Judith,

I'd like to come visit you when/if you have the time. Aside from simply enjoying a trip to the country and chatting with you (I'm sure you're charming) I'm curious about your co-housing arrangement. We have a similar set up here in San Francisco, but I suspect the details are different. I'm also interested in establishing on-going arrangements with local farmers and producers in the countryside. Perhaps you know people.

- Johnny

Hm. TimeBanks are really communities, are you active, do you go to timebank meetings etc? It is a paradigm shift for a lot of folks and even those that are inclined via their DNA they also have to be hand held through the process to come out TimeBankers in the end.

I like to think that TimeBanking is a tool (a process of mutuality and reciprocity) that is applied at many levels, personal, community, neighborhood, organizational and social.

So given that I've in a way passed some information your way, would you reciprocate and suggest any best methods to kick start a "TransitionTown" effort here in Youngstown, Ohio? Of course I see the service exchange in Time Credits as a reward for building community to those making their way in the process of Transition. Comments please?

Cheers,
Tony

Hi Judith,

That's Great. Are you guys on line or you folks in early the early vision and planning stage?

Well, it's sort of like the following:

YOU MUST GET A SMALL GROUP TOGETHER, FOUR TO SIX, MEET
WEEKLY, STUDY THE PROJECT, DEVISE A PLAN AND IMPLIMENT.

Try to find experience and commitment for your core organizing group. It's hard I know, but the work to put together a knowledgeable committee that is willing to do the necessary work will pay back with organizational successes. The work isn't hard and it's actually very exciting and rewarding, learning and meeting new people. You group is sure to like the project.

It is very much like starting a business, all be it at a much lower scale and risk. But the basic principles are the same.

Here are some of your first considerations:

1 - If you are to be the lead organizer or the non-profit corporate Director it is a full time job for one and more if the budget and situation allows. You'll need to find an experienced non-profit Executive Director to organize and manage the legal entity.


2 - Or the TimeBank if small could be a sort of informal association and member led, like a club, keep the membership small, probably under 50, ask for donations, allow for a pretty cash Treasurer and with team leader to manage things.

2a - a no cost alternative is to begin a pilot project under an existing near-by TimeBank

3 - Or you could have the timebank run as a program within a larger non-profit structure, part of it's larger organization.

These general but three different designs,all depend on many factors, so...

I suggest that you quickly but keenly and deeply read ALL of the following links.

If you do that you will know as much as most TimeBank program coordinators.

The National web site is the place to start...http://www.timebanks.org/

They have a folder there...http://www.timebanks.org/get-involved.htm

Best Wishes,
Tony

Hey Judith, Thanks for welcoming me to this forum. I've been working on Transition for years without realizing there was a movement... Good to be making friends that share my vision. Are there ways I can cooperate with the Cotati group from San Francisco? For example, I spend time with friends who have a small farm in Sebastopol and I'm organizing bulk food purchases from family farms for my friends here in the city. I'm very big on home food storage/canning/preserving. Do you have any such arrangements in Cotati? - Johnny

Thank you Judith. Having just joined the online community, I am still getting the feel for things here. Thanks for the welcome message.

Thanks, I'm looking forward to all the great info here.

What time Judith? I really enjoy being on a panel. Thank you for the invitation.

Thanks! I'll check it out!

Yes it is easy.
When you see an RSS image --

you can direct the content to other ning sites.
Right click on the image (don't just click or you'll see what appears as garbage).
Capture the URL.
Go to the target site where you want the content appear and paste the URL into an RSS box.
Give your feed a title and save it.
May take a few tries but it's worth it.

hello i was told to say hello to you guys/gals here....i am new to this website but not new to its ideals and ideas....i am however new to the site and having trouble trying to contact like minded folks in my area...i dont quite understand the interface and the way to find local groups in my area )blackstone mass 01504( im also a real bad typer so pleasse forive me on that...i am interested in learning ways i can make my transition easy as we slide on over to the age of aquarius or whatever manifestation we choose to call it or it calls itself

any help?

thanks
colin "c lion " finn

In other words - faith communities need to not only join in transition, they themselves need transition. If the values and methods of Transition Towns are true, deep and effective, then they should be applicable to smaller commuities like churches.

I am not yet familiar enough with the Tranisition Movement to understand where we will make those connections. My initial instincts are that there is work on at least two fronts: 1) Recruiting the faith groups to partner with others in the work, and 2) Helping the faith groups change within, so that the faith they practice is more life-giving to all the planet's kin, makes more sense in today's world realities, and is soulful, spiritual and connected in heart to mind. Of truth, while both need to happen simutaneously, and feed each other, I think the hard work is #2, and getting #2 will energize #1.

Thanks for responding. I am curious as to what all that thinking about faith groups in CA has concluded? I am just now starting to learn about the Transitions movement, but it immediately seems to me that it could provide some real connections that faith groups could use to make the kind of transitions they need to make. I'm lookiing forward to exploring that.

As for Kinshipearth.org, it is a SharePoint site, which, like this Transitions one, is built for collaboration. But I have not done anything with it yet. I guess I am waiting to see if there is a need it could fill.

Eureka, it worked.

Judith: Transition Cotati didn't appear in the first TRANSITIONCASCADIA.htm document I published. I hope if I publish it again, you will be there. I won't know until I try it. Ning might
store the document as it first appeared. Here:

TRANSITION CASCADIA.htmHTM. DOC CHANGE

Judith: I don't know if you still are following Transition Cascadia. Anyway, I made a list
of all the Transition efforts I could find and I left out Cotati. I am trying to get you
on the list, but Ning won't allow me to add you. The Ning software confuses
me. Here is the list:

TRANSITION CASCADIA.htmTRANSITION CASCADIA

My best. Lane Parks

Thanks Judith! Great to hear from you. How are things in Cotati?

Hi Judith!
I'm hosting an event on Broadwell Hil on Saturday, 24th.
I'm also serving as a catalyst for Ohio University Students and Athens Farmers Market folks; hoping an action happens in Athens as well.
But, folks know they can meet at the market for carpooling this way.
The weather forecast is calling for rain so t hat might put a damper on our efforts.
What are you doing on Saturday? kj

I am going to be speaking in Farmington, Maine at their 350 day. I may bring our solar/electric car. You can see it at www.sunnev.com.