Spring 2007
The mission of Burlington Time Banks is to use Time Dollars as a tool for creating vibrant, safe, inclusive neighborhoods; for empowering individuals; for increasing the quality of life for community members; and to facilitate the distribution of power, access and voice in our society.
We envision a sustainable society in which all community members are equally valued, have equal access to community participation, and equal access to fulfilling their potential.
Introduction
In the fall of 2005, Amy Kirschner, AmeriCorps*VISTA, Burlington Currency Project, and Ita Meno, Community Specialist, Center for Community and Neighborhoods, and Member of Board of Directors, Burlington Currency Project, began dialogue surrounding the creation of a Time Bank in the Old North End. The vision was to utilize a new complementary currency to truly have a positive impact on individuals living in poverty or below livable wages.
In the spring of 2006 the Burlington Currency Project was granted another AmeriCorps*
In October 2006 a team of four volunteers – Beth O’Malley, Ita Meno, Emily Gowen, Karolyn Realms – and Melissa began meeting biweekly to develop the Old North End Time Bank.
On November 30th, 2006 the Old North End Time Bank launched with an introductory potluck at Jen Lazar’s and Daniel Shearer’s home on Crombie St. Approximately thirty community members were present and almost two thirds of them immediately signed up to join.
Dani Fuoco and Ashley Orenberg joined the core volunteer team, which began meeting weekly to move the Time Bank forward. Beth O’Malley returned to
This Strategic Plan is an outgrowth of our weekly volunteer meetings. In particular, our March Meetings were dedicated to this process, and we welcomed Lindsay Donellon and Laura Goldblatt to the visioning process. Stephanie Clark and Chong Kim were invaluable facilitators.
Sustainability
We believe that Time Banking has the power to transform the lives of individuals and whole communities. As Time Bank Member, Pam Greene has said, Time Banking is radical but non-threatening.
In order to ensure the sustainability of the project two items must be present:
- The creation of a 501c3 nonprofit, Burlington Time Banks, to facilitate the creation of and to support Time Banks in the Chittenden County Area. One aspect of sustainability is the ability to successfully fundraise and staff the project. There must be consistent, dedicated energy to the project in order to inspire community members and ensure the next item.
- Community support and ownership. The role of the staff is to inspire and empower community members – particularly those who have been traditionally disenfranchised – to take a stake in the Time Bank and their neighborhood. Community ownership of the project will ensure its success into the future.
Success
What does success look like?
Below are three benchmarks against which we can view success. The Measurable Outcomes are projected for November 30th 2007 – the one year anniversary of the project.
1) Our first project, the Old North End Time Bank, is an active exchange community where people are able to meet tangible and intangible needs.
Measurable Outcomes:
- It has a minimum of one hundred members
- Monthly Activity: a minimum of 100 Hours exchanged or at least 50% of members exchanging on a monthly basis
- A vibrant Give and Receive area. A wide range of requests and offers. 60% to 90% of Members post both requests and offers.
2) Time Banking is being used to address specific community needs.
Measurable Outcomes:
- The Time Bank is being utilized to organize community members around at least two community needs. Ex. Grow Team organizing around issues of food security and gardening in the Old North End.
- Ten to twenty Time Bank Members involved in Time Bank organized community projects.
3) Time Banking is serving the needs of low income individuals.
Measurable Outcomes:
- At least 40% of Time Bank Members are low income.
- Active collaborations with at least three organizations serving low income and marginalized individuals.
- The Creation of Skill Development Opportunities for low income individuals.
- At least 40% of Members of the Board of Directors are low income.
How do we ensure success?
The biggest barriers to success are, ironically, time and money. This is true of many initiatives in life, hence the creation of a Time Bank.
Time
It takes time to run the Time Bank, but, more importantly, it takes time to participate in the Time Bank. Why would individuals invest their finite hours in Time Banking?
1) They have a surplus of time and are eager to find meaningful ways to use it. This is true of individuals who are retired or are on SSI Disability.
2) They have a deficit of time, but the Time Bank meets they’re needs so they are willing to make Time Banking, like earning money, one of the priorities in their life. As they utilize the Time Bank more and more it frees some time in their lives for things they want to be doing rather than things they need to be doing. (because someone else is green housecleaning, cooking dinner once a week, watching the kids, driving you to the store so you don’t have to spend half the day on the bus and in exchange you’re gardening, offering poetry workshops, and bringing your elderly neighbor dinner once a week).
Money
Actually, money is also about time. Fortunately, because the project is a grassroots endeavor that is supported by community members and partners it takes very little money in the way of overhead and administrative costs. However, we do need money to buy people’s time. We need individuals who are able to prioritize a certain amount of their time to the Time Bank each week, i.e. staff.
The Key to Success
