Go ahead, spend your time (not money - it’s free) and become a member. Then get your neighbors on board.
Think about what services you could offer to your neighbors and what services you could use some help with. We recognize that each person has talents to share, and that the overall community is strengthened when neighbors help one another. Instead of separating our community into those who need and those who provide, we recognize that we all have needs and gifts to share. 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.
Also, begin to think about what services you might need or could provide in the event of an emergency. Who might you want to contact you in the event of an emergency and is there a neighbor that you would be willing to reach out to if there was a community emergency? We will soon be incorporating features that will enable the community exchange to function as an emergency response system.
Our Core Values: We mean many things to many people and our core values are what bind us together and makes us a community.
Assets: We all have talents and strengths. We are all assets. Every human being has something of value to contribute
Equality: At the heart of every exchange of time is equality. All people are valued equally at [our service exchange]. One hour of service equals one time credit, regardless of the service. One hour of legal advice equals one hour of weatherization equals one hour of transportation or help, etc.
Respect: Everyone matters. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.
Redefining Work: Work is beyond price. We feel that work must be redefined to include all of the activities it takes to sustain families, neighborhoods and communities, to sustain our democracy and to advance social justice. This kind of work needs to be honored and rewarded.
Reciprocity: Helping works better as a two way street. The question, “How can I help you?” needs to be changed to, “How can we help each other build the world we both want to live in?” At [our service exchange], you earn what you receive. You can feel good about what you are exchanging because you are not always taking, or always giving.