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ANNUAL DINNER AND AUCTION FUNDRAISER: AROUND THE WORLD WITH RPTA

By: Anna Bach (RPTA ’17), Staff Writer

The 12th annual RPTA Dinner and Auction Fundraiser is to be held on February 22, 2014 from 5:30-9:30pm at the Pismo Beach Golf Course. This year’s theme is Around the World with RPTA, and all current students, alumni, and friends of RPTA (e.g., parents/family, Advisory Council members, & industry partners) are invited and encouraged to attend. Guests can register (and find more information) online at RPTAauction.eventbrite.com. Online registration does involve a small convenience fee. There will be a buffet style dinner with an "around the world" theme, followed by a spectacular dessert bar. Other event details appear below.  

The vintage travel theme is primed to engage guests in a world of wonder. Under new director Megan Hobbs, she and the student event committee are set to implement several new ideas to make the evening even more spectacular than the past. Those who have attended this annual event in year’s past know that is a high standard.
 
Hobbs graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Business Administration and is currently working on her Masters in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Management. Hobbs appreciates that due to its smaller size, the RPTA graduate program opens doors for many opportunities that might not be available in a larger program. Similarly, it has allowed her to get to know RPTA faculty and staff on a more personal level. “All of the faculty and undergraduate students I’ve met have been so fantastic, and it is obvious that people in this field (or going into it) have a true passion for it,” said Hobbs. She hopes her talents will eventually lead to a successful career in the wine tourism and events industry.
 
Although this is Megan’s first year working on the Dinner and Auction Committee, she has accumulated a lot of valuable experience planning various other special events, particularly during her tenure as the Special Events Assistant for Cal Poly’s University Advancement department. As the Event Director, Hobbs works with the various committee chairs on all aspects of the event and helps to link the committee to the department and university to make sure all of the necessary policies are being followed. The auction items are generated by Cal Poly students, faculty, and staff who solicit donations from friends and supporters of the Cal Poly RPTA program, and this year’s cache of items is particularly unique, including a week-long stay in a spectacular Costa Rican villa and a week’s vacation at the Weston Hill Villas in Palm Springs.
 
The committee is approaching the final stages of the planning process, and Hobbs states that, “I cannot be more proud of the hard work and dedication of our two co-chairs and eight specific chair positions. They are the creative masterminds behind this event and have been a joy to work with.” Hobbs says planning has been proceeding rapidly due to the number of people willing to help, whether faculty, alumni, or advisory council members.

The student committee is composed of the following: Co-chairs Ellis Beardsley and Kaylee Daniels. Other committee chairs include Kat Devine, Meg Story, Laura Penner, Megan Hanley, Kristi Union, Lizzie Sapiro, Gaby LaBorde and Charlotte Warren.  
 
One thing that Hobbs hopes to bring to the Dinner and Auction this year is a program that highlights the amazing students that come out of our department. Hobbs commented, “Our students are the future of this industry, and we recognize that our guests attend to support the students, the department, and ultimately Cal Poly.  It is important to us to make sure that we not only thank all guests for their generosity but also show them how their help is impacting our students in providing them with an education that will set them up for success upon graduation.”
 
Funds raised through this event help maintain Cal Poly RPTA's Learn by Doing promise through:

• Funding the nationally recognized RPTA Academic Quiz Bowl team to attend the National Recreation and Park Association Annual Congress;
• Funding students to attend the Cal Travel Summit, Visit CA Outlook Forum, and CA Park & Recreation Society Annual Conference
• Presenting awards and scholarships to outstanding students and alumni;
• Recruiting prospective students at events both on and off campus, including Cal Poly's annual Open House weekend;
• Maintaining software and hardware to support student learning;
• Supporting faculty members with travel for presentations and meetings;
• Recruiting only the best faculty for the RPTA department;
• Developing media and materials to promote the program;
• Maintaining an Advisory Council consisting of the very best industry leaders in California;
• Funding for RPTA's social media efforts.

We hope to see everyone at the Dinner and Auction Fundraiser on February 22. Come out and support RPTA!

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