OSEMidMO/CEC

Columbia Exchange Circle

Open Source Ecology, Mid Missouri has picked up a project to map and realize the capacities in skills and knowledge of our urban community of Columbia, Missouri. It is a project inspired by the intentions of Kip Kendrick, President of the Benton Stephens Neighborhood Association and local community organizer. The intent is to give citizens in our communities in Columbia the capacity to exchange skills, knowledge and possibly goods in a effort to build economic resilience and to strengthen Columbia economically, socially and financially. We have met several times and deliberated on several key issues. Though we intended to go door to door, conducting a community skills assessment similar to the survey drawn up by students at NorthWestern univeristy, other possibilities have emerged. Below we will document our progresses and make transparent all the goings on of this project.

Proposed Action Plan

Though it is not yet fully developed or decided, we have assembled a rough action plan for implementing this project.

Conduct an Informational Meeting - We wish to conduct a large informational meeting and discussion/deliberation in mid january. Folks involved have drummed up a bit of interest in the community, and gathering everyone who is interested in being involved or being a part of the exchange community would be instrumental in tailoring the project to the desires and capacities of those who would use it.

Assemble a Task Force - We also wish to assemble a task force of community members, hopefully crosscutting demographically the citizen stakeholders of the exchange network we will be implementing. We wish to ensure that this effort will train leadership to coordinate the implementation and maintenance of said network. Herein, tasks can be delegated as necessary and per personal capacity of taskforce members. We will attempt to recruit members of the task force at meetings of local organizations and associations.

Deliberate on Format - We will also make final decisions on the format of this network, and how

Proposed Information/Exchange Format

There will be several layers of participation in the project available to members of the network. A local newspaper (The Columbia Missourian) has offered to host the exchange network. We originally were interested in building a timebank similar to The Skillshare Network in Boulder, CO, however our interests have expanded into the LETS system.

Profile - The profile will function as an online survey, open application, and a place for discussion and ratings of the user. We will publicly encourage people to go to the website, learn about the project, and to at least post a profile. There will be many options for availability of the information, so that one can choose whether potential employers, entrepreneurs, other members, or the public can view different information. This information can include skills, interests, and what the member is willing to do in the way of employment, volunteerism, education, exchange, or just helping friends and neighbors.

TimeBank - Also, the user can decide whether or not they would want to participate in a timebanking system, and/or a LETS system mentioned below. How to negotiate the exchange of hours and credits may be a problem, and may necessitate combining the two systems as one LETS for simplicities sake. Herein, it may be advisable to have a toggle for services and goods, and combined exchanges.

The TimeBank will offer users an opportunity to share their skills in the form of exchanges, workshops and mentoring, and hopefully will add to the general economic resilience of our communities. In the profiles, a rating system will exist so that the quality of service or the character of the provider can be gauged.

LETS - Another option will be a LETS system of credit based exchange. Functioning somewhat like a barter system, except with the intermediary of a credit system, allowing indirect exchanges to take place. An interesting parallel which renders LETS a neotraditional system is the colonial general store credit system, which operated in much the same way except with a brick and mortar storehouse and proprietor instead of a website. Different possibilities exist for the regulation and sensible maintenance of this system and the timebank. The need may arise that a grant paid staffer will need to be hired to maintain this system, to answer calls, and coordinate other aspects of the project. The hope is that volunteers, earning credits or hours in the LETS or Timebank, respectively, will be able to manage the system.

Community Partners - These will be local associations, organizations, businesses and institutions who will source volunteers and employees and participate in exchanges and provide opportunities for people to earn and spend credits and hours. There is much possibility here to build capacity for the system, and in turn build capacity for these organisations and businesses.

Phone Buddies - For the elderly, those with no time or money for computers, or just for those who choose not to use computers, a system of "phone buddies" can be set up so that hours can be earned by managing and posting for non-computer using members.

MEETING MINUTES!

http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=CECmtg-01-15-09

More Information

Community Capacity Inventory

[[1]]

[[2]]

Time Banking

LETS

Organizational Stuff

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participatory_Impact_Pathways_Analysis

http://www.skillsharenetwork.org