The Arroyo Seco Network of Time Banks*:
The Arroyo Seco Network of Time Banks is a collaborative network committed to connecting, sharing information, and supporting the expansion of Time Banking in the state. From the largest cities to the smallest towns, we celebrate the many innovative ways time banking can address social issues and creatively fill the gaps by strengthening relationships in our neighborhoods. Based on the fundamental values of respect and reciprocity, we are a creative learning community that shares experiences, trades best practices and empowers each other to work for a healthy, sustainable future.
Growing a Sharing Economy through Reciprocity.
We are an interconnected community of people who help each other by sharing our abilities, talents and experiences. By both giving and receiving, we learn to appreciate the value of each and every member and also come to believe in the value of our own contributions. When you provide a service for another member you earn one time credit for each hour you spend providing the service. You can then exchange each time credit you earn for an hour of service from someone else. Instead of separating our community into those who need and those who provide, we recognize that we all have needs and gifts to share.
Time Banking is a pay it forward system that connects unmet needs with untapped resources. We are part of an international network of timebanking. Go here for the big picture: http://hourworld.org/
For every hour you help another member, you earn a Time Credit. Then you can use that Time Credit to have a neighbor help you: getting a ride, learning the computer, getting a haircut, gardening, etc. Time Credits value everyone’s contributions equally. One hour equals one Time Credit. Time credits can also be used to exchange goods, as well as services.
Local currencies are a big piece of the puzzle for a sustainable economics systems. Whether local paper currencies, time dollars, local exchange trading systems (LETS), or community labor exchanges–all being used in diverse communities across the nation and the world–the use of such systems helps ween us of our dependency on national and global currencies and provides a solid foundation for increasing local resilience.
*CRSP provided the fiscal umbrella for the California Federation of Time Banks and the The Arroyo S.E.C.O. Network of Time Banks for its first several start-up years. We proudly congratulate the ASNTB for achieving its own 501.c.3 tax exempt organizational status in 2014.
**Support for Time Banks has been provided by the Metabolic Studio, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation.