The Lake Leelanau Lake Association's (LLLA) 2023 Spring Virtual Auction kicks off on April 17 with unique and unforgettable experiences up for bid! Registered bidders can explore exclusive Lake Leelanau experiences—like fishing charters, sailing cruises, a week-long cottage stay, and more—all while supporting the preservation of our lake's beauty.
Thanks to the generosity of dozens of area businesses and individuals, more than 140 packages—with an approximate total value of $50,000—will be open to bidding through 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 30. Participants can bid on items via the LLLA's auction website—you must register online to place bids.
What’s Up for Bid?
Among the items up for auction are a six-hour Lake Leelanau fishing charter, pontoon boat rentals, hosted wine tastings, a golf package for two, a Lake Michigan sailing cruise, a two-hour guitar concert, a new stand-up paddle board, tree stump removal, artwork, jewelry and gift cards to many area establishments. Items range in value from $25 dining gift certificates to a one-week stay for eight at a North Lake Leelanau cottage worth $9,500.
Leelanau County businesses and residents donated most items, but some came from outside the region, such as autographed memorabilia from Detroit professional sports teams.
“The quality and variety of items available to bidders this year is truly outstanding,” said Diane Pelak, auction committee co-chairperson. “There is generally an item or a package to suit every interest and budget. This makes it enticing and fun for bidders and speaks to the range of talents and unique experiences that make Leelanau County so special.”
How Online Bidding Works
This year’s auction will use Greater Giving Online Bidding, allowing for a paperless bidding system. Participants will bid using their smartphone or tablet on silent auction items. They can also easily track Packages by “following” their activity without continuously returning to a table or bid sheet.
Once registered, you have several options for bidding.
- Select the Package you wish to bid on.
- Select either the bid option to bid the next increment or select Bid More to choose your increment.
- Or, if available, select Buy Now to purchase the Package for the price listed.
- Click the star icon to save the Package to your Favorites.
- To donate, click the Donate button on the home page and enter your amount.
- Use the menu in the top left to view Packages you have bid on, favorited, or to browse by Category.
- When the auction closes, the high bidder can find Packages they have won in the bids area of the menu.
Other Ways to Support the LLLA’s Auction
Apart from bidding, there are several ways to support the 2023 Spring Virtual Auction.
- Become a sponsor:
- Gold Level Sponsorship - $2,500
- Silver Level Sponsorship - $1,000
- Bronze Level Sponsorship - $250
- Consider donating an auction item.
- Make a cash contribution—all cash donations are matched dollar-for-dollar up to $29,500.
“We are accepting sponsorships and auction items right up until the start of the event and donations throughout,” said Laura Paine, who co-chairs the auction with Pelak and Carol Rademacher. “The support of our sponsors and donors has been fantastic,” she added. “It demonstrates the passion and commitment of people in this community to ensure this precious Lake Leelanau resource can be enjoyed by current and future generations.”
Supporting LLLA’s Mission
By participating in the auction, area residents will be helping preserve and protect the 89,000-acre Lake Leelanau watershed, which has become more vulnerable to invasive species and other threats in recent years. 2023 Spring Virtual Auction proceeds will enable the LLLA to:
- Install a third high-pressure boat-cleaning station at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources West boat launch on Lake Leelanau;
- Purchase improved water quality monitoring technology; and
- Create signage at all public lake access points outlining the fragile ecosystem on which protection efforts are focused.
We appreciate your support and wish bidders the best of luck!
2023 Spring Virtual Auction Sponsors
We also want to thank all our sponsors for supporting this year's auction!
Gold Sponsors
Jennie & Darren Keller
James & Kathy Ganley
Annie & Bill Hostetler
Don Wilson - Lake Leelanau RV Park
The Laura Paine Family
Silver Sponsors
Biggs Construction, Inc.
Joshua Deering - Deering Tree Service
Matthew & Jane Zimmerman - Zimmerman Landscaping
Tom & Diane Pelak - FlexChecks
Tim Schaub - Schaub Premier Realty
Tom & Norah Hiatt
Ron Reimink - Freshwater Solutions and LLC
Bronze Sponsors
9 Bean Rows
Ann Adams
Darlene Doorlag
Lois Bahle & Larry Mawby
Susan Rauser - State Farm Insurance
Marty Easling - Easling Construction Co.
Francie Gits
Nick Wierzba - Suttons Bay Bikes
Steve & Ann Fisher
Stander Marine, Inc.
Patricia Shea
Michael J. Bill
Shane Boland Harrison - Leelanau Veterinary Care
Joel Voss - Kal Excavating
Jerry & Nancy Crawford - Inn the Pines Bed and Breakfast
Hayward & Kathy Draper
Andy Jamieson - Dream Kitchen & Bath, Inc.
Dan & Kay White
Doug & Judy VanDyke
Christine & Tom Pfennig
Cory Beuerle & Steve Zinger - Century 21 Northland
Stanley & Bo Reahard
Jeff & Susan Green
Hansen Foods of Suttons Bay
Leslie Maclin
Susan Gentile & Mike Zellner
Kathryn W. Scherer