Exchanging time and skills offers alternative to paying for services
Toolbox
By Sarah Hinckley Times Argus Staff - Published: April 7, 2008
MONTPELIER – As a single mother of five, Elizabeth Wilcox loves the idea of a complementary currency system in which participants exchange their skills or time for a service.
The city of Montpelier unveiled such a system on Saturday afternoon, under the name Onion River Exchange. More than 50 people were at the ceremony that took place at the Lost Nation Theater at City Hall and many added their name and skills to the membership list. There is a suggested donation membership fee of $25 for individuals and $40 for families, but it can be exchanged for two hours of work.
"It's just getting started — at the same time, it is going, and very successful," said Joanna Dillon the coordinator of the exchange, noting that even before the ceremony 30 members were signed up. The idea had been introduced by Envision Montpelier when Dillon began working in the city last fall.
For Wilcox, as a single mom, the idea of saving some money by exchanging services has a lot of appeal.
"I always say we should go back to the barter system," said Wilcox, preparing to sign up as a member. "When you think of it in the historical sense, this was quite common. The novelty is, really, that we've become such a specialized society."
Onion River Exchange is a new member of the Central Vermont Time Bank Project. Middlebury and Burlington also have a time bank, which goes beyond the concept of a barter system. A time bank is a network of individuals who provide their skills or services to earn community credits, which they can exchange for the skills and services of others.
"This is our new non-monetary exchange system here in the valley," said Gwendolyn Hallsmith, director of Planning, Zoning and Community Development for Montpelier, during the unveiling. "We try to make it accessible to everybody. The time we exchange in a time bank is tax-exempt because it's considered a voluntary service."
Hallsmith was earning credits at the event by offering her expertise in genealogy and travel advice. Bonnie Mohlman was set up behind a sewing machine earning community credits during the event.
"Joanna brought me her jeans, so I'm fixing them," said Mohlman who was part of an exchange experiment when the project was getting started. "I got a ride to the airport. I was picked up at 4 o'clock in the morning. I didn't have to drive my car – I paid for gas – the only thing was her time."
On the Onion River Exchange Web site members can list their skills and see what others have to offer. Besides sewing, Mohlman is offering her ability as an editor. A board posted at the Saturday event listed other skills people were offering, including Frisbee instruction, mediation, snow shoveling, computer help and guitar lessons.
"As you put out things into the marketplace, you get ideas of things you could do," said Mohlman, noting some of the skill submissions are fun.
"I bring cooking skills, I bring driving skills," said Elaine Cohen who has lived in Montpelier for 14 years. "I have lots of skills. I need someone who wants to come and clean my house… I know someone who was very involved in a barter system. It was amazing what he would get in exchange for his services."
Mayor Mary Hooper attended the event and was thinking of what she could do to earn community credits. Raking and dog-walking were two skills that came to mind since she had just come from doing yard work. Listing skills could be seen as an exercise in realizing how each person has value in what they have to offer our community, she said.
"What a wonderful opportunity to change the way we have social exchanges here in Montpelier," said Hooper to the gathered crowd.
To learn more about becoming a member of the Onion River Exchange go to www.onionriverexchange.org or call Joanna Dillon at 223-9506. Interested parties can pick up a membership form at the Onion River Exchange office, which is in the Planning and Community Development office in City Hall.
"You can provide services in things you're interested in," said Stephen Klein while signing up to be a member. "It does play a really good role in creating community involvement."
Contact Sarah Hinckley at sarah.hinckley@timesargus.com.
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