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Why all the changes?
Why the major overhaul of our T&Cs (terms and conditions)? Why change the Constitution?
By Simon Cole, Chair
Many of us in BrisLETS – and those who have taken a look and left – would like Units to be more genuinely valuable. Fundamentally, Units are only as valuable as what they can be spent on. To increase their value means having more valuable goods and services; in other words, more traders offering a wider variety.
Late last year, we started the MAD (Member Activation Drive) to stimulate members and update our database of traders on the community exchange system (CES). A calling-tree of helpful members (thank you Jen Humphries, Liz Stanhope, George Schmid, Andrew Gaydon, Judith Shaw, Joe Smith and Russell Preston) contacted about 130 members of the 275 or so members listed as “active”.
Results
About 25% of those…
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Experience makes
a little go a long way
By Simon Cole, Chair
When people hear that BrisLETS has been going for more than 30 years, they’re impressed.
There’s something about longevity that instils confidence. It suggests relevance to needs being met, and a method that’s working.
For a long time, BrisLETS has sustained a group of friends with a sideline interest in mutual credit. Over the years, they have gathered some valuable experience and knowledge.
For example, our membership secretary knows . . .
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Constitution amendments, continued
(Continued from the March GM Constitutional amendment round of voting)
By Simon Cole, Chair
The General Meeting on 17 March was a good learning experience, especially for Management Committee members.
Successful amendments were noted in the April NewsLETS, along with some that weren’t.
Since then, Elizabeth Shaw has offered some useful advice based on her experience on the subcommittee that last looked at updating the constitution many years ago.
Your MC discovered a real need to workshop suggested changes with interested members in advance. Why? So they can come to the next round well versed in the ins and outs, as well as feel more invested in them.
Why another round? Some of the rejected amendments were misunderstood; others have since been proposed that, in the MC’s opinion, are of such merit and importance that they warrant consideration, for example, as pointed out by Liz Stanhope, a definition of membership for voting purposes.
We invite you to take an hour out of your time at the next few Market Trading Days for a Q&A of the Management Committee and Management Support Team’s proposals.
Check the calendar on our BrisLETS homepage for the dates and extra Q&As being held in the CBD, in the first week of each month.
Please take a look at them [CLICK HERE] and come ready with your thoughts and questions. We welcome your involvement.
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Beneficial business collaborations on the horizon:
Substation33, Food Connect
and the Albion Peace Hall
By Simon Cole, Chair
During May, I went to the YFS Social Enterprise Initiative … I had 30 minutes to sell BrisLETS to Tony. After giving me a fair hearing, he said he likes the whole concept, but considers the added complexity something his organisation is not ready for right now.
But the good news is …
I went away with a promise of an opportunity to make a future presentation to his staff and employees. He also offered to give us a free laptop for our Northey Street Sunday Market stall. And a PA system for the Peace Hall!
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Start your bucket list right now!
By Josephine Brown
To bring about a BrisLETS group that really benefits you, first you need to crystallise your ideas about what makes a useful organisation.
Jessie Scott is a long-term member of BrisLETS, putting her in an excellent position to ask the kind of questions we all need to consider ahead of our next AGM in August, so bring them along to the next Q&A for discussion. (Yes, it’s been deferred to give you an opportunity to think about the T&Cs and how you’ll benefit from them.)
What’s our mission?
She says, “Companies put out a mission statement so that people can see where they are heading”.
First question: what should our mission statement say? Where are we heading?
Jessie continues: “We need to focus on what we want ― not what we don't want.”
She’s started a list herself, and suggests that you make your own bucket list so we can all have something to suggest at the AGM.
She also mentions our vision, which includes what BrisLETS looks like, the people it attracts, and ways of motivating active members to create energy in the CES by trading and keeping their account to zero.
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Dr. Joe Dispenza's full lecture on ... "When you change your mind, your life changes!" TIP:Listen from the 25-minute mark
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LETS as a foundational part of an emergent mutual social contract
By Paul Wildman
The basic principles that enable LETS are mostly the same as those that govern equitable currency systems.
Barter and equitable currency-money systems such as LETS depend mainly on the ethics of:
- value
- credit
- equity and fairness
- reciprocity
- transparency.
Essentially, barter requires fair trade, exchanging something of value for an object of like value, determined by mutual agreement. Fair trade is not-for-profit exchange, generally transacted with notional credit of monetary value.
Money: a belief system ...
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Statistics and lies
The Gift economy vs the Unit economy
By Andrew Gaydon
A discussion on Facebook commented on the brisk BrisLETS trading that happened in 2016, 2017 and 2018 (see graph).
But our trading figures for the first six months of 2019 are down, at just 13,930 Units.
Why did this drop occur? Was it the functions, or was it the people involved? What happened over the three-year period from 2016? Maybe it was Barter town or the NENA conference. I can only speculate.
Is the gift economy influencing trade?
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Our newest members for May
BLCE1386 | Eileen Salisbury | Bardon
Offers elimination communication/potty training. Saves you having to buy and throw out all those “disposable” nappies.
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Wanted: Gang of four
Have you listed your BrisLETS Offering as “cleaner”?
What sort of response have you had?
Maybe it would be more fun and more interesting to be in a group that will blitz the tasks.
Here’s something to think about: by working together with other BrisLETS members, you could make new friends and achieve more as a team. Here’s a lead to get you started.
Housebound long-term BrisLETS member Liz Stanhope has a special Want. She says:
“I’m looking for a group of 4 people to work together for about 4 hours to clean my house in Woolloongabba.
“I will be happy to pay 25 units an hour per person for such a group to come and help me.
“Contact me to discuss the jobs you would be happy to do. Phone 0414 603 528.
“I imagine such a group could be in high demand in LETs, given the scarcity of cleaners.
“Look forward to hearing from you!” ── Liz Stanhope | #BLCE 0138
Talk to your friends now. Then get on to Liz.
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Preparing for the AGM
By Simon Cole, Chair
What’s your vision for the next 12 months?
Members need to know who they’re voting for.
So, ahead of this year’s AGM on August (TBC), I’ve been actively contacting members to ask if they’re interested in serving on the management committee or teams.
Before the elections are upon us, I’m encouraging nominees to make a short statement about what their vision for BrisLETS is, and to outline some policy examples of how they will achieve it.
In my 10 years as a member of BrisLETS, this has not been done before at AGMs.
Members also need a chance to consider whether the mix of people they elect can work together. It’s better if they have some idea of who’s running beforehand.
At the next AGM, after the three main management committee positions are elected, we can ask if any of the team members want to nominate to join the MC.
The AGM is normally held in July. This year, to give members time to consider the proposed changes to the Terms & Conditions and the Constitution, we’re putting off the AGM to August or September. Check the calendar on our homepage for a final announcement as to the date.
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Storytelling at Trading Day May 2019
By Josephine Brown
Another pleasant day at Albo, doing a bit of this and that … trading, sharing food, telling stories …
Nice to meet some new faces: Barbara and Len. Welcome!
Storytelling, as always, brought forth some thought-provoking information from participants. The theme was My favourite holiday destination, but we strayed from it a bit. It certainly told us how far and wide participants have travelled … or in one case, been exiled from.
One person even confided that she wasn’t too fussed about travelling. Preferred staying home! It takes all sorts.
But participant Rosie Severin, our librarian, sent an encouraging comment: “... your storytelling circle is so excellent and I see it now as an important tradition in our Albion Peace Centre trading days.”
President Simon Cole even observed: “… and then there’s storytelling, which is like social counselling”.
He has suggest we take a break from Storytelling because admin need a chance to get members’ feedback on proposed changes to the T&Cs and Constitution; as they are quite extensive, we’re postponing the AGM until later in the year.
Meanwhile, would you please email me at josephinembis@gmail.com and tell me your honest thoughts about Storytelling. I want both commendations and recommendations, please folks.
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