Western Illinois University's Radio Information Services (RIS) with Tri-States Audio Information Services (AIS) is hosting its 10th annual online auction, "Online/Nonline 'Think Holiday' Auction 2008,' now through 12:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7.

A link to the auction site is on the RIS website at www.tristatesaudio.org. The items are also on display at the studios, located in the University Services Building, where bidders can bid "nonline" from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. through 12:30 p.m. Nov. 7.

The auction's proceeds will benefit the RIS - - which fosters equal access to printed material for individuals who are visually impaired or physically disabled -- and will help fund its general operating expenses for the coming year. This year's auction is sponsored by Dr. Tim Bengtson of Professional Eyecare Center in Macomb and the State Bank of Industry. Auction committee members include Cheryl Bailey, Phil Bell, Patricia Bloom, Pearle Bradley, Chris James, Gretchen Steil Weiss and Ellen Weber.

"Our committee members worked diligently to secure the impressive array of items we are proud to showcase," said AIS Director Carol Dennhardt. "There are a lot of new businesses and individuals who donated items this year, and we thank them for their generosity along with those who support us year after year."

The auction site, which includes photographs and descriptions of the items, also tracks the starting and current bid amounts and keeps a tally of the total amount of bids received. Bidders simply submit their bid at ais@wiu.edu.

"Staff will record and track all bids and notify the bidders when their bid is received. We believe we have created a more user-friendly auction experience with this method. But, competition will be present as the online bidders compete with those who bid at our studios," Dennhardt said. "In-person or 'nonline' bidding, along with online bidding, was created as a way to give more people an opportunity to participate with this auction.  The website will be updated regularly and will reflect online and 'nonline' bids alike."

Auction items are categorized into art and handcrafted, automotive, household, lodging, music and entertainment, recreation and leisure, services, special interest and sports.

Auction items include a Cal Ripken Jr. autographed official Major League baseball from Al Bumbry; Albert Pujols and Derrek Lee autographed official Major League baseballs from William B. Bradley; two quilts made by Betty Weber; Curves 3-month membership; Good Home products from No Place Like Home; Snowman from Isabel Bloom Studio, Moline; red oak bookshelf from Dan Curtis; portrait sitting from Patti Sullivan-Howd Photography;  Carolyn Bailey painting from MidAmerica National Bank; Coca-Cola products donated by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Macomb; video to DVD transfer from The Ad Pro, Michael Yadgar; one-year membership donated by the WIU Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center; gift certificates from Milly's Dusters Cleaning Service, Keister's Tire Center, Apollo Cleaning Center, Adams Street Coffee, Arnold Brothers Heating & Cooling,  Blades "Creative Hairstyling for You," Ludlum Food Mart, Timberhill Nurseries, Little Java House, Azer Clinic, Bertha Marsha!
ll (masseuse), The Bike Shop, Ivy Bake Shoppe & Café, Brown's Shoe Fit and The Attic Upholstering & Decorating; lasagna dinner for six prepared by Marcia Moulden; two one-night stays at Inselhaus Bed & Breakfast from Dorothee Gossel, Inn Keeper; oil changes from Nickson Tire & Service; and, corporate grade antivirus & virus/spyware cleanup from TimbukTech, Inc.

Auction winners can pick up their items from 12:30-5 p.m. Nov. 7 and from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10 through Friday, Nov. 14 at the RIS office, or by special appointment.

Businesses and individuals donating items for the auction include A Kut Above; Adams Street Coffee; McDonough County American Red Cross; Apollo Cleaning Center; Arnold Brothers Heating & Cooling; Art City & Gallery; Attic Upholstering & Decorating; Azer Clinic, Galesburg; Blades "Creative Hairstyling for You;" Mel Blasi; Isabel Bloom, L.L.C. Remembered; Cathy Bradley; William B. and Pearle Bradley; Brown's Shoe Fit Company; Al Bumbry; Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Macomb; Dan Curtis; Curves; Marian Eide; Beth Finke; Good Hope Gardens; Phil Hare; Hotel Nauvoo; Siraj Hull; Inselhaus Bed & Breakfast; Iowa State Penitentiary Woodworkers; Ivy Bake Shopp & Café; Chris James; Katel II, Ltd. Cakes by Kathy Heikes; Keister's Tire Center; Kirlin's Hallmark; J. A. Konrath; Susan Lawhorn; Little Java House; Ludlum Food Mart; Bushnell; Lundgren's Auto Detailing;  Macomb Petland; Bertha Marshall; A Production of LaJaBoNik; Wendy England McKeever; MidAmerica National Bank; Milly's Dusters C!
leaning Service; Marcia Moulden; John & Marsha Musulin; Mark Nelson; Nickson Tire & Service; No Place Like Home; Nostalgia Decorating Company; Al Richert; William Sievers; Patti Sullivan-Howd; The Bike Shop; The Hair Gallery; Diane & Lee Tichenor; Timberhill Nurseries; TimbukTech, Inc.; Betty Weber; Western Illinois University Department of Theatre and Dance, Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center and University Union Bookstore;  Michael Yadgar, The Ad Pro; YMCA of McDonough County; Sabrina Young & Jason Ruel; and James Yunker.

For more information about the RIS online/nonline auction, or to arrange off-hour and weekend appointments to view the auction items in the studio, contact Dennhardt at (309) 298-2403.

The Radio Information Service (RIS) is a regional radio reading service. Broadcasting on subcarrier channels of WIUM-FM, Macomb; WIUW-FM, Warsaw/Keokuk; and WQUB FM, Quincy, the RIS reaches a 20-county area spanning west central Illinois, southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri. Volunteers read national, regional and local newspapers, magazines and novels. Primary attention is given to daily newspapers serving RIS communities and articles that have a local emphasis. The RIS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week with overnight hours provided by the In-Touch Satellite Network. Listeners are supplied with pre-tuned radios to receive the broadcasts or they listen through the Internet on the Web Streaming Service located at www.tristatesaudio.org. Tri-States Audio Information Services' Radio Information Service is a service of Western Illinois University's College of Fine Arts and Communication. Additional funding is provided by the Illinois State Library, Fellheimer Trust, area!
 United Ways, Lions Clubs, and is supplemented by fundraisers and business, organization and individual contributions. For more information about Tri-States Audio Information Services' service and volunteer opportunities, visit the website at www.tristatesaudio.org or call (309) 298-2403.