So how is the formation of a Wairarapa Timebank progressing?

A Wairarapa Timebank is on its way.  A steering group has formed and is being hosted by Helen Dew from Living Economies.  Stephanie Young, also from Living Economies, Hayden McGrail from Wairarapa Green Dollar Exchange, Catherine Rossiter-Stead, Volunteer Co-ordinator, Pukaha Mt Bruce and Stuart McKay, Project Co-ordinator for the Mangatarere Restoration Society have been meeting on a monthly basis to work towards a Wairarapa Timebank launching at some time in 2013.  The steering group is largely in information mode, watching and learning from other timebanks from across the country.

Are you an organisation that needs to access more volunteers?

At the heart of timebanking is using skills in the community to help others.   The Steering Group is interested in hearing from organisations in the Wairarapa that utilise volunteers and are interested in how the formation of Wairarapa Timebank can help them.  Watch this space for further information or email us at Wairarapa.timebank@gmail.com.

What’s going on this month?

A number of organisations have indicated they’d welcome people helping their organisation through a Wairarapa Timebank.  While we’re getting set up, why not contact them direct?   Mangatarere Minders: Next busy bee is 7 February 2013 from 8.00 am to 11.00 am at their native planting site by Brooklyn Road Bridge.  Bring water, sunscreen and a light lunch. If weather is unreliable, call Seymour on 027 204 8992 or 06 379 6059 to check if the group is still meeting.   Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wairarapa: Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children and young people aged 6 through 18 with mentors in professionally supported one-to-one relationships. Contact Benita at benita.lawrence@bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz for further information.

Timebanking at the National Level

Timebanking across New Zealand took on new momentum in November when 15 Timebanks from across the country held a national hui. Stuart McKay attended on behalf of the Wairarapa Timebank.

“It was great to hear what others were doing, and benefit from their experience,” he said. “Timebanking brings out those in a community who like to get involved.  A Wairarapa Timebank has the potential to be a great resource to Wairarapa organisations who work closely with volunteers.”

Participants from the National Timebanking Hui

Topics covered included staging events for people to get involved in community activities, working with community organisations and fostering diverse memberships of community orientated people.  If you’re interested in finding out more about timebanking at the national level you can visit the Timebanking Aotearoa website at www.timebank.org.nz/about.

Timebank Wairarapa Community Make A Connection

“I thought Timebanking was primarily a way for people to meet one another’s needs, with community building a nice spin-off, but now I think it’s the other way around,” commented one of the people who came along to a packed public meeting on Timebanking held at the Carterton Events Centre.

Wellington Timebank coordinator Hannah Mackintosh and steering committee member Renee Rushton spoke to the meeting about how the Wellington Timebank started from a back office with an ancient computer, no pens and no paper to today’s vibrant group of 175 members.

“A Timebank is defined by who you are as people in your community,” explained Hannah. “It’s a journey and you have no idea how you’re going to get there, it really is about finding out about who is interested and just calling them up and getting it going.”

The enthusiastic response from the meeting would suggest that there is a groundswell of support behind forming a Timebank in the Wairarapa.

“A year before the Wellington Timebank was formed there was a process where the steering committee built the idea of a Timebank in the community. They held public meetings and workshops explaining to the community what a Timebank was,” added Hannah.

Hannah Mackintosh & Renee Rushton (both of Wellington Timebank) & Helen Dew (Living Economies) thanking presenters at Timebank public meeting in Carterton.

This process has already begun in the Wairarapa, with the formation of an initial steering committee made up of Hayden McGrail (Wairarapa Green Dollar), Stephanie Young (Living Economies), Stuart McKay (Mangatarere Restoration Society) and Catherine Rossiter-Stead (Pukaha Volunteer Programme).

The committee held its inaugural meeting last week to discuss the way forward, with its first steps centred on researching how other Timebanks in New Zealand operate. Two members of the Wairarapa community have already offered to purchase the ‘Community Weaver’ software that helps to keep track of members and their banked time.

Strengthening a sense of community and inspiring respect for each other and the environment is embodied in Timebank Aotearoa’s mission statement. There are currently 26 Timebanks operating in New Zealand and the momentum is gathering as people search for alternative ways of making contributions to society.

Edgar S. Cahn, the creator of Timebanking, explains how Timebanks weave a community one hour at a time: “For every hour you spend doing something for someone in your community, you earn one Time Dollar. Then you have a Time Dollar to spend on having someone do something for you. It's that simple.”

This was clearly demonstrated by Hannah when she recreated a Timebank tree, showing some of the inter-connections which hold Wellington’s 175-strong Timebank community together. “You can really see how connections start to be made within the community and how much people start to get to know one another and link together. People love the fact that it’s based on give and take, as well as equality. We need our community and people can get that through the Timebank.

“Timebanks have just grown so much in New Zealand and I think a lot of that has come out of Lyttelton, where they demonstrated so strongly the impact a Timebank can have, especially in a crisis situation,” summarised Hannah. “The Christchurch earthquake was a terrible tragedy, and what we learned from that was the importance of community in a time of crisis. The people of Lyttelton demonstrated the spirit and resilience of community and the Timebank was a key part of that.”

If you wish to let the Timebank Wairarapa steering committee know that you are keen to be involved please email Timebank Wairarapa at timebankwairarapa@gmail.com. More information on Timebanks can be found at www.le.org.nz. 

A TIMEBANK for the Wairarapa

From Kaitaia in the North to Hokonui in the South, Timebanks are spreading rapidly throughout New Zealand - and soon to be available in the Wairarapa.

A local Timebank would be complementary to the Green Dollar system and many people would choose to use both systems.

Visit http://tinyurl.com/7rj5zto to discover the similarities and differences between Timebanking and Green Dollars. Listen to Edgar Cahn founder of TimeBanks USA at http://tinyurl.com/cy6ebab or purchase Cahn’s book No More Throw Away People from Green Dollar member Living Economies – email info@le.org.nz

 Public meeting – to initiate Timebanking in the Wairarapa

Monday 1^st October, 7.30pm

Events Centre, Holloway St, Carterton

Guest speakers: Hannah Macintosh, co-ordinator, &

Renee Rushton, steering committee, both from Wellington Timebank

Timebanking: Weaving community together one hour at a time.

For every hour you spend doing something for someone in our community,

you earn one time credit.

 You can then spend your time credit on having someone do something for you. 

It’s that simple!

Timebanking builds relationships and trust in a community.

Everyone has something they can contribute; everyone has something they’d like to receive. 

Great for individuals, families, community organisations, church groups….

Visit www.le.org.nz to learn more.

Enquiries: Helen Dew 06 379 8034 helend@contact.net.nz