Gender Not A Drawback To Successful Auctioneering Career LOU ANN GOOD Food And Family Features Editor HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Female auc tioneers continue to be somewhat of a novelty in the auctioneer world. At Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), 75 percent of the students enrolled in auc tioneering classes are male. Charlene Caple did not know of any female auc tioneers when she went to auctioneering school in 1978. Although women were involved in the auc tioneering business, they generally clerked or as sisted the auctioneer. But Caple wanted to become a licensed auc tioneer. She was confident she could handle it. Although she faced some discrimination while seeking to establish a business, Caple said, “I don’t like to focus on male/female issues. Also discrimi nated against in many areas are blacks, young people, blonds, and white-haired people.” According to Caple, the best solution to con teracting discrimination can be summed up in one sentence: “Deal with it.” She doesn’t allow someone else’s misconceptions GIBNEY’S AUCTION CENTER GEORGE GIBNEY, AUCTIONEER RISING SUN, MD 21911 PHONE 410-658-5649 Located on the PA/MD line on Rt. 1, Rising Sun, MD Come join us in celebrating the newly built auction center in Rising Sun, MD on July 4, 2003. It is a 7,200 sq. ft. facility conveniently located for PA/MD/NJ/DE auction goers. An inside and outside Flea Market with over 30 vendors is also located in an adjacent building! George Gibney is the owner and auctioneer of this complete auction and appraisal services center. With over 30 years experience in auctioneering and appraisals, George is licensed in PA and MD. Auctions of any size can be handled in the new facility - specializing in estate auctions, farm auctions, real estate auctions, specialty auctions, and auctions of household goods and antiques. Give us a call at 410-658-5649 if YOU want an auctioneer and staff who are knowl edgeable and experienced in handling your auctions or appraisal needs. WE SELL EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN! or opinions to become an issue or a point of debate. “Accept who you are and live with it,” Caple said. Harry Bachman said that when he started auc tioneering, there were not any female auctioneers. “I can say one thing, women are good talkers,” he said. “And some of them do a really good job.” In some instances, Caple believes women have an advantage. She said, “Women are often good in in terpersonal relationships, which helps in selling (auction) services.” Jill Doherty of New York pushed for the Interna tional Auctioneer Conference (lAC) to conduct sep arate contests for men and women auctioneering. “I just felt that women sounded different than men, so we should have our own category and it could be a showcase for women because people often assume we are the wife, clerk, or assistant to the auctioneer,” Doherty said. Doherty, who has been auctioneering for 20 years, won the women’s division of the 2002 lAC contest. She entered the auction profession at the urging of her father in 1981. She spedlizes in selling municipal equipment such as police cars and dump trucks.
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