We are a caring and interconnected community of people who help each other by sharing our abilities, talents and experiences. We all have needs; we all have gifts to share. When you or your organization provides a service for another member, you earn one Time Dollar for each hour you spent providing the service, You (or your organization) can then exchange each Time Dollar you earn for an hour of service from someone else.

To learn more & join come to an orientation

Check our calendar for upcoming dates or contact Jenny for more information:
413-585-0373 or jladd@commonwealthcenter.org.

Valley Time Trade's mission is to:
Connect people and unmet needs with untapped resources
Provide economic relief through access to alternative resources
Encourage increased community interaction, wherein people help themselves and others
Foster mutual respect for all individuals in a community and bridge gaps between existing barriers
Promote equality, recognizing that all services are necessary to society and equally valuable

Our Overall Belief:
The Valley Time Trade is a way to come together to meet practical needs, have fun, make new connections, maintain old ones, while affirming the dignity and worth of all.   Weaving community - an hour at a time.

What is Time Trading or Time Banking?
Time Banking is an organized exchange system through which members earn Time Dollars (TD$) for time spent helping other members. One hour of service earns one TD$. Members can "buy" hours of service they want or need with TD$. Everyone's time and service are valued equally. Time Trader keeps track of service offers, requests, exchanges and TD$ through an online database called Community Weaver.   We are part of a movement across the country and across the world. There are over 100 Time Banks in the United States and similar systems operate in over 25 countries.

How Does it Work?
Trader Maria fixes Trader Al's fence, which takes 2 hours. She earns 2 TD$. With her TD$, she purchases 2 one-hour guitar lessons from Trader Juan Carlos. Trader Juan Carlos spends his TD$ on a massage from Trader Jamilah... It's easy: give what you want, get what you need!.. It's easy: give what you want, get what you need!

Anyone in the community can sign up to be a member. Each potential member attends an orientation and fills out an application.   Once this process is successfully completed, the member is granted access to log on to our secure website, where members post service requests and offers. If a member does not have a computer or Internet access, we will assist in managing his/her account.

We ask people to pay yearly dues ranging anywhere from $50 per year to $10.00 a year. No one will be turned away if they can not pay. Organizations can become members as well.

About
Valley Time Trade was started by people interested in strengthening community up and down the Pioneer Valley. We called an initial series of meetings, decided that we needed a Core Committee who would meet more frequently, make decisions and get Valley Time Trade up and running while drawing upon the input of the "Sounding Board" - others interested in the Time Bank. The Committee has signed on for 6 months and then will shift. Commonwealth Center for Change is serving as the fiscal sponsor for Valley Time Trade. Community Action, Pedal People, and Class Action are all organizations that have contributed to creating Valley Time Trade

Core Values

Assets: We can all be valued contributors.
The real wealth of any society is its people. Every individual has valuable experience, skills and connections to contribute to the wellbeing of others in their local community.

Work: Some work is beyond a dollar value.
Work has to be redefined to value whatever it takes to raise healthy children, build strong families, revitalize neighborhoods, make democracy work, advance social justice, and make the planet sustainable.

Reciprocity: Helping works better as a two-way street.
Giving and receiving are the basic building blocks of positive social relationships and healthy communities.   All people want to make positive contributions - when we give freely, and receive freely, we honor each other's positive contributions.  

Social Capital: Networks make individuals stronger.
Networks are stronger than individuals. Community is based on putting down roots, building trust, and creating networks.

Respect: Respect for all mean accountability to all.
Our respect for our neighbors, our communities, and our planet, is displayed by being accountable for our behavior and actions.   When respect is denied, we all are injured. In order to offer respect, we must recognize our power to hurt or heal with all our choices and actions.

Governanace
Valley Time Trade’s policies have been developed by the Core Committee based on what the group has seen other time banks doing. This group formed out of three open sessions, then the group decided it needed a core group of people who would commit to meet once a month to make policy decisions, write the handbook, and work with anything that comes up in Valley Time Trade operations. This group will be changing based on the votes of VTT members at an annual meeting in the fall. We are open to your suggestions.

Current members of the Core Committee are:

• Owen Freeman-Daniels, Northampton Ward 3, Northampton Young Professionals
• Alex Jarrett, Pedal People, Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives, Florence
• Jennifer Ladd, Commonwealth Center for Change, Class Action, Northampton
• Mark Maloni, Community Action, Greenfield
• Katie Sachs, Brick House, Turners Falls
• Joanne Sunshower – Class Action’s Women Building Bridges, New England Small Farms, Belchertown and Shutesbury

Eligibility
Membership in Valley Time Trade is open to people of all ages and abilities. The VTT honors the rich diversity of our members' backgrounds, understandings, skills and services. All members must attend an orientation, complete necessary enrollment forms and sign required agreements. Age restrictions may apply with some services, but children are invited to join with their parent's written permission. Failure to follow the policies, procedures and Code of Ethics can be grounds for loss of membership.

Members Under 18 Years Old: Young people are welcome and encouraged to join Valley Time Trade. Like any other member he or she must complete the member information form and attend member orientation. They must also have their parent or guardian sign the Member Acknowledgment and Agreement.

Join

There are 4 parts:

1. In order to verify that you are a real person you need to sign up using a valid email.
2. Reply to the email to complete part of your application.
3. Your Time Coordinator will receive a notice stating you are interested in joining and will need to activate your account. Once you are activated you will be able to use some of the benefits on the website.
4. Your Time Coordinator will be in touch with you to set up a face-to-face meeting to do your orientation and pay your dues. This MUST be done before you have full access to the website.

After your orientation you will be able to enjoy all the benefits of Valley Time Trade. If you have any problems please let us know! Click to join now

Dues

Valley Time Trade charges dues on a sliding scale of $50 - $10 per calendar year starting January 1st. If you have joined anytime in the 3 months prior (October, November, December) that counts towards the next year's membership. Dues go to a portion of rent, telephone, internet, admin, and staff time. No one will be turned away if they can not pay dues.

Organizational Memberships

Organizations can join Valley Time Trade as well. Organizations can spend Time Dollars by asking people to help with mailings, setting up, cleaning up, preparing for an event, helping at an event and more. Organizations can earn Time Dollars by giving an hour of service that you provide, a performance, an hour of computer instruction, a ticket to an event - possibilities are unlimited. Get in touch with the Valley Time Trade Coordinator Jenny Ladd, jladd@commonwealthcenter.org to talk further about possibilities.

When You Want to Receive a Service:

1. Consult your Member Directory and find a member who can provide the service you're looking for.
2. Contact the member(s) in advance of when you need the service and agree on:

   date, time and location of service to be provided; the amount of time the member will spend providing the service as well as time spent traveling to and from where the service will be provided;

   parts, supplies or ingredients needed. The member who is receiving the service is responsible for paying for parts, supplies, or ingredients required to complete the service. You and the other member must decide which of you will provide tools, if they are needed.

3. If your presence is required for the service, be sure to be there and on time. If you will be late, be sure to notify the other member as soon as possible;
4. Then have the work done!
5. If you have questions about arranging your exchange or need assistance, call the Time Bank Coordinator at 413-585-0373.

FAQ:

What is a Time Dollar (TD)?
How do I earn or spend Time Dollars™?
Is there a minimum age requirement in Valley Time Trade?
Do I have to live in Northampton to be part of VTT?
And what about going into debt?
Can I save Time Dollars?
Can I give Time Dollars to someone else?
What services are provided?
Can Time Trade members do service for member of my family?
Can I do a service that I am not listed as offering?
I need urgent help. Can I count on the Time Trade?
I need a service that requires tools. Who is responsible for providing these?
Should I tip a Time Trade member for good service?
Do I have to report my service exchanges to the IRS?
Why does the Valley Time Trade need donations if they are a non profit?
What’s the difference between Time Tradeing and bartering?
I want to be more involved with the Valley Time Trade. How can I do this?
I want someone from the Valley Time Trade to give a presentation at my community function. Who should a call?

What is a Time Dollar (TD)?
A time dollar is equal to one hour of service. After the first hour is complete, time dollars may be counted in quarter hours from there on. In the event that a service lasts less than an hour, for record keeping, one entire time dollar will be credited.
≤1 hour      = 1    Time Dollar
45 minutes =   .75 Time Dollar
30 minutes =   .5   Time Dollar
15 minutes =   .25 Time Dollar

How do I earn or spend Time Dollars™?
To earn a time dollar, you must do an hour of service for another Valley Time Trade member or member organization. To spend a time dollar, you must have a Valley Time Trade member complete an hour of service for you.

Is there a minimum age requirement in Valley Time Trade?
No! We believe everyone, young and old, has something to offer. Youth can offer services for navigating the computer and internet, yard care, pet sitting, crafting, volunteer projects, and more! Please do take care however to exchange safely: meet in a public space with a parent or guardian nearby!

Do I have to live in Northampton to be part of VTT?
No! We chose the name Valley Time Trade because we encourage members of the communities outside Northampton to be involved as well. We currently have members in Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden County.

And what about going into debt?
Going into debt is 100% ok and even necessary to make our system work. The ideal balance would be ZERO because our members should be providing as many services as they are taking. An exchange happens when one person receives a service (a negative transaction) and the other one provides the service (a positive transaction).
For us, it’s equally irresponsible to rack up tons of credits, as it is to go way into the negative. We’re all programmed to think of debt as bad: Valley Time Trade needs your debt!

Can I save Time Dollars?
Each Time Dollar is traded in your personal Time Trade account, available to be used when you want or need a service from another member. These savings are inflation proof. One Time Dollar will always equal one hour of service. However, saving time dollars without spending hurts our time Trading economy as the cycle of reciprocity ends. With this in mind, we encourage you to try to complete at least 8 hours of complete exchanges per year.

Can I give Time Dollars to someone else?
Yes. If you are aware of a need that member has to receive a service, but they are unable to earn time dollars themselves, you may donate time dollars to them. Call the office to set this up.

What services are provided?
The services that are provided are dependent upon what our members are willing to share with each other, and therefore vary as new members join us and the availability of our members. If there is a service that you would like to see offered, please contact the office to talk to the staff about how recruitment can be done in these desired areas.

Can Time Trade members do service for member of my family?
Yes and No. If the family member shares the same household as you, then yes, we consider them to be members along with you. If your family member lives in another location, we encourage him/her to apply to be a member of the Valley Time Trade to receive our members’ services.

Can I do a service that I am not listed as offering?
Yes. If another member requests a service that you can perform, you are encouraged to do so. If you would like to continue to offer that service, you may add a service ad on your profile on our online time Trades software.

I need urgent help. Can I count on the Time Trade?
Maybe. The Valley Time Trade is not here to provide emergency services, but depending on the service, our members may still be able to help. Ask the Coordinator to send an Alert. It is always best to give as much notice as possible when requesting a service.

I need a service that requires tools. Who is responsible for providing these?
The person requesting the service is responsible for providing all necessary materials. Always check with the member providing the service to confirm what is needed.

Should I tip a Time Trade member for good service?
No. Money and Time dollars can never mix. Instead of giving a tip, “pay it forward” instead by giving excellent service to another member!

Do I have to report my service exchanges to the IRS?
No. All of your services that you exchange through the time Trade are not taxable. See the tax-exempt document on www.valleytimetrade.org.

Why does the Valley Time Trade need donations if they are a non profit?
We have operational costs, which include things like rent, utilities, printing, volunteer insurance, postage, and salaries etc. We want to be able to ensure good service from our office staff. Also, the Valley Time Trade would like to grow and provide new programs and opportunities for our members, which requires funding. If you have any further questions or concerns about this, please contact the office.

What’s the difference between Time Tradeing and bartering?
Time Tradeing is not bartering because:
1.      It is not tied to a cash value
2.      It is based on the currency of time, so one time dollar = 60 minutes
3.      It is not generally an exchange, like barter, between two people but between a network of people. You may not earn and spend with the same person, you might, but you might not.
4.      It is not a contractual agreement, but recognized as a friendly favor.

I want to be more involved with the Valley Time Trade. How can I do this?
Exchanging services with other members is the easiest and best way to help the time Trade. If you are interested in helping the time Trade in a leadership role, please contact the office. We are always looking for members to help with organizing social events, fundraising, new member intake, community ambassadors, and clerical support. Talk to the coordinator if you are interested in being apart of any of these teams and earn time dollars as you help to keep Valley Time Trade sustainable!

I want someone from the Valley Time Trade to give a presentation at my community function. Who should a call?
The Valley Time Trade staff is happy to schedule speaking engagements when available; call the office to set a time. We are always looking for members who are willing to be ambassadors to the community and represent us at these functions and if you would like to be an ambassador, please call the office.

Please contact us with questions and to join!
Phone: 413-585-0373
E-mail: vtt@commonwealthcenter.org
www.valleytimetrade.org

Feedback

We are just beginning and therefore in a steep learning curve. Please help us learn by letting us know what is and is not working and why. Email jladd@commonwealthcenter.org to share your insights and make suggestions. Thank you.

 

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