Now gimme a ‘C-T-I-O-N’ – it’s Rotary Auction time this weekend.

The mantra of the volunteers who work in the bulk-clothing department of the Rotary Auction and Rummage Sale:

“Anyone’s guess.”

“You never know what’s going to show up,” department head Mary Hadley said Monday, as another volunteer held up a thick rubber swim cap complete with chin strap.

“I haven’t seen one of those since high school!” Hadley said.

Every piece of donated clothing begins its auction adventure with the volunteers in the bulk department. It’s all dumped into a huge pile that is sorted by department – children’s, designer clothes, house decor.

Whatever is left over is sorted according to style – jacket, long sleeved, pants – and placed on a mound in the appropriate section.

With the tons of clothes that are donated each year – by Monday, Hadley estimated the mounds to total 16 tons – it is no surprise that some questionable garments make their way into bulk clothing, including those covered in mesh, shreds and straps.

Hadley’s favorites are the T-shirts with various slogans, many of them inappropriate for print. But the clothes that come in to the rummage sale are in generally good condition.

“We don’t get many dirty or raggedy clothes anymore because people recognize that this isn’t a dump but a place for the community,” Hadley said.

When the sale opens on Saturday, bargain hunters will grab a provided bag and stuff it full. Whatever fits is $10 a bag from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For the last hour, each bag is $1.

Bulk clothing aside, bargain hunters will create a sea of heads wrapping around Woodward Middle School when the 46th annual Bainbridge Rotary Rummage Sale begins. Some will have been waiting in line since 6 a.m. or perhaps even the night before.

“It looks like the Oklahoma land rush,” said Wayne Nakata, auction volunteer and garden department head.

Longtime island resident Nakata has been volunteering at the auction for 14 years, emphasizing that it is the highlight of the year.

“We are on an island that nurtures the whole event. It started out small and grew and grew, but still maintains the same characteristics and feeling because of the volunteers, Rotarians and donors,” he said.

And donations are generous this year. As volunteers sorted through items early this week, empty space at Woodward was a rare commodity.

Arguably better – and less expensive – than Ikea, the auction and rummage sale let people furnish their entire house, boat or tent. Even the tent itself can be found in the sporting goods section.

The bulk clothing, a couple of sailboats, a two-tone Lincoln automobile, and yes, the kitchen sink will be among the items up for preview and live auction on Friday evening.

The $1 admission fee gets you a sneak peak at the hottest rummage items and a raffle ticket for a chance to win $500 worth of groceries, donated by Town & Country.

While great items at rock bottom prices and a shot at free groceries are certainly highlights, that isn’t what the auction is all about. Ask anyone working at the site and you’ll get the same answer.

“This event is about people and the community,” Bainbridge Rotarian Joanne Ellis said.

Ellis believes the auction is an all-island network created for recycling, reusing and, most importantly, for supporting the community.

To Ellis, the auction is successful because of the cohesiveness of the community.

Last year the auction made $350,000. This year, auction chair Dave Christensen is hoping for an additional $10,000, which may not be too difficult, with the assistance of 875 volunteers and the donations rolling in by the carload.

On just the third day of auction drop-offs, there was a perceptively greater amount of items than last year, Christensen said.

With all of the items up for bid and sale donated by the community, the auction’s biggest cost is waste – disposing of the items that are broken or won’t sell.

To reduce the amount of waste, the Rotary Club partners with 23 secondary users, charities or community organizations, such as Goodwill or Purdy Womens Correctional Facility, which continue the donation cycle as opposed to throwing items away.

Many more treasures, though, will be purchased and recycled, which Ellis believes builds a community fabric that creates strength.

“To understand the island,” she said, “you’ve got to come to the auction.”

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Don’t be late!

Donation drop-offs for the 46th annual Bainbridge Rotary Auction and Rummage Sale end at 9 p.m. tonight – sharp! Don’t dawdle, or you’ll find yourself on the wrong side of the gate.

Rotary Auction festivities begin with the Silent Merchant Auction and Rummage Sale Preview from 4-7 p.m. June 30, with the live auction immediately following from 7-9 p.m. On Saturday, the giant rummage sale runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, see www.bainbridgeislandrotary.org. or call 842-9111.