”

“Proceeds go toward over 30 different organizations within the county that support citizens and children,” Wood said.

Tickets are available from Rotary Club members or at the door. For more information, call 910-205-1596.

— Staff Writer Mallory Brown can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at mallorybrown@heartlandpublications.com