TimeBank starting in Rock County
Rock Hour Community
The first public presentation about Rock Hour Community will take place at the Evansville Area Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, at Creekside Place, 102 Maple St., Evansville.
To become a member of Rock Hour Community, sign up at rockhourcommunity.timebanks.org. Once an account is activated, more information is available using a username and password.
For more information on Rock Hour Community, call Gary Messinger, community outreach coordinator, at (608) 882-9032 or email silvercloud@live.com, or call training leader Becky Schenk-Gonzales at (608) 751-2116 or email redbekia@yahoo.com.
For general information on TimeBanks, visit timebanks.org.
Photo 
Gary Messinger
EVANSVILLE — Jane volunteered two hours helping her neighbor with yard work.
Through a TimeBanks exchange, Jane received two hours of help on her taxes from Bob.
Bob then redeemed his two hours to take a local art class for free offered by Mary.
TimeBanks centers on the idea that everyone has something to offer.
Evansville leaders are bringing the concept to the area with the creation of Rock Hour Community. They hope it spreads through Rock County.
"A really important value is that everyone's time is looked at and valued equally," said Gary Messinger of Evansville. "So, no matter if you're creating a website, pulling weeds, scrubbing a bathroom floor or doing taxes, everybody's hour is an hour. That's what it's based on—the great equalizer."
TimeBanks is a community of members who trade time. Every hour that a member helps another member, the member earns an hour in his or her account.
Reciprocity levels the playing field, Messinger said.
Messinger works as the community outreach coordinator for the Dane County TimeBank, which has gained about 2,000 members and 140 organizations in its nearly seven years of existence. The Dane County organization is looked at as a leader in the movement and is one of the largest in the country, he said.
Messinger moved to Evansville three years ago and saw the area as ripe for something such as TimeBank. He connected with key leaders in town, and the idea grew. A steering committee planning Rock Hour Community is ready to sign members to begin exchanging their talents.
The TimeBanks concept has been around for years internationally—more than 30 countries have programs, said Messinger, who is volunteering as the community outreach coordinator for Rock Hour Community.
The thought was to start in the Evansville area and spread across Rock County as the organization strengthens and grows, he said. Volunteer coordinators in each community will provide assistance, he said.
People can register for membership online. Rock Hour organizers will have one-on-one training with members on how to use the system and how to make the most of the experience. Members then will post the services or talents they are offering or need.
Organizers will do basic background checks on potential members and try to balance creating a safe environment with including as many people as possible, Messinger said. People considering accepting help from fellow TimeBanks members should use common sense and consider asking for references.
"The nature of the system attracts a certain spirit of person," he said. "It recognizes that everyone has something to contribute—we're all equal."
TimeBanks are a great tool for nonprofit organizations with limited budgets and staff because the program provides access to an "incredible wealth of resources and volunteers," Messinger said. Organizations usually spend more hours than they bank, but they can provide hours by offering space for meetings, for example.
TimeBanks isn't an accounting firm—it's not about tracking how many hours someone has volunteered or spent, Messinger said. The expectation is when someone "spends" hours on a project, he or she will turn around and help someone else.
"It's about building community," he said.
Messinger said the concept can be a game changer for people with disabilities. He works with Dane County residents with disabilities to get them involved at Dane County TimeBank.
Last year, 75 people in Dane County's developmental disability program volunteered about 855 hours and used about 1,045 hours, he said.
"I think that's pretty powerful," he said.
His face lit up when he talked about the connections he's witnessed through Dane County TimeBank.
A lot of people need some kind of help, but it's hard for them to ask for it, he said. This tool makes it easier to ask because they're not seeking a handout.
"You know by coming in, you're helping me for a couple hours, but there's a full expectation on me that I'm going to turn around and help somebody else, too," he said.
Aug 3, 2012 at 3:27 p.m.
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And when the two party system gets to the point that the extreme right is so out of touch with reality that the far Left Puts them under their own Mentally inept protections,then politics has only reached a level of complete cycle of ignorance,violence,and lack of values to which,money,currency and most of all a Government of We the People doesn't even seem to exist here.
To:witt,just exactly what is needed to do in the TimeBank that they probably are inclined to say that the occupation that truly needs to be accomplished is that of dealing with this war of nature to begin with.But I don't see that this will be the case,unfortunately.
Aug 3, 2012 at 3:14 p.m.
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Let me repost this.Something got waked out there.
Certainly we are in a economical hard time,but the degree of extremism in politics has most defiantly past the laws that are and have been in place.
I am quite sure that the physicallyy handicapped are an importance in this conquest.It is the criminal mind that continues to be put in that regard and in that regard is a time for all things to come to an end.Right or Left.Their really is no in between here to place the criminally mind out of that equation.
All things have their place in the medical community in regards to medication.That does not eliminate the criminal mind.Intent to disorder does not take away their right to medical treatment.Even if that means the death sentencece.That doesn't leave a whole lot of need for politics here in regards to the intent vs. lack of education.More than just Doctors caperceiveve this.Some can not at all.It is in this description that things have gottenon this far out of control,in my book.
That the criminal mind is obviously intent to do harm should never leave the situation of medical attention.One that can create a continued currency of work ethic that is needed in which is within my question of the TimeBank.And holding to my Capital philosophies,I am willing to pay for that question,in blood,sweat....and tiers.
Aug 3, 2012 at 3:08 p.m.
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Certainly we are in a economical hard time,but the degree of extremism in politics has most defiantly past the laws that are and have been in place.
I am quite sure that thephysicallyy handicapped are an importance in this conquest.It is the criminal mind that continues to be put in that regard and in that regard is a time for all things to come to an endRighth or Left.Their really is no in between here to place that in ahandicappeddscenarioo.
All things have their place in the medical community in regards to medication.That does not eliminate the criminal mind.Intent to disorder does not take away their right to medical treatment.Even if that means the deatsentencece.That doesn't leave a whole lot of need for politics here in regards to the intent vs. lack of education.More than just Doctors caperceiveve this.Some can not at all.It is in this description that things havgottenon this far out of control.
That the criminal mind is obviously intent to do harm should never leave the situation of medical attention.One that can create a continued currency of work ethic that is needed in which is within my question of the TimeBank.And holding to my Capital philosophies,I am willing to pay for that question,in blood,sweat....and tiers.
Aug 3, 2012 at 2:44 p.m.
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Oblamer-
Exactly what I was thinking,and I am willing to go head on and tackle the problem with anyone that doesn't think that the importance of currency has a role here.
Currency is a form of documentation that has been that has established for all these years in America,as well as most countries oddly enough.If not,then we certainly have a much larger occupation fluctuation going on than just at the level of the "TimeBankDoesn't't matter what State you are in,the currency situation is a Fed problem and one that shows some complete confusion at that level.Good or Bad all depends ones view of Capitalist entities at this level.
It is a medical problem that has been dealt with politically.A voting agenda of occupational fluctuation that has become compare ones self to an idiot that increases the euphoriaria intellectect to the instant degree of just as dumb.Because it boosts their level of documentation to a medical scenariorio in an ill-repute manner.......and it's called medical Mel-Practice.
Against the Right and Left.
After all said,this topic shows a real weakness to discuss things on a professional level.
Aug 3, 2012 at 8:06 a.m.
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This can work if done correctly which by this article seems to be doing well. If you remember, there was a barter organization in Janesville many years ago, it did not work well because there was more than just hours involved. I think this is a great option and opportunity for people to get the help they need, as long as the government does not find some way of taxing it. Now if they can do this with healthcare, then they would have something. I do know there are days popping up here and there where healthcare providers are offering free services. Recently in went on in the Madison area, and down in Illinois. I'll be following this one!
Aug 2, 2012 at 7:49 p.m.
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It is correct that *bartering* of dollar-denominated services (e.g. "$400 of bricklaying") is usually taxable, but the IRS does not define time bank systems that are NOT dollar-denominated as bartering.
"The term does not include arrangements that provide solely for the informal exchange of similar services on a noncommercial basis."
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/arti...
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So let's just set that aside as a misunderstanding. THIS IS NOT BARTERING. The IRS has said so. Thank you for your concerns.
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This is indeed a great idea and I hope it actually takes root -- you tend to need a minimum number of participants to get the synergy needed to keep it going and spread outward. It might be better to center the groups in the county's urban centers, though -- I'm sure there is a need for this in the rural areas but the population is so much lower and the distances traveled so much greater that there will be barriers to easily taking part, whereas we have facilities and businesses in Janesville or Beloit, for example, that are much more easily accessed with many potential participants in various groups such as the elderly and disabled. I know none of them were going to hike out to Evansville if I couldn't find the time (and I am interested).
Aug 2, 2012 at 3:54 p.m.
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JoyM - you've provided false information. Because hours exchanged are not assigned monetary worth, they are NOT taxable. This is one of the reasons a doctor will exchange an hour for say the hour of a massage therapist, or that of a painter.
Aug 2, 2012 at 1:40 p.m.
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This is SO right for Janesville,considering our economic situation. Kudos to G.Messinger and all who are getting this started. Even in good times this makes sense.
Aug 2, 2012 at 7:45 a.m.
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Actually, this is considered bartering and it is taxable, so I would caution participants to be very careful.
Aug 2, 2012 at 6:24 a.m.
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Cook for me for an hour, and I'll sit down and eat it for an hour :)
Aug 2, 2012 at 3:03 a.m.
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I love this idea however the fed might not cause they dont get the taxes they would collect otherwise. personally I love the my services for your services barter system.
Aug 2, 2012 at 1:22 a.m.
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Seriously though,it sounds like a good idea.Good luck.
Aug 1, 2012 at 11:48 p.m.
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Not only that,but the YMCA could get involved.We can really put the trickle down economics to work here.Rather than the doctors and lawyers paying to go to the Y,we can put them to work mowing lawns and painting,etc.I even think Huck Fin used this philosophy when whitewashing a fence.It would be like a discount on their membership and they would recievieve a bonus for every point earned.Somewhat of a complicated issue,but not imposible,you know?
Aug 1, 2012 at 11:38 p.m.
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Sounds like a fantastic idea.
I would love to get involved in something like this.I have some friends in the paper industries.I could probably convince them to donate some paper that can be used to keep documentation of work performed and the percentige of work performed by each individual.
As the community grows,this documentation will spread out like a ripple in a pond.A current so to speak.We can even name this current just as such,a currency,after the affect that this ripple will have on each member.Perhaps even placing the founding founders pictures on the currency as a documentation of such.
If all goes well,we may even be able to switch to plastic once we get recycling going so that we can do things electronically.
Aug 1, 2012 at 10:15 p.m.
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If there's a doctor out there who happens to hate painting, he or she might be fine with the idea that they can trade an hour or two of their time for a fresh coat of paint in the kitchen. If they see value in the deal, what's the harm, right?
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If I donate an hour of my time fixing computers for a nonprofit org, they might not have any services to offer me in return, but I could use my banked time to 'buy' a service from someone else. If there are no services that I'm interested in right now, then I just spent an hour or two helping someone who needed it and that's not all bad.
Aug 1, 2012 at 9:07 p.m.
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You would at least know what to expect from a painter.
Aug 1, 2012 at 8:53 p.m.
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An hour of painting is probably worth more...
Aug 1, 2012 at 6:02 p.m.
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"A really important value is that everyone's time is looked at and valued equally,"
So an hour of medical treatment is equal to an hour of painting?
I don't think so.
If you're not very careful you-know-who will come around and kick your you-know-what.
Hey, why not seed up the process? To keep things simple, have some small metal discs made up with your logo on it, and use them as exchange for services so it's easy to keep track of it all? You know what I'm sayin'...
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