Time Bank Mahoning Watershed

Strengthening Communities – The Integrative Potential of Time Banking

Strengthening Communities
The Integrative Potential of Time Banking   ver8.18.13
A Guest Post by Marie Wilson Nelson

Time Bank Mahoning Watershed (https://tbmw.org/) is a community service exchange or “Time Bank,” a collection of people and organizations who connect unused resources with unmet needs. Time Bank Mahoning Watershed is part of an international social change movement grounded in five core values articulated by founder Edgar S. Cahn in No More Throwaway People: The Co-Production Imperative:

  • Assets: We are all assets. Every person has something of value to offer.
  • Redefining Work: Some work is beyond price.
  • Reciprocity: Helping works better as a two-way street.
  • Social Networks: We need each other. People helping each other reweave communities of support, strength and trust.
  • Respect: Every human matters.  When respect is denied to any, all are injured.

Acting on these values our Time Bank fulfills its mission–promoting equality and building a caring, just and sustainable community economy through inclusive exchange of time and talent. The concept is simple. Members help someone for an hour, earn an hour of credit, and spend the credit on services offered by any other member. Reweaving community one exchange at a time, they document exchanges in an online database (http://sandbox.timebanks.org) and revitalize what Cahn calls “the core economy” on which the Market depends. The core economy includes:

  • Raising healthy children
  • Revitalizing neighborhoods
  • Making democracy work
  • Nurturing the spirit
  • Building strong families
  • Strengthening local economies
  • Advancing social justice
  • Making the planet sustainable

In the PBS documentary Fixing the Future, time bankers help each other weatherize homes, access medical care, eat healthier food and take sailing lessons (8-minute clip: http://video.pbs.org/video/1646871620/). They contribute to low-carbon lifestyles, reduce transportation costs and provide services within neighborhoods. They grow capacity for community groups, non-profits, small businesses, and government groups, serving schools, hospitals, churches, libraries, and court systems. They do so by

  • Offering groups an expanded pool of volunteers.
  • Providing something valuable groups can give back to volunteers.
  • Identifying and connecting unused community resources with unmet needs.
  • Incubating new businesses.
  • Facilitating restorative justice.
  • Lowering operational costs.
  • Keeping prices low for businesses, clients and customers.
  • Reducing medical expenses.
  • Helping elders age in place.
  • Mentoring & tutoring.
  • Offering internships and on-the-job training.
  • Reducing tax burdens.
  • Containing administrative costs.
  • Tracking volunteer hours for reporting in funding proposals.

Each of these benefits reverses the opportunity costs of not banking time.   In addition, paying volunteers in Time Bank Hours could support start-ups in underserved communities. A few potential examples come to mind:

  • Weatherization projects                        Solar installations
  • Urban farms                                            Plant nurseries
  • Food preparation and distribution    Canning and preserving
  • Water catchment                                   Backyard garden installation
  • Home building                                       Home repair

Any group aligned with the five core values may partner with a time bank:

In the spirit of reciprocity, Time Banking offers community partners:

  • A complementary currency, the Time Bank Hour, created by doing some work.
  • A means of rewarding unpaid work by converting it to goods and services.
  • A way to reactivate social capital that lies untapped within neighborhoods.
  • Proven models for co-producing each other’s operations.
  • A way to restore community values ignored by the market economy.

If you want to discuss the above ideas, Contact Tony Budak

Starting a Time Bank

Often I’m asked to mentor a new Time Bank somewhere is the USA and what follows is the core information packet that  I send to a new Coordinator to get them rolling. I’m sending this to you because you picked up on this so fast and I want you to have all the information.

Of course you should read through all the site pages at Time Bank Mahoning Watershed for a good foundational introduction.

In these sites at Time Banks Work there are practical suggestions and many files to consider in a Time Bank effort. Just skim this archive, as it would be helpful down the road.

Again in the above site there is a section that focuses on Starting a Time Bank (Section 1 and Section 2) This is a must to read and follow up reading all the hyper links in the both article sections.

Also you should adsorb the general ideas at the hOurWorld web site, in particular this page on first steps.Another point of view, rather more practical, but good none the less.

And You will probably pick up a lot of learning take aways by participating
in the action on a Time Bank Coordinators group on Facebook;

Okay that’s it, please contact me for anything except a Federal money loan LOL.

If you want to discuss the above ideas, Contact Tony Budak

Time Banks for small businesses

On 06/04/13 7:09 AM, Elizabeth wrote:
——————–
Hi Tony! Do you know much about legal/tax issues for small (sole proprietor) businesses participating in time banks? Are any Mahoning Valley businesses doing this, to your knowledge? Thanks!
Liz

Hi Elizabeth,
Please know that I’m not a lawyer. The founder of TimeBanks USA is a lawyer and his writing is here: http://actionhub.timebanks.org/content/tax-issues

Basically the rule is that community service non-paid work time is documented as a time credit in an account when non-paid community service work is performed. There is no relation of any time unit to any Federal money unit so there is no tax.

Time Bank Mahoning Watershed is a 501 c(3), see our purpose at https://tbmw.org/about-tbmw/timebank-mahoning-watershed-our-vision-mission-values-statement

There is no fee and or no requirement to use our data base program. We do ask for yearly in kind work services or financial contributions from participating individuals, groups, for-profits and non-profits. Currently there are no Mahoning Valley business in our time bank. I love to talk about Time Banking,  See https://tbmw.org/contact-us/schedule-a-timebank-presentation-with-your-group-program-or-organization

Hope that the above helps,
Best Wishes,
TonyBudak@TBMW.org

FAQ

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us.
Please click on a question to reveal its answer. Click again to hide the answer.

What’s the Time Bank Mahoning Watershed?
 The Time Bank Mahoning Watershed is an independent grass-roots, non-profit organization that promotes and enables sharing skills and time among its members. Unlike a barter club, we value the community connections that are made as much as the exchange itself and we actively draw out the hidden talents and unfulfilled aspirations of our members.
What is it, really?
TBMW is a member-run service that builds community and true security. A free online database program manages both the directory of services & requests and an accounting system for keeping track of Hours.
Where is the Time Bank Mahoning Watershed Located?
The Time Bank is both a virtual and real community. It is located in a four county region comprised of Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana in Ohio, and Mercer in Pennsylvania. The area surrounds Youngstown, Ohio 44501. Our members are on line at www.tbmw.org. We meet both regularly and where ever two or more members meet. See our upcoming events. All meetings are open to the public. “Helpers” assist members with exchanges and managing their accounts.
Who Coordinates the service exchange program?
Click “Contact form”
or write to TBMW
c/o Tony Budak
1559 Warner Rod
Hubbard, OH
330-716-2722
In addition Click Core Coordinators Team to find help.
How does a service exchange work?
A Time Bank is a community of people who support each other. When you spend an hour to do something for an individual or group, you earn a Time Dollar. Then you can use that Time Dollar to buy an hour of a neighbor’s time or engage in a group activity offered by a neighbor. Take a look at the Time Banking Way cartoon to see some examples! (Click) [br] It’s that simple. Yet it also has profound effects. You get to know your neighbors and build an old-fashioned extended family of people who take care of each other. Time Banks change whole communities.
Where do Hours come from?
“In Community We Trust” is literally true as we honor each others requests for services. You earn a spend able time credit by working. Membership doesn’t “take” time, it exchanges time. Everyone in our community has skills to share and benefits to gain by participating. Members are encouraged to value all skills equally at one Hour per hour worked. When the task is done, the number of Hours of service are entered into the Community Weaver accounting system.
What if I go into huge debt?
If you do, someone working for the Exchange may offer to help you identify and provide services. Going into debt by asking for more help than you have in Hours is OK. The goal over time is to balance giving and receiving services.
What if I am not satisfied with a service?
TBMW does not guarantee the performance of anyone who is referred, nor will TBMW or members acting on its behalf be held responsible for any injury to persons or damage to property experienced during the exchange. Upon joining the TBMW everyone must sign weavers of liability, to hold harmless both Time Bank members and the TBMW organization as well as agree to norms of behavior, consent to a background check and meet face to face with an intake coordinator for evaluation and skill set determination.
What kind of services are typically offered by Exchange members?
Click here for a PDF showing examples of services exchanged locally.
What does it cost?
Time Banks that received donations are organizations that succeed over time. For the past 4 years Time Bank Mahoning Watershed has been able to succeed with private support, but now we ask for your help. As a Member you are automatically emailed a letter asking for an annual donation of dollars and time. Your account will be debited 2 hours on the anniversary of your join date. We are asking you to consider a donation of $25 to $100 dollars—or whatever you feel you can afford. These precious dollars will be used to support our website, administrative costs, marketing, and social event costs. Time Bank members build community. Members learn from one another, care for friends and neighbors, and take responsibility by building a better future. We believe in our capacity to work together Co-Producing vibrant, healthy, and sustainable communities and your gift helps us all to realize our goals.
Send your tax deductible gift today to:
Time Bank Mahoning Watershed
1559 Warner Road
Hubbard, OH 44425
Thank you for helping! Thank you for caring.
What if I don’t want to use a computer?
You can call a Helper to search for a service, put in a request, or update your personal info. [br] You can use the form here to record exchanges: TBMW Service Exchange Reports and this form to report your hours to the coordinators: TBMW Community Service Hours Completed form
What if I have Hours and move away?
TBMW will attempt to exchange your credit with any alternative currencies in your new area.
Tell me about TimeBanking Special Projects. How Can I Help?
Just call and let us know your interest area. Time Banking projects are being used all over the world in all kinds of ways from elder care, school peer based tutoring, youth courts, paying time dollars for medical, housing and legal costs. TimeDollars are even being used in Maine to pay community college tuition!

Policies

  • The Board of Directors will release Policies for Members as the need arises.
  • Time Bank Mahoning Watershed, Inc. does not facilitate Time Credit transactions for child and elder care without a Criminal Background check of the care giver.
  • See our operational guidelines in Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • Download our Time Bank Handbook

Want to be a part of our Time Bank!  Click “Contact Us” and tell us how you wish to be involved in building a service exchange community.

Thank you very much for your interest in joining TimeBank Mahoning Watershed, a community benefit organization.