Mid Maine TimeBank

Regarding an Associated Press news story on timebanking June 3, 2010, found at:

http://www.midmetimebank.org/asspressarticle.htm

I was one of many TimeBank coordinators interviewed nationally, and I would like to add these further comments:

In response to a recent Associated Press article by Michael Rubinkam in last Sundays edition (6/6, “‘Banks’ deal in time, not cash”, I wish to let readers know that there is much more to the story of Time Banking, happening right here in Maine. In April, the founder of Time Banking, Edgar Cahn, visited the University of Maine at Augusta for a riveting economic symposium, “Making Ends Meet,” sharing his vision first sprouted in the 1980’s and now exploding, through the use of Internet technology. He calls for a partnership of currencies, the US Dollar working alongside the local “Time Dollar,” to fully express our human capacity, and teaches that competition must be balanced with collaboration. Along with the UMA community, members from five time banks in Maine attended the UMA symposium or other events during Cahn’s visit: Hour Exchange Portland, MerryMeeting Community Shares in Bath/Brunswick, Thrive Time Bank in Lewiston, Waldo Exchange (Waldo County) and Mid Maine TimeBank in Waterville (covering all of Kennebec, Somerset and Penobscot counties), who helped arrange the Maine events.

Hundreds of Mainers and many thousands of time bankers worldwide are finding that time banks offer a wide network of services and possibilities, and that Time Banking offers real solutions. Rather than turn blue waiting for the government or corporations to help us, fighting for crumbs, we have decided to help ourselves. We trade our time on an equal basis, an hour for an hour. We place a value on things that we as a society need to value – caring for and honoring children, parents and the disenfranchised, artistic endeavor, acts of kindness and making democracy accountable -- things that the cash economy does not. We have realized that money cannot buy us love, trust, or a sense of belonging or meaning to our lives. It cannot bring us community, our health, or safety. Money can disappear in the blink of an eye. Over the last forty years, our entire nation has seen a decline in social capital, a dissolving of local support and natural reciprocity. Along the way to prosperity, we lost our trust in our neighbor, our politicians, and our government. We lost our center by becoming disengaged. We have always prided ourselves on self-reliance, but it is an illusion; it has made us lose sight of community and unable to ask for help without shame.

Time, however, is up to us, and it remains constant. We can decide how we spend it. Time Banking offers us a new model of the old way of bartering, one that does not judge or classify worth, and reinvigorates volunteerism. We need each other; we need to be valued for everything that we are, and together, we have a wealth of opportunity at our fingertips. Join a time bank near you today, or start one of your own in your neighborhood. The more the merrier. As Edgar Cahn reminds us, “We have what we need if we use what we have.”

Stacey Jacobsohn

Coordinator, Mid Maine TimeBank

Dr. Edgar Cahn, the founder of timebanking, is coming to the University of Maine at Augusta on April 13, 2010! He will serve as keynote speaker for UMA's Economic Symposium, explaining the wealth of opportunity outside the market system available in every neighborhood. If you would like more information regarding this event, please e-mail: info@midmetimebank.org. Space is limited. Edgar will also be available to help steer our timebank, and we'd like to show him a warm welcome. If you would like to help plan his welcome, we would greatly appreciate it.

Edgar Cahn: Soldier in the War on Poverty and Injustice

Dr. Edgar Cahn is a civil rights lawyer and social innovator. As an activist, he has made significant impacts in areas as diverse as hunger and malnutrition, poverty, indigenous people's rights, public services, community health, public housing and social welfare.

His work began in the 1960’s with the Kennedy Administration, helping to develop Americorp VISTA as an offshoot of the PeaceCorps. He began the National Legal Services Program, drafting legislation for the “War on Poverty” during the Johnson Administration using innovative concepts of co-production with community partners. In the 70’s, he founded Antioch Law School in the District of Columbia (now the David A. Clarke Law School), fostering public interest law and a new breed of lawyers working for the common good.

Dr. Cahn is perhaps best known for his latest idea, “Time Banking,” which began in the early 80’s as an innovative alternative economy, using co-production and the theme of equality to foster self-reliance and a new way of delivering services to the needy while engaging them to help others. His book, “No More Throwaway People,” explains the concept of a core economy underlying the market economy, placing tangible value on time. The TimeBank model has been adopted by enterprises in more than 300 communities in 23 countries in North America, Europe and Asia. The smallest has fewer than 15, the largest over 8,000. Internet capabilities have grown to help timebanking evolve into a vibrant networking tool and the future is bright for this expanding program.

If you are interested in attending this event, e-mail us your contact info and we will add you to our general mailing list. Space is limited. E-mail: info@midmetimebank.org, subject: UMA Economic Symposium.

Edgar Cahn is a captivating speaker and a distinguished scholar. If you are interested in having Dr. Cahn speak for your group at your convenience while he is here in April, please contact Stacey Jacobsohn, Coordinator of the Mid Maine TimeBank:

info@midmetimebank.org

Contact Information:

Stacey Jacobsohn, Coordinator

Mid Maine TimeBank

70 Pleasant Street

Waterville, ME 04901-6672                                                                                                                                                                 

Phone: (207) 873-5844

Email: info@midmetimebank.org        

Web: http://www.midmetimebank.org/                                                                                                                                   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TimeBank Celebrates Making a Difference!

The Mid Maine TimeBank, a project of the Kennebec Valley Organization, is holding a Fall Harvest Event to celebrate National Make a Difference Day, open to members and the public at no charge held at St Francis De Sales Parish Hall in Waterville.

Waterville, Maine – October 24, 2009 – To celebrate National Make a Difference Day, a holiday sponsored by USA Weekend to recognize volunteers in our community, the Mid Maine TimeBank of Kennebec, Somerset, and Penobscot counties is holding a

Fall Harvest Potluck from 3:00pm – 7:00pm at St. Francis De Sales Parish Hall located at 50 Elm Street in Waterville.

The event is open to members and the public at no charge, and those attending are encouraged to bring a dish and a friend. Come meet and join neighbors in celebration of timebanking, acts of kindness and the autumn season with a live performance by local musical group “Stone Quarry,” family activities and creations surrounding our bountiful harvest.

Mid Maine TimeBank

The Mid Maine TimeBank, a project of the Kennebec Valley Organization, is an organization that honors, records and rewards individual and group efforts to restore supportive communities throughout Kennebec, Somerset, and Penobscot counties. Members exchange talents, skills and resources to create a vibrant and diverse social network based on reciprocity and respect.

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We will be meeting October 15th from 5:30pm - 7pm at the TimeBank Office, 179 Main St, Suite 201, Waterville, to plan details for the Fall Harvest Potluck on the 24th. Please come and help us plan our next event! We need help with: cooking, decorating, inviting friends, gathering pumpkins, gourds and corn stalks, etc. Poets and musicians are wanted to join the band. Phone conferencing is available for those at a distance who want to join the meeting and avoid driving. Please call Stacey at 872-2909 for more details.

Hello from the TimeBank!

At our meeting on Monday, we scheduled a TimeBank event for October 24th, from 3-7. Save this date on your calendar- details to follow! There will be food and fun for all! We will need help for many things and if you would like to assist us, please let us know!  The end of summer brings us into full swing at theTimeBank Office. We have seen many old and new friends appearing in ourbeautiful new Community Weaver marketplace and have been activatingmembers as quickly as we can. This private, online marketplace is forall our members to enjoy to the fullest in the future. Many activated members have begun posting offers and requests of all sorts, fromnavigating computers to gardening and Algebra tutoring.

Keep those posts coming! The TimeBank is offeringone Time Dollar for every pair of postings, one offer and one request,in Community Weaver. We are also offering one Time Dollar for each newactive member recruited - so tell your friends and family, anyone you think would love timebanking, to join us?we all win. To our old members who have not yet renewed your membership, don't delay. Just reply to this e-mail and we will get you started again and renew your accounts.

Sign in here. (add this page to your favorites or bookmarks for future easy reference)    For those who recently joined or renewed, offersand requests posted in the "marketplace" will give you an idea of howto write your own ad. This is separate from the offers and requests youlisted in your profile, which do not appear in a general search of themarketplace. From your profile, click "Add an Offer" or "Add a Reqest".You will be guided through creating your own ad. Let others see whatyou have to share and what you could use help with?give as much detailas you can. If you think your ad belongs in more than one category, youmay create more than one ad for the same service, to help members findyou when they search.

Many have posted their photo in their profiles. Seeing a photo is very helpful in social networking, and helps matchnames with skills and talents. For those of you who need help with any of these things, simply reply to this e-mail or call our office at872-2909. We will be glad to assist you with anything that you need. Leah Estey has added an offer to assist you as well- check it out inthe "give and receive" marketplace, as well as other postings.

We are beginning to plan events for the near future, as well as our event in October. If you would like to beinvolved in helping to plan gatherings or have ideas you'd like toshare, we welcome your assistance and need your help!!