As compiled by E. F. Schumacher Society
staff person Erika Levasseur, in May of 1997. Revised
by Karen Lyness LeBlanc in 2000, Bryn Myer in 2001,
Alyson Mayo in 2004, and Jing Cao in 2006. Local currency issuers are listed
in alphabetical order by state, in the following groupings:
*Italicized groups have not been recently updated
and may be inactive.
If you are involved in a local currency group, please
be sure to send us regular
updates on the progress of your program.
Local Currency
Groups in the United States
KANSAS
REAL Dollars
Lawrence Trade Organization
P.O. Box 1542
Lawrence, KS 66044
Boog Highberger: 785/843-0095
Steve McFarland: 785/841-8796
boog59@juno.com
http://lto.lawrence.ks.us
1st Issue: September 2000
Currency: REAL dollars are issued on par with federal
dollars, in denominations of $1, $3, and $10. An estimated
8000 REAL dollars are currently in circulation.
Participation: 88 participating businesses. While
most will accept at least 20% of a total purchase in REAL
dollars, almost 40 will accept 100%.
Outreach: Newsletter (available on-line) and web
site.
Background: The "REAL dollar system" is modeled
on the system put in place on the Isle of Man in the early
1800s.
Information last updated 7/01
MASSACHUSETTS
BerkShares
BerkShares, Inc.
Asa Hardcastle, President of board
Susan Witt, Administrator
P.O. Box 125
Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 528-1737
info@berkshares.org
http://www.berkshares.org
First issue: September 29, 2006
Currency: BerkShares are a paper currency printed in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 and are traded in the southern Berkshire region of Massachusetts. They are distributed by local banks and are backed by federal dollars. They are purchased at $0.90 per BerkShare from the bank, spent at a value of $1 per BerkShare with participating individuals or businesses, and traded back for federal currency at $0.90 per BerkShare, providing a financial incentive for both individuals to get and spend them in the first place and for someone who has recieved BerkShares in a transaction to spend them again rather than return them for federal currency.
Participation: Approximately 240 regional businesses participating; issued through 7 branches of four local banks; approximately 135,000 BerkShares are currently in circulation.
Information updated March 9, 2007.
MICHIGAN
Bay Bucks
Stephanie Mills, President
Bill Palladino, Vice President
P.O. Box 1951
Traverse City, MI 49685-1951
(231)995-9680
www.baybucks.org
info@baybucks.org
1st issue: November 7, 2005. $300 “limited edition” issue at the Great
Lakes Bioneers Conference in Traverse City on October 14-16th 2005.
Currency: Bay Bucks are paper scrip tied to the dollar, in denominations of BB1, BB5, BB10 and BB20. Approximately $13,000 disbursed as of January 1, 2007. Six Membership levels (individual, nonprofit, government, biz I, II & III) are available, with Membership fees range from $20 to $150. All members but individuals receive 2:1 Bay Bucks.
Participation: Bay Bucks has 125 members, including 95 businesses.
Outreach: Bay Bucks has a quarterly newsletter, and is hoping to fund a part-time outreach director.
Background: Bay Bucks are a project of the Traverse Area Community Currency Corporation, a non profit created for the purpose of providing trustworthy tools for local exchange. A team of volunteers worked for four years before seeing the first bill come off the press.
Information last updated March 9, 2007
NEW YORK
Ithaca HOURS
Steve Burke
P.O. Box 6731
Ithaca, NY 14851
(607)272-3738
info@ithacahours.org
www.ithacahours.org
1st Issue: October 1991
Currency: The “original” Hour-based
scrip, one Hour is the equivalent to $10. To date,
approximately $100,000 in Ithaca Hours have been put
into circulation, facilitating several million dollars
worth in transactions.
Participation:
Ithaca Hours has approximately 600 members (among a county population of 50,000),
mostly individuals, but also large local businesses(such
as food co-op, credit union, public library, hospital,
bookstores, CD shop, farmer's market, beer retailer,
wine shop, bowling alley, computer store, clothing
stores, health club, internet service providers, graphicdesigners,
landscapers, office supplies, printers, photographers,
and many restaurants and coffeehouses). Membership costs $10 annually. Benefits
include a listing in the annual Directory (10,000 copies
circulated county-wide throughout the year) and an annual
disbursement of two Ithaca Hours.
Outreach: 5000 copies of annual directory, with 1500+ listings, web site,
festivals, personal visits, media coverage.
Outreach programs include a grants program to community organizations and interest-free loans to businesses.
Background:
Ithaca Hours is one of oldest and largest local currency systems in the world. It is recognized and utilized as an information resource byacademics, journalists, and currency organizations worldwide.
Information last updated March 9, 2007.
OREGON
Cascadia Hours
Portland Cascadia Hour Exchange
John Poling
P.O. Box 8608
Portland, OR 97207
(503)810-8382
www.cascadiahourexchange.com
1st Issue: 1994
Participation: 100+ members (professional/business/hobbyists).
Each new participant is issued 5 CHE hours.
Outreach: Monthly directory for members only, 100+
listings; monthly events such as auctions; and a web site,
updated almost daily, which provides a copy of the CHE
Directory and calendar of events.
Background: Cascadia Hours originated as barter-club
in Eugene in 1993, branches developed and have operated
independently in 3 different areas, including Portland.
Portland acts as a cooperative, and has developed and
expanded with no Federal Reserve cash budget.
Corvallis HOUR Exchange
Christina Calkins, Program Coordinator
P.O. Box 1534
Corvallis, OR 97339
(541)753-0595
www.hourexchange.org
hourexchange@peak.org
Press about Corvallis HOUR Exchange
1st issue: May 2002
2nd issue: May 2004
Currency: HOURS come in four denominations: 1 HOUR = $10, 1/2 HOUR = $5,
1/4 HOUR = $2.5, 1/8 HOUR = $1.25. Over 1,122 HOURS are in circulation as
of Spring 2007. Each member is issued two HOURS for listing (in a quarterly
newspaper directory), plus one HOURS for an annual renewal.
Participation: HOUR Exchange has 110 members, including 10 storefront businesses, 19 home businesses, and 6 farms.
Outreach: HOUR Exchange holds quarterly potluck gatherings and events and
uses word of mouth and media coverage to spread the word.
Background: The HOUR Exchange is an Oregon Non-profit organization
operated by a member elected Board of Trustees.
Information last updated March 12, 2007
Gorge Local Currency Cooperative (GLCC)
Theresa North, Steering Committee
993 Tucker Road, Suite A
Hood River, OR 97031
http://www.riverhours.org
info@riverhours.org
(541)387-3956
1st Issue: September 2004
Currency: RiverHOURS are primarily based on the Ithaca Hours system, and have three denominations: 1 HOUR = $10, 1/2 HOUR = $5, 1/10 HOUR = $1. The GLCC chose the Hours system for its local currency to emphasize the value of a person’s time. The GLCC focuses on the Columbia River Gorge region within a 35-mile radius from the center of the Hood River (Oregon) bridge. It contains portions of five counties in two states.
Outreach: The GLCC provides informational presentations for interested community groups and booths at numerous community festivals. Hispanic outreach is a top priority. There have already been articles in several local media outlets, both print and broadcast. In 2005 GLCC published its first trade directory with listings of all paid members.
Background: RiverHOURS began in fits and starts in 2001, and finally became a group dedicated enough to meet week after week and hammer out all the details beginning in August, 2003. By the spring of 2004, the GLCC had written and adopted its bylaws and began soliciting members of the community to participate. RiverHOURS will be officially launched as soon as the GLCC reaches at least 100 members. The GLCC's mission statement is, "The Gorge Local Currency Cooperative (GLCC) seeks to create and sustain a local currency system in order to build community, promote regional economic independence, support local business and trade, encourage entrepreneurship, honor diversity and enhance the local minimum wage in the Mid-Columbia region."
Information last updated 11/05.
PENNSYLVANIA
Equal Dollars
Vanessa Williams and Jonathan Duncan
Resources for Human Development, Inc.
4700 Wissahickon Avenue, Suite 126
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215)951-0300
vanessa@rhd.org
jonathan@rhd.org
www.rhd.org/equal.html
1st Issue: October 1996
Currency: Equal Dollars are issued on par with
federal dollars. To date 96,400 Equal Dollars have been
issued by the program.
Participation: 864 members, 298 businesses.
Outreach: Equal Dollars' outreach includes a quarterly newsletter with 2,400 listings,
membership cards, participating in Flea Markets, and operating a Tool Rental Center and Micro-Loan
Fund.
Background: Equal Dollars was started by $78 million non-profit Resources
for Human Development, Inc., which maintains 150 diverse
human service programs. To date, more than $100,000 has
been put toward this currency (mostly discretionary funds
of Resources, with some foundation, corporate, and anonymous
donor funding). Funds have supported a full-time project
director, technical and financial counselors, business
development training, marketing materials, etc. Equal Dollars is currently
applying for state money and hoping to expand to 5000 members.
It utilizes both scrip and checking systems.
Information last updated 11/05.
VERMONT
Burlington Currency Project (Burlington Bread)
Cara Taussig
P.O. Box 8472
Burlington, VT 05402
(802)434-8103
info@burlingtoncurrency.org
www.burlingtoncurrency.org , cltaussig@earthlink.net
1st Issue: May 1998
Currency: Denominations of the currency come in 1, 5, 10, and 20, featuring artwork by local artists depicting scenes in and around Burlington, Vermont. Circulation is approximately $15,000.
Participation:
The Burlington Currency Project had a membership overhaul in 2004 to update the directory. Current participation is approximately 75-100 people. Of those 75-100 people, around 50 are members. Membership is roughly 50% businesses and 50% individuals.
Outreach: The Burlington Currency Project re-launched its currency in summer 2004. In conjunction with a sustainable cities conference held in Burlington, the BCP issued its new colorized currency to all conference participants to spend at area businesses, many of which were participating for the first time, including the local food co-op. Outreach continues in the form of meetings and presentations with community groups and city leaders, as well as monthly gatherings at a local cafe.
Background: Burlington Bread started as a grassroots effort in 1998. A group of local citizens wanted to model a local currency after Ithaca Hours, and to provide a useful tool to community members and the local economy.
BCP received its initial start-up grant from Ben & Jerry's,
an operations grant from the Green Mountain Fund in May
2000, and a project grant from Burlington's Community
and Economic Development Office in June 2001. Membership
fees are based on a sliding scale. The group progressed slowly, with just a handful of local businesses, and membership never topped 100. In the fall of 2003, a local currency course taught at the University of Vermont set off a series of events. Organizers of the BCP participated in the course, and together with students and professors, publicly presented recommendations on improving and expanding Burlington Bread. Over the next six months, the BCP's Board of Directors expanded from five to seventeen people, a community competition set off a reprinting of the currency along with a new twenty-note, and plans were underway for involvement in a city-wide conference where the currency was to be officially re-launched. Currently, and for the first time, Burlington Bread is operating with a small work staff.
Information last updated 11/05
WISCONSIN
Madison Hours
Jon Hain
1202 Williamson Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 259-9050
postmaster@madisonhours.org
www.madisonhours.org
1st Issue: May 6,1996
Currency: One Hour is equivalent to $10 federal
dollars. Currency is issued in denominations of 1/4, 1/2,
and 1 Hours. To date the program has issued 3600 Hours.
Participation:
Current membership of Madison Hours Cooperative is roughly
120, including 35 business members.
Outreach: The Hour Community Newspaper, is distributed quarterly throughout community, each featuring around 500 listings. Members can make listings in the newsletter and on the website. Madison Hours also sponsors a monthly potluck and a monthly pancake breakfast fund raiser.
Background: The Madison Hour planning committee received excellent media
coverage and was initially overwhelmed with press response. Originally fiscally funded by Housing Co-op, it is currently supported mainly by grants, ongoing fund raising, membership fees and directory advertisement. They have started offering web hosting to their members as another source of income. Madison Hours is incorporated as co-operative, broad-based group administration.
Information last updated March 9, 2007
Local
Currency Groups in Canada
Calgary Dollars
c/o The Arusha Centre
106, 233 12th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2R 0G9 Canada
403/270-8002
Gerald Wheatley
info@calgarydollars.ca
www.calgarydollars.ca
1st Issue: January 2002
Currency: Calgary Dollars are issued in denominations of 1, 5, and 10. Calgary Dollars are scrip pegged to the federal currency.
Participation: Calgary Dollars has over 400 members, 150 businesses, and 1100 listings. A partnership with the City of Calgary allows for the use of 100% Calgary Dollars to purchase city transit tickets and passes to use city pools and recreation facilities. Participating businesses include video rental, restaurant, grocery store, theater company, mechanic, dry cleaner, etc. Other participants include a car-sharing program, accepting 100% local currency for car use, and a 60 unit housing co-op which accepts local currency for a percentage of rent.
Outreach: Calgary Dollars is a grassroots currency system that brings together local talents and resources to strengthen our local economy and build community. It believes a community’s true wealth lies in the skills, talents and capabilities of its members, and every single person has something of value to offer to his/her neighbours. By encouraging local production and consumption, it is committed to creating a healthy economy that is rooted in a healthy society and a healthy ecosystem. Outreach includes a monthly potluck, numerous community events, bi-monthly newspaper insert, print listings, web page and email list.
Background: The Calgary Dollars program was formerly the "Bow Chinook Barter Community," using the "Bow Chinook Hours" as currency. In 2002, the project was reformulated as "Calgary Dollars." Calgary Dollars has five part-time staff, and two community animators. Operations are funded by the local United Way, the municipal government's charitable funding agency (FCSS), the Alberta Lottery Fund, and membership and advertising generated revenue.
Information last updated 12/05
Salt Spring Island Dollars
Bob McGinn, President
Salt Spring Island Monetary Foundation
147 Robinson Road
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia V8K 1R6 Canada
Dollars@saltspringdollars.com
ebooth@saltspring.com
1st Issue: September 2001
Currency: $$ (Salt Spring Island Issued dollars) are backed by Canadian dollars. The currency is printed in nine denominations: 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1. $$ are issued in limited editions of 20,000 (1, 2, 5) and 10,000 (10,20), 5,000 (50,100) In late 2006, the SSIMF minted 1000, limited edition, $$50, 1/2 ounce, .999 fine silver coins.
Participation: All major businesses and 95%+ of all local small businesses are now
accepting $$.
Background: $$ are issued by a non-profit foundation, the Salt Spring Island Monetary Foundation, better known as the Salt Spring IMF. The bills and coin feature
the work of local artists and include local historical figures on the front. The program has garnered support from the three financial institutions on the island Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). All three banks take the $$ at par with the Canadian dollar, with no exchange rate or transaction fees. Also of note, the larger bills incorporate the most
sophisticated levels of security/anti-counterfeiting of any banknote in the world. These security features include Level 2 Halo, Sentinel, and Wicker 2000.
Information last updated March 9, 2007
Tamworth Hours
http://www.numismondo.com/pm/can/local/Tamworth/index.htm
http://www.cyberclass.net/currency/tamworthg.htm
Background: Tamworth Hours are a usuryfree time currency initiated by Tom J. Kennedy and issued into circulation 13.11.2004. They were issued on behalf of the participating time-traders who live in the village of Tamworth, in rural eastern Ontario, CANADA in the Township of Stone Mills and/or beyond its borders. Approximately 80 'time-traders' are currently participating with this Tamworth Hours project. Many participating time-traders are willingly accepting other local currencies at par with Tamworth Hours as this action helps to build a larger, loyal database of community-minded consumers.
Toronto Dollar Community Project Inc.
P.O. Box 6523
Sation "A"
Toronto, Ontario M5W 1
416/361-0466
www.torontodollar.com
1st Issue: December 1998
Currency: The Toronto Dollar trades at par with
the Canadian dollar and is backed by Canadian dollars.
Initially, consumers can exchange their Canadian dollars
for an equal amount of Toronto Dollars. Each time a Toronto Dollar is
purchased from Toronto Dollar Inc., 90 cents is deposited
in a reserve fund and 10 cents goes to the Toronto Dollar
Community Projects Fund. Participating businesses have
agreed to accept Toronto Dollars on-par with Canadian
dollars. A business can continue to spend at par the Toronto
Dollars it receives or it can redeem its Toronto Dollars
for Canadian dollars at 90 cents on the dollar. Money
for these redemption is drawn from the Toronto Dollar
reserve fund. The bills have a 3 year expiry term, with
the expectation that 12% of the Toronto Dollars sold will
never be redeemed so that the total new money created
is about 22%. The main challenges experienced with this
program were 1) getting supporters to purchase Toronto
Dollars because of the potential inconvenience and 2)
dealing with inherent risks involved with a system tied
to cash—i.e. having tight controls as one expands.
Participation: Approximately 150 businesses in
the St. Lawrence Market and Riverdale areas have agreed
to accept Toronto Dollars. There is a $25 registration fee for new members.
Outreach:
Toronto Dollars supports a merchant directory through its website. It also has an informational booth in the St. Lawrence Market where dollars are bought and information is distributed. The Toronto Dollar Supper Club sponsers a lecture series which brings speakers of interest to th earea. Toronto Dollar Community Projects has made over $86,000 in grants to local organizations.
Background: Organized by a volunteer group, the
Toronto Dollar Community Project Inc., the Toronto Dollar
was launched December 5, 1998. Originally located in the
St. Lawrence Market area, circulation has recently expanded
to include businesses in the Riverdale area of Toronto.
Overhead for the program is covered by interest on the
Reserve Fund and donations. The Toronto Dollar Community
Projects Fund is used to give Toronto Dollars to people
as “thank-you honorariums” for volunteer work
with a focus on supporting those who need more income.
One of the main benefits reported by Toronto Dollars organizers
is the synergy created between the participating community
groups through this “Spirit At Work” project
and the way it fosters support for caring services—see
this section on the Toronto Dollar web site.
Information last updated 11/05
Unity Dollars
http://numismondo.com/pm/can/local/unity/index.htm
Participation: There are participating traders in various towns and villages in the
Madawaska Valley such as: Killaloe, Eganville, Golden Lake, Combermere, Bancroft and Barry's Bay. This network of Unity traders are unique as they solicited supporting businesses to advertise on the back of the paper notes thereby raising the federal cash to print the Unity dollars.
There are approximately 70 Unity traders who are active within this Unity Dollar network. Other communities in Ontario and Quebec
are currently organizing businesses so that they can copy this Unity
model. Many Unity traders are willingly accepting other usuryfree
community currencies at par.
Background: The usuryfree dollar currency commonly referred to as the Unity was launched in the spring of 2006 in the Madawaska Valley area of Eastern Ontario, CANADA.
Local Currency Groups in Mexico
Sistema TLALOC, Red Nacional Vida Digna y Sostenible
Asociación Civil Promocion del Desarrollo Popular
Arq. Luis Lopezllera Mendez
Tlaloc 40-3, Col.
Tlaxpana, 11370 México, D.F.
011-52-55-55350325
lopezllera@laneta.apc.org
www.vidadigna.info
First issue:
Currency:
Outreach: This system has been reproduced, one in Magdalena Contreras, a municipality southwest of Mexico City, with support of local authorities. The bill is called "Dinamo". Another one, linked also with this group, in Dolores Hidalgo, is Guanajuato, supported by a network of grassroots peasant producers. Their bill is called "Mezquite" after the region's desert tree.
Background:
Information last updated 11/05
Soon-to-be-Active
Local Currency Programs, U.S. and Canada
PDX Hours
Tim Sexton
2250 NW Kearney Suite 409
Portland, OR 97210
tim@pdxhours.org
http://www.pdxhours.org
1st Issue: September 2007
Participation: There are currently 3 active board members, a mailing list of approx 50 interested individuals, and ongoing solicitation of local merchants.
Outreach: PDX Hours was founded to rejuvenate the role of local currency within the highly progressive atmosphere of Portland, Oregon.
History: Founded in 2007, PDX Hours is now building the structure of the member-drive, local currency program. Community outreach has included exposure through publication in two local non-daily papers and a sponsoring role in the upcoming presentation and panel discussion of The Money Fix (Alan Rosenblith) on June 21 in Portland.
Updated May 4, 2007
Retired Local Currency Programs
The following groups are, to our knowledge, no longer active.
ARIZONA
Tucson Traders
David Hodge, Steering Committee
P.O. Box 1842
Tucson, AZ 85702
(520)388-8844
tucsontraders@hotmail.com
1st Issue: In 1998, Tucson Tokens ledger based system began. In 2000, Cash Tokens Currency was introduced as the medium of exchange.
Currency: Unit of exchange is the Tucson Token, equivalent in value to one federal dollar. To date over 9,000 Tokens have been issued, facilitating over $40,000 worth of transactions. No new currency is being issued, but previously issued Tokens are still in circulation
Participation:50 members, including 21 businesses as of May 2004. Membership is free, but members are asked to accept at least 5-10% payment in local currency or other alternative payment methods when trading with each other.
Outreach: Outreach includes the directory, trade fairs, and a website. "The Tradewinds," the directory, is issued every quarter and provides Members listings and articles. A Personal Directory is also provided on the website, with a phone contact list for members. The members Qualifying businesses will be able to receive extended 5,000 Token credit lines as presented in the quarterly Directory/Newsletter, through e-mails, flyers, and the website.
Background: The group began in 1998 by local activists. Membership peaked in 2000 with 235 members. A non-activist steering group spent three years analyzing community needs and the expectations of those using the system. In April 2004, membership fell to a low of 51. Apart from use of local currency, Tucson Traders also supports a local barter network Tucson Traders is currently seeking dedicated individuals in the Tucson area to set up an online network.
Information last updated 9/05
CALIFORNIA
BREAD (Berkeley Region Exchange And Development)
Miyoko Sakashita and Dina Mackin
P.O. Box 3973
Berkeley, CA 94703
510/644-0376
1st Issue: May 1997
Currency: Hour-based program. Notes are issued in 3 denominations: 1/4, 1/2, and 1 Hour. One Hour is equal to $12. To date approximately $30,000 worth of BREAD has been issued.
Participation: 250 members; 15-20 businesses.
Outreach: Community journal/directory, BREAD Rising, 600 listings, 250 members
Background: The program aims to create a thriving local economy that will counter the negative impacts of a globalizing economy. BREAD also seeks to build community and increase civic participation. They are planning a vigorous outreach program to locally-owned businesses and to diversify and expand their constituency.
Information last updated 7/01
INDIANA
BloomingHOURS
Mike Englert
116 1/2 College Avenue, Suite #15
Bloomington, IN 47404
(812)332-8796
www.bloomington.in.us/~blmghour
1st Issue: September 1999
Currency: One BloomingHOUR is the equivalent of $10.00. Currency is issued in three denominations: 1/4, 1/2, and 1 HOUR. Approximately 720 HOURS (worth $7200) are in circulation.
Participation: BloomingHOURS has over 200 members and around 50 participating businesses.
Outreach: BloomingHOURS issues a 12-page quarterly directory and maintains a website.
Information last updated March 9, 2007
MASSACHUSETTS
Valley Dollars
Timothy Cohen-Mitchell and Gurunam Kaur Khalsa
Valley Trade Connection (VTC)
324 Wells St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
(413)774-7204 x127
vtc@shaysnet.com
1st Issue: November 1991
Currency: One Valley Dollar is the equivalent of one federal dollar. Valley Dollars come in 4 denominations: V$1.00, V$5.00, V$10.00, V$20.00. The VTC has issued approximately $59,000 Valley Dollars. This has facilitated an estimated $250,000 of trading in Valley Dollars, and $500,000 in combination with U.S. dollars.
Participation: 100 members businesses.
Outreach: Directory with 500+ listings, web site, monthly meetings.
Background: Grew out of University Women's Network resource pool of 75 members. A VISTA volunteer administered multi-level local economic community development program, partnered with a variety of local organizations and base communities. Sponsored by Franklin Co. CDC, funded by membership dues and various granting organizations, policy decisions made democratically by members at monthly meetings. VTC board is currently working on a plan to include a wider range of trading members who may or may not accept local currency, but agree to provide a 5% discount to other members. Also working on including consumers who can purchase Valley Dollars at a discount or receive a 5% discount from member traders.
Information last updated 7/01
NEW YORK
Common Cents Community Currency
Bobbi Chase
c/o Natural Food and More
107 Union Street
Cobleskill, NY 12043
518-234-8421
no current web address
shelaria@juno.com
1st issue: July 1, 2004
Currency: 1 hour, 1/2 hour, and 1/10 hour denominations
Participation: Twenty-five individuals and businesses including a natural foods store, a printing and copyingstore, and herbs.
Outreach: Outreach has included a public meeting, a newspaper story, advertisements in local Times Journal, and canvassing ofbusinesses. Person-to-person outreach also plays a large role.
Background: Started June 2003 by interested parties.
VERMONT
Buffalo Mountain Hours
Barbara Conn
P.O. Box 24
Hardwick, VT 05826
(802)472-8566
rooster@vtlink.net
1st Issue: January 1996
Currency: One Buffalo Mountain Hour equals $10. The currency is printed in three denominations; 1/4, 1/2, 1 Hour. To date approximately 525 Hours have been issued.
Participation: 100 members
Outreach: 3300 newsletters distributed to members and public, winter Hour fair, summer junk/garage Hour swap meet
Background: Run by group of individuals, funded by small grant
Information last updated 7/01
VIRGINIA
Floyd Hours, Inc.
Dawn Shiner
P.O. Box 552
Floyd, VA 24091
(540)745-5994
shihyl@swva.net
1st issue: October 16, 2001
Currency: Floyd HOURS (or Floydian Scrip) come in 1 HOUR and ¼ HOUR denominations. All HOURS render Buffalo Mountain on one side in recognition of a local and most sacred landmark. On the other side, the ¼ HOUR denomination has a drawing of the Blue Ridge Parkway (another historical landmark), and the 1 HOUR note has a rendering of Floyd’s first local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Artwork was created by local residents, with two people collaborating on the CSA note. While the organization is currently inactive, the exchange scrip still exists.
Participation: Participants included one Main Street store featuring many talented local crafters (Floyd HOURS lost two Main Street restaurants because of a change in ownership), many self-employed small business people and many with home businesses, including a bakery. The Floyd area of Virginia has an incredible barter network (without the local currency), since local people in this area have been indigenously bartering for many years. Bartering is actually preferred by those into alternative economic exchanges in the area. Members paid dues that were kept in a Community Fund which could be used for micro-loans or emergency gifts.
Outreach: Outreach included a directory (ranging from three times to once/year) with two to three articles that informed readers on subjects from economics (including reading lists) to non-violent communication. Private donations and ad sales paid for its printing. Most outreach has been through talking with people, and has also included an outreach sheet that contains general information regarding Floyd Hours. There have also held potlucks and “Show and Tell” events. Most get-togethers involve lots of music, ranging from individual and group performers to acoustic jams. The organization has considered selling a directory for $1 (aiming for the spring, summer, and fall seasons, and vacationers) and making the message of value.
Background: Dawn Shiner, for Dancing Green, Inc., presented and facilitated a Local Currency Potluck Forum on March 27, 2000 which generated a study group that met for one and one-half years before incorporating and issuing printed currency. The group is currently inactive, but "the embers are well banked and exchange script exists."
Infomation last updated 11/05
WASHINGTON
Lopez Hour
Steve Ludwig
495 Aleck Bay Road
Lopez Island, WA 98261
(360)468-2104
1st Issue: November 1995
Participation: 30 members, 5 businesses
Outreach: Monthly meetings with members.
Background: Organized by group of individuals, formed Lopez Island Commonwealth. Program has slowed down in recent years. Quarterly newsletter/directory, The Commonwealth Times, is no longer published. Organizers are attempting to find more volunteers to help in outreach.
Information last updated 7/01
Sound Hours
Sound Exchange
Gail Sulivan
311 9th Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98501
(360)352-2428
gail@fertileground.org
1st Issue: December 1996
Currency: 1 Sound Hour is equal to $10. The currency is printed in 3 denominations; 1/10, 1/5, and 1 Hour. Approximately $24,000 worth in Sound Hours have been issued to date.
Participation: 300 members
Outreach: Informal only
Background: Organized by Sustainable Community Roundtable, supported by worker-owned and operated collective food co-op, social change grant maker (which provided seed money), and current and former students of The Evergreen State College.
Information last updated 8/01
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