Webinar Series: How to Start a TIME BANK & SKILL EXCHANGE October 11, 2012 1:00pm EDT
Our Mission The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans to reduce and shift their consumption to improve quality of life, protect the environment, and promote social justice. Program Areas: Redefining the Dream Beyond Consumerism Collaborative Communities
What is Time Banking? Using time as currency instead of money: 1. Spend 1 hour doing something for someone in your community 2. You then earn 1 Time Dollar that goes into your time bank 3. Spend your Time Dollar by having someone do something for you 4. Repeat!
cafederationoftimebanks.com
Why It s a Good Idea It s fair Everyone s time is valued equally. 1 hour = 1 hour. It s free No money is exchanged. Time banks thrive even when the economy is depressed. It s fulfilling People join together for a common good. Strengthens community. It s fun!
A Growing Movement Map courtesy of timebanks.org There are over 200 time banks across the U.S.! Is your town next?
Today s Speakers Janine Christiano Founder - Arroyo Time Bank Co-Director - Arroyo SECO Network of Time Banks Los Angeles, CA Mashi Blech Director - Community Connections TimeBank, Visiting Nurse Service of New York New York, NY Mira Luna Founder - Bay Area Community Exchange San Francisco, CA
Arroyo SECO Network of Time Banks Founders: Janine Christiano, Autumn Rooney City: Pasadena & greater Los Angeles, CA Started: 2011 merger (Arroyo Time Bank 2009, Echo Park Time Bank 2008) Structure: Nonprofit Membership: 800 Staff: 1-3 part-time, plus many who earn time dollars for admin work
VNSNY Community Connections TimeBank Founders: Mashi Blech, Ana Miyares City: New York, NY Started: 2006 Structure: Sponsored by VNSNY, a not-for-profit home healthcare organization Membership: 2,700 Staff: 10 full-time, over 150 volunteer team leaders and workgroup members
Bay Area Community Exchange Founder: Mira Luna City: San Francisco & greater Bay Area, CA Started: 2009 Structure: Fiscally sponsored nonprofit Membership: 1,800 Staff: No paid staff, volunteer board of directors, volunteer collective and committees
Let s Begin! Brief Presentations How each time bank started How they work Logistical challenges and successes More Resources Questions for Speakers
Janine Christiano Arroyo Time Bank & Arroyo SECO Network of Time Banks
How It Started The idea After hearing about the Echo Park Time Bank, then researching the movement. The concept resonated with me. Logistics Do some homework, then hold a meeting. Just see who is interested, for what purposes, and who has time do do what. We are a member based, grass-roots organization. Funding It does not take much to start. The software you choose (if any), will likely be your first big expense, then there are some simple flyers, some potluck gear, markers, name tags, and a website. We held a garage sale our first two years. As you grow and develop programs, expenses also grow.
How It Works Tracking We use Community Weaver from Time Banks USA (timebanks.org) Staffing We are primarily volunteer based, though have had project-based funding at certain times and would like to have paid permanent staff Fees At this point we have never collected dues, but plan on it in the future Legal Issues Yes, there are legal issues that can creep up. We ve been very lucky, but there could be labor/workplace issues, insurance, etc. A good resource is TheSELC.org which is a non-profit legal center that specializes in the sharing economy
Successes & Challenges Challenges Burnout from lead organizers Member retention/engagement Rapid growth Creating consensus Successes Our member-led projects Greater awareness of alternative economies A feeling of momentum and a growing network, locally & statewide Growing local empowerment, feelings of abundance, hope, & resilience
Mashi Blech VNSNY Community Connections TimeBank
How It Started Time Bank History Robert Wood Johnson demonstration grant (1987) at urging of Edgar Cahn Time Banks embedded in community organizations (e.g., health plan for older adults) TimeBank Comes to Visiting Nurse Service of NY VNSNY s grassroots launch in 1893, track record of innovation, focus on aging in place, caregiver support. Largest not-for-profit home-based healthcare agency. Launched first TimeBank hub in December 2006 funded by VNSNY Community Benefit program
How It Works VNSNY TimeBank Model Free and open to all, intergenerational model Accessible - Paid bilingual staff for each TimeBank hub, 150+ Team Leaders and Workgroup Members Customized strategies for each neighborhood Partnerships with community organizations and local businesses Individual and group exchanges, member data and exchanges recorded in database accessed by staff only, database generates member statements Matches brokered by staff and members Legal/Liability Considerations Limited scope of services, waivers, screening Organizational and member liability coverage
Successes & Challenges Rapid Growth and Partnerships 2,700+ individual members enrolled ages 7-99, 70% immigrants, almost half speak limited or no English 125+ community organizational partners, 280+ business partners Challenges include labor intensive onboarding process, managing demand for expansion, keeping it personal, underreporting Member Engagement and Outcomes 175,000+ hours of exchange (significantly underreported) Bridging the divides (age, economic, income, ethnicity) Improvements in physical and mental health, cost savings, increased trust, strong social networks, decreased isolation, improved quality of life
Mira Luna Bay Area Community Exchange
How BACE Started The Idea The downturn of the economy, and the need for an alternative currency to support low income folks and important activist work 6 months of public meetings to decide on a Timebank as a first step We chose a Timebank because it's the easiest to get off the ground with no staff or funding and the most likely to have an immediate impact. The Ingredients Fiscal sponsor Small seed grant ($1000) after year one A volunteer collective Free software
How It Works Staffing - Volunteer collective sometimes paid in hours, minimal paid contract tech work. Fees - No fees to allow anyone of any socioeconomic status to participate and to build the directory of the Timebank as fast as possible. Legal issues - Everyone's hour must be equal and there can be no monetary equivalents used or contracts. This protects the tax exempt status and allow members to continue to receive state and federal benefits. Software - Open Source Currency, BACE fork
Successes & Challenges Outreach methods Our events trading, skillshare, festivals Other events representing the Timebank at conferences, panels, and other public events Potential and current partners presentations for allied organizations and their members Newsletter keeps current membership up to date Media numerous articles written about BACE Challenges Getting people to use it takes some orienting, and live trading to get it going Successes Very fast growing membership (1,800) and widespread, positive community reputation
Advice Find a group of nice people with common ground. Define your goals and prioritize them. Pick your tool appropriately and make it easy to use. Do your homework and get a mentor. Develop partnerships and take them seriously. Keep the circulation flowing. Match unmet needs with underused resources. Don't give up but be willing to change directions. Read Mira s upcoming article on Shareable.net- How to Start a Community Currency.
More Resources New Dream s Community Action Kit Guide to Sharing: newdream.org/communityactionkit
More Resources TimeBanks USA: timebanks.org CA Federation of Time Banks: cafederationoftimebanks.com Sustainable Economies Law Center: theselc.org Shareable: shareable.net
Questions?
Thank You! Special Thanks Our guest speakers: Janine, Mashi, & Mira Janelle Orsi Post Carbon Institute You! Next Steps Webinar survey Watch for it! Recording and resources available online next week Join New Dream s mailing list Start your time bank! Contact New Dream E-mail Wen Lee: wen@newdream.org