Missoula Time Bank

Missoula Time Bank in a Nutshell

Welcome! The Missoula Time Bank is a service exchange which uses the currency of time rather than dollars. Time Banking is based on a circle of exchange, where one service is traded for another, and another, and another. All services are valued equally. The Time Bank’s focus on reciprocity means that each person gives and receives. Each person is respected and valued for what they have to offer.

Time Banking is about building community and enhancing each other's lives. The Time Bank's core values are assets, equality, respect, redefining work, and reciprocity.

We are excited to exchange with you,
Missoula Time Bank team

Core Values:

Assets: Each human being has something to contribute. Time Banking looks at how we can improve our communities with what we already have. We all have a skill or service with which we can help others, we are all assets.
Equality: Every person is valued equally. One hour of service equals one time credit, regardless of service. For example, one hour of legal advice equals one hour of gardening equals one hour of transportation.
Respect: Every person is respected, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or viewpoint.
Redefining Work: With the Time Bank, work is defined to include all the activities it takes to sustain families, neighborhoods, communities, democracy and to advance social justice. This kind of work is valued, honored, and rewarded.
Reciprocity: Helping works better as a two way street. The question “How can I help you?” changes to “How can we help each other build the world we both want to live in?” Time Banking is based on equal exchanges. Everyone benefits because every member both gives and receives.

How the Time Bank Works:

The Missoula Time Bank works with the hOurworld.org website. MTB members create a personal profile on the website, post requests and offers, keep a running statement of their trades, and indicate satisfaction with their trades.

Using the hOurworld website:

Create and update your profile under the Account tab. The more information you provide, the more other members will be interested in trading with you.
Scroll through the Home page to look at recent Announcements, and Offers and Requests. This is a great way to know what is going on in the MTB Community. You can also post Announcements for events or urgent trades.
Explore Offers and Requests and add your own. Looking at what others have offered or requested is a great way to spark ideas for your own exchanges.
Contact people you are interested in trading with.
Explore your Statement, so you are familiar with how to keep track of hours.
Remember to record your trades under the Hours tab.
Happy trading!

Membership Responsibilities and Courtesy Rules:

Cancellation notice within 24 hours.
Call back within 48 hours for providing a service or declining a request.
Enter hours as you earn them, report as soon as possible to help everyone keep an accurate record.
Maintain an accurate account. Check accounts regularly.
Minimum of 6 hours of exchange per year. Less than 6 hours will be made inactive. Call MTB to reactivate.
Make an annual donation of 4 hours, or 2 hours and $25.
Respect other members’ viewpoints and don’t pressure members to accept your political or religious beliefs.
Treat fellow time bank members with compassion and respect.
Send any complaints in writing to MTB. Members can be dismissed for unacceptable conduct.

Member's Rights:

To be valued for service to the network and community.
To personal development and lifelong learning.
To confidentiality.
To not be discriminated against because of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
To have your viewpoints and opinions respected.
To say "No" to doing a particular transaction for any reason.

Tips for Happy Trading:

Communicate your needs, wants, and preferences clearly before you receive or provide a service.
Be Social: Time exchanges are often made at MTB events.
Recruit Everyone!
- Tell your friends about us and see how you can integrate the MTB into your life. If you know someone who has a skill you’d like to access, recruit them to join!
- The more members we have, the more skills are available to everyone.
Supplies and Materials should be paid for with dollars, not hours.
- They can be provided by the receiver of the service, or the receiver can reimburse the provider with dollars for materials.
- Remember there is never any equivalency between dollars and hours.
Trade Safely
- Read the member’s profile at hOurworld.org
  - See how many exchanges they’ve had and the percent of satisfied exchanges
  - If members have been endorsed (heart symbol), contact the members about their experiences.
- Ask for references
- Bring along a MTB Buddy
  - Several MTB members have offered to be buddies and can help you with every step of the trade from communication to being there to through the entire trade.
  - Find Buddy Support listed under Local Exchange Support in the Offerings section on hOurworld.org.
- You can always turn down an exchange offer if it is not appropriate. Simply say no!
- Share any concerns with the MTB team through email, by phone, or by visiting the office.
- Remember: Time exchanges are not guaranteed.
  - The only contract for services is between the individual members, whether it is oral or written.
  - We are a network of neighbors helping neighbors. It is up to the members to judge who they would like to exchange with and to ask the appropriate questions about licensing, liability and insurance. It is much better to ask for this information BEFORE the exchange happens.

MTB Policies:

Account Balances: Because reciprocity is core value of time banking, members may not accumulate more than 25 hours of debt or savings. At 25 hours, positive or negative, the Time Bank will contact the member to suggest they work to bring their hours in balance.
Buddy System: A member who needs support on a trade can now request a Time Bank buddy who can do anything from help establish connections to logging hours. Members can offer to be a Buddy under Local Exchange Support -> Buddy Support. Any Time Bank member can serve as a Buddy but experience in trading is strongly recommended.
Buddies earn time from the Time Bank by "Providing your Service" to the Missoula Time Bank.
Community Chest: The Community Chest lets the Time Bank provide hours community projects. These projects will be designated by the Steering Committee and open for all Time Bank members to get involved. The Chest helps us keep track of where MTB is making a presence in the community. We encourage any member to suggest projects or other opportunities to the MTB office.
The Community Chest gains hours through the membership donations at yearly renewals, extra hours from group services, and any extra member donations.
Group Services: When two or more time bank members receive services at the same time, the provider and receivers should negotiate how many hours will be transferred. For example, a teacher of a one hour yoga class with four time bank members could request between one-quarter to one hour from each to cover preparation, class time, and follow-up. In keeping with the principal of hour equality, the total time hours earned by the group provider in excess of the actual time provided (including preparation, class, and follow-up) will be transferred by the provider to the Time Bank Community Chest Fund. If there were only one time bank member in group with non-time bank people, then the provider and receiver should also negotiate a fair time exchange. A member offering a group service may limit the number of time exchange receipients in the group.

Referring Friends: Members can earn one hour for each friend they refer. The friend must become an active member and needs to give MTB the referring member’s name at orientation.

Time Bank Mission:

Building a community that supports our connection, aliveness, safety and economic resilience by providing a service exchange based on time in which everyone has something of value to contribute.
Time Banking strengthens families, maintains democracy, increases community involvement, and encourages social justice when members earn hours for work that may not be valued in the dollar economy.

If you are interested in helping MTB please contact us.

Contact: info@missoulatimebank.com - (406) 210-9805

Contributing to a prosperous Missoula community.

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