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Stories:

Molly of Portland, ME

Moving to Portland last summer, and not knowing anyone was a big risk I took. Fortunately, a friendly neighbor pointed out nearby Portland West and explained to me about the Time Bank Network she was a part of. Joining the network allowed me to meet wonderful, caring people (and pets) in my West End neighborhood, which developed into a strong support system and many great friendships.

I was able to practice various forms of alternative medicine I have studied, that before was limited by people feeling they could not afford to pay out of pocket for Reiki, Herbal and Flower Essence Consultations. It has benefited my learning and growing as a healer, and allowed me to receive massage, Reiki, acupuncture, and polarity therapy as curative and preventative health care.

A great relief for me being recently without health insurance. I look forward to continuing being an active health care provider and recipient through Time Banking!

Carney of Portland, ME

I have worked very closely with the Maine Time Bank Network for the past year. The services I was able to receive from True North kicked off a year of growth and wonderment that has allowed me to completely change my life. I receive health care services from other network members as well. I receive Shamballah Reiki treatments and Polarity Therapy on a regular basis.

The Time Bank also helped me to create a network of friends and supporters that encompasses areas of the state I have not even seen! Spending your time helping others not only benefits the person receiving the service but the giver as well. It makes you feel good to know someone is grateful for your assistance whether it's walking their dog after their hip surgery or during their vacation, or providing advice to a new mom. I know, I feel better than I ever have in my entire life.

John Charlesbois, Acupuncturist and Maine TimeBanks Member

“To serve the community as I would like to, I have to do it on every level of commerce, and that doesn’t always mean dealing in greenbacks,” Charlebois explains. “I’d like to donate my time, but if I just give it away, it doesn’t have any worth.”

As founder, chairman, and CEO, Edgar Cahn is responsible for the overall direction of TimeBanks USA. He is the chief spokesperson for TimeBanks USA and the lead fundraiser. He has authored two books on Time Banking. A third book, "Priceless Money: Banking Time for Changing Times," will be published as a limited edition in May 2006. As the creative genius behind Time Banking, Edgar is often a keynote speaker for gatherings, conferences, and regional and national organizational events.

For a more complete biography, please see Meet Our Founder.

Since 1999, Christine Gray has taken on the multiple roles called for by a small non-profit engaged in promoting a radical approach to system change. These include communications, training, the website, collateral, how-to materials, grant proposals, analysis of Co-Production systems, evaluation, policy promotion, Time Bank PR, coursework in Time Banking, nurturing the Time Banks network, organizational development, facilitation, and staff development. Recent growth of the staff, network and board is making it possible to focus more closely on special projects.

Prior to her work with TimeBanks USA, Christine was a community activist and leader in Agoura Hills, California, where she was engaged in a grass-roots movement for the community’s cityhood. She was a leader in the coalition dedicated to ensuring that planning and development in the wilderness areas in north Los Angeles County would be sensitive to environmental concerns, and she helped spearhead a movement that led to the creation of the Chesebro Wilderness State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains, just north of Los Angeles. As a writer, she has been published in the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Monthly, and the American Indian Culture and Research Journal as well as other publications. Christine received her B.S. in Mathematics from California State University, Northridge and her M.A. in Political Science from UCLA. She is currently completing her doctoral thesis on the role of the Johnson and Nixon administrations in American Indian affairs, and upon its completion she will receive her Ph.D. in Political Science from UCLA.

As Chief Technology Officer, Mark oversees all aspects of putting Time Banking onto the internet. This includes the new Time Banking web-based software and the Time Banking forums slated to begin in May, 2006. An activist/philanthropist, he first funded a business planning process for the TimeBanks USA network in 2004, then the development of the TBUSA network in 2005. From 2004-2006 he funded—and was heavily involved in—the creation of the new Time Banking web-based software. In his own local community, Mark is spearheading the pilot of a regional Time Bank model where members take on and rotate the coordinating role.

Mark's chief passion is creating community. It is his belief that communities are the locus of social change. We rarely change our values in isolation. It usually involves becoming part of a new peer group who provides new insights and support to act differently. Thus if you want to change the world, create communities that reinforce new values.

When Mark started to realize the implications of all the unsustainable practices that form the “Business as Usual” paradigm, he realized that many global and national infrastructures will not hold. We will have to downsize, travel less, and depend much more on local resources for food. The mission of weaving local communities has gone from a highly leveraged project for improving people’s lives to an important prophylactic against social chaos in the “interesting times” ahead.

Mark has several other projects that he pursues as partnerships. His role is usually lead investor and design consultant.

• Weaving my local community on Cape Ann towards sustainability.
• Investor in two popular new American cuisine restaurants in Gloucester and Manchester, MA
• Working to develop community gardens around school and a permaculture CSA farm in my area. (Still in the planning stages)

Professional Background

Mark started in the PC industry from its inception and led the development of an easy to use PC database for Ashton-Tate. He also did a brief stint as a family therapist in the low income projects. Most recently, he developed astrology research software and ran the largest distributor of astrology software on-line. Most of his career has been spent designing computer interfaces for databases, then websites. Now he focuses on team design.

Education

• Antioch New England MA – Marriage and Family Therapy 1993-1995
• MIT Sloan School MBA – Decision Support Systems 1981-1983
• Vassar College BA – Philosophy 1974-1978

Membership Organizations and conferences he attends:

• SVN
• Investors Circle
• Threshold Foundation
• Bioneers

Family & Community:
Daughter: Lillie (12/1/88) Mark's home is like a retreat center. Interesting people are always coming through. Y’all are welcome to visit. Accommodations come with a great meal at one of our local restaurants. : )

Jen joined the staff of TBUSA in August, 2006. In her capacity as the Associate for Membership, Outreach & Fundraising Support, Jen helps to build a cohesive, collaborate movement of Time Bankers. Jen connects new and existing Time Banks with the movement's supporters, with one another, and with individuals who are interested in getting involved. She also helps our donors know that they are appreciated.

Before coming to TBUSA, Jen worked for the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, a year-long service program that connects men and women with struggling social justice organizations. She was a year-long volunteer herself, working as a community organizer for two neighborhoods in North Minneapolis. Through her experiences with the Volunteer Corps, both as a member and on the staff, she came to recognize racism as a root cause of most injustice.

Jen sees Time Banking as an essential part of undoing racism. Without Reciprocity, volunteering is an expression of superiority. Without Assets or Redefining Work, people and their gifts are devalued based on an artificial set of criteria. Without a Social Network, we remain isolated and refuse to recognize how racism everyone's problem. Without Respect, we can never have justice!

Curiously, Jen holds a Bachelor of Architectural History from the University of Virginia (long story). She lives in a matchbox in Alexandria with her husband, Noah, a blind cat named Ray and a likable gecko named Ralph. Jen's life fantasy is to be a bakery-owning opera-singer pastor. Jen is originally from Northern Virginia.

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