Building community is one of the principles of timebanking. BACE members create community by creating mini timebanks within BACE Timebank. In March 2024, a new member of the BACE Timebank created a timebank for amateur radio operators or hams. Radio operators/hams build community every time they get on the air. Our newest member says, “They may share knowledge and skills for emergency preparedness, resiliency in business communications, and general survival skills training. If you listen to “The Morning Coffee Break net” you’ll hear ham-folks who just want to share anything useful under the sun.” He adds that they “are over 700,000+ strong hams in the United States alone, and Japan has over 1.2 million hams active on the air.”
Inspiration
A Call for Resources
At a time when many people are expressing lack–lack of work, sundries, hand sanitizer, or a good haircut–I’m surprised to hear people say “….timebanking is a nice idea, but that’s not how the real world works.” Why not? Maybe social distancing rules prevent you from your job at a salon, but you can build your clientele by offering pointers on how to trim those mops in exchange for hours of credit. When you go back to work who will they come to for a proper cut? Earn hours: Do you know of someone offering free resources in the Bay Area? Email us the contact information so we can list it on our Resources page, and you’ll receive 0.5 hour time credit for each resource you identify.
How to Timebank while Sheltering in Place
How can you timebank while sheltering-in-place? Think of services. Earn/spend hours engaging in education: teach/learn to interpret art from a diversity of communities, to read music, to speak Spanish, to communicate with American Sign Language, or to sharpen your cooking skills. On the home front, give/receive support with grocery runs, Internet searches (for scholarships, an apartment, etc.), or home, bike & car repair. On the job front, give/receive support on developing a LinkedIn profile, creating a website to launch a products, or hunting for jobs. You can even earn hours promoting the Timebank this summer.
Timebankers Without Time?
I’m bemused when timebankers tell me that they don’t have time to timebank. Who has more time than a timebanker? You earn time doing things for others, and you can spend time you don’t have because time debt is permitted. This spring, take control of your time; ask timebankers to help with pet care, spring cleaning, recycling, surfing for information you need, and more.
2019 Resolutions & Timebanking
Happy New Year! Reviewing my 2018 exchanges, I see how the Timebank made a difference in my sense of community. I enjoyed offering my skill for tutoring and appreciated receiving the talents that other timebankers shared with me. What do you see when you review your exchanges? Integrating the Timebank into your life is easy. Even better, you’re strengthening your community each time you use the Timebank. Use 2019 to share your talents with the timebanking community and begin resolving some of those New Year’s resolutions with the help of the timebanking community.
