Current Program Development

Time Banks: Bringing Needs and Skills Together

A Time Bank generates a certain magic that links one good turn with another and creates an ever-evolving web of trust. Since their inception more than twenty years ago, over 300 Time Banks have been established in 36 countries and 40 states. As an innovative tool, they acknowledge and revitalize local social networks that empower people and improve the quality of personal and community life.

At the rudimentary level, time exchanges provide a mechanism for the exchange of a given number of hours accrued by one participant for an equivalent number of hours, in the form of services, provided by other participants. More broadly and over the long-term, a time exchange fosters healthy communities and a robust local economy by:

• Cultivating healthy interpersonal connections
• Increasing the range of options people have for meeting their essential needs
• Rewarding volunteers by valuing their time.

Informational links:

Islands Sounder Article

TimeBanks USA

Yes! Magazine Article

Edgar S. Cahn Interview

NPR Interview

FAQ’s/Nola Article

In Search of Simplicity

IsleShare.org: was officially launched online on April 15, 2012.

The next series of member and planning meetings have been scheduled and will include teleconferencing between the public libraries of Lopez, San Juan and Orcas. The meeting dates are as follows:

The Orcas Public Library, 4-5pm Every 3rd Wednesday; Video Conferenced to all SJ County Libraries.

500 Rose Street, Eastsound WA

Here are the dates & topics of the next meetings:

Wed. June 20th: How to use our TimeBank database: posting offers and requests, connecting with other members. FAQs

Wed. July 18th: The Ethics of Exchange in a Weird Economy: What is a Healthy Community Economy? (Part 1)

Wed. August 15th: Wellness & garden projects, to be exlored: What is a Healthy Community Economy? (Part 2)

Wed. September 19th: Projects within the schools. What is needed?

Wed. October 17th: Designing for Generosity, anticipating the Thanksgiving season.

Wed. Novemeber 14th: Designing for Generosity, anticipating the Christmas Season

Wed. December 12th: Designing for Abundance in all its forms. Anticipating 2013.

Keep a look out for other announcements regarding upcoming IsleShare.org activities and fundraising events. These will be posted in local media and community bulletin boards.

A big THANKS goes out to all of the volunteers and enthusiastic community members on all of the islands who have made the launch of this project possible, including our fiscal sponsors: Irthlingz.org

Time bank membership options

1) A minimum annual donation of $15 per membership (TimeBanks USA suggests an annual donation of 1% of the individual’s averaged monthly income); or

2)A minimum monthly commitment of two volunteer hours per membership towards time bank operations (redeemable for services within the time bank pool).

Donations cover the software licensing fee ($1.50 per membership) and a background check ($10.00 per enrollee).

All funds received beyond these basic membership costs will be directed towards covering the operations of the time bank (a paid coordinator / database manager and public outreach materials, etc).

To make a tax-deductible donation to this program and/or become enrolled you can:

1)Send a check to:

Make checks payable to Irthlingz, indicating "IsleShare" in the “For” section of the check,

2)Via PayPal:

IsleShare.org

c/o Morgan Meadows

144 Rosehip Road Eastsound, WA 98245