Hour Exchange Portland

Hour Exchange Portland is a service exchange based on Time Dollars, the currency of equality that empowers individuals to utilize their assets and enhance their lives, neighborhood and community.

Description:
Our Core Values
Assets: We are all assets. Every human being has something of value to contribute.
Equality: At the heart of every time exchange is equality. One hour of service equals one time credit, regardless of the service. All people are valued equally.
Reciprocity: Helping works better as a two way street. The question, “How can I help you?” needs to be changed to, “How can we help each other build the world we both want to live in?”
Redefining Work: Work is beyond price. Work must be redefined to include all of the activities it takes to sustain families, neighborhoods and communities, to help democracy work and to advance social justice. This kind of work needs to be honored and rewarded.
Social Networks: We need each other. Networks are stronger than individuals. People can help each other build communities of support, strength and trusting relationships.
Respect: Everyone matters. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.

History:
In late 1995 Richard Rockefeller (the founder of Hour Exchange Portland) first heard Dr. Edgar Cahn speak about Time Dollars. Up to that point, most of Richard's philanthropic dollars had supported environmental issues.

After hearing Edgar speak, Richard says a light went on - a sudden realization that we can't expect people to take care of our environment, if we are not first taking care of each other. He felt compelled to bring the concept of Time Banking to Maine and began to share his vision in 1996. In 1997, Maine hosted an International Time Dollar Congress in cooperation with Dr. Edgar Cahn (Founder of Time Dollars), bringing together 40 Time Banks from all over the world. For many, it was the first opportunity to share their experiences about their programs and learn from others.

For Hour Exchange Portland , the Congress inspired new vision and direction. Our committed and visionary Board of Directors decided it was time to grow a local (model) Time Bank and Hour Exchange Portland was born.

Contact people:

Monique Bidwell, Member Facilitator, (phone), (email) Marena Blanchard, Americorps VISTA, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (207) 773-4701

Address:

470 Forest Avenue, Suite 300 Portland, ME 04101 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.hourexchangeportland.org

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: 2, 2 minute walk

Last updated on November 6, 2009