ACCOUNT BALANCE POLICY:
Spending TDs you don’t have is OKAY! We operate on a community system of trust, an integral part of time banking. New members are allowed to have a TD debt of up to 10 hours. If you have or anticipate a need for a larger “credit limit”, please contact an administrator to discuss your particular situation.
CLASSES OR OTHER GROUP ACTIVITIES:
Members offering a group activity of any sort abide by the statute that they recieve one TD for every hour they work. If they teach an hour long class to ten people however, each one of the students will pay one TD for receiving the lesson. This means the the students pay 10 TDs and the teacher receives 1 TD. So, where do the surplus 9 TDs go? They are deposited into the MTB Community Chest, and are used for community projects proposed by members. Teaching is not only a great way to share your knowledge, it helps strengthen the time bank and our community even more!
MEMBER REMOVAL POLICY:
Like any job, being a time banker comes with responsibility to the community. Members may be removed for many of the same reasons one would be dismissed from a traditional job. These include but are not limited to:
1. Lack of participation -
If a member has had 0 transactions within 6 months they will be contacted by the Time Bank. If they are reachable, their offers and requests will be reviewed and adjusted if necessary.
If the member is unreachable after 1 email attempt, and 2 phone attempts, the member will be deactivated and their offers and requests removed.
2. Violence, harrassment or other disrespectful interactions-
We rely on YOU to report any inapproriate behavior, be it directed at you or observed by you. Any infraction may result in de-activation of account.
3. Fraud, misuse or abuse -
Will not be tolerated and the member will be removed.
4. Not responding to communications-
If you do not hear get a response from another member, contact Julia. After 2 complaints of non responsiveness, a member will be contacted and may be de-activated.
MEMBER RENEWAL POLICY:
Currently membership in MTB is free, the only requirement being attendance of a one hour orientation. There may be a small fee imposed in the future once the time bank is larger to help offset the costs of keeping the system healthy. The fee will probably be around $2/month, charged annually.
TRAVEL AND ADDITIONAL EXPENSES:
Often, providing a service requires the use of a vehicle or incurs other expenses, such as cleaning products or tools. If fulfilling a request requires more than 10 miles of driving, recipients should include drive time in their calculations. Gas mileage of various vehicles may vary, but $.50/mile is a reasonable rate. These are guidelines rather than rules; individual cases should be discussed and reimbursement policy agreed upon beforehand.
Member Rights & Responsibilities:
Every member of MTB has the right:
– To earn one Time Dollar for every hour of service provided.
– To spend Time Dollars on services offered by other members.
– To save Time Dollars in a personal account for later use.
– To donate Time Dollars to other members.
– To have privacy and confidentiality maintained.
– To be treated with dignity, care and respect.
Every member of MTB has the responsibility:
– To respect the privacy and confidentiality of other members.
– To be prompt and keep scheduled commitments.
– To be accepting of guidance and instructions.
General Policies
Liability: Mendo Time Bank refers members who state that
they are able to perform services. Mendo Time Bank cannot
guarantee the performance of anyone who is referred, nor will Mendo Time Bank or its staff or members be held responsible for any injury to persons or damage to property experienced while involved with the transaction.
Limitations: No service is guaranteed, and there may be situations when the service provided does not meet the expectations of the receiver. Wherever possible, appreciation of another’s best efforts is part of what makes the Time Bank work. Additionally, all problems should be brought to the attention of a Coordinator.
Confidentiality:
All members must protect the privacy and confidentiality of
other members. A member can be dismissed from the program for violating this rule. The only exception for sharing information is when a member feels that the health and/or safety of another member is in danger. Please communicate these concerns to a coordinator immediately.
DOs
-Make sure the other person understands what you are going to do before you start doing it.
- If you are requesting a service, be sure to pay for any parts,
supplies, ingredients, or materials that are used. You will want to make this part of your original agreement.
- Contact the other member in advance if you must cancel.
- Be patient and open.
- Respect others’ religions, beliefs, political viewpoints and lifestyles.
- If renting, check with landlord before doing home repairs.
- If using your personal car to transport a member, have liability
insurance and wear seat belts.
- Dial 911 in the event of an emergency.
- Contact a Coordinator if your transaction does not meet your
expectations or to give feedback.
DON’Ts
-Do not provide “hands-on” care that is beyond your training or
expertise such as giving medicine, baths, lifting, or cutting nails.
-Do not ask for or accept tips.
-Do not smoke in a member’s home without permission.
-Do not use alcohol or illegal drugs while performing services.
-Do not purchase alcohol or cigarettes for members.
MTB Code of Conduct Agreement:
As a Mendo Time Bank member, I agree to:
1. Clarify all details of my transaction before meeting with my partner.
2. Respect my exchange partner’s privacy and confidentiality.
3. Recognize that my Time Bank service is voluntary.
4. Respect my exchange partner’s home, property and valuables.
5. Refrain from smoking in or bringing pets to my exchange
partner’s home, unless invited to do so.
6. Post and maintain at least one offer and one request on the MTB
website with my availability.
7. Communication is key to a successful Time Bank and it is my
responsibility to answer all MTB phone calls and emails directed
to me in a timely manner, within three days.
8. To be notified via an email from sysadmin@timebanks.org of
activity on my website page and that it is my responsibility to
check my email in a timely manner. When I receive this email
from sysadmin@timebanks.org, I will immediately go to the
MTB website to look at and respond to the email sent to me by
another member.
9. To seek out, via the MTB website, offers from other members
that appeal to me.
* Under circumstances where the exchange involves services such as transportation, childcare, eldercare, plumbing, etc., it is the responsibility of the requestor to ascertain the competency of the server to the extent that meets the user’s level of comfort.
Earning Time Dollars:
One hour of service always earns one Time Dollar, and one
Time Dollar always buys one hour of service. For fractions of
hours, round up to the nearest quarter hour. Time Dollars are not
redeemable for cash.
Disputes, complaints, misunderstandings and questions should be directed to Julia Frech: frech.julia@gmail.com, (707) 489 3522
