Let's pack El Cholo Cafe Pasadena on Wednesday, February 26th! 15% of your purchase will go directly to the Time Bank to help support our administrative expenses for 2014. Have a burrito and a margarita AND help the Time Bank thrive. It's a win win. be sure to bring the attached flyer. If you can't make it to this fundraiser we will do another one in March at El Cholo Cafe Los Angeles.


DATE: Wednesday, February 26, 2014

WHERE: El Cholo Cafe Pasadena 260 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena
(Inside the Paseo Colorado) http://elcholopasadena.com/

TIME: All Day Long! Bring this flyer!!!!

The Louisville TimeBank was featured on ABC News with Diane Sawyer. Watch the story here,

Help Shape the ASECO Community Revolving Loan Fund!

Community Meeting: Sunday, January 12th, 2014

Join us for a round table meeting as we shape the community criteria and loan approval process for the ASECO Community Revolving Loan Fund!

This meeting is open to all interested Arroyo S.E.C.O. Network of Time Bank members but will be most relevant for those whom:

• are considering applying for one of our community supported micro-loans

• have questions about how the fund will work

• are interested in shaping review policy

• are interested in serving on one of our Review Panels


Please join us for a very hands-on meeting in the New Year!

Sunday, January 12th, 2014
11am - 1pm
Armory Center for the Arts
Community Room
145 N. Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91103

Space is limited to 25 people. You must RSVP to Sarah at [email protected] if you'd like to attend.

Facebook invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/1401790446733541/

THANK YOU!!!

www.asntb.com

By Sarah McGowan Dear
Community Revolving Loan Fund Project Developer

Today’s mainstream economy leaves so much to be desired, and undoubtedly its failings are likely one of the many reasons we embrace and value our time banking community as much as we do.

Many of us have already come to the conclusion that money can’t buy happiness. And in fact, much research shows that it’s the quality of our relationships, sense of connection and engagement in community, and access to resources that will determine whether we feel like we’re living the life we want instead of the one allowed us by mainstream paradigms and systems.

In large part, the extractive economy asks us to bear the hefty burden of its machinations - as laborers making less than a living wage, as hopeful entrepreneurs who believe in the “American dream”, as people saddled with far too much predatory debt in the pursuit of education, happiness and an elusive quality of life. But time bankers are people of great agency and the tool we use to create community – the exchange of our time – is proof alone that by looking through a different lens, we can wrestle a great many beautiful things into being just by turning some of these parasitic systems on their heads.

It is in this spirit of innovation that the Community Revolving Loan Fund was created and particularly in partnership with the Permaculture Credit Union. In truth, it would be wonderful to have a local credit union working with us to administer our loan fund, but in our search for a local partner, we were met with blank stares. When asking local banks what they do for the community, we were told, “we give to the United Way.” Though charitable, it’s a strategy that doesn’t directly benefit the community in which they operate. That’s just one example but it says a lot about how little the financial world understands sustainability, community enrichment and human-scale economics.

The Permaculture Credit Union not only understands these principles, but is willing to participate in a loan fund for us that quite honestly is peanuts compared to their other programs. They understand why “small is beautiful” (E.F. Schumacher) and how even a small fund can make a very big impact over time if stewarded thoughtfully.

This week I’ve been working with the PCU’s president, Bill Sommers, on our Memorandum of Understanding that spells out the roles and responsibilities of our loan fund and their credit union. When I asked if we could have a 60-day grace period between signing and repayment, Bill answered, “yes.” When I asked if we could extend the default period to 120 days, Bill answered “yes.” And when I asked if we’d be allowed to get creative to help a borrower in trouble, Bill answered, “of course – you can design this program however you want.” And that’s the beauty of our particular loan fund – we are building it in a collaborative world of yes’s rather than the usual extractive world of patent no’s.

We’ve already done the hard part to give our members access to invaluable resources by leveraging those already present in our community. And by doing so, we’re able to stand together and make many small voices become loudly unified.

Join us for a Holiday Craft Fair, potluck and Fundraiser for the Arroyo S.E.C.O Network of Time Banks on December 14th, 2013 from 12-5PM! Hand made gifts made by local artisans. Tea towels, aprons, tote bags, jams, hand salves, bar soap and much more! Hosted by the West Adams Time Bank and the Time Bank Craft Club at the L.A. Eco Village 117 Bimini Pl L.A., CA 90004. See you there!

By Sarah McGowan Dear

The Sharing Economy just got a new tool for its toolkit, friends!

I’m thrilled to announce that the ASECO Community Revolving Loan Fund is now officially funded!

This past week, we surpassed our fundraising goal on Indiegogo, raising over $6,000 from over 70 donors, almost half of whom are time bankers in Los Angeles and beyond! (Our campaign is still ongoing through November 15th, so if you have not yet donated but would like to support the fund, there’s still time!)

The first-ever of its kind to serve a Time Bank, our loan fund will begin offering micro-loans in the amount of $500-5,000 to members with small businesses or worker-owned cooperatives. You can find all of the loan eligibility, criteria and terms now listed on the Loan Fund’s web page.

Our community-driven, community-supported and community-managed micro-loan program will help members purchase needed equipment and supplies, scale up business and support their scalable growth.

The application is now available, so if you’re interested in applying for a loan, simply complete the application and submit it now. We’ll begin reviewing them with a peer review panel in January 2014.

It’s exciting to see a year’s worth of research and development take shape. I’m truly honored to be a part of this project and look forward to seeing it spread its wings.

Many thanks to all of the Time Bank members who pitched in and gave what they could for this project. It’s proof that our social capital has the power to keep on giving through the Sharing Economy!

For more information, contact me at [email protected]

It's amazing what an unexpected guest can do to reaffirm what we know already - that the Sharing Economy is one of the most powerful tools to rebuild our communities and local economies! Here ASECO Project Developer, Sarah McGowan Dear, explains why sharing strategies like the Community Revolving Loan Fund and Local Economy Incubator give her hope for a better tomorrow. 

For more information about the ASECO Community Revolving Loan Fund or the Local Economy Incubator, email Sarah at [email protected]

By Sarah McGowan Dear

This fall the Community Revolving Loan Fund (CRLF) and Local Economy Incubator (LEI) will launch, serving the Arroyo Seco Network of Time Banks (ASNTB).

Intended to help our community of artisans, entrepreneurs, visionaries and worker-owned cooperatives gain access to resources that often come with a great price tag in the extractive economy, both new projects seek to educate, support and empower the ASNTB through micro-loans and access to professional development.

The CRLF is the first-ever loan fund of its kind to be created by a Time Bank!

After receiving a development grant (that also capitalizes 50% of the fund) from the Metabolic Studio, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation lead by artist and foundation director, Lauren Bon, we’re now in the process of raising $5,000 in matching funds from the community to begin lending in January 2014.

Time Bank members are enterprising, resourceful and creative. Many have already launched local businesses, restaurants and worker-owned cooperatives. More of us have developed handmade products such as jams, jewelry, clothing, botanicals and bread. Our fund provides low interest micro-loans to scale up production, upgrade equipment or purchase materials and supplies.

Loan requests in the amount of $500-5,000 will be considered through a Time Bank developed application and panel review process. From the incredible support of our financial partner, the Santa Fe Permaculture Credit Union, we will retain full control of the review, management and closing process, offering our entrepreneurs access to truly community-supported small business loans that will further help them either improve or establish their credit.  

The fund is especially supportive of women and the economically distressed, ventures that promote environmental and/or community sustainability, ventures that show direct and positive impact on the ASNTB community and social entrepreneurs or cooperatives with a social mission. We hope to see today’s borrowers become tomorrow’s mentors and donors.

Help us crowdfund this pioneering project!

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today to support our enterprising members! Click here to donate.

And click here to learn more about the history of the ASECO Community Revolving Loan Fund and its eligibility requirements, our financial partner, the Permaculture Credit Union, the Local Economy Incubator, our timeline for launch and the ways you can get involved!    

Funding a Better Future for Time Bank Entrepreneurs
Sarah McGowan Dear

Donate to the Community Revolving Loan Fund!

This fall the Community Revolving Loan Fund (CRLF) and Local Economy Incubator (LEI) launched, serving the Arroyo Seco Network of Time Banks (ASNTB). 

Intended to help our community of artisans, entrepreneurs, visionaries and worker-owned cooperatives gain access to resources that often come with a great price tag in the extractive economy, both new projects seek to educate, support and empower the ASNTB through micro-loans and access to professional development.

The CRLF is the first-ever loan fund of its kind to be created by a Time Bank! 

After receiving a development grant (that also capitalizes 50% of the fund) from the Metabolic Studio, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation led by artist and foundation director, Lauren Bon, we’re now in the process of raising $5,000 in matching funds from the community to begin lending in January 2014.

Time Bank members are enterprising, resourceful and creative. Many have already launched local businesses, restaurants and worker-owned cooperatives. More of us have developed handmade products such as jams, jewelry, clothing, botanicals and bread. Our fund provides low interest micro-loans to scale up production, upgrade equipment or purchase materials and supplies. 

Loan requests in the amount of $500-5,000 will be considered through a Time Bank developed application and panel review process. From the incredible support of our financial partner, the Santa Fe Permaculture Credit Union, we will retain full control of the review, management and closing process, offering our entrepreneurs access to truly community-supported small business loans that will further help them either improve or establish their credit.  

The fund is especially supportive of women and the economically distressed, ventures that promote environmental and/or community sustainability, ventures that show direct and positive impact on the ASNTB community and social entrepreneurs or cooperatives with a social mission. We hope to see today’s borrowers become tomorrow’s mentors and donors. 

Help us crowdfund this pioneering project! 

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today to support our enterprising members! Click here to donate. 

And click here to learn more about the history of the ASECO Community Revolving Loan Fund and its eligibility requirements, our financial partner, the Santa Fe Permaculture Credit Union, the Local Economy Incubator, our timeline for launch and the ways you can get involved!

Join us for the Arroyo S.E.C.O. Network of Time Banks All Neighborhood potluck hosted by the Downtown Time Bank on Oct 13th, 2013 at the Ceanothus L.A. Festival! It will be held in the Anabolic native garden on the North end of the Los Angeles Historic State Park 1245 N. Spring Los Angeles, CA 90012. Parking available on Baker Street.

Come celebrate the beautiful Ceanothus (California Lilac), a medicinal, native flower that can be used as natural soap. Sign the petition to make it our city flower.   https://www.change.org/petitions/ceanothus-l-a
The current flower of Los Angeles is the bird of Paradise, native to Australia. (?)

The Ceanothus L.A. Festival is organized by Everything is Medicine and will have free workshops, environmental education booths and a parade!
http://everythingismedicine.wordpress.com/

Come enjoy the beautiful garden and meet your fellow members. The entire festival runs from 9AM-3PM. This is a zero waste event bring our own plates, cups, chairs and a dish to share. See you there!
https://www.facebook.com/events/304072466402602/