This idea is a prize winner...
5-28-09

Rare is the occasion when a tv news or feature story grabs my attention. This was the case Tuesday May 12th. Philly's Fox 29 did a feature on 'Time banks,' the closest and only area chapter to us in Phoenixville. Time banks work very simply and allow folks like us to get services completed with the only currency traded being time. Confused? Don't be; it's a simple concept.

Here's how the National Time Bank association ( www.timebanks.org) and the Phoenixville chapter of this organization ( www.pa-timebank.com) works as it was explained to me by Cara Graver a board member for the Phoenixville group. You sign up as a member. Tthe cost is $25 per year and this covers cooridination costs to maintain a website and related duties. You list services, skills and things you want to have published on the website. Then you start checking over services and skills which are in need by the membership. As an example someone may post a need for 'ride to and from the airport'. You respond and the total roundtrip time runs about two hours. Your time bank account is now at 2 hours. Going forward you need your home cleaned, garage organized, lawn raked, you get the picture. You post your request and someone who is adept at these skills reciprocates up to the alloted time you have in your account. Now it's a great concept, but there are some areas to consider. Not every one of your needs will match the membership qualifications so you will have to deal with some areas on your own. Still, if you manage to get some things done in exchange for giving up some of your time and talent you're making progress without spending money!! You also may want to meet someone at a public location and get to know them a little before conducting the business of barter.

Keep in mind time banking doesn't include purchases. If someone says they need help cooking an Italian meal ( I could help with that ) the requesting party is responsible for making the purchase on all items needed. Your role is simply to cook and prepare the meal. If someone needs their lawn mowed, you should expect they have their own lawn mower, weed wacker, rake to get the job done. The great thing about the time bank is you can make these arrangements and have this all figured out through email exchanges with your fellow members. You're able to decide whether to pursue a task based on information you receive.

The Phoenixville Chapter has regular socials where members meet and get to know one another. Another cool concept about this 'time bank' idea is that it fosters great community awareness and involvement. People you may never get to know otherwise you'll get to know through 'time banking'. Cara relayed to me she is adept at hair cutting and styling. She exchanged this service and redeemed the time it took with the same woman to cook delicious Indian food which was her specialty. By the way, your time bank hours don't have to be exchanged with the same person you've provided a service as was the case in this example. Once you earn your time you may use your time earned with any member. I asked Cara whoever thought of this time bank concept should receive significant recognition. Cara told me the concept was begun by Edgar Cahn. Edgar lies in a hospital bed recovering from surgery after a heart attack. Knowing he would need help when he got home this concept was born. Soon all of the people in Cahn's senior housing apartment complex were exchanging services with each other and everyone's fixed income just got a boost by implementing this 'time bank' concept.

Now for the real question, could our community do this? Sure!! In fact Cara explained members of the Phoenixville chapter are available to come out and help any group of neighbors or residents start our own chapter. You don't even need to start a chapter with affiliation to www.timebanks.org. We can start our own chapter and do our own 'time bank' Upper Bucks County style. For obvious reasons geography is an important component for the ease of use of the time bank concept. This has been around for a while and is now just getting noticed. Unfortunately it took a recession to look at this out-of-the-box concept. If you're interested in starting a time bank in our area email me at 543528@comcast.net. See 'ya around town.