The NASO Blow the Whistle on Cancer campaign had a unique presence at the NASO "Sports Officiating 2003" Conference in Portland, Ore. A special silent auction was conducted among attendees that resulted in a total of $1,215 being bid on four special items. After expenses, the V Foundation for Cancer Research received a check for $895.

Dan Fauth of Yuma, Ariz., placed a wining bid of $500, for a special framed and autographed jersey of NASO Gold Whistle Award honoree Bob Delaney. The framed jersey also had photographs of Delaney with superstar Michael Jordan and the 7/03 cover of Referee magazine. As a last minute bonus, Delaney personally tossed in two tickets to a 2003-04 NBA game.

The National Football League Referees Association donated two autographed footballs from Super Bowl XXXVII that were signed by the games officiating crew. Nancy Aiken of Salem, Ore., and Juliana Child, Hamilton, Ontario, each bid $265 for the Plexiglass-encased footballs.

The final item of the event was a game-worn cap by the legendary National League baseball umpire Doug Harvey. Personally autographed by Harvey, NASO’s Bob Still bid $185 in order to add the cap to his personal sports memorabilia collection.

"This hat is especially meaningful because it was one of the last caps he still owned and I’m very aware of his own personal battle to overcome throat cancer," said Still. "I know that his donating this cap for this event and this cause was particularly important to him."

The auction was the first of its kind conducted by NASO and the association will likely continue to conduct such activities in the future via the web or at the national conference.

Joyce Aschenbrenner of the V Foundation was in attendance at the conference and manned an information booth about the Blow the Whistle on Cancer campaign. Numerous volunteers from several Portland officiating associations also served as auction assistants ensuring the items were safely displayed throughout the conference activities.

If you have an item to donate for a future auction, or have an idea for a particular officiating item you might be interested in obtaining, let NASO know. We want to know what you think. E-mail Bob Still at bstill@naso.org and share your idea.