Member Bulletin March 12th, 2006

Old North End Timebank * Member Bulletin * March 12th, 2006
Gardening and a Bucket of Spuds

In this Issue:
v Time Dollars and Fresh Veggies
v Free Breakfast at Penny Cluse?
v Timebank Fever
v Strategic Planning for Burlington Time Banks
v Bloggin’
v Not sure how to use the Time Dollars website?
v Timebank Buddies
v How Many Time Dollars Have Been Exchanged?
v A Time Dollar Circuit

* * * * *

Time Dollars and Fresh Veggies

Frozen pipes and frosted windows greet me in the morning, but the sun is getting stronger and the promise of spring and gardening is lingering behind every thought. Timebank member Chris Howell is also passionate about gardening. And he wants to share his passion with Old North End Timebank members. This spring we’re organizing a team of Timebank members to help residents test their soil, turn lawns or unused yard space into gardens or put in raised beds/containers, and raise awareness of local community gardens. We’re also interested in connecting neighbors who want to garden, with neighbors who have potential garden space. If you’re interested in joining Grow Team O.N.E. or using its services, email Melissa@burlingtoncurrency.org.

But the relationship between Time Dollars and veggies doesn’t end there. While Time Dollars are primarily used to exchange services, they can also be used to purchase donated goods. One day we’d like to have a little Time Dollars thrift store, but for now, we are enthusiastic about a Time Dollars Vegetable Market. Coming to a neighborhood porch this summer, the Veggie Market will allow you to spend your Time Dollars purchasing donated vegetables. If you’re interested in earning Time Dollars to help create and organize this, email Emily, egowen@uvm.edu.

Free Breakfast at Penny Cluse?

We now have sixty six members in our Timebank. But no matter how many or how few members we have, what builds community is exchanging.

Between March 12th and April 12nd, every Time Dollar you spend or earn gives you one raffle ticket. The prize being raffled? A $20 gift certificate to Penny Cluse.

Timebank Fever

For every friend, neighbor, family member, or coworker that you refer to the Timebank you earn one Time Dollar.

Strategic Planning for Burlington Time Banks

Our vision is to create a 501c3 organization – Burlington Time Banks – to facilitate the creation of and to support Time Dollars initiatives in the Burlington area. Burlington Time Banks will also serve as a consultant to Time Dollars projects in other areas of Vermont.

Keep an eye out for upcoming Strategic Planning Meetings so you can be part of the process! We’ll also be posting strategic planning information on the blog for comments and input.

Bloggin’

Burlingtontimebanks.blogspot.com is your one stop shop to keep your thumb on the pulse of exciting Timebank happenings. You can check out videos, read member stories and philosophical rants, download Time Dollars flyers to share with all your friends, family and coworkers, and keep abreast of how our Timebank is unfolding. Most importantly, you can become an author on the blog so you can share your stories and perspective. For more information email Melissa: Melissa@burlingtoncurrency.org.

Not sure how to use the Time Dollars website?

When you signed up for the Timebank, you entered an email and password. If you want to use the website, you go to community.timebanks.org and login using this email and password. And if you forgot your password, there’s a link to click on. If you have any questions about how to post requests or offers, how to log hours, how to keep track of how many Time Dollars you’re earning, etc., feel free to email Melissa or Emily.

Timebank Buddies

We want the Timebank to be accessible to everyone, but not everyone has internet access or is comfortable with the internet. To this end, we’re introducing the Buddy Service. You can earn Time Dollars to help someone manage their on-line account. Interested? Want more details? Email Dani, dfuoco@ci.burlington.vt.us


How Many Time Dollars Have Been Exchanged?

The Old North End Timebank started on November 30th, 2006.

Between November 30th, 2006 and December 31st, 2006
8 hours were exchanged between four people.

Between January 1st, 2007 and January 31st, 2007
71 Time Dollars were exchanged.

Between February 1st, 2007 and February 28th, 2007
63 Time Dollars were exchanged.

Total Time Dollars Exchanged to Date?
182 Time Dollars

A Time Dollar Circuit

Melissa, who earned Time Dollars teaching an art class at Mercy Connections, spent Time Dollars to have Steph 'green clean' her house; Steph used her Time Dollars to have Melissa and Emily volunteer for the Burlington Legacy Project's annual meeting;
Emily and Ashley gave their Time Dollars to Laura for Spanish lessons; Laura spent her Time Dollars to have her oil changed and get advice on socially responsible investing from Daniel.

Chocolate Souffles Improve My Work Ethic

It's true. I did eat three chocolate souffles, a six by six inch serving of oil laden cheese smothered eggplant parmesian, two plates of rice and chicken curry, two servings of salad and - just for good measure - a thorough licking of the souffle bowl. I can blame this eating frenzy on two things - I'm Italian and I expended lots of energy rescuing bulbs from the Flower Show. However, the moral of the story is that all that chocolate and loveliness has been put to good use. It is 2:16am on a Sunday night and I am so focused and inspired it might justify chocolate souffle madness on a regular basis.

Time Dollars Vegetable Market

It's hot and you have spent the morning under a blue bonnet of a sky harvesting yet another handful of delectable zucchini. No more zucchini bread! you inwardly cry. Fortunately, you can donate your copious amount of zucchini and that extra handful of kale you know you won't get a chance to eat to the Time Dollars Vegetable Market.

You wander down Elmwood Ave and arrive at a porch with a large painted banner strung between the posts. It invites neighbors to come and purchase bundles of vegetables arrayed in baskets. The cost? To be paid in Time Dollars. You hand your veggies to a woman seated there and she pulls up your account on her laptop and pays you in Time Dollars for the donated veggies you have brought. Before you go you notice some beautiful cherry tomatoes and purchase those, too.

While Time Dollars are primarily used to exchange services, they can also be used to purchase donated goods. One day we’d like to have a little Time Dollars thrift store, but for now, we are enthusiastic about a Time Dollars Veggie Market. Coming to a neighborhood porch this summer, the Veggie Market will allow you to spend your Time Dollars purchasing donated vegetables.