Our Lady of Good Counsel Auction Office  •  auction@olgcva.org

8601 Wolftrap Rd, Vienna, VA 22182  •  Phone (703) 896-7425  •  Fax (703) 938-2829

Dear Parishioners and Friends of OLGC,October 20, 2011

We are pleased to announce that our 19th annual Auction Gala will take place on Saturday, April 21, 2012.  This year, we are returning to the scene of our first auction, the Sheraton Premiere at Tyson’s Corner. The theme for this year’s auction is OLGC’s Hanami – A Celebration of Cherry Blossoms, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Washington’s Cherry Blossom Festival. That festival pays tribute to the enduring ties of goodwill and friendship that bind the United States and Japan. Here at OLGC, we celebrate the ties of faith and friendship that unite us as a community.

The parishioners at OLGC are remarkably generous. You see the results of your past generosity each time you attend Mass. Furnishings in the narthex, the air conditioning in the church, the roof on the parish center, the icons in De Sales Hall, the carpet and lighting in the school, and the ActivBoards in the classrooms were provided in whole or part through the efforts of you and your fellow parishioners at previous auctions. Monies raised through the 2011 auction were used to repair the narthex roof, to upgrade the equipment on the playground and to support activities of the Women’s Club. Proceeds from the 2012 auction will be earmarked for age-related repairs and safety improvements to the rectory and the design, development and

implementation of a new integrated website for the school and parish. Any remaining funds will be set aside for future major facility maintenance and repair such as the resurfacing of the church parking lot.

Enclosed are materials that detail a variety of opportunities for you to assist our efforts. First, please pray for the success of the Auction. Also, please attend – we know you will have a good time! Your participation can take the form of volunteering your time, contributing financially, donating an item or service or purchasing an ad in our Auction Program. All of your efforts on behalf of the auction help to make our parish a more vibrant and faith-filled community.

We thank you for your prayers, your past contributions and your ongoing support. We look forward to seeing you at another exciting auction in April!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. William J. Metzger, OSFS Austin S.G. Poole

  Pastor      Principal

  The blossoms last a week, but our community lasts a lifetime.

Basket Distribution – after Masses January 21/22 in the Narthex    Car Raffle Mailing - Thursday, February 2, basement of DeSales Hall

Committee Meeting - Tuesday, February 13, 7:30pm St. Joseph Ctr       Invitation Mailing – Thursday, February 23, basement of DeSales Hall

Basket Return – Sunday, March 4, 8 to 1, St. Joseph Center           Donut Social - Sunday, March 4, 7:30am-12:30pm, DeSales Hall

Committee Meeting - Tuesday, March 13, 7:30pm St. Joseph Center     Basket Wrapping – Friday, March 30, St. Joseph Center

Committee Meeting - Tuesday, April 3, 7:30pm St. Joseph Center   Program Distribution – Weekend of April 14/15 in the Narthex

Raffle Sales – Weekends of March 3/4, March 24/25 & April 14/15

Come and Join in on the Fun!

Fr. Metzger and the Auction Committee are pleased to announce the honorary chairs for the

2012 auction are Beth & Bryan Richards. The Richards have been members of the parish for 20 years during which they have been active supporters of OLGC in many ways. They are the parents of 4 adult children, all of whom attended OLGC School. Bryan is best known for his 20 years of devoted leadership as Den Leader & Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 976, from which he retired in 2009. Beth has been the Coordinator of Altar Servers for 12 years & served as volunteer chair of the 1998 auction. Since then the Richards have remained loyal auction supporters & attendees. Join us in thanking them for their loving service to OLGC & our parish family.

Hanami, our theme, stems from the Japanese tradition of viewing the cherry blossoms. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC which honors the enduring ties of friendship and goodwill linking Japan and the United States. We celebrate the ties of faith and friendship that bind the OLGC community.  Unlike the ephemeral cherry blossoms which linger but a few days, our community lasts a lifetime!

The cherry blossom logo was created for the 2012 Auction Gala by Brother Mickey McGrath, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales. Brother Mickey is an artist and author of ten award-winning books.