“Auction factsThe 2000 Rotary/Soroptimist Auction will be held Saturday, March 18 from 4-9 p.m. at Useless Bay Golf & Country Club. Tickets, including dinner and an auction package, are $45 prior to March 7 and $55 after that date.Jim Freeman will return as master of ceremonies, while the auctioneer will be Mike Jungers. To purchase tickets call Karen Thomas, 341-3890, as soon as possible.This year’s South Whidbey Rotary/Soroptimist Auction is taking an artistic bent.Each year the auction raises thousands of dollars for scholarships and community projects, and this year organizers are hoping some high class art will attract even more bidders.Russ De Wolfe, auction co-chair, has high hopes for many of the works of art in the auction. Here are a few examples:LARAN GHIGLIERI is a world renowned sculptor and creator of Claymation movies. He created the largest bronze eagle in the world with a 33-foot wingspan. His works have been purchased by the likes of Arnold Schwarzeneger, Al Gore, and the King of Norway.The Ghiglieri Image Trust donated two limited editions of his work, including a bronze eagle presently valued at $18,700 and a golfer worth $8,750. Both works of art are likely to increase in value over time.*DON POLLAND, another world famous sculptor, creates western sculpture in miniature — most of his designs are under eight inches high. After 25 years as an artist, his name is now mentioned in the company of Remington, Russell and Fraser. Several of his works will be part of the Rotary/Soroptimist auction.*LIBBY BERRY is a prominent wildlife artist and resident of Whidbey Island who teaches The Fundamentals of Masterpiece Painting to eager students. Her wildlife scenes have been sold to top collections throughout the world. The high bidder at the auction will own a painting of a leopard in the grass.*ART BOUTHILLIER: One of the Northwest’s finest cartoonists, he is the winner of numerous cartooning awards. His editorial cartoons appear exclusively in The South Whidbey Record. He has donated a collection of those cartoons featuring local issues and characters.*GEORGIA GERBER: A Clinton resident and the creator of many famous bronze sculptures, including the Boy and Dog in Langley and Rachel the Pig at Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Gerber is working on something special for the auction. It will be announced later.Of course, there will be far more than art at the Rotary/Soroptimist Auction. Business owners have donated scores of items worth many thousands of dollars.Last year’s auction raised $42,000. Over the 15 years of the event, proceeds have been used to assist virtually all good causes on South Whidbey, among them the libraries, Playground in the Park, Hearts & Hammers, Good Cheer, Helping Hand, and student exchange and scholarship programs.”