About That Tricky Tray.. I Just Want To Say_Chapter 10 (Closed)

Use This Post To "Speak Your Mind" About A Tricky Tray or Anything Related To A Tricky Tray. Tell us about the Grand Prize You Just Won or How You Haven't Won A Thing 10 Tricky Trays Straight. Just Click On The comment link below and start typing away. However..no personal attacks will be tolerated.

Comments

Anonymous said…
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Anonymous said…
I am looking for a tricky tray for this weekend.
Does anyone have any comments on Autism Speaks or NJ Animal Rights Alliance.
Thanks
Anonymous said…
I will be attending the Autism Speaks event on Friday. Don't really know anything about the tricky tray except what's on the website and the information they sent when I ordered my tickets. The first level tickets are $5 a sheet, the second level are $8 a sheet and the third level are $3.50 a ticket. Not sure how many people they can fit in the firehouse, so it may be pretty crowded. I'm going because they are raising money for a great cause!
Anonymous said…
I went to the Autism speaks tricky tray last year and it was great, but it was at a catering place, not a firehouse. I won a few baskets, but I don't remember the tickets being that expensive a piece. However as you stated it is for a good cause.
Anonymous said…
OurTricky Tray is at The Westwood in Garwood for The Arc of Union County. We have 250 baskets and our grand prize is a 46" Sharp Aquos TV. We also have an iPod, circle diamond necklace, home sound system, TONS of holiday and gift baskets, too! It's $40 including dinner and a sheet of first level tickets, we have a few tables open right now, give me a call! (973) 315-0020 or clibysen@arcunion.org.
Anonymous said…
Anyone have any experience with the NJ Animal Rights Alliance TT this Saturday in East Brunswick?
Anonymous said…
Re-New Jersey Animal Rights(NJARA) TT-I haven't been but support that organization and know many people have been working hard to try to make it a success. Give it a try-and know that the animals will benefit!
Anonymous said…
Autism Tricky Tray is sold out.
Anonymous said…
I heard the tricky tray for Holy Spirit School was sold out also.
Anonymous said…
Hi All:

Holy Spirit's auction is absolutely fantastic. I happen to have two extra tickets. My mother and sister cannot go. If you are interested, please email me at Corlette36@yahoo.com.

Auction is sold out. I brought my tickets in October and I usually attend every year. Actually for the past 12 years.

First come, first sell for $25.00 for both. I can meet you at the auction on tomorrow night and I hope to arrive there by no later than 6:00 when the doors open.

Thanks and take care.

If I don't get to your email tonight, I will check it first thing in the morning. Not to worry, the first email gets em'.

They really have a nice auction. I drove there in a major snowstorm once. I mean, my car got stuck, the windshield wipers fell off, I slid on Morris Avenue, was in a whiteout.. and the parking lot STILL had the nerve to be packed when I got there.

PACKED!!!!! lol
Anonymous said…
Last Big Tricky Tray weekend of the year. Where is everyone headed?

I'm stuck at home :(
Anonymous said…
ARC of Union Tricky Tray......

I have been to many Tricky Trays and I must say that this one was a little disappointing. I feel the prices for the little amount of tickets you received were too high. Very expensive. I have been to other Tricky Trays at the Westwood which included a sit down meal which was cheaper and it also included soda, beer and wine. Tonight I had to pay for my soda. Other than the prices of tickets being very expensive the Tricky Tray itself was ran smoothly. But I think that I will pass next year.
Anonymous said…
Hi all!

Went to Holy Spirit's tricky tray last night. Good prizes, prices not too bad. As I say every year you don't have enough prizes per person. If you are going to let in over 400 people then you should make sure you have more gifts, Also you should all rethink the room layout. It doesnt flow and you never start on time. Why not use the halway or set up areas to buy tickets outside so people can get around the room. We were packed in like sardines. I will be back next year.
Anonymous said…
Anyone attend the Over the Rainbow tricky tray at the beginning of this year? This was a great event and I would love to go to it again. Anyone know if they are having it again?
Anonymous said…
I attended the tricky tray in east brunswick tonight for the Animal Rights Alliance. I have to say it was a little disappointing. The regular prize tickets were $2 a sheet, and the regular prizes looked like alot of stuff that came from people's houses or from a garage sale. Usually this one is very good and this one was weird. They were not selling any of the animal products like they do every year, and there were no gift certificate tables. Kind of seemed like some of the same volunteers were there.
Anonymous said…
I also think that if the prizes are going to be setup in a small space, that they should make an announcement that people need to rip their tickets before they go to put them in the prize cups instead of ripping one by one as they approach each prize.
Anonymous said…
I also went to the Animal Rights Alliance it really was pretty icky prizes. I think a garage sale would have had better items then what they had! Some higher prizes were nice but the cost of those tickets were way to high. The caller got to be very into himself and said some curse words when he moved the microphone away but we all heard him. Not much for the animals at all. Last year was much better then this year.
Anonymous said…
The NJRA Tricky Tray was by far the worst I have ever been too. The baskets were not even wrapped and the prizes looked like they came from garage sales or someone's attic. It was a big disappointment.
I went to the Eastburg Color Guard's tricky tray on Saturday at the VFW. I was very disappointed. They advertised free admission, yet when I got there I had to pay $8.00 for the first sheet of tickets. They advertised for Great Wolf lodge and Caesars Pocono Resorts, yet neither were on the big table, and no one seemed to know what I was talking about. After many people kept complaining they found the Great Wolf lodge gift certificate, but not the Caesars. I found that there was a lot of false advertising for this tricky tray, and no one there knew who I needed to talk to about it, or who had put it on trickytray.com. Plus you need to shake the tickets, not stir them around. Same winners over and over again.
Anonymous said…
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who was shocked at the Animal Rights East Brunswick TT. How could anyone think to give away a door prize (yes, a door prize) that was a ceramic cracker holder (nice enough), but it was an imported close out store box that the store itself would not put on a shelf!The box was water damaged, spotted, and beyond old! A first level gift was a water thermos, whose top was very dirty; and, there was a doll that a lady nearby won that was dirty and in a box that was water damaged, torn, and very dirty. Those are just a few examples of the terrible quality of gifts offered. Sure there were a few really nice things, but then thoe containers were overflowing...because there weren't many desirable options. I'm sad to say I drove one hour to be there, and the whole event skieved. They ran out of coffee, water, etc. Not enough people selling tickets, so the lines were long in a very tight display space. The caller was unforgiveable. He was goofing around when calling out numbers, so lots of us couldn't hear him. While that was sad, he was better than the first lady caller, who no one could hear at all. Some of the attendees started yelling out for him to just call the numbers clearly. The biggest prizes (!) had some of this very old packaging as well. This was the first time I was sorry I went to a TT. Live and learn. Guess I'm grateful that the animals will benefit from our suffering through that nite.
Anonymous said…
I also went to Eastburg Color Guard TT. I was disappointed with the TT also. They never found the Ceasars Pocono prize and eventually did find the Great Wolf prize. I think most people drove out because of these prizes and when they discovered them missing were very disappointed. The regular prizes were just eh. Lots of bath gel etc. About 40 prizes in all. After paying $8 for the free admission you got a sheet of tickets (about 15 or so) and not even a cup of coffee. I drove in from North Jersey and wont be going to that one again.
Anonymous said…
I attended the NJ Animal Rights TT on Saturday night. Some of the regular prizes were very good. All of the medium and large prizes were better than I've seen elsewhere. Wish there were more gift certificates and COFFEE! I thought the refreshments were good. My only complaint is that I was not able to get enough for everyone at my table.
Anonymous said…
We went to the Bergenfield TT last night, and what a nice event. Linda and her staff were delightful, nobody stressing. It was great. We sat with 5 ladies, we hadn't met before, and learned that they were as addicted to TTs as we are. We were the table whooping and hollering with joy throughout the nite as we won together. That fun connection between true tricky trayers, my friends, is TT.com at its best. Warm holiday wishes to all.
Anonymous said…
Ladies - someone said there is a TT Saturday nite at a Methodist Church in Bergen or Passaic County. Can anyone provide me with the details?
Anonymous said…
A friend of mine who’s run a couple of tricky trays was talking with me about ticket prices recently. Too high ticket prices keep me from going back to some TTs. I’d been trying to figure out the best way to put a theory on pricing and she explained it best.

A player comes to a TT with a certain amount of money, say $50.00 (I know I and a lot of TTers come with more, but I’m going with an average of what I hear people bringing, especially some of the older players). Your pricing has to make him or her feel as though they have a chance to win. Each prize HAS to be given away and only one ticket can be pulled for that prize. It doesn’t matter how many tickets you sell for a set price. It costs you very little to sell a few more tickets for the price you’re charging. But, it does make your players feel they got a good bargain and they’ll be back. If your prices are high, players feel they’re being bilked and won’t come back. If your tickets are (and this is what I paid Friday night) $10 admission, 3sheets/$10 for first level, 5 tkts/$10 for medium, 4 tkts/$10 for large, 3 tkts/$10 for grand, and 10 tkts/$10 for 50/50…players may not even be able to buy tickets for everything. The medium level had about 25 prizes. You’d have to spend $50 on that level alone just to put one ticket in each prize.

Players will spend what they came with. Pricing is a game of illusion. That same $50.00 could take care of a TT with no admission, 3 sheets/$10 first level, 25 tkts/$10 medium, 20 tkts/$10 large, 10 tkts/$10 grand prize, 15 tkts/$10 50/50. This is just an example of course. I’ve been to some awesome TTs that even did 40 tkts/$10 on some of their higher levels. The players get to play every level and get a large number of tickets…this really helps bring back customers if the prizes are good.

Just a theory….but I really get frustrated when I see TTs charge so much on ticketing. I think they believe it will make people spend more and they’ll get more profit. It doesn’t. It just frustrates them.
Anonymous said…
I agree so much with the last post about ticket prices. I only hope Tricky Tray organizers (especially in Sussex County) read this and act on it!
Anonymous said…
We went to the Bergenfield TT Friday night. We were at the hooting and hollering with joy table! We had a nice time and also enjoyed the company of the woman in the above post. If you, your daughter and nephew would like to join us again you can email me at jersey.peach@verizon.net and we can let you know when and where we are going and you can do the same. Maybe we can get a table together and have a blast!
Anonymous said…
I totally agree with the price issue.

I think some TT organizer forget the "area" in which they are running an event.

In some higher end towns, you can get away with higher prices, but for the majority of the towns you can't.

For example, this past week I normally support a TT at St. Mary in Wharton. I did not go to it because this year the admission went up to $40 pp yes it came with a meal but if I where to bring my husband just to start off we would have spent $80 just to get in the door and lets not forget the tickets. That night would have costed us well over $150, while I'm all out to support local events, its the Holidays too.

So my friends and I decided not to go. Right there you excluded 8 people who normall support your school. Even though the previous years the admission and price of the tickets where in my opinion very high too, because my friends kids attend the school, I would support it, but no anymore.
Anonymous said…
Anyone ever gone to the New Faith Baptist Church TT scheduled for this coming Friday nite in Clifton?
Anonymous said…
More about prices-
For the first level prizes, please keep your sheets of tickets to $5 each (for prize values in the $35-$75 range).
I spend more if everything is in $5 multiples.
Anonymous said…
Most people are comfortable spending a given amount of money. Raising the ticket prices only gives us fewer tickets to hold and leaves the regulars with a bad feeling about an event that jumps its prices up.
Anonymous said…
I think you should get enough tickets for the price to put one in each basket. If you have 40 baskets and give 40 tickets for ten dollars, I get to put one in each and I'm a happy camper with a chance to win. If you do 4 tickets for ten dollars, it doesn't make me spend 100 dollars on that level! I still spend ten, get only 4 tickets and feel like I was ripped off. Same thing with admission. If you don't charge admission, I don't go "wow, now I can save that money and take it home with me." I spend it inside anyway. You still get my ten dollars. I'm just super happy the second way.
Anonymous said…
re voting for Best TT of 2007 - Any possibility that we could vote for winners in different categories?
Last years winner made good advertising use of the title, and maybe it would be a good thing to have multiple titles available since tt's vary so much. what about Dinner events separate from Raffles w/limited refreshments and North vs South Jersey and Best in PA? People could vote either once total or once per appropriate category. Since I didn't attend a catered event, I wouldn't vote in that category at all.
and yes, I fully realize Mr TT has limited time. Seasons Best
Anonymous said…
Best Tricky Tray of the Year - can't say that I went to any that were truly outstanding this past year. There were some that were well organized, but the prizes weren't good. There were some that had great prizes, but were just too crowded or too expensive. This is going to be a tough one!
Anonymous said…
My vote for the Best Tricky Tray of 2007 goes to the 9/22/07 St. Joseph the Carpenter, Roselle, event. It was by far the most consistent event I attended. The right number of people (about 250), lots of high quality gifts AT ALL LEVELS, helpful courteous staff, dependable kitchen with nice choices available, and a caller who did a fine job of moving the night along with a sense of humor and clarity. I really hope they do this again in 2008. I will be there for sure.
Mr. Tricky Tray said…
Hi Everyone,

The link to vote will be coming shortly. My father-in-law passed away just after midnight on/after Christmas Day, so there may be a small delay.

In reference to a bloggers suggestion for more then one category for "Best TRicky TRay" is a great idea but will have to be considered for next year ..not 2007

She is correct that I do have limited time.

Hope everyone's holiday was happier then mine. Take Care
Anonymous said…
sorry to hear news
Anonymous said…
Mr.Tricky Tray, I'm very sorry for your loss, and am keeping you and your loved ones in my prayers. You've given me great joy with this sight, and I only hope that good things will come to you and your family in the New Year.
Mr. Tricky Tray said…
Thank you for your kind words.

Mr. Tricky Tray
Anonymous said…
The voting link for Best Tricky Tray of 2007 is up finally. Just casted my vote for OLMV!!
Anonymous said…
I pray OLMV doesn't win best tricky tray.

They were obnoxious, cocky and extremely selective. HOPE THEY DON"T WIN and then maybe next year they can get their act together.
Anonymous said…
I have a really hard time picking out which one was the best for 2007. To tell you the truth I think most of them were way below average. Places looking to cut costs and getting a bad selection of prizes or having great prizes but charging so much money people could not afford them. I go to tt's all over NJ and PA and really I think it was a sad year. I really hope in 2008 things will get better not worse. I know I can't be the only one who thinks this. If your thinking of she probably only goes to a few. That would be wrong I have gone to over 100 in 2007.
Anonymous said…
Did anyone go to Roselle Catholic last year? Thinking about going this year but have never been to that one before. Is it worth it?
Anonymous said…
I went to a lot of great TTs this year. I didn't really have any that were really terrible. There were some though that called bent tickets - ugh.... That's why my vote was for Stillwater...not a ton of prizes, but all were good and the people were so kind there. Prices were really good too. Price, prizes, and following the rules -- works for me!
Anonymous said…
I've been to Roselle Catholic several times. They have a lot of prizes (in a lot of levels!) and there are a lot of people, so it doesn't always start on time. There are tables to sit at and they take a break and sell more tickets for the upper level prizes. I've come home a winner and I've come home a loser.
Anonymous said…
Roselle Catholic had some very beautiful prizes last year and was huge! However, my husband and I drove around for over an hour trying to find it. Once we got there, we didn't have a seat and they were starting the calling in 10 minutes! EEK! We were running around like chickens! I must have spent about $200 and didn't win ANY of the side tables. However, at the VERY END, on the grand prize table I won the bistro set (table and chairs), a men's suit valued at $400, gift certificates and a lemonade stand. Granted I was pissed throughout the evening because they really had nice stuff and a lot of stuff. There were about 10,000 people in the room (just kidding)... but overall, it was very nice and the prizes were phenomenal. Of course I would go again. It's being held on Friday the 18th. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, you might be out of luck.
Anonymous said…
Roselle Catholic does have a HUGE turn out-I wouldn't be surprised if there were a thousand people-at least twice as many as other tricky trays I go to.

They used to reserve seats for family and friedns and it was neartly impossible to find a seat if you didn't know an insider-but I heard they stopped that practice.

the prizes are usually excellent, but the ratio of people to prizes is bad-there are just too many people for the number of prizes
Anonymous said…
Does anyone have any comments on the tricky tray coming up this weekend sponsored by St. Elizabeth's CYO? Just looking at the listing, it seems as if some of the ticket prices are a little high - $3 a ticket for specials. They better be pretty special! I think I've gone to this one before and I don't remember the specials being that awesome. Although $10 a ticket for a 65 inch TV is a fair price.
Anonymous said…
Does anyone have any experience with St. Joseph of Oradelle tricky tray? Is it worth the trip? How expensive were the tickets..there are 500 baskets!?!
Anonymous said…
I am one of the organizers at Roselle Catholic's Tricky Tray. I have to tell you last year we had under 600 tickets sold. This year we are only at 300 - and the event is next Friday night. We had over 400 prizes last year - and let's face it not everyone can win. If we had more prizes people would complain we had too many. I think all of the organizations do a great job - it takes a lot of work and months to prepare for. And the bottom line is we are all working for a cause we believe in, which ever it might be. So I give everyone out there who has run an event like this credit. Hope to see you all next Friday night.
Anonymous said…
Hey Roselle Catholic... you got my vote. Just make sure I have a seat! lol. That place was mobbed last year! Whew! Luckily I squeezed in with nice folks who happened to have a bucket of KFC. It smelled so good and we didn't have time to stop. They graciously shared the bucket with us!

Anyway, you guys had some nice prizes and getting more won't hurt. Hey, I'm game!

See you next week!
Anonymous said…
Hey Roselle Catholic... you got my vote. Just make sure I have a seat! lol. That place was mobbed last year! Whew! Luckily I squeezed in with nice folks who happened to have a bucket of KFC. It smelled so good and we didn't have time to stop. They graciously shared the bucket with us!

Anyway, you guys had some nice prizes and getting more won't hurt. Hey, I'm game!

See you next week!
Anonymous said…
Last night was the second time I've been to a St Theresa tt when there is a power failure. Fortunately this year the lights were only out for a few minutes. No snow though and lots of happy winners.
Anonymous said…
The prices for the St Theresa/St. Elizabeth TT were way too high. I will not pay more than $5 a sheet for the regulars. Specials were around $3 a ticket and up. When are TT organizers going to realize that people are going to spend a certain amount of money regardless of your "superior" prices. If you price the tickets right, all seven of us we'll leave good feedback and feel as though we got our money's worth. Stop being so greedy, you still will make a ton of money!!!
Anonymous said…
I agree with the comment about prices at St. Elizabeth's - $3 a ticket for a $50 prize (ok - maybe some of them were worth up to $100) is ridiculous! And, there were over 100 prizes at that level!!!!! And, for the regulars, with 300 items, you would have had to buy at least 12 sheets to have one ticket in everything - at 4/$20, that's at least $80. Although I came home a winner, I don't know if I'll go back to this one next year. It was just too expensive to be in every level and at least have a chance at winning.
Anonymous said…
I see that Mendham High School Class of 2009 is having a tricky tray on Thursday. (it's not listed on trickytray.com) Does anyone know anything about it? I've been to the ones they've held at the school for Project Graduation (and thought they were great until this past year, which was a let down). Just wanted to know what to expect in terms of the number and quality of prizes as well as the prices.
Anonymous said…
I went to St. Joseph Oradell last year at Rockleigh Country Club. The fun factor for this one + ZERO. It was expensive. $60 or $65 to get in. I forget how much the prepaid package was, I think $80 but dont quote me. They had a cocktail hour where you could go around to different tables or they also had butlered hor d'overes. But if you were trying to get/eat that, then you didnt get your tickets in the prizes (it was going on at the same time). Then you sat down to dinner to find out all the tickets were pre-picked and they annoounced nothing. If you won, all of a sudden a guy would be at your table handing you the prize. Not fun at all, in fact we hated it and would never go again. It was more of a wealthy persons coctail party. Hope that helps you decide.
Anonymous said…
Has anyone else experienced the same at the St. Joseph tricky tray last year? Has anyone had a great experience there?
Anonymous said…
Regarding the St. Joseph Tricky Tray, I have to first say this is definately one of the best and disagree with the bitter review relating this Tricky Tray to a rich man's cocktail party. The price was $50 and the only baskets that were not called was the 350 plus small baskets. The over 200 medium and over 50 large baskets were definately picked in front of everyone and called in front of everyone. This is a very good TRicky Tray with over 600 baskets to be won so calling all 600 would take far too long. My friends and I (all 12 of us) really appreciated the opportunity to clutch over dinner as the small baskets were being delivered. I believe these men this blogger refers to were actually fathers of students at St. Joseph who were there supporting thier school by delivering the baskets. I have to say they were hilarious and definately added an element of fun. I would and have recommended this Tricky Tray to others and I myself am returning with 22 of my friends this year. Good Luck St. Joseph and I can't wait to be there!
Anonymous said…
I attended St Joseph Oradell tricky tray last year at Rockleigh and have to say that it was a LOT of fun...so much so that I got a group of my friends together for this year's. The ticket was $50 but that included some tickets for baskets, a great dinner with a few courses and all the wine we could drink :) A night out like that for dinner and drinks usually costs us a lot more. As far as the tickets go, I do remember them posting the ticket numbers on a board for all the small prizes and men dropping the baskets off but I wasn't paying attention...it was nice to socialize without the stress of listening for each and every number....there were SO many baskets. I know that for all the medium and large baskets they pulled and called each number on stage because I was listening closely for those numbers when I won my COACH bag...so I am definitely going back this year. And I have to say, definitely not a "wealthy persons cocktail party", because neither myself nor my friends are. Just looking for a fun night out with the girls with the chance to go home with fabulous prizes..too good of a time to pass up!
Anonymous said…
I too had a great experience at St Joseph tricky tray and am surprised by the comments posted earlier. Our table was so much fun and I agree with the person who posted about the men adding an element of fun. It is nice to see the dads involved in what is typically considered a moms night....we have actually suggested it to our school for our tricky tray in April. The ticket process of having them delivered for the small baskets is a great idea because it gave us a chance to enjoy dinner and talk amongst ourselves and then listen for all the bigger prizes. Don't listen to the nay-sayers, judge for yourselves. I give it a thumbs-up. Good Luck St. Joseph's!
Anonymous said…
St. Joseph's Tricky Tray is one of the best Trick Trays I have been to. Selection of prizes was fantastic for each catagory. Pricing was very reasonable for the quality of the baskets. The turn out of people to make the 50/50's were well worth it. Hope to see you all again on Jan. 31st.
Anonymous said…
I am the chairperson of the St. Joseph Tricky Tray and would like to respond to the blogger that related the St. Joseph Tricky Tray to a "Rich Man's Cocktail Party". I certainly appreciate all feedback, however, the remarks made are outright untruths. Contrary to this bloggers recollection, the tickets were $50 for a full 3 course meal, open wine/beer bar and appetizers. This is a very large Ticky Tray where over 500 baskets were raffled. In this committee's experience it has become common practice for an event of this size to not call the small baskets as well as have attendees view baskets during the cocktail hour. The event runs from 5:45pm until after 11:00pm. Using the method of not calling the small baskets has allowed for more time to view baskets which in a Tricky Tray of this size (over 600 baskets this year) is very necessary. In our experience most attendees preferred not having to hear over 500 numbers called, not to mention having to stay quiet for over 3 hours, and enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with their friends while eating their meal. The "men" the blogger referred to are our school dads who volunteered their time to help distribute the baskets. We received a significant amount of very positive feedback about these dads that they actually made the evening even more FUN! I feel sorry if this blogger did not enjoy the event and sorry she will not be attending this year but I must say that this is our 3rd annual Tricky Tray and every year we see the same faces as the previous year as well as many new faces. Each year our attendance level increases significantly and we respond by adding more and more baskets. It is my pleasure to work with the Tricky Tray committee and present an event that is appropriately priced for the quality of our baskets and is presented in a lovely setting with delicious food and a lot of fun!!! All of this put together is true recipe for a wonderful evening of fun and prizes.
Anonymous said…
St.Joseph's Tricky Tray is definitely the best and most organized Tricky Tray I have attended. I am an alumni of the school and attended for the first time last year. I live 70 miles from the area but that is not stopping me from returning. This year I am going back with over 10 of my friend that live near me. As well as at least another dozen from the area that I told about the event. The dinner was great and the fact that they did not sit there screaming out the hundreds of winners for the small baskets was a blessing. They only called out the #s of the medium, large and Grand Prizes. The attendee marks the tickets on the back with their initials and table #. They also had a LCD board with the winner information for the baskets that they were calling. You do not have to spend the evening staring at your many ticket numbers instead you can enjoy the evening. I guess the person that did not hear them calling the winners either did not win anything and is bitter or must have been enjoying the free beer and wine.
Anonymous said…
Anyone going to Roselle Catholic's auction tonight? I hear they have some phenomenal stuff!
Anonymous said…
FYI-Sacred Heart School in Lyndhurst TT is tonite. They've already sold over 525 tickets, and they are only offering 215 gifts.
Anonymous said…
Roselle Catholic's tricky tray tonight was great!Not as many people as last year I didn't feel like I was struggling to get a seat.Everyone was really nice and helpful. I did hear some comotion about someone getting kicked out but I could not over hear why. So if someone knows please share with us all. Our table won great prizes and we were all happy.
Anonymous said…
Best of 2007 by far was the Lafayette TT. Friendly bunch, great prizes, fair prices!
Anonymous said…
I went to Roselle Catholic's TT also I thought it was great. I won some great items! I think my only thing I would say is the items on the smallest table were almost all the same. So you better have liked lotion. They really did a great job. One other nice thing is they let everyone wait inside where it is nice and warm.
Anonymous said…
I disagree. The 2007 Lafayette TT held at Walkhill was NOT the best. They need to look at their ticket prices and make some changes. Remember people want to spend money but they don't want to feel cheated and that exactly what we felt attending this one. Some of the super specials could have been easily been regulars.
Anonymous said…
Roselle Catholics tricky tray was great! It wasn't overly crowded and they did a wonderful job. Everyone who worked was courteous and the callers were excellent. With all the gifts they had we were suprised at how they didn't waste time. Great job Roselle Catholic!
Anonymous said…
I was also at the Roselle Catholics tricky and I agree that the prizes were great this year and that my Mom and I too won some great prizes.

As for the commotion I was right there at the next table and saw and heard it all...noseybody that I am but I did not expect THIS:

that person that was asked to leave was at her seat separating the 1st level tickets when she was approached by the police officer asking her to leave because he was getting complaints from about 3 people stating that this woman was dropping her tickets and touching the cans and then the organizer from the Mothers Club came over and said the she was getting the same complaints and accused her of cheating. I had to laugh when I heard this woman ask again what she did wrong and when the organizer repeated the complaints -this woman dumped her whole bag of tickets on the table and showed both the organizer and the officer that every ticket was there "still intact" and that not one ticket had been dropped at all. I heard her tell and prove to them both that she only just purchased her tickets but never got a chance to get to the tables so how could someone complain when she never got to the prize tables before she was asked to leave? I thought that once she proved that, they would let her stay, but apparently the organizer claimed she had a problem with her last year about some misplaced tickets in one of the cans and so she carried that over to this year? I was really shocked and surprised when she was asked to leave anyway although she kept asking "why" and "what did she do wrong" but the organizer would not give her an answer except to tell her not to come back next year. How rude is that?? I see this woman at almost all the tricky trays I go to and just know her by face and a few pleasant words and I have seen that she spends a lot of money at these functions because I have seen all the tickets she buys and overheard her saying that she donates a lot of her winnings back to other tricky trays or charities especially for children. I heard her friend who was told she could stay (which she didn't) telling the officer that between the 2 of them they were letting $600 walk out the door . For a fundraiser trying to raise funds, that was certainly an unwise move. All they had to do was let her go on about her business and if they felt she was doing something wrong, then asked her to leave.
Excuse me for saying what I feel is the truth.....but from my perspective I think the organizer just did not like her and it was more of a personal thing, some kind of grudge if you will, especially when that woman proved to her that she had not been near a prize table had not dropped one ticket yet and on top of that calling her a cheater? (that was so demeaning) The cheaters are the ones who bend tickets!
Oh, by the way this woman was a black woman and I felt she was being judged on the color of her skin,(my opinion only) especially when she did nothing wrong after all, but I have to give her credit.....she did not raise a rutcus, did not curse, she carried herself very well and left although I could see how hurt and humiliated she was. They could have handled this more discreetly and asked her out into the hallway and not have to do this for everybody to see including myself.
I was so disappointed to see people treating other people so badly and I have my doubts about attending next year although it wasn't all but just one of the Mothers Group treating another person like they didn't have feelings especially when she told her that they did not have time to have the officer follow her around!!! Insults one after the other.... SAD!
I am just trying to nip this in the bud before it gets blown all out of porportion because that woman wasn't wrong.....the Mothers Club was or at least just one of them! And I hope I see her soon to apologize for not standing up for her, but I might have been ask to leave also, given the attitude of the organizer plus I had my Mom with me who was looking forward to this night out!!
I hope that Organizer is real proud of herself because the way I see it, God does not like Ugly!
Anonymous said…
Has anyone been to the Knights of Columbus in Union tricky tray? I heard it is great?
Anonymous said…
I hear that Union Catholic in Scotch Plains has one every year and they have a lot of prizes, but I don't see anything on it. Does anyone know when it is?
Anonymous said…
Knights of columbus in Union is advertising a $1000 american express gift certificate as a grand prize!
Anonymous said…
I am looking for a tt on February 2nd. Has anyone been to St. Matthias or Animals Need You? Any comments on either of these?
Anonymous said…
I attended Roselle Catholic's auction on Friday and they were out of site! That was the fastest called auction I have EVER been to. There were a zillion prizes and the caller kept it going. There was a gym full of prizes and we were actually finished by 10:00 p.m. Great job guys. I didn't win what I wanted, but overall I had a good time. In the words of the Terminator..I'll be back!
Anonymous said…
I attended Roselle Catholic's auction too and agree with you. Great job.. I'll be back also!
Anonymous said…
Knights of columbus in Union is advertising a $1000 american express gift certificate as a grand prize!

January 20, 2008 6:59 PM
*********************************
Has anyone been to the Knights of Columbus in Union tricky tray? I heard it is great?

January 20, 2008 5:17 PM
*********************************
Yes I have been to the Knights of Columbus Tricky Tray and the prizes are absolutely phenomenol!! The 1st level prizes alone are what you see as 2nd and even 3rd level prizes at other tricky trays, I kid you not!!
It's a tad bit on the expensive side but not so expensive that you cannont afford to do all the tables and it is well worth the cost! I go every year!! The Rotary Club holds their tricky trays there also.
If you are a tricky tray junkie, Knights of Colombus is not to be missed, but I suggest you get your tickets early because they always sell out early!
Anonymous said…
This is for the person who put down one of the organizer for Roselle Catholic tricky tray.
We too, were there, and know much more than YOU!!! How dare you make those accusations when honestly, you didn't know the whole story. So let me first state that YOU should be the one to apologize. This woman that you saw being asked to leave is known to MANY MANY trickytrayers as "PIPPI LONG ARMS" She has long arms!!! Besides myself and a entire table full of people, we have witnessed first hand what she does and how she literally cheats and gets away with it. Lets, put it this way,
she has been watched carefully and warned a number of times to follow the rules. We are nosybodies too! But we know the facts!! We know her!! We know her SYSTEM!!
WE CLAPPED WHEN SHE LEFT!!!!!
If you would have looked around at that time, you would have seen people at other tables clapping also. This woman is far from that NICE PERSON IMAGE!!
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR CHEATERS AT THESE FUNCTIONS!!!!
Anonymous said…
This Roselle story gets better & Better. I am sorry I missed this one. They should put her face on a "Tricky Trays Most Wanted Poster"

LOL

Just wondering..had she started her normal routine that night?
Anonymous said…
How exactly was the Roselle Catholic offender 'dropping tickets'-isn't that what you are supposed to do?

How was she touching the cans?

Should I assume you mean she was actaully reaching in-not just nudging the outside of a can to see the number than another attendee and nudged out of place-

\I will 'touch' a can if it is obsuring an important detail about a prize-such as the size on a piece of clothing-I'm not about to walk off-find a worker to come nudge the can a half inch...

What is this 'routine'

I would like to know so I can watch out for it.
Anonymous said…
The way I hear it and am now reading it, the girl in Roselle didn't get a chance to drop her tickets....but whether she did or not, those of you that know her or of her please tell me.......

Does she win a lot and if so what is this system that she has that allows her to win when the tickets are being shaken up for each prize?

How does one cheat at a tricky tray to get past all of the shaking? I know they won't call bent tickets so I am kind of confused.

I am not here to defend nor offend, but I kind of agree with the previous post about touching the cans....I mean a lot of the time the prizes are stacked one on top of the other and sometimes the numbers on the cans get turned around so I don't know which is which and I will turn the can around just to make sure I am putting my ticket in the right number. Should I leave my place in line to go get one of the workers especially when sometimes it takes so long to get to the prizes when everyone is there at the same time?
If that is wrong I will definitely not do it anymore if that will create a problem for me....lol

Again I ask "what is this SYSTEM" what is she doing that is I should look out for?

Thanks
Anonymous said…
I don't know if anyone will specifically post a system someone's used for cheating. That would encourage an awful lot of not so honest people. I have however seen and heard of people who use their "long arms" to put in tickets while pulling out even more that were already in there. That only works with open containers - but I've seen people put their whole darned hand into the bag to drop a ticket. That's one very good reason to have a closed container with a slot.

By the way - about bent tickets - a friend of mine was talking to me about how she doesn't go anymore to TTs. She said she used to win so many things and "then they started this no bent tickets thing" and now she can't win anymore. I was floored! I explained to her that she had been cheating before and she was embarassed. I don't know if a lot of people know it's cheating. There should always be signs at every Tricky Tray discouraging this outright cheat.
Anonymous said…
We hold tt's yearly and would like to know exactly what form of cheating this woman is doing so we can look out for that type of cheating? We are here to make money for a good cause not for yourselves. Cheating takes away the fun. Please continue with the remarks so we can pin point exactly what this woman did??

I have heard about people brining in their won tickets. Once a lady went in saw what tickets they had then went to her car and got tickets from the same printer and was using them? She did get caught?
Anonymous said…
I believe she was caught. A TT paying attention will notice an outright strangely-out-of-order number. It's just too hard to come up with exactly the same tickets. Why do it anyway? It's an event for fun and possibly to win a nice prize or two. Keep up the cheating and organizations will stop having them.
Anonymous said…
I go to a lot of tricky trays and I see many people do many things like reaching in cans when they dropped the wrong side of the ticket not realizing the as long as they have the other half its still okay. Why is it that so many people happen to know this woman so well that they have actually labled her? Why is she so noticeble, is she real tall with long arms or something....has anyone actually seen her remove tickets from the cans? Had she been arrested for cheating since it does involve other peoples money/tickets? If not that what else could she do because other than that, like the previous poster stated, the tickets get shaken up.
I am an organizer and an attendee for our schools yearly Tricky Trays in Garfield and our personal outcome is usually 200 to 250 and I find it hard to believe that out of all of those people that there is only 1 dishonest person. why is it that this is the only person being noticed when someone on the other side of the room could be doing something worse? What makes her stand out. I realize that people pay to play and want a fair shake but doesn't she pay too or does she just walk in without admission? All I am doing is asking fair questions...

TrickyTryLady
Anonymous said…
I believe she was caught. A TT paying attention will notice an outright strangely-out-of-order number. It's just too hard to come up with exactly the same tickets. Why do it anyway? It's an event for fun and possibly to win a nice prize or two. Keep up the cheating and organizations will stop having them.

January 22, 2008 12:18 PM
*******************************
F.Y.I.

This was NOT the same person from Roselle Catholic that people are posting about...this was someone completely different!!
Anonymous said…
This was my point exactly, there are worse offenders then someone touching a can. I find it impossible that out of so many people that everyone is being Honest!!
Anonymous said…
I too was at Roselle Catholic and what a GREAT tricky tray. We thought it was even better when we saw the police officer and a tt official tell her to leave. We have witnessed first hand what this woman does. But unless an official sees her, one cannot accuse. This woman literally knocks cans over and guess what, the ones she knocks over she wins those. I don't mean lotions, I mean at each event, T.V.'s, IPODs,
large Electronic Items, and at least 4 or 5 of the highest priced baskets. She even comes with a wagon sometimes knowing she is taking these items home. When she knocks them over, she hovers over them, her jacket is hanging on both sides so you can't see exactly what she is doing. She always carries this solid plastic bag but her tickets are not in that one. She has another that she puts the tickets that she is dropping in. She is also known to wait until everyone is seated, then go in the other room where the baskets are and no one is in there. We could probably go on about this woman. This is no place for her. We spend alot of money and are there to have a good time.
The proper way. We love to win at least one item if not more, but we go to get out and have fun. Everyone we go to, alot of people know of this woman.Even strangers we meet at a table know of her and her ways. They each have their own knowlege of what else she does.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR HER!! YOU'LL SEE FOR YOURSELF. IF YOU DON'T WHO IT IS I'M SURE SOMEONE WILL POINT HER OUT.
Anonymous said…
To All Those Who were At the Roselle Catholic Tricky Tray and are accusing the woman of cheating, I know her personally and SHE DOES NOT CHEAT!!! She probably spends more money than 10 of you put together and is a very lucky person which I believe is a gift from God. She is one of the most generous people of I know and stuff that she has WON at other tricky trays, she had donated back to other tricky trays and to various Angel Trees and Charities at Christmas time. I don't appreciate all of the negative posts about her and believe it is just JEALOUSY because she wins so much. YOU ALL SEEM TO NOTICE HER ROUTINE, BUT DO ANY OF YOU NOTICE HOW MANY TICKETS SHE PURCHASES. We often tease her about her tricky trays because this is her only form of livlihood and now you are trying to take this from her bY FALSELY ACCUSING HER OF CHEATING. I am sure that she is not the only one who touches the cans but I know first hand that she has never knocked down any cans purposely. HOW DARE YOU FALSELY ACCUSE OF THIS!!! GOD DOES NOT LIKE UGLY AND THERE ARE SOME VERY UGLY COMMENTS ABOUT HER WHICH I TRULY DO NOT APPRECIATE.
Anonymous said…
Okay people personally I am sick of hearing about this Roselle thing. Let's change the subject - does anyone know of any good tricky tray's this weekend. Thanks.
Anonymous said…
I heard the Union Knights of Columbus is having one in a few weeks and they have $1000 american express giftcard. Anyone ever been to that?
Anonymous said…
Agreed and I have to remember not to accuse too quickly. I'm a very frequent winner and have left before with as many as 15 baskets. Boy, did I get called a cheater amongst other things - but I never cheated in my life! Let's all have a blast and get out of the house for some fun!! How does that Chester PTO Tricky Tray/Gift Gala look to you all? I can't really figure out what the event is, a casino night or Tricky Tray or a combo of both? Looks interesting to me. Anyone ever been before?
Anonymous said…
Ok, I can't help but be curious...but I have a pretty good idea whom this person is. She ALWAYS waits until everyone sits down. She went to an auction out in Iselin not long ago and her entire table had so much stuff that they had to make 4 trips to the car. It was amazing how their table was winning so much top of the line stuff. Now we know. I mean, she walks the floor constantly and is always STILL up there even when the drawing begins. She acts like she has SO many tickets, when in actuality, she is scouting for what she can tip over. I can give a very distinguishing feature about her that would make her stand out like a sore thumb. I have seen her at just about ALL the auctions I have attended and for a hint, she wears the same DARK COLOR at every auction she attends. She pretty much wears the same outfit too. Hey, I will remember to watch out for her at the next auction when I try to win a digital camera with only 1 ticket in the can (hers), when there were clearly 200 tickets in the can (everybody elses)lol.

Take care guys and please let me know where the next GOOD, CHEATER-FREE auction is. Should we name her: The cheater girl?
Anonymous said…
For those of you that are watching this woman so closely, when do you find the time to concentrate on your own tickets?
I also know this woman personally since we met AT a TT 4 years ago. How do you know what is in her plastic bags, have you actually seen whats in them or are you just speculating just to belittle her all the more?
I know for a FACT that she carries two plastic bags for her tickets one is Pink that she tears up her 1st level tickets in that has stones in it to help separate the tickets when she shakes the bag because we all know how they stick together....her other bag is a Gray bag the she puts all of her other tickets in (2nd, 3rd levels and up). When she is done dropping her tickets and sits down, she dumps the gray bag with the other half the higher level tickets to sort them out by number and paste them in a book consecutively....and there is nothing left in the pink bag but her rocks!! She has been using those same two bags for years, and I have never once seen loose tickets on the table as she keeps all of her tickets in one long strip!! It's bad enough you calling her a cheater, but now you want to dictate what kind of bag she should carry just so you can see her tickets? I joke with her about her gray bag because is it almost coming apart but she says that is her lucky bag. If someone were going to steal tickets I don't think they would be putting them in a raggety bag with a chance of them falling out. And that WAGON you claim she brings is actually a cart half the size of a wagon that she keeps in her car at all times for her groceries. I'm sure many of you have a cart of one kind or another that you use for various reasons.
I know all of these things for a fact because I have sat right next to her to see these things. So I suggest if your going to post, know what you are talking about...I don't know of anyone who has X-ray vision that can accuse a person of not having tickets in a bag. She may be slow going at times but you don't know the first thing about her to know why and it has nothing to do with cheating, but when she sits, she is very organized and knows her numbers by heart and believe me, there are a lot of them. You have know idea who this woman is career-wise and the people she knows...she is no dummy just because her skin is what it is! She just happens to be lucky but lately it hasn't been her doing the winning, she just joins in with those around her that win but obviously all you see is her!! You Folks will be so wrong if you start pointing her out to other people that don't even know her becuase there really is nothing to watch for contrary to your beliefs and x-ray visions.
Anonymous said…
Ok.. I confess..I once bent a ticket by accident!

Please forgive Me!!!
Anonymous said…
You Know People:

I really think you just need to leave this woman from Roselle Cathlic alone, here and elsewhere!!

I was at RC's tricky tray and I know they asked her to leave before she even dropped one ticket and from what I am gleaming from these post, it seems it was probably one of you who created that incident at RC, and the Mothers club responded on hearsay!!

I worked with this woman for 30 years at a Fortune 500 company and she never once tried to cheat the system....I would see her working overtime but would not claim it to get paid. Even when she got promoted to management she would not leave work for someone else to do even though she had people under her!
I hope she can forgive me for this if she reads this blog...this woman is not cheating by still dropping tickets when everyone else is seated...she is just slow and the reason she is slow is because you would not know it to look at her now but she has severe rheum. arthritis and a few years ago this woman was out of work for almost a year because she could not walk, bathe herself, or even feed herself!! When I would go visit her she would have to stay in one position and hold her hands like she was cradling a baby because her pain was so severe she could hardly move!!! Luckily she has a daughter who was there for her running hot baths 3am in the morning just to help ease her pain. Fortunately after a good Rheumatologist and 10 medical trials before two finally helped her and a lot of hair lost she finally returned to work but the pain never went away. Since then she has had 3 surgeries on her hands. She has no wrist bones, only partial movement in one hand that has a pin and a total fusion on her other hand w/8 pins that she can't bend at all so her hands don't always work properly and now she has to get an artifical wrist soon because her partial movement is deteriorating, I have never seen it but if she did knock over a can it could be because her hands are not as fluid as those of you with normal hands. Both of her knees lock up and her ankles gives out. I also know that now when she goes a tricky tray she will ask the organizers if she has to be seated when they start calling because she knows how slow she is and when I see her rushing I know she is pushing herself. She is by no means ever out of pain and since she retired all she does is stay home and and go to tricky trays and now you people want to take that away from her? I am not asking you to feel sorry for her, because she never felt sorry for herself I am just asking you to leave her be because she is not that person you are trying to make her out to be. If and when you see her again, look at her hands, and you will see she has no wristbones, and the scars on the top where she had these surgeries!
PS - those of you with RA or have parents with RA know how severe that pain could be especially when you have a bad flair-up.

I hate telling her business like this but I just wanted you to know just what the facts were.

LET IT GO...THIS WOMAN IS NOT A CHEATER! YOU WANT TO HAVE FUN, WHY CANT SHE
Anonymous said…
Is everyone talking about same person...how could someone be thrown out on what they "might do"..& how could the police get involved if no wrong doing had occured. This story makes no sense or someone is in for a big lawsuit!

Roselle organizers..care to set the record straight for all to know?
Anonymous said…
I just saw the post for the Sokol USA Tricky Tray. I'm so excited. I attended this one last year and it was one of the best. Very organized, great food and top-notch prizes. I talked to one of the organizers and she explained that the committee was made up of real "Tricky Trayers", so they knew what they liked. They even had bags and tape on every table....how exciting. I've never been to a TT where they supplied bags. It's the little things that mattered. The caller was great, he kept things moving, and we were done with over 300 prizes in about 2 hours. They didn't call bent tickets, and after three calls, if no one answered, they pulled another number. There was now long waits between baskets or levels. This is the one to go to everyone. The prizes listed on the ad look to be just as good as last year's, even better. I know March 2nd is a month away, but I'm getting my tickets now. I'm surprised this didn't win for best Tricky Tray, because from what I read, and the ones I attended, this was by far the more superior event. Get your tickets now...I promise you won't regret it.
Anonymous said…
Sokol tt sounds great. I think I will take your advice and get my tickets early. Thanks.
Anonymous said…
I checked our the Sokol USA tricky tray information. They seem to advertise a lot of high end prizes. I'm thinking about going. Did they have a buffet last year too?
Anonymous said…
Thank you Eileenontrickytray for setting the record straight now everyone needs to just move on and LEAVE HER ALONE.
Anonymous said…
I agree we should get on with the new TT coming up.
But I just also want to say one last thing (Sorry)
I too was at RC TT and know the woman you are talking about. I think there is confusion about the woman. Her friend is the one with the problem. Not her. I've sat with her at the same table at the beginning before it starts and she has tickets like all of us and yes she breaks them apart with NO problem. But while all of us are in those lines putting tickets in,
she is running about, like she has skates on her feet, scouting out all the baskets. (I've seen her)
I remember my friend making a comment like she is rushing about like someone is timming her. That's how fast she goes!!!! She waits until everyone is seated and they start calling the numbers, then she first gets up and starts putting her tickets in. No one says anything to her. You can't help but notice her because she is the only one running into the other room where no one is except the baskets and her two bags. Honestly, there is NO reason she can't put those tickets in with the rest of us. But this is what we've seen. There is really no rule about when you should and should not put tickets in.
Anyway, lets get on with all the TT's coming up and go and have a good time like we do!!!!
Even if we don't win, we do have alot of laughs!!!!
THANK YOU TO ALL YOU ORGANIZERS WHO PUT UP WITH ALL OF THIS.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous said…
Amen to the last posting. Why can't she drop her tickets in like the rest of us. I don't feel sorry for her and she should have been thrown out. If she needs 5 hours to drop her tickets, then perhaps she should get on the COMMITTEE and drop her tickets when they do. She is absolutely ridiculous and we will not stand for that type of behavior. You all can defend her all you want, but if she would stop her actions, she won't get called out and thrown out. We are ALL spending a lot of money and WE don't have the right to cheat and neither should she. Next time she will play by the rules.

STOP CHEATING LADY!
Anonymous said…
Is everyone talking about same person...how could someone be thrown out on what they "might do"..& how could the police get involved if no wrong doing had occured. This story makes no sense or someone is in for a big lawsuit!

Roselle organizers..care to set the record straight for all to know?

*******************************
I look at least post and from what I am reading this is an outright Witch Hunt and very ripe for litigation.
Unless it is documented by the police that she was actually spotted cheating by one of the authorities and removed from the premises and arrested I am seeing grounds for:
Defamation of Character
Discrimination of a disabled person
Discrimination of a Black Female
Possible Pain and suffering and
Harassment
Especially if she attends another function and is being ostricized and the Organizers at those upcoming functions that she might attend are approached by any of you or others pointing her out on hearsay and she is either harassed or removed again.
Those of you that seem so sure that you know for a fact that she cheats or have witnessed her removing tickets from various vessels....would you be willing to come forward instead of being "anonymous" and swear in a court of Law your accusations?
I don't know who this women is but we will try everything in our power to find out who she is!
Anonymous said…
Are you people kidding me? Come on - let's just move on. And, unless you were there AND directly involved (the police officer, the organizer who called it to the police officer's attention, or the women in question), you probably don't know all the facts. There is more than one side to every story.

So, what are the good tricky trays coming up??????
Anonymous said…
I am sure I kid you not, this is no laughing matter, you are interferring in a persons right to attend a public charity and their constitutional rights.

She has every right to seek legal council and there are Law Firms that specilize in this field.

It seems she is not an unintelligent person if she worked for a Fortune 500 company for so many years. I'm sure she will do what she thinks is right and seek council, that is our hope. Again I ask those of you that remain anonymous and are so positive about your accusations, "Would you be willing to swear to this in a Court of Law?"
And you TTJUNKIE do you have all the facts like everyone here seems too? If so I suggest that you all be there in Court with your side if this woman persues this case, and a very good case it is I must say, especially due to the blogger that actually identified her almost in detail.
I truly hope is that she is reading and documentating all of the negetive post that I have read on this board due to Roselle Catholics Mothers Clubs action.
Anonymous said…
I have no facts - I wasn't even there!

I just believe the only people who truly know what happened are those who were DIRECTLY involved, not some observers who saw bits and pieces or colleagues/friends.
Anonymous said…
My general comment about what I've seen done at other Tricky Trays has nothing to do with this situation. I'm sure all of us who've won before have been accused of cheating. Unless we're directly involved in the situation, it's not wise to yell "cheater!!" It'll come back and bite you when someone says you're the cheater next time you win big. Bottom line is, spending lots of money usually wins lots of items. It is a game of odds. If someone is spending a lot and layering their tickets over the night, they're bringing home the good stuff. Good for them. Next time, It'll be your turn. Please let's get back to the fun..........
Anonymous said…
Getting back to actual Tricky Tray information...Union Catholic's Tricky Tray is April 11th. I don't think they advertise on this site.
Anonymous said…
Honestly am confused about when people are saying that when they are all seated and this woman is the last one to sit down she that is alledgely knocking the cans down. Wouldn't that be silly to do when everyone could see it? If that were the case the Organizers would see it too....I really find that hard to believe. I have knocked down a can or two at various TT's but it was completely by accident, why can't this person have accidentlly knocked down a can? You make it sound as if she knocks down each and every can especially on the high end prizes, no one would or could get away with that at all.
I have also noticed mention of her being in the "other room" alone with the baskets dropping tickets, as an organizer myself there would always be someone in the room if the prizes were out of sight of the callers by law there has to be just in case someone gets it in their mind to walk out the door in that room with one of the prizes whether someone were still dropping tickets or not. But for the most part just about all of the TT's I attend, all of the prizes are usually in the same rooms as where there are people playing.
As far as scouting out the tables, haven't you regulars ever gone to a TT and there is say a 2nd level green table that has up to 60 prizes but you get say 6 tickets for $5.00, wouldn't you want to see what that table had to offer to decide how many tickets you want to purchase? I know I have and have seen many others beside myself do that. Unless you want to just plunk down $50 to buy them outright some people just bring $50 to $100 to Tricky Trays
I totally agree with the previous post, the more tickets you buy and the more money you spend the better your odds. I heard a saying in Atlantic City once that: Scared money don't win.
Anonymous said…
I attended the Sokol TT last year, and yes, they had a buffet dinner last year, too. I saw the advertisement and noticed the high-end prizes advertised. Trust me, that's only the tip of the iceberg. They had some great high-end prizes last year, but the lower level prizes were just as good. And did you see their prices!!! They are so reasonable. $4 for a sheet of level 1, $8 for a sheet of level 2. I've been to some TT's with not as many good prizes and they've charged $10 for a single sheet of level 1 and $20 for a single sheet of level 2. One TT I attended gave you 5...yes 5 single tickets for $50. Needless to say, even though I won 2 baskets, I won't go back to that one...too expensive. Sokol was great and for my money, it's the only one I'll go to this year. Reasonable ticket prices, good food and lots of great baskets. Sign me up, I'm there.
Anonymous said…
Where is Sokol? I don't see it listed on the events.
Anonymous said…
it's there listed under March 2nd
Anonymous said…
I know St. John the Apostle in Clark is a very good TTA... I think it's in early March....they've had a new group running it for the past 3 years and it shows. They have some really nice stuff not junk. they usually have one or 2 big final prizes last year it was a 46" plasma, boy wish i could've one that one! also have some of the best specialty baskets for things like baking, italian, breakfast things like that they use huge laundry baskets and fiil them up with stuff even add pots and pans and bowls in with the food very different! I saw one lady win the Italian one and could barely get it out of there! I like the holiday table i'm always looking for more holiday stuff! I'm a EASTER junkie!
Anonymous said…
Hope that the tt organizers take note that it's an excellent idea to have closed containers. Use lids and tape them securely on. One bad trickytrayer can reach in and remove or bend competing tickets just to give their unbent tickets a better chance of winning. Open bins can get tipped over and who's to say which bin the tickets end up getting dumped in.
Some of the well organized events post signs that 'no ticket can be removed after dropping' which means someone dropping both sides of their larger prize tickets are out of luck. Sounds like an easier solution than calling the police to evict someone for tampering with tickets.
Anonymous said…
Regarding the Roselle Catholic Tricky Tray: Now isn't that exactly what we should do-file a lawsuit against a group of volunteers who are trying to raise money for their childrens school! Yea, that's the answer. What is the problem with today's society that that is the answer to everything. I am sure that these people must have had a lot of complaints in order to do something so drastic. I don't think that their mindset is "let's see how many people can we alienate." Let's get on with it. If these volunteers are hit with a lawsuit I hope they let this site know because I would donate for their cause.
Anonymous said…
Hi all, I have never been in a blog or a post before but I heard about some things that were being said here about a certain woman and decided to see for myself. My family and this womans grew up together in Westfield so I know what I am talking about. I am not going to get into what happened at RC but I just wanted that person who claimed this woman was not as nice as she seems, to know that on the contrary she and her family who I've known personally for years are some of the nicest, talented, and charitable people I know. I can go on and on about what they do for others but I will give you an example.....
Every year this womans family throws a huge Easter Party for underprivilaged kids in all of their surrounding areas at their own expense. Even though it started out being for the underprivilaged, they welcome any and everyone that shows up. There is a long table full of prizes that I know for a fact that this woman donated whatever winnings she had for children. I remember her telling me that she doesn't usually do holiday tables at a TT but she will try to win Easter things.
I have been to this function every year and the children are never bored as there is one contest or event one after another, and not "one" child leaves that party without a prize and a goodie bag.
The food that they supply is a virtual smorgasborg for the parents along with hot dogs, pizza, etc. for the children.
No one told them that they had to do this, they do it because that is how her family is.
Also, the Angel Tree part is very true, do any of you remember a couple of years ago if you knew her then, when she won this great Mountain Bike? She went to her jobs Angel Tree to specifically find a boy child at least 9 yrs. or older since everyone usually picks the younger children it probably wasn't hard. She purchased a helmet, and gave that kid that expensive Mountain bike....I would have loved to see the look on his face when he got THAT gift and I am sure she would have too! Especially when the children are instructed not to request anything too expensive.
Also, she and her sisters do Angel Trees every year from various locations and they don't just pick one child from those charities but 3 or 4 each.

This is a Christian woman who as long as I've known has never done anything dishonest in her life. If I heard about this blog, I am sure that she is most likely seeing this too (although I hope not) and one thing I know about her is that she will not respond to any of your accusations here because she knows there is nothing to defend....her only crime is she is a winner and that is only a gift from God.
Anonymous said…
Just to be fair, this woman never came on these boards and said anything about a lawsuit. That is other peoples opinion.
I have not seen a post from this woman at all.
Anonymous said…
I will say this, if the woman was litigous she would be sitting pretty since a few years ago a Doctor misdiagnosed her during a visit, and a few days later she had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery because she almost died....and had to have parts removed!!
Although she knew then she could have sued that Doctor for Malpractice, she refused to do it even when Lawyers kept calling her to do so.
She told me her compensation was that she was still alive and got through it all!
That is the kind of person she is!!

Although ruining her reputation and tarnishing her name I think she cares about because that is something she has to live with!

I just love all of those fairy tales you people are spinning especially the one about "Hovering Over the Can with her jacket hiding what she does" when I know now that she is wearing a sweater when she is dropping her tickets. I went over her house today and she showed me what happens when leans over, the sweater lifts up, not hang down enough to hide anything, not even her hips...LOL
Anonymous said…
to law person-

how about taking on a real disability discrimination case pro bono-I lost actual $$$$$$-about $45000 in an employment discrimination incident and $50k in another incident.

Saying someone should sue over being kicked out of a Tricky Tray in insulting-when no lawyer or government agancy would step up to help me when I was truly injured
Anonymous said…
I'm Sorry but I have to ask....

WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE HATING THIS WOMAN SO MUCH BECAUSE SHE WINS??

IS IT BECAUSE SHE IS A BLACK WOMAN THAT SHE "HAS" TO BE A CHEATER AND NOT JUST LUCKY?

I HAVE BEEN TO MANY MANY TRICKY TRAYS AND HAVE SEEN THE SAME PEOPLE WINNING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND BECAUSE OF THAT I'VE COME TO RECOGNIZE THEM AS THE LUCKY ONES, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE WHITE AND A FEW ARE NOT BUT I NEVER ONCE THOUGHT THEY WERE CHEATING.
THE RATIO OF WHITE VS BLACK ATTENDEES AT MOST OF THESE TT's IS USUALLY AROUND 30-40 TO ONE IF NOT HIGHER DEPENDEING ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS....BUT BECAUSE ONE BLACK WOMAN HAPPENS TO WIN SHE GETS LABLED A "CHEATER"!!!
THAT IS WHY AMERICA IS IN THE SAD STATE IT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL THOSE OF YOU THAT FEEL YOU ARE THE BETTERS AND THAT MINORITIES ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU CAN DO SO NOW YOU ARE TRYING TO GET THIS WOMEN BANNED FROM TRICKY TRAYS BECAUSE SHE IS WINNING PRIZES THAT YOU FEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF YOURS. ESPECIALLY IF GOD FORBID IT'S 1 OR 2 OF THE GRAND PRIZES. HER MONEY IS PRINTED AT THE SAME TREASURY THAT YOURS IS, BUT IF SHE USES HERS AND WINS, ALL YOU FEEL IS THAT SHE IS TAKING YOUR MONEY..HOW DARE SHE!! ERGO, SHE HAS TO BE CHEATING OR A CHEATER! NOBODY IS RIDICULOUSLY STUPID ENOUGH TO REMOVE TICKETS FROM CANS ESPECIALLY IF SHE IS STILL UP WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS SEATED AND ALL THE HAWKS ARE WATCHING HER LIKE A FIELD MOUSE!
TO BAD THAT ORGANIZER HAD HER REMOVED FROM RC BEFORE SHE HAD A CHANCE TO DROP HER TICKETS BECAUSE NOW SHE HAS NO PROOF OF YOUR ACCUSATIONS EVEN IF THEIR IS LITIGATION.
I AM A WHITE AMERICAN REPUBLICAN WOMAN AND I AM A CHRISTIAN WOMAN AND MY TAKE IS RIGHT IS RIGHT, AND WRONG IS WRONG!!
Anonymous said…
Thank you "how dare you" - big winners should not be labeled as cheaters, especially without evidence. No matter the color of the winner, someone will always claim they did something sneaky to win. It must have been really embarassing to be called out in front of a crowd. I think I'd die right there on the spot.

I had to walk past a group of people who saw me win big the nite before and they all were saying "hey cheater, how'd you do it cheater?" Apalling. And I'm identifiable because I always wear the same clothes (it's good luck you know). How long till I'm the one being pointed out. If this lady spends buckets of money to win, she will probably win. Leave her be.
Anonymous said…
Oops, I meant thanks "how dare she", the previous poster, for her thoughts.
Anonymous said…
To change the direction (hopefully): What is the basket or tray you put the most tickets in when you see it? For me it's Webkinz, scrapbooking and any game systems.
Anonymous said…
Went to the Cosmos TT last nite in Fair Lawn. What a nice, decently run event. Seating was open, and how surprised we were when we learned that we were sitting with more folks from TT.com! We are growing in numbers! Thank God for this site.

The organizers were very lovely and treated everyone as though we were having dessert and coffee in their homes. Great job, ladies and gents. We'll be back next year!
Anonymous said…
To anyone who attended the St. Joseph's TT last year @ The Rockleigh Grand Pavillion: On the back of the pink tickets we have to put our name & table #. For those of us who only just rec'd our advance ticket form, & want to have the ticket package held in not chancing that the tickets will not arrive in time, did anyone just print up labels & stick them on the back of each ticket to save time & not miss having all your tickets in the baskets & still being able to eat & enjoy the tricky tray?
Anonymous said…
Does anyone know when the Pennsylvania Avenue School #27 will have their Tricky Tray again? Last year it was the end of February and had a Wizard of Oz theme. We loved it and it got great reviews on TT.com. Anyone from that school or community?
Anonymous said…
Most people enjoy a tt event as an evening out, good friends and the possibility of winning but its a big world. One Catholic event announced that a prize had gone missing. The announcer expressed great indignation that someone would stoop so low to steal at a charity event ... The prize was 'found' underneath another table shortly afterward. I don't think we need police at events, but it helps keep it honest if the organizers make sure there are enough volunteers stationed around all prize areas during the event.

Even the nicest and friendliest people can get addicted to the thrill of being 'the winner'. Their closets and garages overflow with prizes they have no use for and expired gift certifs. Maybe they donate so much because they have no room or use for winnings.

Last year there were blog posts about the lady who licked her tickets for luck before dropping them in. Bending or curling,crumpling tickets, tearing them with ragged edges, anything that marks them as different is cheating, but licking them to make them sticky is just nasty. After reading here about the licking thing, I noticed one of my group licks her fingers before tearing off each ticket. I mentioned how germy that was and she happily responded how it wets the tickets, makes them a bit thicker and 'brings her luck'. What do you say or do when a friend is so caught up in the need to win? I'd really appreciate some suggestions on that one.
Anonymous said…
I too despise the licking "fetish" . There are cashiers that lick their fingers as they count your dollar bill change...or they lick their fingers to pull off the plastic bag..then start handling all your food, Disgusting..waitressesthat lick each check/tab as they go through them. I have even seen waitresses lick there fingers to seperate the knapkins as they set table. Now wonder every one is always getting sick!. While on waitress subject..have you seen the ones that carry leather check holder stuffed in the "ass" of their pants..then pull it out to give you your bill. are they stupid or just ignorant.
Anonymous said…
LICKING TICKETS? LICKING TICKETS? WHO LET THE DOGS OUT - WHOO WHOO WHOO WHOO WHOO!

Throw the mutt out!
Anonymous said…
(whispering in shame......) I have trouble separating tickets and turning newspaper pages, etc. I lick my fingers every once in a while when I'm doing these things. Sorry for giving you the creeps. I hadn't really thought about it too much before. I'll go buy one of those tubs of finger-sticky stuff secretaries use for my next Tricky Tray so I don't skeeve you all out.
Anonymous said…
I saw the whole thing go down at RC tt. I wasn't going to comment but people keep writing about it. They can't sue the school it's private property and if they wish to remove anyone from there property they have that right. I questioned the cop on how he handled it. The organizers had a problem with her last year. She came with her friend. Her friend had started to put her tickets in and tried blocking both sides of her. she was going through the buckets taking everyone's tickets out to separate them one by one. (so she told us) Then a lady started to get mad and was telling her to stop. I turned one second and she dropped the bucket on the floor.It looked very shady! They workers saw it and a large amount of people around her. I didn't say anything because I had not placed my ticket in that bucket yet. The ones that did went up to complain. Then she moved onto the next section and had her hands all in the buckets. I don't let it get to me when some puts there hand in to do a quick mix or shakes a bag. BUT she was pulling all the tickets our to go through them. Did she take anyone's tickets out? I don't know she had both sides of her jacket open and put the cans up against her. I don't think the one that was getting blamed even put any tickets in yet. I think RC just didn't want to deal with the drama. It would be easier to ask two people to leave on the chance they might cheat then to have 700 angry people mad and wanting there money back for letting the cheaters play if someone caught them. When they stop selling tickets and everyone sits down so should they. It's almost like they wait for us to all sit down and watch our tickets and talk with our friends that we don't notice it. I guess they were wrong because now we notice them all the time. They need to buy there tickets like the rest of us and put the tickets in, keep our hands out of containers, and sit down when it starts. That would stop all this going back and forth. It's nice that she donates most of her items but so do a lot of other people and they play by the rules. No need to be upset with the cop he was doing what he was asked to do.
Anonymous said…
I'm thrilled that the organizers took action and hope that other event organizers reading these comments consider what their response would be if situations come up.
Some tt are run by first time volunteers with no experience. Even the experienced are prone to take a 'whatever' approach and ignore their responsibility to run the tt fairly. Few tt's are run by true tt people who have the experience of attending different size and formatted events over the year.
Gift Certif can be removed from the table if not secured in some way. Loose items can be picked up and either disappear or added to a neighboring tray.
When bags are open, some people reach in to place their tickets underneath on the bottom of the bag. Who's to say if theybend or palm other tickets out of the bag.
Anonymous said…
Some trickytrays post signs on the ticket purchase tables and around the prize tables saying

DO NOT BEND TICKETS

OR NO BENT TICKETS



ASK FOR HELP
DO NOT REMOVE ANY TICKET ONCE DROPPED


maybe they should add
DO NOT LICK YOUR FINGERS OR TICKETS
IT'S FLU SEASON!!!!!
Anonymous said…
IN RESPONSE TO THE POSTED BLOG DATED January 26, 2008 1:38 AM,

U R SUCH A LIAR WHOEVER U R. THE PERSON U R ACCUSING OF KNOCKING OVER THE CAN AT RC ACCIDENTLY KNOCKED OVER THE CAN AND DIDN'T EVEN HELP PUT THE TICKETS BACK IN THE CAN. SHE WAS RUSHING BECAUSE SOMEONE TOLD THAT THE CALLING OF PRIZES WOULD BE STARTING SOON, SO THE PERSON PUT MOST OF HER TICKETS IN FOR THE BIKE, WENT BACK TO HER SEAT TO RECORD HER TICKET NUMBER AND BAM, HERE'S THE POLICE AND SOME LADY FROM THE MOTHER CLUB, ASKING A BLACK WOMAN TO LEAVE CAUSE SHE WAS CHEATING. THE OFFICER WAS GREAT BUT THE OTHER LADY ACCUSING HER WAS WRONG. IT IS A SHAME FOR BLACK PEOPLE TO STILL BE GOING TROUGH SUCH STUPID BACKWARD THINGS IN THIS DAY AND AGE.,
ALSO, WHAT KIND OF LIFE DO YOU HAVE WRITING BLOGS AT 1:38AM. GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous said…
Why was the poster so thrilled when she was unjustly removed from the RC TT when she had not been near the prize tables yet were you there? And the other blogger that stated she was there and saw the whole thing just admitted that the ACTUAL WOMAN that was asked to leave had not dropped her tickets yet. It looks to me that this so called cheater (your words not mine) was being persecuted for something her friend did!!
I was at RC too and also had not planned to comment but I too saw the polieman approach that woman but I was not close enough to hear what was being said, but I did see a look of surprise and confusion on her face and with reading these blogs now I understand why. What drama did you people or RC expect to see especially when she was asked to leave UNJUSTLY? Her blowing up and causing a big commotion, by hissing and cursing because she had to leave? I am thrilled that that she disappointed you all because she gave you nothing to talk about since she carried herself so well and just left. So what do you all do? You had to come up with something so you start calling her a cheater!!
My own personal opinion...I believe RC (though I only saw one volunteer approach her) set her up intentionally by calling her out in front of the whole auditorium, just to humiliate her, otherwise why could they not have had the officer/TT official speak to her outside in the front in private? That must have been sooo devastating and embarrasing for her especially if she is really not that cheater you all seem so bent on believing. There are a lot of players who are very lucky at playing games of odds especially if they spend a lot of money to increase their chances!
You people are being so unfair when I bet half of you don't even know everything, you probably just jumped on this gravy train because your probably afraid this women might come to one of your TT's and have great luck!!
Anonymous said…
I know this so called "cheater" that you bloggers are talking about, I have seen her at many many tricky trays and my friends and I have even sat at the same table with her more then once because we want to try and get some of her or her friends luck (my way of cheating..forgive me, we all have our ways...and so do a lot of you). She brings pictures of as she calls them "All of her little Babies" for luck, and I distictly remember at one the TT's last year, the Father of that church was passing by and it caught his eye and he actually "BLESSED IT" and she did not even know it until her friend told her. And YES she does buy a lot of tickets and glues them in a composition book by the "STRIP" and if the strip is too long she only separates it by half and glues them in her book by color and number sequence and sometimes its still hanging out of the book. I know this for a fact because at one TT she attended alone she needed to go to the ladies room and she trusted me enough to watch her tickets for her, if I was not an honest person I could have removed a couple of her overlapping tickets but that is not who I am, if it wasn't me she might have asked one of you who was a familiar face to her. I have heard others at tables close by comment on her tickets and how many there were. I have also noted that if someone(not her or her friend(s)) at her table happens to win including me, she will raise her hand and yell with the rest of the table just to make it fun for all, so just for your information, she is not winning every time she raises her hand or whatever, she is just supporting those around her, but now I know you just see her nontheless. I guess she can't even do that now that RC and this blog made her a Standout!! And guess what, she hasn't been going so great lately, it's her friend or friends that are doing most of the winning. In Sept. I saw her leave a TT one night with just a door prize period. Pretty good for a cheater huh?
Everything I have said here I Swear to GOD is the TRUTH.
This woman is no cheater so why don't you just leave her alone!
Anonymous said…
Anonymous said...
Amen to the last posting. Why can't she drop her tickets in like the rest of us. I don't feel sorry for her and she should have been thrown out. If she needs 5 hours to drop her tickets, then perhaps she should get on the COMMITTEE and drop her tickets when they do. She is absolutely ridiculous and we will not stand for that type of behavior. You all can defend her all you want, but if she would stop her actions, she won't get called out and thrown out. We are ALL spending a lot of money and WE don't have the right to cheat and neither should she. Next time she will play by the rules.

STOP CHEATING LADY!

January 23, 2008 12:46 PM
____________________

As a Nurse who has worked for a Rheumatologist for many years, I just want to say this......

Now I understand when they say God doe not Like Ugly because YOU Anonymous are one of the Ugliest ones of all.
Eileenontrickytrays just dam near gave this womans whole history to try to make you all understand her situation which was very brave considering that maybe that woman would not want you all to know anything....you are so sad.
I hope that one day because of your reply that you get struck down with a dibilitating illness and suffer excruiating pain and have no one there to care for and about you since you don't seem to care about others....it's uncompassionate people like you that makes me ill to my stomach.
I see these RA patients day in and day out and every one of them are suffering. If this woman has no wrist and has pins and bars in her hands and has fusions, that only means one thing, she had a condition that only RA patients get that would cause them to lose all use of their hands as the tendons in her fingers were getting ready to pop like a rubber band and her fingers would have been as useless as a rag doll. I admire her for coming as far as she's come as there are many patients that are not so lucky. So keep spewing your bitter and ugly words until the day comes when your the one crying in excruiating pain!!
From what I have read, I also do not think this woman is a cheater especially when I am reading that she hadn't even dropped a ticket at that tricky tray! They were wrong for removing her if they only went on heresay and no Proof!
Sounds like either personal feelings, or discrimination!
Anonymous said…
Went to the St Brendans tricky tray at the Bethwood today. This use to be a great one. The prizes were really good as usual but if they called any slower we'd still be there!
Anonymous said…
I went to St. Brendans too. The prizes were really nice. It was 6 hours. It didnt seems that long but the calling was really loud and I didnt like that. I thought the grand prizes were better in the past. The prices were good and of course I will go again next year.
Anonymous said…
Looking for a tricky tray for Friday night. Distance is not an issue, but prices and quality of the prizes are. No dinner events, please. Was considering Frelinghuysen Township or Mount Olive High School - any comments on either of these or suggestions for others?
Anonymous said…
St. Brendans' Bethwood TT was very pleasant, and the gifts were better than many of the events I've been to recently. The value of the largest gift section was a little inconsistent though. There was a $5000 GC to a portrait painter and 4 tickets to Make Believe Land ($16 each) in the same prize level. Dinner was fine...just predictable. For TT planners, it would be great if a bit of variation could be made in the dinner offerring from year to year. Catering halls can and readily do make substitutions that fit within your budgets. For those of us who won the really large gifts, we were directed to pick them up after the event in the gift room, which was fine. We were assured that there would be assistance to get them into our vehicles. The caller must have repeated that clause every time there was a big prize (of which there were many), and while helpful, it certainly began to grate on people's nerves. She only needed to say "this prize needs to be picked up upstairs"...OR put a note in the program with this direction.
When I got to the gift room, I identified myself, collected my prizes onto the trolley and then asked for the promised assistance. The lady there, Maria, said there was no other help from the committee, and that I "had to ask someone at the restaurant for help"...as though I would know who to seek out or where to find them. The problem with that was no one told the workers about what they were assumed to do. My gifts were unusually heavy and unbalanced, and after Maria walked away and left me with no further help, I started trying to push the cart out toward the front entrance. It was so unwieldy, I got frustrated, and went directly into the Bethwood Manager's office and asked the owner to help me. Much to his credit, he was gracious, and assisted me in getting the trolley out of the building. He even directed me to a service entrance...that saved alot of time and aggravation. Note to the caller...she was very nice, but when you have 400+ gifts, you need to pass on describing each basket or even saying the name of each one in the interest of efficiency, and really stick to calling the numbers ONLY 3 times. Her calling was very clear, but the PA system kept failing, and after several hours of intermittent static it started to get on people's nerves. Also, where we were sitting, the heat and air continued to come on and turn off with such noticeable temperature changes, that it started to become a joke at our table about the extent of what a 'hot flash' felt like. Although I offer these thoughts for the TT organizers' consideration, both the Bethwood and St. Brendans put on a beautiful event. There will always be issues when there are so many people, but on the whole, we had three tables of friends there, who won, and enjoyed each other's company immensely. We'll be back next year.
anaplay said…
Hello, first-timer here.
I love TT's. However, I often find myself attending alone because my friends are busy or tired of TT's. I was wondering if maybe someone else was in the same situation and wanted to pal-up to go to TT's once in a while. I am in the Bound Brook area and am willing to drive because I have a monster truck to fit everything we win!! Only want women pals - hubby jealous. Also - I am organizing a tricky tray for the Friends of the Dunellen Library on June 20th and we are having a Mexican Fiesta theme. There are even authentic prizes that I personally brought back from Mexico along with the usual assortments. Should be lots of fun and low priced!!
Anonymous said…
Hi Anaplay. Leave your email here and we will email you to join our TT friends who get together and go club.
Anonymous said…
That sounds great!! My e-mail is analisee@aol.com. Thanks for responding!

anaplay
Anonymous said…
Hi all your tricky trayers- Saint Joseph Oradell Tricky Tray is being held at the Rockleigh Country Club this Thursday 1/31. We have one table left, so if you are interested in attending, this is last call. We have over 600 great baskets this year and admission includes cocktail hour, 4course meal and unlimited beer and wine plus a sheet of raffle tickets. This was a FANTASTIC event last year, so don't miss the last opportunity to attend!!! Call (201)390-6456.
Anonymous said…
Heard St. Joe's Oradell TT is wildly expensive. Any word on the cost of the various prize level tickets?
Anonymous said…
If anyone is interested, RCDN, Rutherford co-op day nursey is having a tricky tray on 3/6/08 celebrating it's 40th anniversay, it is a non profit school. Event is at the Graycliff in Moonachie Tickets are $40 includes dinner. prizes are, disney park tickets, broadway & dinner tickets, pocono house weekend stay, lots of baskets & more. anyone interested or needs more info pls. contact me at bam38@comcast.net. Thanks
Anonymous said…
RE: St. Joe's Oradell TT organizers. Hope you won't be doing this again this year! This report came from someone who attended last year, and was posted on 2/2/07...see last year's blog notes. “The one problem I found was the ticket pulling. They tossed the tickets back and forth between two buckets and picked from that. I am a true fan of pouring the tickets in a separate container, shaking and then picking. I saw this at the St. John's Boy Scout tricky tray and everyone had a fair chance of winning. The Grand prize tickets weren't even taken out of the gift bags that were used next to the prizes, they were just shaken and pulled, I was VERY upset with this as well as my entire table. Some people were winning two and three at a time. Tickets get caught in the bottom flaps of those bags. Will I go back next year? I haven't decided yet.
Anonymous said…
St. Joseph's TT in Oradell- I just received my pre-sale package of tickets, with a note to mark my initials and table number on the back of the 'pink' tickets. Well, here we go. There are 2 different color pink tickets, which is the first offense. BUT the two different pink tickets are TWO DIFFERENT SIZES!!!! That's an unfair advantage when picking out winning numbers. I thought that point had been made sufficiently clear on this blog over that last few months, and given that the TT chair also reads this blog (see her 1/29/08 invitation above to get last minute tickets)how do you suppose that problem can be addressed 2 days before the event? starting to get very nervous about how this nite will turn out. Appreciate feedback.
Anonymous said…
For the SJS Tricky Tray, tickets will be poured into a separate container, tossed and drawn from there. There will be no bags used (only buckets), therefore, the flaps will not be a problem. As per the "wildly expensive" comment, $52.50 is a great value for the night that is put together. If you have ever been to the Rockleigh Country Club, it is a beautiful venue and they put forth a delicious menu and have great service. We have over 600 baskets and they are all really great prizes. The value packages are a really good deal. If you look at other posts in the last few weeks, the reviews have been terrific.
Bruce said…
I would like to say a few words about this woman many of your are making accusations about cheating.
at a Trickytray event. Word has gotten way up here in my neck of the woods already..
First of all she is a very dear friend of mine and I have known her for more then 47 years.
I can't believe what has happened to my friend at a Trickytray event on the 19th of Jan 2008.
She is one of the most beautiful persons would ever want to meet.. One of the most honest people
I have known in life as well. And to the persons that thinks she is so slow.. Well she also has some serious problems with her feet
just for the record here. Regardless we should not even have to get into her medical history here to find some justice in what has happened to her..
As far as her wearing the same cloths to these events it is because they are her lucky cloths.. She believes in good luck very much.
I sent her a package a few months back and she had good luck after it arrived at her door..So she has not opened it yet>>LOL
She thinks it is good luck just the way it is in the package.. God love her..
I am not all that familiar with these events.. But I do know she loves telling me on the phone about them..
She gets great pleasure in going to these events.. And now it has been taken away from her with no just cause other then some witch hunt some of you seem to be on.. As far as the woman that asked her to be escorted out the door. She is a lower form of life in my book. And her only reason must be personal. And to ever runs these events Mr. Trickytray should give her an apology in front of everyone at the next event. Just as she was humiliated in front of everyone at the Jan 19th event.
I am saving all the postings in here.. They may just come in handy.. I would like to thank the intelligent people and friends of this woman for posting in here on her behalf. Do I have to tell you I am white too..??.. I picture some of you with sheets over your head.. Lynch mob..
God help us I say.. If this kind of stuff that goes on at these events you may want to reframe from holding them at Churches, because I know God has nothing to do with this kind of activity..
A Dear friend in NY
Bruce P. Ellsworth
Up State NY
Anonymous said…
Has anyone ever been to a TT during lent on a friday? we usually we sell meatball subs and sausage and pepper sandwiches, hot pretzles and snacks by the dozens but we are thinking of having out TT on a friday? any opionions or suggestions for kitchen items?
Anonymous said…
Cheese pizza
Tuna and egg salad subs

Thanks for asking. Most people don't even thing about lent.
Anonymous said…
Some orgainizers have been told that if they post info in the blog, it will help advertise their event. Just becuase an organizer drops in to post, you can't assume they took the time to read anything. And then there are those who read but assume that it can't apply to them since they already know exactly how things should go.
Anonymous said…
In answer to Culinary Challenge. Fresh Mozzarella and Roasted Peppers on a sub or shrimp salad would also be good. You don't want to go completely meatless because not everyone might be Catholic. But you are most considerate for asking. Most other organizers wouldn't even think about that. Good luck with your event. When is it and where?
Anonymous said…
How about a grilled cheese & tomato..just sneak a little bacon in too...LOL....My GOD is not that evil & contrite
Anonymous said…
We are planning our Tricky Tray and we have always just accepted cash. Last year we had quite a few people ask to write a check. We didn't allow it since we seem to get hit with a lot of bad checks even within our school community. We are looking into getting a credit card service...is it worth it? Do alot of you prefer being able to charge your tickets at a Tricky Tray? Our PTA Board is torn about this and would love some help.... Thank you.
Anonymous said…
If people know you'll accept credit cards, they are more likely to buy more tickets. A few years back, I went to one with a grammar school population of about 300. They had about 500 guests, and netted over $37,000 for the nite...that was the first year they accepted credit cards.
Anonymous said…
To Trickytrayfan... we have a great TT at St.John the Apostle-Clark March 7th (we are posted) we have a lot of great prizes and it's run by the parent faculty guild... it's a lot of fun! would love for you to come on by!!!! you can check out our posting for more info! Thanks for the great feedback!
Anonymous said…
HEADS UP tt-ers

Mt Olive has rescheduled the FEB 1 event into April. The info posted on tt.com events is verbatim what was put in newspapers acouple weeks ago. Not sure if anyone at the school was involved in posting it here so they may not even know to correct this listing. I called the school front office
Anonymous said…
Does anyone know anything about the Frelinghuysen tricky tray on Friday? How are the prices and prizes? It's a long drive, so I really want to get some insight from my fellow tricky-trayers (not the organizers) before I go.
Anonymous said…
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS TRICKY TRAY WAS EXCELLENT LAST YEAR.. THIS YEAR I HEAR ITS EVEN BETTER.... 1000.OO SUPER GRAND TICKETS TO JERSEY BOYS.....
Anonymous said…
Re: St. Joseph Tricky Tray Pink Ticket Problem. Once again I will weigh in as the chairman of the St. Joseph TT, the pink SHEET tickets are the ONLY tickets that require your initials and table number. If you have an issue about the 2 shades of pink for the small baskets then you need to address your issue to the printer where we have purchased every ticket used for the past three years. If the printer changes their dye selection and size of sheets we really have no choice. Sorry you feel that an unfair disadvantage might be created but if you ever have the chance to participate in running a TT, you will be re-assured that when pulling these tickets, color has ABSOLUTELY no bearing and the size differential when the tickets are mixed, as we definately do, is also inconsequential. I really don't believe that there has been ANY "1st Offense" that has ocurred here.
Anonymous said…
To the St. Joseph's Chair - I'm glad to hear that you take steps to make sure different colored tickets aren't treated differently. Not all TTs are that way though and the original poster's worries are valid. I've been to many Tricky Trays where different colors were used for one level. The callers were looking into the buckets and picking out what was, subconsciously, their favorite of the colors. The same color was called over and over again until someone told them to stop looking in the bucket. Different size tickets feel different as well. It is fair and just to have one color, size, shape, shade for each level. It's especially fair to those who've run out of money just when you pull out a new color for a level. It keeps callers/pullers honest as well. It's extremely frustrating to find out that a different color or type of ticket has been sold in advance to employees of the school/church/etc. that's running the event. It creates concerns of cheating, whether they're valid or not.

I have been involved in the running of several Tricky Trays and I know how important it is to give everyone the feeling that they have a fair chance. I've also seen and not returned to events that use different tickets for one level.
Anonymous said…
Interesting exchange of ideas regarding St. Joseph of Oradell and its entry level tickets. Thank you to the last blogger...this concern around assuring fairness to all guests by having all the same size tickets for any prize level is as important to us TT.com afficionados as NOT calling bent tickets. The key here is to buy the 'same' tickets. The TT chair notes that 'If the printer changes their dye selection and size of sheets we really have no choice.' I have organized more than my fair share of tricky trays over the last 6 years, and the fact of the matter is that the tickets appear to have come from 2 different printers! And I have to disagree with what she stated: yes, an organizer absolutely has a choice over what tickets it decides to accept. The pre-sale package tickets are from Auction-Tix.com...the entry ticket that comes with the $52.50 dinner is a larger heavily stock ticket, and did not come from Auction-Tix's, whose identification info is not on it. Further, according to Auction-Tix web site, the Chair's statement is again refuted. Here's their quote: "What if I'm not satisfied with my order?
We want you to be completely satisfied with your tickets. If you're not, just return the complete order to us within 30 days for refund or replacement -- whichever solution works best for you."
I hope this event tonite runs well, and that there are a mix of the various tickets chosen...We've loved the event in the past, and want to feel that fairness is provided to all.
Anonymous said…
St. Joseph's Oradell- Keep up the good work. Your tricky tray is very well run and FAIR. I have attended in the past and will be there tonight. I have 2 different color tickets for the first level prizes and did last year as well. People at my table had the same situation. We won prizes with both ticket colors and as long as the tickets are selected the same way as they were in the past, there will be no problems. A heavier cardstock does not have an advantage over a lighter weight paper when tossed in a bucket to be picked.
Anonymous said…
"A heavier cardstock does not have an advantage over a lighter weight paper when tossed in a bucket to be picked."

Yes it does and organizers can end up fined if tt isn't run fairly. Heavier and lighter slips of paper do not mix evenly. The huge problem is the hand reaching into the bucket to select a winning ticket. Ticket's of different weight/size do not mix well. Do they always pick off the top, do they always pick off the bottom?
Anonymous said…
I attended the St. Joseph's tricky tray last night for the first time. Have to say it will my last time. Prizes were great, however it took way too long to call numbers. The medium size tickets should have been pulled at the same time the small baskets #'s were being pulled. Tape it on an index card along w/2 alternate numbers, like other large tricky trays do. Would have been over at least an hour earlier. The chicken was cold along with the coffee as well. I did at least win one prize.
Anonymous said…
Re: St. Joe's last night, first: great prizes, quality event. I really appreciate the way the first level is not called out, but done ahead and delivered to the table. now the not so great part, why did you wait until around 9:15pm to start calling the medium prizes? Too late and too slow, you should have had one or two more people assisting with the mixing and pulling of tickets and the caller should have only called numbers, you seemed too concerned with making sure everyone saw you stir the tickets, probably based on the comments on this board, but the result was just too long. Six hours, ending at near midnight was too late. Everyone around where I was sitting was complaining about it. Not sure if I'll go next year, but if I do, I'll spend less money, because I will avoid the larger prizes so that I can leave at a reasonble time.
Anonymous said…
I too attended St. Joseph's TT last nite, and it was just okay. The organizers were very nice...it is a huge event, and they really did deliver on what is probably the school's largest fundraiser. The TT was nice, but not remarkable, relative to the prices of the tickets. The concept of drawing the smaller prizes outside of the dinner room and having them delivered to the winning tables throughout dinner was novel...I'd not seen that before. The $52.50 ticket for what turned out to essentially be an array of various veggie salads for the cocktail hour was a rip. The only high value food item I saw 'once' was a passed grilled shrimp appetizer, which was great. Note to TT organizers...passed appetizers are not a value...they are designed to give the sense of haute cuisine, but they are heavily rationed and are limited in supply. Unfortunately, the panache is passed onto you and your guests in the cost of the meal. The Rockleigh is absolutely a beautiful location, but the kitchen missed its mark last nite. The salad sat quite awhile and wilted under its dressing before guests could eat it; the pasta was nice, but had cooled, and the chicken dish was cold, bland and dry. Dessert was world class and we loved that most of all. Staff were pleasant, but kept bumping all of our chairs, since the room was so packed. That was unfortunate, as there was so much space in the back, and more ample spacing between the tables would have made everyone more comfortable. Prizes were plentiful but basically routine. People were plentiful as well... 550-600? Seemed like millions. It's very hard to win in a 1:1 ratio of gifts to guests. Both I and my table won quite a bit, but it was a long event (6 hours), and I left with the sense of disappointment. Of well...there's always other TTs to get me over this one.
Anonymous said…
Nother Heads Up - Frelinhuysen FEB 1 TT has been rescheduled to next Friday due to weather. the NW sector of the state is iced over and many schools were delayed and then cancelled today.
Anonymous said…
Thanks for the update on Frelinghuysen - I was thinking of going and would not have been very happy if I had arrived and there was no tricky tray!
Anonymous said…
yadda yadda yadda....

ORGANIZERS:

1. Keep ALL TICKETS the SAME COLOR AND SIZE

2. STOP LOOKING IN THE BUCKET... WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? JUST PICK A NUMBER.

3. IT SURE WOULD BE BETTER IF TICKETS WERE PULLED FROM A POUCH WITH A DRAWSTRING. NOT AS FAST, BUT A WHOLE LOT FAIRER.

4. IF YOU YOU ONLY HAVE 100 SHEETS OF ONE COLOR IN THE CHEAP PRIZE TABLE AND 500 SHEETS OF ANOTHER COLOR FOR THE SAME TABLE, PLEASE KNOW THAT TRICKY TRAYERS HATE THAT. I GUESS YOU SAY TICKETS ARE TICKETS..BUT WE DON'T LIKE WHEN THE CALLER SAYS...GREEN TICKET THEN BLUE TICKET. THAT IS AGGRAVTING AS ALL OUT DOORS. BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE ONE OR THE OTHER COLOR.. YOU ARE OUT OF THE BALL GAME ALREADY. KEEP THE SAME COLOR AND NOT AGGRAVATE THE PATRONS.

5. Stop charging ridiculous admissions $30, $40, & $50. How much do you expect us to spend once we get inside? I don't need steak and lobster.. my KFC or a hot dog will serve me just fine. Just call the numbers and get on with it.

6. Don't use the stage as Comedy Central. Patrons don't care about jokes.. there are 400 prizes, call the numbers. Also to the callers who are not cracking jokes, please try to have a little personality and not put the tricky trayers to sleep.
Anonymous said…
Sorry to disagree. I attended the st.joseph tt last nite. i enjoyed mysekf thoroughly, the food was good, mine was not cold and dry. Neither was my coffee. Did you come to complain or enjoy the evening? The prizes were fantastic and delivered in a very orderly fashion. Everyone at our table had a great evening. See you next year!!!!
Anonymous said…
I attended the St. Joseph TT las evening and had a fabulous time. The people were very helpful and friendly and the baskets were plentiful and displayed beautifully. Just think about all the time it must have taken to prepare for this event. You can't please everyone. The event did run a little long and I thought the food was good, the only complaint is not enough dressing on our salads. People stop complaining. You go to have a good time and to be with family and friends and if you win thats a big bonus. Tricky Tray Committee -
Job Well Done!!! See you next year.
Anonymous said…
I am just really curious, do any of you have a life or is TT all there is? Anyone who takes as much time as some of you to write about these silly details while harshly criticizing people who volunteer their time so there are TT's for us to attend should really think twice. Some of these comments are hurtful and unecessary. Really can any TT ever please everyone? Relax, have fun it's a TT!!!
Anonymous said…
"Culinary Challenged,"

I went to a TT at a Catholic church on a Friday during lent last year & they had a buffet-style setup, rather small but good, of salmon, eggplant rollatini, and tossed salad, with rolls & butter & desserts. There was no meat at all, but the non-Catholics (me, f'rinstance) didn't care.

By the way, to everyone: If that person calling him/herself "law firm" is an attorney, I'm the Easter Bunny.
Anonymous said…
If you are having a TT on a Friday during Lent, you can get a dispensation from the bishop and you may eat meat.
Anonymous said…
Hey, is anyone going to the Garfield Tricky Tray tonight? Has anyone been there before?
Anonymous said…
Garfield TT - check out last year's blogs. They do this several times each year, and it is more of a penny auction.
Anonymous said…
To the blogger who went to the TT that accepted credit cards... how do they do that? Do you just give them your CC like you would at a store? Do you know how the school sets that up? We are considering having an ATM machine at our's next year. What do you think of that idea???
Anonymous said…
St. Joe's Oradell, thank you for all your work in putting together the "Super Bowl of Tricky Trays"!!! Fantastic prizes, workers, food, everything!!!! I can't wait for next year!! Keep it all the same!! Thank you!!
Anonymous said…
I went to the St. Matthias TT last night at the Double Tree and I have to say this will be my last year attending. $50 admission for horrible food and no basket tickets included. There were over 500 people for 136 baskets and 6 super prizes. Now, the baskets were nice, but at almost $1 a ticket (26 for $25) not worth such an expensive night. The line to put tickets in was incredibly long mostly due to the NUMEROUS women juggling wine glasses,purses, the prize book, ripping their tickets AND THEN reading the prize description on each individual can!! Then half way through calling the few baskets that they had, the caller had to break to sit and eat dinner. In my opinion, you are throwing a very large party..eat before or after, but don't hold your guests up while you have a bite.
On a good note, the ticket containers were large and clear with a lid on them to deter cheating and they had someone standing by the super prizes watching...something that unfortunately needs to be done in a day of cheaters. All in all, I spent alot of money but walked away disappointed (although I did win)...something I won't do next year.
Anonymous said…
I completely disagree with the last comment. The St. Matthias TT was great. The prizes were extraordinary. It is apparent the organizers strive for a higher-end event. The $50 entrance fee was reasonable considering it included a 3-course meal and door prize ticket. They had a large screen posting the numbers as they were called. Completely well organized. The caller did take a short break, but stated it was to get updated 50/50 numbers, which they did within the 5 minutes as promised. I agree the line was long at the prizes, but it moved quickly. We were also given an hour and 1/2 to view the prizes. I will definitely attend this one again!
Anonymous said…
A screen to post the winning numbers sounds great! Maybe just an overhead projector to put the ticket under....I'm liking this idea.
Anonymous said…
I too agree the St. Matthias t/t was wonderful the prizes were outstanding and even with the few breaks the event moved quickly. I think the entrance price was fair considering there was entertainment. The jazz band that played was wonderful and the dj also did a great job. Did you forget that it also included light appetizers. Great job St. Matthias you will see me again next year
Anonymous said…
I am running the Ramapough Lenape Tricky Tray on Aungust 23rd, 2008.
Im trying to decide on my grand prize.Please help me out.

#1 Office Package - Computer & Desk

#2 Tv & game Package

#3 Patio set & Grill


please let me know that you think

Thanks ,

Andrea
Anonymous said…
That was August lol
Anonymous said…
The TV for me! The bigger, the better.
Anonymous said…
I'd have to say the TV as well.
Anonymous said…
TV gets my vote.
Anonymous said…
Did anyone go to the Frelinghuysen Township PTO last year? Are the baskets worth it?
Anonymous said…
Did anyone go to the Frelinghuysen Township PTO last year? Are the baskets worth it?
Anonymous said…
Don't forget..Feb 8th is deadline for voting for our favorite Tricky Tray of 2007. My vote has been cast."Castle of Dreams"!!!
Anonymous said…
In regards to my criticism of St. Matthias' TT, I attend numerous tricky trays per month and was simply comparing this one to the others I attend and to let other tricky trayers hear positive and negative feedback. I didn't think St. Matthias was horrible by any means, but I have attended much better and I gave my opinion that I wouldn't attend again, which I won't. I am glad other people had a nice time and that the school makes money,I certainly hope I did not offend anyone but I tell it like it is. There are better tricky trays out there and I will attend those next year.
Anonymous said…
I would like everyone's feedback: I am organizing a "Mexican Fiesta" tricky tray and was thinking of having Chili as the food for sale at $3 a bowl. What do you think? Also, this tricky tray will be awesome and we have some fun surprises in store!! Mark your calendars - June 20th!!!!
Thanks Everyone
Anonymous said…
I also attended the St. Matthias TT last weekend. Very expensive and not worth it IMO. Fifty dollars for dried out chicken and no tickets is a complete rip off. There weren't enough prizes for the amount of people there as well. Definitely my last time at this event.
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