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BACE Launches Mini Timebanks in March

BACE Timebank groups are really mini timebanks within BACE Timebank. In March 2024, BACE Timebank and one of our newest members created five new timebanks:  Advocacy & Justice, Amateur Radio Operators (Hams), Building Business Communities, Pet Care, and Writers. Members first join BACE Timebank, and then they can join a mini timebank to do exchanges with members in that group. Membership in a mini timebanks doesn’t interfere with members’ use of the larger, BACE Timebank.

New Member Launches Hams Timebank

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.”

2023 Member Survey Results

BACE Timebank leaders rely on membership surveys to make programming and outreach decisions. Here is summary of results for our 2023 BACE Membership Survey:

  • 58 members responded
  • 90% of members plan to timebank in 2024
  • Nearly 60% of members plan to timebank in person for half of their exchanges. 
  • Members believe that it is at least somewhat important for people in their neighborhoods to have access to a timebank, but not as many members believe that they personally need access to a timebank. 
  • Members want to keep the timebank free to join and free to use
  • Members want a platform that is easy to use
  • Members were diverse in age, gender identity, race, and languages spoken

Findings suggest that BACE Timebank leaders needs to (1) increase outreach to younger people, BIPOC, and bi-lingual people, (2) improve messaging around mission-driven membership, (3) improve messaging for timebanking as a regular practice, (4) explore ways to improve the timebank platform

Note: Participants were not randomly selected to participate, so results of this survey may not represent the needs and interests of all members.

Look in the Mirror

25…Number of times people said that BACE Timebank needs more financing.  

0…Typical number of times those people completed an exchange in the last year.  

All the financing in the world isn’t going to make your timebank more active. Barriers to timebanking are deep and broad; throwing money at them doesn’t work. For the past two years, BACE has had an ongoing media campaign to combat barriers and myths to timebanking. If you want an active timebank, the best advice we can give is:  Look in the mirror because that person has the power to make a difference!

New in 2024: Timebanking in Jamestown, CA

BACE Timebank is expanding into Tuolumne County by pilot testing timebanking in a small mobile home community in the mountains of Jamestown. Jamestown is 3 square miles, and according to the 2010 Census, Jamestown has 3423 residents, with 40% living in rental housing. Jamestown was a California Gold Rush town and was made a historical landmark in 1949. Do you know someone living in Jamestown, California or nearby?  If so, tell them that BACE Timebank is up and running in Jamestown!  

Giving Tuesday 2023

Join the global generosity movement on Giving Tuesday and donate to the BACE Timebank on Nov 28, 2023. While we use time as a currency, some of our operating costs can only be paid with dollars. Your donation helps pay for technical and promotion services which keeps our timebank free to join and free to use. We’re helping people increase their support networks for obtaining services such as rides to the doctor, pet care, and home-cooked foods. We’re introducing communities like the East Canyon and Montclair in Oakland to timebanking so they can timebank those volunteers who devote time to gardening, developing local newsletters, and doing other projects that build resilient communities in Oakland.  Please donate today!