Member blog re: toast oven experience!

The very first thing I tried to do upon joining the ONE Time Bank was to get my lovely toaster oven fixed. I had a nice, shiny, red toaster oven that did everything right for the first nine months of its life. Then suddenly, as if I had said something extremely offensive to it, it decided to no longer function properly. It refused to heat up, even after long hours of coaxing and massaging. So it sat around my kitchen, and then in my car, for about another nine months until I finally had the wonderful opportunity to possibly get it fixed. The Time Bank had offered me its sole intention - a service I normally could not afford (not to mention - the price for repair probably would have been the same as a brand new toaster oven at Wal-Mart)!

Admittedly, I was a bit nervous when I arrived at my fellow Time Banker's house, but then I thought to myself: "This is indeed Burlington, and this person has indeed taken the time to join a pseudo-communist network of time-dollar exchange, so I probably do not have much to worry about." Needless to say, my assumption was perfectly accurate. We had a great time tearing the oven apart and fidgeting with all its little gadgets. While working, we filled each other in on our past, our present, and our plans for the future. We talked about our jobs or volunteer work, and we laughed a lot. Eventually, the time came to put the toaster oven back together, and the scene could have been taken right out of the latest Hollywood blockbuster comedy. At least three times, we realized that we had mismatching parts, layers overlapping the wrong layers, things sticking through the wrong areas, and windows not able to close. But it was hilarious. And it helped us get to know each other even better.

In the end, we never achieved our original goal - the toaster oven has since been recycled at Small Dog Electronics ($0.25 per pound!!! I highly recommend it!). I'll miss my toaster oven, and I have yet to mention the episode to my stepmother, who bought me the precious gift two years ago. But during my Time Bank experience, I met a new person: a "friendly face" to greet around town, a "future collaborator" for volunteer projects, and just a plain old nice guy.

--Nolan Masterson

Buddy system in place!

It's official!

This past week the first buddies were set up for the time bank. The buddy system is something that the time bank set up to help those who may not have access to the internet or who aren't "computer savvy". A time bank member signs up to be a buddy through the ONE Time Bank Team's request and is then set up with another member who needs assistance. Typical tasks that the buddy would help with would be calling the member when: they have a reply to their postings, need help posting something, getting their picture put on their profile, browsing the marketplace to see what is new, a new event is coming up, etc.

Buddies are paid in time dollars by the Time Bank Team, up to five hours per month. As the time bank expands we will be needing more buddies. Please contact the time bank if you are interested. Also, when you are talking to your friends about the time bank and they think they can't join because they don't have access to the internet you can let them know about the buddy system!

Happy time banking!

annie

Circles of Support

U2 sings love songs on my computer and the night finds me awake and working. I was filled with beauty and grace, overwhelmed by love and good will, when I walked home tonight. The sky was the perfect balance between night and day, a blue so deep and vibrant - alive.

The inspiration for such a mood?

This is the way I feel every time I give a presentation about Time Dollars. Renewed, inspired, in love. As if I were spreading warmth and hope. Igniting in the heartspace of others, it reflects back to me, many times magnified. Alone, on Elmwood Ave, I can look through the bare boughs of trees and see a perfect sky and know without hesitation or doubt that this is what I was meant to do. I am home.

Grants, Violins, and Snow

At 6pm weak sunlight grew and warmed behind a layer of clouds. the air became wetter, softer, warmer. And for a moment it felt like spring. Chris Howell and I met at an empty lot on Archibald Ave and Walnut St - right by H.O. Wheeler and Dot's Market. We pulled out a small tape measure and a pencil and proceeded to measure out the dimensions of our canvas - an empty lot ripe for community gardening, maybe a mural, some community events and live music, a block party, vegetables, neighbors... ooh. It was sandy, nutrient poor, and might be contaminated, but it was a beautiful site. Right in the heart of the Old North End. Owned by the Visiting Nurses Association. And hopefully, we were going to be able to start a neighborhood garden on it.

As we walked back to my apartment snow tumbled down all around us in thick flurries. From the warmth of my coral living room Chris typed away at a grant application for the garden while I contemplated my navel in the faith that a passionate grant cover letter was stirring in the deeper recesses of my being. Meg arrived and Chris finished the grant to a fury of fiddle tuning. Soon Jen, Meg, and myself were gathered on the sofa with our fiddles. Scottie had his guitar. And a raucous and heartfelt sing along ensued.

It has been too long since my last post

There are just too many exciting things happening around the timebank. I love to write long eloquent passages detailing the secret joy, exhiliration, and fear that surrounds such an incredible project. But as a semi-delirious (once again excessive chocolate consumption has me working at my prime time - the wee hours of the night) one woman show, I am hard pressed for time. Ooh if only I could hire someone to write blog posts for me.

To be honest, the absolute thrill of this project is the community of warm effusive beings who volunteer their time, energy, and funds to make this happen. Hopefully one day soon they will announce themselves on the blog. wink wink I may be a one staff show, but I am well supported, loved, and cared for by the Time Bank members and volunteers.

Late Night Ramblings

Sleepy. But the Time Dollars fever has me up and working at midnight after a third successful practice of the Shitty Bluegrass Band. I am in awe of how my life has improved through learning the violin. I would never have been able to afford a violin or lessons, but through the Burlington Currency Project I earn Burlington Bread (another local currency). And with Burlington Bread I found an amazing teacher who not only accepts 100% payment in Burlington Bread but also loans me a violin! Time Dollars works this same magic.

It's the little things that add depth and luminescence to ordinary living. Having the opportunity to learn something you have always wanted to learn, but were told you never could. And through Time Dollars I am going to learn how to sing! I am twenty four and I never played a musical instrument before this summer. But I have always fantasized about singing and making music. Growing up without money meant those dreams remained a fantasy until now.