About Neighborhoods

The Arroyo S.E.C.O Network of Time Banks consists of a collection of neighborhoods in the Greater Los Angeles Region and extends from Altadena to the North to West Adams in the South. Each neighborhood has a Nurture Committee, a group of members who are committed to nurturing the health and well being of the Time Bank members in their local area. This group is responsible for outreach and other member contact in order to keep Time Bank exchanges flowing. This may involve,

1. Identifying people and organizations that would bring needed skill sets or diversity to the Time Bank.
2. Organizing events to maintain a sense of community and neighborhood feel.
3. Staying in contact with members to help in making matches and checking on quality of exchanges.
4. Keeping in contact with and coordinating activities with other neighborhoods in the network.
5. Anything else you can imagine that would make the Time Bank more rewarding for all concerned.

With a focus on equality and community building, the Arroyo S.E.C.O Network of Time Banks strives to encourage all members' strengths and involvement. Time Bank leaders take great care in matching individuals for the success and benefit of all involved. We believe through these exchanges members build positive relationships and together we broaden support networks within the community.

Nurture Committee Roles You don't need a separate person for each role:

• Matchmaker - Helps connect members with others who can meet their needs or use their assets. Help new members get started with exchanges.
• Facilitator - Runs the meetings. Often plans the time and agenda as well.
• Application Review Team - Group of members who manage application forms, orientations, interviews and welcomes new members.
• Outreach - Promotes neighborhood events and Time Bank awareness.
• Coordinator – Liason to Arroyo S.E.C.O Care Committee. Provides updates at bi-monthly Care Committee meetings.
• Phoner - Responsible for making sure offline members (and online too when there's time) get calls letting them know about important Time Bank events, etc. This person can delegate the phoning to other members.
• Event planner - Plans local potlucks and group projects.
• Resource Scout - Looks for resources in neighborhood including hard goods, new skill sets to recruit, free or cheap space, etc.
   

Levels of Activity Time Bank activities ebb and flow. Sometimes there's a pressing project to work on in a neighborhood, or Time Bank needs that aren't being met. That's a good time for a Nurture Committee to spring into action. But if things are quiet, Time Bank exchanges are flowing smoothly, or Nurture Committee members are simply burned out, it's OK to take a break. The Time Bank Care Committee can also help recruit new members if there's work to do but not enough people to do it.

A neighborhood doesn't HAVE to have a Nurture Committee in order to have lots of successful Time Bank exchanges but it helps!

Shared documents can be found in our Dropbox.

Download our brochure.
Download our Coordinator's Handbook

Five Core Values of TimeBanking

1. Assets. We are all assets.  Every human being has something to contribute.
2. Redefining Work. Some work is beyond price.  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. That kind of work needs to be honored, recorded and rewarded.
3. Reciprocity. Helping works better as a two-way street.  The question: “How can I help you?” needs to change so we ask: “How can we help each other build the world we both will live in?”
4. Social Networks. We need each other.  Networks are stronger than individuals. People helping each other reweave communities of support, strength & trust. Community is built upon sinking roots, building trust, creating networks. Special relationships are built on commitment.
5. Respect. Every human being matters.   Respect underlies freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and everything we value. Respect supplies the heart and soul of democracy. When respect is denied to anyone, we all are injured. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.