Cape Cod Time Bank: July 2009

How Much is YOUR community worth to you? Membership Fees $10 - $50 per year.

Please send your membership donation to:

Cape Cod Time Bank 5 Stage Coach Road Harwich, MA 02645

We are a Massachusetts Incorporated, Non Profit, 501 (c) (3) (IRS pending), federally recognized community based agency. EIN 80-0401886

Cape Cod Time Bank was is spearheaded by local activist, John Bangert and co- founded by a group of like minded, dedicated folks who have committed to each other to meet monthly at home based community potlucks dinners after the inauguration of our new president, as a way to weave the Cape Cod community together one hour at a time.

What can we all do to rebuild or community, the 1st 100 days, or 1st 1000 days of this year to serve all Americans by serving in our own communities on hour a at a time?

A website was established on March, 2009 and so far, more than 120 individuals and families have joined together to share their gifts and talents and to earn Time Bank Dollars to spend when needing assistance at a later time.

To join Cape Cod Time Bank or any other TimeBank just go to: TimeBanksUSA

We expect more than 3500 volunteer hours of service to occur over the next twelve months. Any individual may join by voluntarily donating $10 – 50 per year to help underwrite communication and website costs.

Volunteer assets are documented on a simple interactive computer questionnaire each member completes, and then each member records time volunteered and needs for assistance. Volunteer coordinators keep track of the time dollars and send emails to participants to document volunteer services rendered or received.

Time Bank is an equal opportunity nonprofit organization operating in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We are a nonpartisan, nonpolitical and we are not affiliated with any particular religion, creed or doctrine. Anyone may join hands and stand with other Time Bank members to work together to meet community needs. With Time Banking, sharing gifts means building trust.

The premise behind the Cape Cod Time Bank is to link together people who have time and talent with those who need help. This is not a barter system, but a goodwill offering of time and talent to selflessly help others.

Edgar H.Cahn, the founder of the Vista Program and author of Time Dollars and No More Throw-Away People, founded the first Time Bank in 1986. The movement now has more than 100 affiliated Time Bank organizations from coast to coast and from north to south. It also has affiliations in Wales, Ireland, Great Britain and dozens of other international locations.

The Cape Cod Time Bank is dedicated to five Core Values:

1. Assets We are all assets. Every human being has something to contribute.

2. Redefining Work Some work is beyond price Work has to be redefined to value whatever it takes to raise healthy children, build strong families, revitalize neighborhoods, make democracy work, advance social justice, and make the planet sustainable. That kind of work needs to be honored, recorded and rewarded.

3. Reciprocity Helping works better as a two-way street The question: “How can I help you?” needs to change so we ask “How can we help build the world we both will live in?”

4. Social Networks We need each other. Networks are stronger than individuals. People helping each other reweave communities of support, strength & trust. Community is built upon sinking roots, building trust, creating networks. Special relationships are built on commitment.

5. Respect Every human being matters. Respect underlies freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and everything we value. Respect supplies the heart and soul of democracy. When respect is denied to anyone, we are all injured. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.

Currently, the organization operates by volunteers who serve the community. Over time, as the Time Bank membership grows, a part-time manager will be hired and as the need dictates, within four or five years a full-time Executive Director will be appointed by the board of directors. The organization’s board of four members is being expanded to 9-10 as the by-laws describe, with revolving three year terms.

Residency from all along Cape Cod will allow Time Bank board members to share the message to civic groups, hospitals, libraries and schools.

While board members may wear many hats in their work, civic and social lives, they will not lobby or seek to influence legislation while performing their Time Bank duties.

All board members serve without compensation.

All are required to be Time Bank members in good standing and all contribute time, talent and personal donations to further the mission of Cape Cod Time Bank.

A conflict of interest statement was adopted by resolution at the first board meeting and is attached for review.

New board members will be given a copy and asked to sign it before being seated on the board of directors.

How Does Time Bank Work?

First, take a look at our website, capecodtimebank.org. A Time Bank is like a food bank or food pantry, which is a collection of nourishment for needy members of the community.

A Time Bank is a network that allows members to exchange assistance and services and this service is tracked and reported by computer. Time Bank members offer activities they enjoy, like cooking, gardening or tutoring. When a member needs something, they review the computer database of services on offer, check availability, and create a request.

A member can also request a new service and hope that another member will step up and meet that need. No money ever exchanges hands. Instead, for each hour of work given, one Time Dollar is deposited in the member’s account. Time Bank activities allow one individual to serve one individual or one individual to serve many individuals. It also allows many people, collectively, to serve many others, or to serve just one.

Please review copies of articles and testimonials to round out the picture of the Cape Cod Time Bank

The only asset currently owned by Time Bank is the software valued at approximately $500 that manages our member’s accounts and tallies hours needed and exchanged.

Fundraising

Funding in the past has come from individual donations and member donations. In the future, once we have received the IRS letter of determination, fundraising will follow four or five paths to success:

1. Emails to community leaders, business owners and elected officials will solicit cash contributions or in-kind support. A brochure will be included with the email.

2. Letters requesting a variety of assistance will also be sent to identifiable community donors.

3. Grant requests to corporations, foundations and governmental entities will provide up to 50% of operating revenue by our third year of operation. Written requests will include a copy of the brochure, annual report, DVD of sample Time Bank projects, an audited financial statement and testimonials from volunteers and recipients.

4. Special event fund raising will include online auctions, dinners with silent and live auctions, round robin dinners in Time Bank members’ homes, and concession proceeds from Craft Fairs, or local Summer League Baseball games on Cape Cod. etc.

5. Annual meeting that will bring all Time Bank members together at one time.

If Time Bank is offered large gifts of real estate or property such as a vehicle or boat, the board of directors will seek legal advice and adopt a policy before accepting any such gifts to insure that the gifts are handled legally and in the best interests of Cape Cod Time Share.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Pictures from TimeBanks USA Annual Conference Madison, Wisconsin

Panelists Jo-Ann Wallace, from The National Legal Aid & Defender Association and panelist as well as our Conference Co-Host from Madison, Wisconsin, Dane County TimeBank's Director Stephanie Rearick