POEM by Jennifer Jarding

Hey we’ve all got skills

And sometimes those skills help pay our bills

Now some of us got talents

Can we use them all to create some balance?

It’s all about give and take

Let’s find a way to use what we have to celebrate

Share what you got

Plenty folks ‘round here stuck in a state of not

Bank the talent and the skill

Collect them all to satisfy and to fulfill

Now we have a source

We trade ‘em like cards and tap the resource

May not have much money honey

But time plus skill or talent equals happiness one hour at a time.

Jennifer Jarding 2015

Advertisement

A Great Time for Involvement

If you think you might have some time to volunteer for ATEN, this is a great time to step up.  Just as the squirrels are all busy gathering acorns before the cold winter comes, we can all be scurrying to warm up the human-powered engine of our organization!  Come out to the 2nd annual Harvest Soiree: Sunday, November 14th at 5pm, and stick around after for a volunteer meeting.  If you are not yet a member, you can come earlier, for an orientation at 4pm.  We will gather at our usual spot, Soma Vida (1210 Rosewood Ave. 78702).

Did you know that the time banking concept can be found all around the world?  Check out this great video from Wales:

Hope to see you soon!

Orientation and Holiday Soiree this Sunday

Next Orientation and Holiday Soiree

Sunday, December 13th
5-6pm  New member orientation and meeting
6-7:30pm  Potluck and hang out
Location: SomaVida, 1210 Rosewood, 78702

At this potluck, we will be having a little trade for a new or used gift to give t o others.  Please bring your crafts, artwork, good white elephant gifts, crafts you sell, gift certificates for services you provide,  fruits and veggies, or something from around the house.   Place your unwrapped item on the table when you get to the potluck, we will eat, chat, and then anyone that brought a gift is invited to pick up one they like on their way out.  Just bring anything that is gift suitable, something you might want to receive yourself.

Last month, we mentioned that during the potluck we would be highlighting different organizations who are members of the Austin Time Exchange to help connect them with more volunteers.  We are featuring our very own group this month to talk about what we will be looking for in the new year. We hope to see you there.

Time Exchange at work in a labyrinth

A couple of our members got together to help clear and prepare a labyrinth for the upcoming East Austin Studio Tours. Take a look at their work at Synaesthetic Breakfast.

Open Invitation to our Harvest Soiree

You’re invited to our harvest potluck, orientation and information session on November 8th (more details below)

The Austin Time Exchange Network (ATEN) is one of the many Time Banks in the United States and around the world which allows local communities to exchanges services without depending on cash for absolutely everything.  This has become more important as people find themselves with less cash, strained employment and crunched credit.

Boasting almost 300 members, the Austin Time Exchange is approaching four years of exchanges between members of the Austin community and surrounding cities. 

ATEN

The Austin Time Exchange Network (ATEN) is a local program that enables individuals to provide and receive skills and services within a network of people and organizations in Greater Austin. Similar to concepts expressed in bartering and alternative currency systems, this grassroots initiative lets members exchange labor and assistance without using the U.S. Dollar. Launched in April of 2006, ATEN currently has over 300 members and invites new participants to join by attending any of our upcoming introduction meetings.

ATEN values equality and compensates each of its members uniformly for the time and work they provide to others in the network. When an individual completes an hour of service for another member, they earn one Exchange Share, the unit of credit used within the network. All hours of service provided by members of ATEN are considered to be of equal value regardless of the type of skill offered in the exchange. The Exchange Share earned can be spent on receiving an hour of service from any other member of the network.

The Austin Time Exchange serves a significant purpose for Austin on several levels and in many areas of life. It is a common-sense, practical, and useful system that not only theorizes about the way communities should interact, but puts in place the methods and tools to make it happen. It provides an alternative means for its members to meet their everyday needs through promoting a complementary, local economic system. ATEN also creates a web of interaction and support that includes people from different areas and diverse backgrounds in its membership. The Austin Time Exchange has the promise to promote social change and encourage economic self-sufficiency through rebuilding a sense of community and opportunity in Greater Austin.

To learn more or become involved in the Austin Time Exchange, please attend an informational meeting.