For the third straight ACES conference, members had  the opportunity to pick up a few souvenirs while adding to the group's educational fund. This year's auction brought in more than $3,200.
    All day Friday, conference attendees had  the opportunity to browse and bid on nearly 300 items donated from newspapers and magazines
nationwide. There were T-shirts from New Orleans, hats from Philadelphia, umbrellas from Louisville, photo books from Los Angeles and travel mugs
from Maui.
    Among the more unusual items this year ÷ and one coveted by rock 'n' roll fans ÷ was a large poster touting a Rolling Stones concert in Chicago. It was produced by The Chicago Sun-Times and appeared on the side of the newspaper's trucks in the early '80s. ACES member Margaret Maples, who donated the poster, said it has always been too big to hang in any commemorative newspaper marking the day the of the Windy City apartments she has lived in.
    Also unusual were a portable grill that burns newspaper, donated by the Tulsa World; a Titanic sunk, contributed by The New York Times; and a jigsaw puzzle book of Faberge eggs, donated by Forbes magazine.
       For the first time, members took part in the 

auction all day Friday. At the Portland and Dallas conferences, the auction was open only during the Friday evening banquet. This year's auction ended during the banquet, and successful bidders picked up their items afterward.
    Proceeds raised by the silent auction each year go into the ACES education fund, which pays for the ACES scholarships and other educational programs.

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Thad Ogburn is editor and general manager of The News & Observer's North Raleigh News section. He can be reached at togburn@nando.com .