Yep...it's true!  As a member of a time bank you can get needs met and you don't need to spend money to do it.  Sounds pretty good right?

As we discussed in previous posts, in time banking we believe that everyone has skills to share with others and everyone has needs that friends and neighbors can help you with.  There is a reciprocity in time banking, a give and take which is rooted in skills and interests rather than in a monetary relationship.

Once you become a time bank member you can begin to spend the Time Dollars you earned by requesting a service from other members.  These requests are then automatically emailed out to the membership and members have a chance to respond and fulfill your request.  So I just took a look at the Phoenixville Area Time Bank webpage (BTW: the Good Neighbors website will be up and running by this time next month...we hope!) and went to their request page.  This is a list of all the types of requests currently in circulation within the PATB.

 Let's say you need sewing help.  Perhaps you're like me...short...5'2"...and usually need you pants hemmed.  You can make a request for a member to hem your pants.  Easy Peasy!

OK- so maybe you're a normal sized human and don't need a lot of clothing hemmed.  Maybe you're looking for some financial information.  Now, you would not want to ask me for financial help, but there are lots of other members who have the knowledge and experience to help you.  No problem!

Don't need financial assistance?  How about help gardening or with yard work?  There are members who could help you with weeding or learning about how to grow vegetables.  So cool!

Also, on the PATB website is a list of the the time bank's talents.  This is my favorite by the way.

According to this amazing list of talent, there are 18 members who are willing and able to help you with sewing.  There are 7 members who can help you with your finances and there are a whopping 32 members who would love to help you in your garden!  So get thinking about what talents you want to share with others and what some of your needs might be.  Can't wait to get things started.  Keep in mind that if you live/work in the Phoenixville Area you can join the Phoenixville Area Time Bank today!  Reach out at www.patb.timebanks.org. 

Until the next time...Cultivate Optimism!

 So in order to participate in time banking you need to sign up as a member of the time bank.  This usually entails filling out an application with demographic info.  There may be a modest fee attached to joining a time bank.  This fee covers the cost of the software time banks use to track your time dollars as well as other operating costs.  If a fee would be an obstacle for you to join a time bank...never fear!  There are easy ways around this.  For example, you could provide 2 hours of volunteering to the time bank covering your fee.  Once you are all signed up there is usually an orientation to go to.  I would strongly advise you to take advantage of this.  1) You get to meet really NICE time banking people.  2) You get to learn about the FANTASTIC time bank you just joined and 3) You get to learn how to use the time bank SOFTWARE.  Don't worry- the software is easy, but if you don't have a computer or  computers are your mortal enemy there's ways around that too.

Now you're ready to start time banking. WOO HOO!   I will use myself as an example.  I am a member of the Phoenixville Area Time Bank (Check them out if you live in the Phoenixville area- they are Rock Stars!)  I like to cook, so one service I offer the time bank is cooking meals.  Members contact me through the time bank webpage and place their order.  Last week I received an order for a vegetarian and egg free lasagna.  After I get the request I:

1) Go to the grocery store to get the ingredients.  The member who requested the lasagna will reimburse me the cost of the raw ingredients.  In this case: noodles, ricotta, mozzarella and sauce.

2) Make the lasagna.  I don't charge for the baking time, just the assembly. 

3) Take the lasagna out of the oven and put instructions on the foil cover.  Then its time to clean up.

4) The only thing left is to schedule a pick up or delivery and then "bank" your time.  The requesting member paid me the money for the ingredients and 2 time dollars for 2 hours of service.  Shopping, assembly, clean up and delivery.

Now the only question is...how will I spend my time dollars? Guitar lessons? Gardening help? Help with my taxes?  Sky's the limit! Time banking is easy and fun.  It brings people together and helps you to get all your needs met.  Can't wait until will launch the Good Neighbors Time Bank in June.  We hope to begin officially signing up members in April so stay tuned!  Until then...Cultivate Optimism!