Sid Miedema, CAI

The NAA has been essential for the success of many auctioneers. I know it has helped me professionally in many ways. It also has provided me with many lifetime friendships that have enriched my life. Since the Foundation supports many endeavors of the NAA, I count it a privilege to give to the Foundation every year. Here are a few of the endeavors the Foundation supports:

  • Scholarships given to those who are seeking to improve their auction professionalism or are just beginning in the auction industry
  • Educational seminars are held for those of us who are seeking to improve our auction professionalism and better serve our customers and clients
  • Preserving and helping us remember our auction history

As an auction professional, I believe supporting the Foundation is also one of the best business decisions I can make. The Foundation has helped the auction industry grow to be more accepted. Without the Foundation’s support and promotion of the auction industry, there would not have been as many opportunities as we have enjoyed over the past years.

For those of us who appreciate supporting worthwhile causes, the Foundation provides an excellent opportunity to do this. Giving to help an industry that has greatly helped us is enjoyable. Giving to help those just starting out or those seeking to improve is satisfying. Please join me in supporting the Foundation and the auction industry by giving to the National Auctioneers Foundation.

Foundation Funds NAA 2020 Education Program Amid Pandemic

In March of 2020, as it became apparent that the COVID-19 Virus was becoming a disruptive force in the world and was declared a pandemic; NAA leadership took immediate steps to reevaluate our budget and make adjustments to how we conducted the business of the National Auctioneers Association. As part of that process, the Board and staff investigated numerous ways to trim our budget, remain fiscally solvent and continue to provide the valuable services our members expect.

After careful review and numerous suggested cuts in all segments of the budget, coupled with conservative projections of how revenues would be affected, we still faced a significant deficit. The Executive Committee reviewed and discussed the suggested changes and developed a strategy for moving forward. We decided to request that the Foundation underwrite the entire education budget for 2020. 

As the NAA Executive Committee liaison to Foundation, I was charged with making that request. As should be the case, Trustees inquired as to the necessity of the funds and asked for assurances that the NAA board was making all reasonable and possible cuts. I conveyed that the NAA board understood that this was not a request that we could make on an ongoing basis.

With strong support of the Foundation Board of Trustees, the Foundation granted the request to underwrite NAA education programs for 2020. This infusion of cash allowed NAA leadership the flexibility it needed to move forward with essential programs and services, without sustaining major losses.

The Board of Trustees made an outstanding commitment to the advancement of the auction profession. All its members can take pride in knowing that they assisted in the preservation of the voice of the auction profession. Even without considering the support routinely provided by the Foundation, this one act, from my perspective, makes it a worthy cause to receive my support for many years to come.

—Tim Mast, CAI, AARE, past NAA president

Foundation Supports Virtual NAA Designation Courses like BAS

“The show must go on” for the Benefit Auction Specialist designation class of 2020. For the first time ever, the class was offered virtually on Zoom due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Thanks to the generosity of the Foundation for underwriting this class, and to the creative work of the NAA staff, this popular show did, indeed, go on, with Lance Walker CAI, BAS, CES, and myself, Scott Robertson CAI, BAS, as instructors.

Because of the virtual format, we incorporated additional resources with guest presenters from all over the nation. NAA President Terri Walker, CAI, BAS, CES,opened our session.Benefit Auctioneer and Foundation President Christie King, CAI, AMM, BAS, discussed the importance of the work of the Foundation. CEO Hannes Combest, FASAE, CAE, maintained a watchful eye on the class throughout the course. She also spoke about the NAA, the importance of investing in designation classes, and the benefits of being an NAA member. Trisha Brauer, CAI, BAS, frequent BAS instructor, taught an inspiring unit on business development.

New for this year’s course was the addition of a 4-hour unit on Virtual Fundraising Galas. In addition to the virtual classroom work, the course included a panel discussion on virtual fundraising galas by pioneering industry experts, Misty Marquam, BAS, Freddie Silveria, BAS, and Cathy MacPherson.

According to attendee Tarryn Jordaan: “The module about the Virtual Fundraising Events was crucial and of immense value to us in this time of COVID.”

Much to our delight, students were motivated, asked great questions, and greatly increased their knowledge, remaining engaged and interested with 8 hours of instruction each day. Virtual education works, and it worked well at BAS 2020.

Libby Pollack said, “Due to my schedule, I could never attend the Designation Academy in person, this virtual experience was perfect for me”.

NAA Director of Education Kristina Franz said, “We look forward to when in-person education can be done again, but are so thankful that virtual education is a viable and valuable option to learn and interact with fellow students and instructors!”

Jason Troutman, a student in the class, mentioned, “Not only did we learn together as a class, we really enjoyed ourselves.” Of the students responding to the after class survey, 100 percent agreed the class was helpful and important to them as an auction professional.

Once the class was complete, Lance Walker stated, “I was skeptical at first regarding the BAS designation being taught virtually, but it turned out great. I guess you can teach old dogs, like Scott and me, new tricks.”

-Scott Robertson, CAI, BAS

Morgan Hopson, CAI

2019 Women’s International Auctioneer Champion

Throughout my childhood, my parent’s ingrained in me that we should support causes that we care about most—causes that are knowledgeable of our community’s and/or industry’s issues and needs, and causes that will make a difference in the lives of others. The National Auctioneers Foundation is exactly that. 

The Foundation is committed to advancing and enriching the auction community. It administers and manages the scholarship funds for many NAA education programs, which allows auction professionals to take the next step in firmly planting their feet in our industry.  

I give to the Foundation because they provide funding for new ideas and programs that help to make a positive impact on our industry. Recently, the Foundation was instrumental in funding a project that allowed the NAA and the National FFA Organization to create a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) for the Auction Industry. Not only have we been able to develop this SAE, but curriculum has also been developed for teachers of students ranging from the third through the eighth grade via the Auction Adventures platform on My American Farm. It’s our hope that more students will explore the auction industry. This project wouldn’t have come to fruition had it not been for the Foundation’s incredible support.  

I give to the Foundation because I want to ensure that long after I’m gone, our industry is supported and we’re able to continue to advance and enrich the auction community and pave the way for the next generation of auctioneers. 

Scott Steffes, CAI, CES

In today’s world there are so many worthy causes, compelling stories and genuine needs when it comes to giving. That’s why I struggle sometimes in choosing where to focus time, attention and money to do my small part in trying to make a difference. I’ll bet many reading this share the same struggle. There never seems to be “enough” and at the end of the day, we have to choose.


The National Auctioneers Association, and the Foundation in particular, have been one of my “choices” and I always feel great about it. 


You see, the auction business and the people like each of you in our industry are truly one of the greatest reasons I’m fortunate enough to be able to give back. We all support our industry and are making a commitment with our dues and participation in the NAA. Without a sound voice and a thriving industry (the Foundation fully supports), I’m certain the successes each of us enjoy in our profession wouldn’t be nearly as possible.


My family and I have seen that first hand over the many decades we’ve been members of the NAA. I recognize that and am truly grateful—we all should be. And in today’s changing environment and stressful times, it’s all the more important to keep the foundation of our industry solid. 


I believe even the smallest of contributions to that endeavor are worth the investment. Do we see definable returns and direct results? Truthfully, it’s hard in the short term but obvious in the long run, as I’ve witnessed. That’s why I support the NAA by participating and with the Foundation by contributing. It’s been a great investment in the long run, and I know if you trust what I say, you’ll feel the same way when you decide to give like I have.