What do you get when you mix a dozen high school students with a Democratic state lawmaker and other Democrats who are eager to make a difference?

At one Hailey home, the answers could be seen in displays of LED Christmas lights; video games’ vampire tendencies; and a pile of unsorted recyclables. When Elizabeth Jeffrey agreed to host the middle stop of the Blaine County Democrats’  “Progressive Dinner With a Difference” at her home on November 17, she arranged for members of Wood River High School’s Environmental Club to offer hands-on demonstrations showing exactly how everyday decisions can help reduce landfill waste, keep utility bills in check, and reduce American dependence on foreign oil. It proved to be a great example of how local Democratic parties can organize around issues and involve talented teens.

In Jeffrey’s living room, participants talked about new, greener trends in lighting while sipping hot cider. In the next room, people discussed the relative energy consumption of the Play Station 3, XBox 360 and Wii gaming systems. The latter is the greenest by far, but all gamers, computer users and HD-TV watchers can make a difference by unplugging – not merely turning off – entertainment appliances when they’re not in use. Unplugging electronic gear – or plugging it all into a single “smart” power strip – helps end what’s known as vampire energy loss.

In the kitchen, there was information on greener appliance choices and smart water use, as well as a recycling game. Participants teamed up to sort through all kinds of would-be garbage, from dead batteries to cereal boxes to plastic bags, deciding what could be recycled  and what actually needed to go in the garbage can. I worked with State Representative Wendy Jaquet on this fun exercise, and we threw almost nothing away.

The Progressive Dinner with a Difference began with a stop at Blaine County Democratic Chair Nancy Masner-Whiton’s home, where we enjoyed homemade minestrone soup and shared information on how best to help area food banks including the Hunger Coalition in Hailey and the Idaho Food Bank. For example, although most food drives involve actual cans of food, monetary donations go much further – so why not wrap a $10 bill or a check around that can of stew?

After the displays and hot cider at Jeffrey’s home, the third and final stop was at county vice chair Gini Ballou’s home, where – over more cider, spiced wine, and holiday cookies – we reviewed the latest state of health insurance reform efforts and shared personal stories on why reform is long overdue. Even people who have insurance have lost homes or been forced into bankruptcy due to skyrocketing out-of-pocket costs for medical bills. Ballou also passed out contact information for Idaho’s Congressional delegation so participants could be sure to make our views known. “Call and email them daily,” she said. “I usually tell them ‘I’d like the same plan you have.’”

The Blaine County Democrats are thinking about doing another Progressive Dinner with a Difference in warmer weather next year. It’s an idea that county parties all over Idaho can replicate, inviting the energy of local people – like Jeffrey (the Wood River Valley’s 2009 Environmental Advocate of the Year) and the Wood River High teens – who are already engaged in creating change and building strong relationships.  Who does that describe in your community?

Members of the Wood River High School Environmental Club were on hand to help Blaine County Democrats (including State Rep. Wendy Jaquet, at left) learn about conserving energy, recycling, and other green topics during the recent Progressive Dinner with a Difference in Hailey.