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by harvey meyer Bartering? I thought that was something people did in the old days. You know, like, “I’ll trade you this sack of potatoes if you help me put up a fence.” Or something like that. But I’ve been pleasantly surprised to discover bartering (alternatively known as time banking) - primarily, exchanging one service for another - is alive and well today in the Twin Cities. In fact, through four local groups (and perhaps more), you can trade, for example, house cleaning or yard work for services ranging from minor car maintenance and child care to tutoring and computer consultation. Generally, participants receive one credit for offering an hour of service; in turn, they can receive an hour of service. Among the services I’ve offered at the Community Barter Network (CBN) in south Minneapolis are resume preparation and budgeting advice. In return, I’ve received assistance with minor electrical repairs and playing the guitar. It is nice to know I can contact someone else to perform work I’m either not interested in or can’t afford. I also appreciate the fact I can learn new skills and talents from like-minded folks. For some, developing new skills and talents helps them become more attractive to employers. It may even lead to people outside the bartering community paying for that service. Improving skills also helps barterers feel better about themselves. Whatever skill you offer, whether it’s as simple as walking a dog or just visiting with someone, all are valued as much as any other service. Another benefit of bartering: cost savings. Membership is free or very low-cost. And you’re able to help reduce expenses because you’re paying with time and energy instead of dollars. For some, especially the elderly and disabled, these savings are important. Often, cutting costs through bartering allows them to stay in their homes longer. Participants can also help those in need by donating their credits to them. Mary Reed-Johnson of Minneapolis knows first hand about the cost-saving potential of bartering. Reed-Johnson, a hair-styling entrepreneur who primarily offers her styling as her bartering service, recalls using a graphic artist and proofreader through CBN to help her complete her first book. “I received 11 hours of high-quality service from the graphic artist, something that would normally cost me $60 per hour or more,” said Reed-Johnson. “That was quite a chunk of change I was able to save.” Bartering also allows a person to befriend others, something that seems increasingly difficult in a large metropolitan area. Building such relationships creates caring and trust, and this helps strengthen the community. “One of the main goals with our bartering organization was to help build community on St. Paul’s West Side,” said Steve Faust, former head of the Westside Barterworks. “The best way of doing that is with neighbors getting to know each other, and bartering helps facilitate that.” Carole Broad, former CBN coordinator, adds, “One of the hidden benefits of bartering is connecting people who wouldn’t necessarily have a reason to meet, either because of age, location or occupation. I’ve seen some lasting cross-generation relationships formed because of their barter involvement.” Four service exchange groups which currently operate in the Twin Cites area include: The Neighborhood Service Exchange (NSE): The NSE began in 1998 as a new program of Community Volunteer Service and Senior Centers, a nonprofit serving the Stillwater-St. Croix Valley region. Helping someone by cooking a meal, fixing a computer, providing a ride to the grocery store or making a friendly visit are some of the more than 200 individual services that NSE participants offer one another. The exchange is open to all who live or work in Washington County and some nearby areas. It currently has more than 130 members including seniors, youth and differently-abled people. Contact at 651-439-7434 or www.volunteercvs.org for more information. Oak Park Community Barter Network: This neighbor-to-neighbor service exchange program serves residents of 55411 and 55412 in Minneapolis and is a civic engagement program of the Oak Park Center offering neighbors a way to save time and money while meeting others in the community. Contact Sabreen at 612-381-1922 for more information or visit www.puc-mn.org. The Hour Dollars Program: Launched in 1997, Hour Dollars is a Time Bank program that currently has about100 members primarily in the Hamline Midway, Summit University and East Side neighborhoods of St. Paul. Anyone living in St. Paul or surrounding suburbs is welcome to join. A member service directory indicates available services such as gardening, minor home repair, piano lessons, or driving. Visit the website for information on attending an orientation meeting to get started. www.hourdollars.org. The SHiFT Time Bank: The SHiFT network supports people in mid-life who seek greater meaning in life and work. The Time Bank offers ShiFT members the chance to earn credits for their volunteer time and exchange those credits for services from others, or with the SHiFT organization. Services run the gamut from car maintenance to hypnosis, with an emphasis on professional services such as marketing, financial and legal. More at www.shiftonline.org. What You Can Do
Courtesy of Do It Green! Minnesota - educating and motivating Minnesotans to live greener, more sustainably and to build healthy communities. www.doitgreen.org
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Community Voices