Do you know about timebanking?
It's 30+ years old, but new to Northwest Indiana. CoThrive is launching a timebank that will be based in Valparaiso, yet available to people located anywhere due to our relationship with hOurworld.org, our software platform that facilitates time trades all over the globe.

CoThrive launched nearly a year ago. The idea was that I would offer social media consulting services to members for a low ($30/month) subscription fee. I host live, interactive sessions for 6 hours each week. It has been working fairly well, but what I found is that members often formed bonds and needed/wanted one another's services, but sometimes funds did not allow it. The timebank project gets around that issue in an innovative way. Here's how it works...

• Sue is rebranding her coaching business and needs some advice before she relaunches.
• Brenda specializes in just this type of service. Brenda offers a 1-hour complimentary consult to Sue.
• Sue now "owes" one hour -- to the timebank, not necessarily to Brenda.
• Brenda needs help with a new logo. She sees that Jason has listed this service so she uses her hour to seek his advice.
• Jason is busier than usual since he has accepted project work that keeps him on the road more than usual. He decides to use his banked time to exchange for Judie to prep meals for him since he is too busy to do that for himself right now. 
• Judie needs coaching and uses her hour to get help from Sue.

Namaste,

Kathy