Message-ID: <9706018678.AA867802720@hudsmtphq.hud.gov> Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 17:26:01 EST From: mailto:Michael_O._Patterson@HUD.GOV Subject: LCN part 1 [shared with permission] To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
[shared with permission]LOCAL CURRENCY NEWS is a quarterly publication of The E. F. Schumacher Society 140 Jug End Rd. Great Barrington, MA 01230 413/528-1737
Editors: Susan Witt, E. F. Schumacher Society and Paul Glover, Ithaca Hours Annual subscription: $25.00 US
The first issue of LOCAL CURRENCY NEWS, a directory of active local currencies in the Americas, follows. Subsequent issues will cover the progress of the local currency movement in general, as well as address specific local currency topics. It will also provide a forum for sharing practical organizational details for those interested in starting new currencies, and those evolving established currencies.
************************************************************ INTRODUCTION:
Dear Friends of Local Currency,
With the rapid globalization of the economy, our financial relations have grown more and more abstract. We collect interest without knowing how or where such profits were made and order by mail from catalogues sent by people we have never met. We no longer know the stories of the things we use in our homes nor assume responsibility for the consequences of our investments. Can we picture the artisan who made our kitchen table or her children who were fed by its purchase? Have we walked the forest which was the source of its wood?
By favoring regionally based economies, local currencies are a tool for bringing a human face and sense of place back into our economic transactions. The use of local currencies by consumers shows their commitment to purchase goods from within the bioregion. Merchants with local scrip will seek increased regional sources for the items in their shops,
leading to new job opportunities for those unemployed and underemployed. Skills forgotten and abandoned will be renewed. Fields, farms, rivers, and forests will be carefully stewarded as their contribution to the human community becomes more directly understood. This interweaving helps bring the community together in all its mutuality-ecological, economic, social, and cultural.
To record and celebrate the growing local currency movement and those pioneers working hard in their hometowns to implement the dream of a stronger, more viable, more equitable regional economy, the E. F. Schumacher Society offers this directory prepared by our resource coordinator, Erika Levasseur. Please support these initiatives if they are in your own area. Use local scrip, volunteer for coordination tasks, offer financial assistance, help the movement grow.
Susan Witt
************************************************************************ DIRECTORY:
***UNITED STATES*** (Alphabetical by State)
BREAD (Berkeley Region Exchange And Development) Miyoko Sakashita and Jyl Safier P.O. Box 3973 Berkeley, CA 94703 510/704-5247 mailto:MiyokoS@aol.com, JylSafier@aol.com Currency 1st issued: May '97 25 participants Outreach: Community journal/directory, BREAD Rising, 100 listings. Background: Building strong community participatory base, currently funded through individual donations. Developing workshops to train outreach volunteers.
Sand Dollars Jill Whitcroft Coastal Currency P.O. Box 554 Bolinas, CA 94924 415/868-2602 Currency 1st issued: March '97 70 participants, 1 storefront business Outreach: 400 newsletters, Coastal Currency, distributed to participants and public, 120 services listed. Background: Originally initiated as LETS program by a student researcher, currently maintained and funded by 3 individuals as Hours program.
Community Cash Leslie Mosley Women's Resource Center P.O. Box 2132 Durango, CO 81302 970/247-1242 Currency 1st issued: May '97 80 participants, 5 storefront businesses Outreach: 2000 directories distributed to members and general public, 70 services listed; potlucks. Background: Started as a Time Dollar program run by a non-profit Women's Resource Center, which funded one coordinator. To increase participation, changed to Hours program and took on a federally funded ColoradoCorps student volunteer (project of AmeriCorps). This volunteer program has proven successful and is currently expanding. Organizers sponsored community-wide art contests involving all ages to design scrip.
Barter Bucks John Gibson 3038 Fall Creek Parkway Indianapolis, IN 46205 317/925-9297 mailto:icaindy@aol.com Currency 1st issued: '94 40 members, 2 storefront businesses Outreach: 3000 bi-monthly directory Extra Money distributed through library system, 50 services listed. Background: Sponsored by non-profit Positive Change Network, Inc., which provides some funding; received grant from Church Federation, but mostly volunteer run.
Mo Money Alexander Kim Campus Affiliates Project 2121 Joliet St. New Orleans, LA 70118 504/862-9347 mailto:ALinNOLA@aol.com Currency 1st issued: October '96 40 participants, all residents of the C. J. Peete Public Housing Complex Outreach: Monthly newsletter, CAPacity!, distributed throughout the housing complex. Background: Under the auspices of Tulane/Xavier Campus Affiliates Program, supported with a small grant by HUD, the barter association was established by residents (the first formal exchange network in public housing in the U.S.). Maintained by eight person resident planning committee and one Tulane Ph.D. candidate. Scrip printed on recycled paper with banana stalk pulp.
Waldo hOURS Gary Robb P.O. Box 157 Unity, ME 04988 207/948-6162 mailto:Garyrobb@uninet.net Currency 1st issued: January '96 80 participants Outreach: 2 page directory each month in local newspaper, 130 listings; potlucks. Background: Originally funded by collections at first potluck, maintained by advertisements and membership fees, spearheaded by individual activist.
Valley Dollars Timothy Mitchell Valley Trade Connection (VTC) 324 Wells St. Greenfield, MA 01301 413/774-7204 mailto:tbm@educ.umass.edu Currency 1st issued: November '91 500 participants, 35 storefront businesses Outreach: Directory, 1200+ listings; monthly barter potluck meetings. Background: Grew out of University Wo-men's Network resource pool of 75 members, now 350+ members, more than 500 participants. A VISTA volunteer administered multi-level local economic community development program, partnered with a variety of local organizations and base communities. Sponsored by Franklin County Community Development Corporation; funded by membership dues and various granting organizations; policy decisions made democratically by members at monthly meetings. VTC currently working to achieve independent non-profit tax-exempt status.
Hartsbrook School Scrip Cathy McNally 94 Bay Rd. Hadley, MA 01035 413/584-3598 Currency 1st issued: '94 Outreach: Word-of-mouth through student body; school fairs. Background: A discount note designed to raise funds for non-profit school. Notes may be purchased from the school at face value and redeemed at one of 30 local businesses at 5-10% discount. In conjunction with a coupon grocery program, has raised $10,000.
Great Lakes Hours Eden Winter 4605 Cass Detroit, MI 48201 313/831-6916 mailto:mgalvin@cms.cc.wayne.edu Currency 1st issued: July '95 60 participants, 6 storefront businesses Outreach: 200 newsletters, The Web, sent mostly to members; potlucks. Background: Co-sponsored by Detroit Greens and other community action groups, all of whom shared the cost of scrip printing. In addition to maintaining the currency exchange, organizers also gave grant of 500 Hours to Detroit Summer, a dynamic summer volunteer program for young people.
Kansas City Barter Bucks Jean Rogers 707 E. 34th St. Kansas City, MO 64109 816/753-4235 Currency 1st issued: November '93 84 participants, 1 storefront business Outreach: Bi-annual directory to members only; tri-monthly newsletter to members and public; monthly potluck; occasional classes taught at Communiversity (a branch of Kansas City University). Background: Started by Kansas City Greens, administered by semi-autonomous committee. Membership is free. Initiated closed-loop project with rural farmer-farmer is loaned Barter Bucks, volunteer group from city goes to farm, works one day, earns Barter Bucks, and later returns to the city and uses the currency to buy produce from the farmer at farmer's market.
Santa Fe Hours Christina Reece P.O. Box 22485 Santa Fe, NM 87502 505/473-3621 mailto:sfgreens@sifna.com Currency 1st issued: January '94 70 individuals participate, 40 with professional skills. Plans to branch out to businesses soon. Outreach: Monthly directory distributed to members; monthly potluck; best outreach through friends and word-of-mouth. Background: Started by Santa Fe Greens, currently maintained by group of individuals. Santa Fe Hours are not now equated with Federal Reserve Notes-community is actively exploring the topic. Community also debating issue of equal pay for equal time.
Ithaca Hours Paul Glover P.O. Box 6578 Ithaca, NY 14851 607/272-4330 mailto:hours@lightlink.com Http://www.publiccom.com/web/ithacahour/ Currency 1st issued: October '91 2000 participants, 300 storefront businesses Outreach: 5000 copies bi-monthly community newspaper, Hour Town, 1500 listings; festivals; personal contacts; media coverage. Background: The original Hour-based scrip developed and maintained by individual activist. Funded by membership fees and small grants; 6,200 Ithaca Hours have been put into circulation, totalling the equivalent of at least $2 million in transactions. Grants of Hours given to 35 community organizations; Hour loans ($50-$1000) made to 12 businesses without charging interest; all political candidates solicit Hours, Chamber of Commerce accepts, Hospital accepts, Department of Social Services distributes to clients, and local credit union offers Hour-denominated accounts. Recently established locally controlled non-profit mutual health financing with flexible payment options (barter, Hours, Time Dollars), with 55 health providers currently enrolled. Paul coordinates an e-mail network of local currency groups using the Hour model and sells a Hometown Money Starter Kit and video ($40 for both, specify Spanish or English video).
Columbia County Hours Virginia Osborn P.O. Box 300 Philmont, NY 12565 413/672-4597 Currency 1st issued: April '95 50 participants Outreach: Directory, Hour County, distributed bi-monthly to members. Background: Initiated by two individuals, this currency program experienced an initial boom, but has only recently recovered from typical problems of scale, circulation, participation, etc. Original printing funded by individual donor. Reorganized group is currently planning and rebuilding.
Chenango Hours John Van Lierde Stacie Edick P.O. Box 252 South New Berlin, NY 13843 607/859-2538 mailto:stedick@juno.com Currency 1st issued: November '96 93 participants, 6 storefront businesses Outreach: 1000 copies of bi-monthly newsletter, Bullthistle Trader, distributed to both members and public, 225 services listed. Background: Originally an unsuccessful computer-based credit exchange, the scrip is currently organized by members of a community action group and funded by directory business-card advertisements, personal donations, and a $500 grant from an environmental group.
Mountain Money Jane R. Threatt-Morgan P.O. Box 103 Mars Hill, NC 28754 704/689-5974 mailto:annew@madison.main.nc.us Currency 1st issued: July '95 100 participants Outreach: Newsletter; barter auctions; networking meetings. Background: Started as a local bartering effort in one county, spread to neighboring counties. Organized by non-profit community development organization In Our Own Way; printing accomplished through bartering and a small grant.
Summit Hours Greg Coleridge Gloria Bloore 513 W. Exchange St. Akron, OH 44302 330/733-0842 mailto:afscole@aol.com Currency 1st issued: September '94 140 participants, 20% with professional skills; 14 storefront businesses Outreach: Bi-monthly directory posted throughout community and in libraries, 300 services listed; monthly potluck meetings; phone tree. Background: Started by American Friends Service Committee. AFSC and Summit Hours now jointly employ an intern and depend upon volunteers. Strong educational angle; trying to balance the exchange of services (limited to individuals helping individuals) and the exchange of goods (generates internal momentum but is impersonal). Currently meeting with Cuyahoga and Portage Hours programs in attempts to join forces and access funding.
Cuyahoga Hours David Ellison c/o N.E. Ohio Greens 530 Euclid Ave., # 200 Cleveland, OH 22115 216/631-0557 mailto:dellison@igc.apc.org Currency 1st issued: January '95 100 participants, including professionals Outreach: Originally printed directory in other newsletters, now publishes bi-monthly directory distributed mostly to members, 150 goods and services listed. Background: Student activist encouraged N. E. Ohio Greens, Women for Racial and Economic Equality, and community members to start initiative, currently working to establish stronger core leadership.
Simply Hours Marilyn Welker 335 E. 19th Ave. Columbus, OH 43201 614/291-0834 mailto:bwelker@iwaynet.net Currency 1st issued: June '96 85 participants, 2 storefront businesses Outreach: Bi-monthly directory distributed to and by members, 200 listings. Background: Initiated by non-profit Simply Living, supported by 2 small grants and volunteers, steering committee of 5 people. Department of Natural Resources provided graphics for scrip design.
Portage Hours Jefferson Beck P.O. Box 3231 Kent, OH 44240 330/678-0654 mailto:jfsnbeck@waonline.com Currency 1st issued: Spring '94 100 participants, 8 storefront businesses Outreach: 200 bi-monthly directories distributed to members and public, 200 listings; potluck with trade fair every 3 months with large number of transactions. Background: Administered by non-profit Portage Association for Community Economics (PACE) as part of organizational goal of promoting various sustainable economic activities. Piecemeal grants, including from churches, have allowed for part-time staff; currently working on larger grants and preparing to solicit more businesses.
Cascadia Hour Exchange - Portland Don Hof P.O. Box 26 Portland, OR 97207 503/297-4386 mailto:donh@aracnet.com Currency 1st issued: '94 100+ participants, 40% with professional skills Outreach: Monthly directory for members only, 147 listings; monthly meetings. Background: Cascadia Hours originated as "barter-club" in Eugene in '93; branches developed and have operated independently in 3 different areas, including Portland. Acts as a cooperative, and has developed and expanded with no Federal Reserve cash budget.
Lehigh Valley Barter Hours Guy Gray 801 Vernon St. Bethlehem, PA 18015 610/865-9050 mailto:GMGray@CedarCre.edu Currency 1st issued: May '94 76 participants, 4 storefront businesses Outreach: 2000 copies of quarterly newsletter, Barter Life, distributed to members and at 24 locations, 253 listings. Background: Initiated by Lehigh Valley Greens, spread over large geographic area. Scrip designed and printed by volunteers; material costs paid with member dues.
Equal Dollars Monique Hales and Vanessa Williams Resources for Human Development, Inc. 4333 Kelly Dr. Philadelphia, PA 19129 215/951-0300 Currency 1st issued: October '96 256 members, 14 storefront businesses Outreach: Monthly newsletter, 400 listings; membership cards. Background: Started by non-profit Resources for Human Development, Inc. ($64 million annual budget), which maintains 120 diverse human service programs. More than $80,000 has been put toward this currency project (mostly discretionary funds of Resources, with some foundation, corporate, anonymous-donor funding), for a full-time project director, technical and financial counselors, business development training, marketing materials, etc. Currently applying for state money, hoping to expand to 5000 members. Utilizes both scrip and checking system.
Dillo Hours Lyndon Felps 2206 Matterhorn Austin, TX 78704 512/448-0717 mailto:rainfall@swbell/net Currency 1st issued: August '94 135 individuals, 5 storefront businesses Outreach: 1000 directories, Dillo Times, distributed, including calendar of events and Bioregional Congress news, 500 listings; trade fairs; festivals. Background: Sponsored by non-profit Bioregional Congress; run by individual volunteers; individual scrip transactions charted. Buffalo Mountain Hours Barbara Conn, David Briars P.O. Box 131 Hardwick, VT 05826 802/472-8566, 802/586-9628 mailto:dbriars@world.std.com Currency 1st issued: January '96 100 participants, 1 storefront business Outreach: 300 newsletters distributed to members and public, no advertisements; winter Hour fair; summer junk/garage Hour swap meet. Background: Run by group of individuals, funded by small grant.
Green Mountain Hours Steve Gorelick P.O. Box 734 Montpelier, VT 05601 802/223-7815 mailto:treefriend@aol.com Currency 1st issued: October '96 85 participants, 12 storefront businesses Outreach: Directory distributed to members, 200+ listings; posters with participation flyers attached at 3 locations; public service radio announcements and interviews; public meetings; newspaper articles; personal contact. Background: Public debate and legal fight to keep McDonald's out of downtown Montpelier helped rally support for this project. Operates under the umbrella non-profit International Society for Ecology and Culture. Received $2000 in grants from several sources. Currency printed on locally made hay and corn leaf paper. Strong spending at businesses, weaker exchange between individuals. Planning to give grants to community groups; working with Central Vermont Community Land Trust to allow tenants to pay rent with scrip.
Sound Hours Joanne Lee 120 State Ave. NE, #1444 Olympia, WA 98501 360/352-3856 mailto:vision@olywa.net Currency 1st issued: December '96 300 participants Outreach: Bi-monthly HOUR Town on the South Sound, 500 listings; monthly barter fair/potluck. Background: Organized by Sustainable Community Roundtable. Supported by worker-owned-and-operated food co-op, social change grantmaker (provided seed money), current and former students of The Evergreen State College.