A writing prompt I can actually use

I subscribe to a daily e-mail that offers ideas for blog posts. My posts are always fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants, spur-of-the-moment drivel. Even in the old days, when I did a quote on Fridays, I searched for and wrote about the quote on Friday, usually 15 minutes before I hit the Publish button.

So I largely ignore the prompts that land in my inbox every morning. But today, one of them really spoke to me:

2. Write a blog post inspired by the word: cheap

My county Democratic women's group is hosting the West Virginia Federation of Democratic Women Annual Meeting next month. Our county is large in area, but small in population, as West Virginia counties go, and so our club is tiny – just 35 members – and we have a treasury to match.

Planning a convention for women from around the state is a huge job, and we need all hands on deck. Fortunately, we have some stalwart volunteers who always get the job done, no matter what. You know those women from your own clubs and groups: the ones who pitch in, make the calls, stuff the envelopes, recruit the speakers.

A teaser shot of the
convention bag: it has
a zipper! And a pocket!

Fill the goodie bags.

I've been to four of these statewide gatherings in the past, and I have the tote bags to prove it. Each registered delegate, alternate, and guest receives a convention bag with a program book and a little goodie bag filled with whatever the host club can find, make, or beg for from local businesses.

The state organization provides no financial help for filling the goodie bags or stocking a hospitality suite. West Virginia's counties are split into three Congressional districts, so the counties in our district have been generous in donating a bit of their just-as-meager-as-our treasuries to make sure we look good.

Because, you know, it's better to look good than to feel good. (Cue Billy Crystal, SNL, "Fernando's Hideaway.)

I prefer the word "frugal" to cheap, and I also prefer utility and function over just "stuff." I don't want to give away any secrets prior to the meeting, since I know some of our guests will probably read this. We are not the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Our swag bags will not contain Prada clutches, Jimmie Choo pumps, or Apple watches.

Let's just say my inkjet printer has been working overtime creating little something-somethings to tuck into those bags. I've also found some great deals for useful printed items from online vendors.

And Pinterest is my friend.

If you're a Democratic woman who lives in West Virginia and you haven't yet registered for the WVFDW annual meeting, you should probably get yourself over to our website and sign up: REGISTER HERE. Otherwise, you're going to miss out on electing new officers, hearing a terrific keynote speaker (click that link!), and snagging a really awesome – if frugal – goodie bag.