The Onion River Exchange

Stories from ORE

onionriverexchange — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:04:36 +0000

I received a great note from ORE member Liz about an exchange she did to put raised garden beds in her yard. If you have a great story to share, send it my way!

Hi Joanna,

Chris came and consulted with me about raised bed gardens and after looking into the different methods he offered, I went with the square foot garden method (he highly recommended). I used scrap wood I had around the house to build the bed, filled it with soil and some great compost from my sister and brother-in-law and now have planted my garden!!! Just have to go pick up a few tomato plants and I’ll be set to go! I am looking forward to the crops I hope will be sprouting soon!

Liz

Note from Annie at Burlington Time Banks

onionriverexchange — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:01:39 +0000

This is a note from Annie, the AmeriCorps VISTA at Burlington Time Banks. Some food for thought!

“No one wants what I’m offering!”
It is more common than most know…you hear about the Time Bank, sign up and go through an orientation where you get super pumped about all the possibilities that the Time Bank offers. You think, “Time Banking is going to take over the world!!!” You get home and post offers, wanting to give back to your community.

Then you wait…and wait….and wait for a response.

The longer you wait for someone to respond the more you become disheartened about the Time Bank, thinking “Why isn’t anyone contacting me? Don’t they like what I’m offering? I *know* people need their toilets cleaned! Why aren’t they asking me to do it?” And then you kind of give up on the Time Bank, thinking it isn’t working and that no one is using it.

Well, the Time Bank is just like life in that you get out of it what you put into it! You are the one who decides how active you’ll be in the Time Bank! If you want to be super active and exchanging lots of hours, then start contacting members for their services!!! Look through what is being offered and requested and reply to other’s ads! They are probably going through the same thought process as you “Why doesn’t anyone want me to cut their hair?” If each member looked through and found even one thing to spend Time Dollars on we would automatically have 130 exchanges!

So, get out their and start exchanging! Stop thinking “Why isn’t anyone contacting me?” and start thinking “Why aren’t I contacting them?” Take up guitar lessons. Or leave the kids with a Time Bank member so you and your partner can go contra dancing! Have your pants hemmed! Take a gander at the marketplace and see who *you* can contact.

ORE’s First Business Partner

onionriverexchange — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:50:25 +0000

We have partnered with Montpelier’ Bridge, weekly newspaper. The Bridge usually relied on volunteers for some extra services: now they pay their volunteers (who are members) Community Credits!

Welcome!

A Successful Launch!

onionriverexchange — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:38:22 +0000

This past Saturday we had a successful Launch Party in the Lost Nation Theatre, here in Montpelier. With about 70 in attendance, we celebrated with member service examples (sewing, tarot reading, computer help, genealogy research, and music), food, neighbors, and an exciting new project just getting started in our community!

The Launch brought in 36 new members, all providing many new, exciting services!

An article about the event appeared in the Times Argus yesterday morning. Since its publication, we’ve had some inquiries via phone and in person!

It’s very exciting to see this much growth. The more people who sign up, the services will be offered! Don’t forget to spread to word!

Help ORE!

onionriverexchange — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:16:07 +0000

Check out all these ways that you can help ORE:

- lead New Member Orientations

- post flyers in the places you frequent (20 flyers=1CC)

- recruit your friends (1 friend=1/4 CC)

- set up a table at a local event

- solicit businesses for in-kind donations (like items for our Launch Party)

- sign up members at your church, club, or organization

- help non-computer users log their hours

- attend committee meetings

- send press releases to local papers

New service requests are being added every day!

First ORE New Member Orientation

onionriverexchange — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:48:40 +0000

The first ORE New Member Orientation will be held on Tuesday in the Planning Office in City Hall. The NMO will be facilitated by members Jack Pranksy and Sky Yardley. New and existing members are both welcome!

Announcing: the ORE Launch Party!

onionriverexchange — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:46:35 +0000

On April 5, 2008 from 3pm-6pm, ORE will host a party to celebrate the beginning of a Montpelier-area Time Bank! The party will be held in the lobby of Lost Nation Theater. There will be members offering services, member-made food, member-made music, and more! Come sign up and meet your future exchange partners!

February Report

onionriverexchange — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:47:28 +0000

As of February 29, we had:

26 members

28 Requests Posted

41 Offers Posted

168.25 Hours exchanged

Announcements only Email List

onionriverexchange — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:33:19 +0000

Last week ORE sent out it’s first weekly e-newsletter. This is the central way for members and community stakeholders to keep apprised of ORE’s news. The easiest way to do this is by signing up for our Google Group. Here’s how:

Follow this link:
http://groups.google.com

In the search field at the top of the page, type in “Onion River Exchange.”
This will bring up a search results page. Click on the link that says “Onion River Exchange,” with two speech bubbles next to it. (It’s the first indented result).

On the right hand side, there’s a link that says “Join this Group.” Click on it.

You must have a Google account in order to become a member of a Google Group. Click on “Create a Google Account Now.”

Fill out the one-page form.

Voila! You’re done. Now you can join the Onion River Exchange Google Group and receive announcements about ORE activities!

Words for Thought

onionriverexchange — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:57:49 +0000

On a snowy day yesterday, some members of the Montpelier Planning and Community Development Office brainstormed some of the key words having to do with ORE. Everything was allowed, free association.

What words and ideas do you think of when you think of the Onion River Exchange?

builds relationships, core economy (non-market), massage,
service, saves money, caring & sharing, classifieds, service,
YAY!, learning, strengthens community, network, revalues work,
trees, one hours, culture, expand, green, promotes skill development, facilitates, solidify, onion (layers), children/youth, connects neighbors, vibrant communities, seniors, non-profit, complementary currencies,
meet new people, social capital, sustainability, localvore, families,
helping people, well-being, meeting needs, smiles!, affordability, environment, sharing resources, marginalized people, survival,
work, compensation, equality, earn, blog, sense, reciprocity,
local economy, computers, AmeriCorps, exchange, potlucks, TIME,
credits, change, support, local businesses……