By Meg Heckman, JAWS Member
This year’s Conference and Mentoring Project (CAMP) is still months away, but it’s already time to start thinking about what you can donate to our online and on-site auctions.
This will be the fifth year JAWS has operated an online auction, giving members who are unable to attend CAMP a chance to bid on great stuff while supporting a good cause.
Last year, we raised over $3,000 through the online auction, and we’d love to beat that number this fall – so start thinking about what you can contribute. Luxury items and vacation destinations are always welcome, but services – editing, career coaching and book proposal coaching – are usually a hit, too.
Our popular and eclectic on-site auction will also take place as usual, so pay attention during spring cleaning or summer yard sale shopping for costume jewelry, gag gifts and other trinkets to bring to Arkansas.
You never know what items will bring top dollar. At my first CAMP, I donated a gently used paisley scarf and was surprised when it became the focus of a late-night bidding war. I think it raised more than $50 for JAWS.
Be on the lookout for all kinds of items. We have someone who donates high-end watches every year, as well as autographed copies of books by women authors and valuable memorabilia JAWdesses bring back from their world travels.
Here are a few items we’ve featured in the past and will be using this year:
- Purses and hats
- Media swag
- Political swag
- Posters and art
- Books
- Handmade
- Jewelry – necklaces
- Jewelry – earrings
- Jewelry – rings and miscellaneous
We need your help to make this year’s auctions successful. After all, money raised by the auctions will help to underwrite JAWS programs.