Pack rats can turn in tunes for 'exchange'
|
|
The Onion River Exchange - a "time bank" in which people can make figurative deposits and withdrawals of skills and services - is looking for donations of old records, CDs and DVDs for its upcoming fundraising sale. File Photo |
Toolbox
By SARAH HINCKLEY Times Argus Staff - Published: May 14, 2009
MONTPELIER – What does one do with all those 45s, vinyl albums, CDs and DVDs that have been relocated over the years or simply stuffed in the basement in the hope of a revival?
Box them up and donate them to the Onion River Exchange for its RePlay the Tunes sale.
While the Onion River Exchange is a "time bank" – a money-free system of exchange – money raised from the sale scheduled in July will go toward administrative costs for the organization. There are several collection locations throughout central Vermont, from Waitsfield to Plainfield and in between, where folks can bring their goods.
"It's the fastest-growing time bank in the country," said Karen Hanron, who became a member last fall and is coordinating the sale. "It's really good, and not just because it's a good idea, but for people with limited resources, it's a really big help."
As a member of Onion River Exchange, Hanron has had a handmade quilt sewn for her, gotten the light bulbs in her vehicle's headlights replaced, had someone take her daughter to gymnastics practice and had computer data transferred from an old machine to a new one. At the same time, she has helped clean homes and organize offices, and performed administrative work and other home projects. Hanron is also earning time for organizing the RePlay the Tunes sale.
"For some people it's survival, in a way. They can get their needs met with limited resources," said Hanron. "You can also get your house cleaned and errands run if you're sick. … No one's time is any more valuable than anyone else's. Time is time. It's equally as valuable."
Since the Onion River Exchange was started in April 2008, more than 250 individuals and organizations have signed memberships. While more than 50 percent of the members are located in Montpelier, where the time bank is based, people and groups from surrounding communities have also joined.
Hanron offered an example of how one local organization is participating. An area college is providing storage space for collected sale items, and in the future, if there is landscaping or other work needed on the campus, those with the necessary skills who want to earn hours can help beautify the grounds.
"There's a lot of ways this can serve people," said Hanron, explaining the skills people offer are as diverse as pet sitting, haircutting, computer work and home repairs.
Over 1,000 items have been collected for the sale so far, but Hanron and others organizing the sale are looking for lots more. Items already in the cache include 78-rpm vinyl records, 45s (for those who remember the days) and a plethora of CDs from the radio station "The Point," which transmits at several frequencies throughout the central and northern sections of the state.
Donations for the sale are a tax write-off, and all who donate will have their name included in a drawing for free prizes, including an oil change, a facial and more from members of the exchange.
The deadline for handing items in to the designated locations is July 1. Locations include: City Hall basement in Montpelier, the ReStore on Granite Street in Barre, Mason Brothers Architectural Salvage in Essex Junction, The Big Picture in Waitsfield, River Run Restaurant in Plainfield, Lamoille Family Center in Morrisville and WDEV in Waterbury.
Collection times vary from place to place. Most are during regular business hours, but specific times can be found on the Onion River Exchange Web site at www.orexchange.org/record.
The RePlay the Tunes sale is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 18 at the Unitarian Church at 130 Main St. in Montpelier. There are expected to be some real deals among the records.
"All the albums are going for two bucks apiece – no matter what," said Hanron. "That's kind of the beauty of this — everything's two bucks and you could end up with something that's worth a lot more. … I can't wait to see some of these albums come in. The range we've got up there (at the college) is phenomenal."
Contact Sarah Hinckley at sarah.hinckley@timesargus.com.