Looking Forward, Looking Back: SSTB Social Celebrates our Own Lucky Seven

The Silver Spring Timebank’s Virtual Social on March 27, 2022 celebrated seven years of growth in community and commemorated the “father of Timebanking,” our late great neighbor Edgar Cahn.

Six of the main founders who attended shared origin stories with twelve other attendees, each of whom had stories about their own Timebank experience. Even those present at the very start – co-founders Mary Murphy and Anna Awimbo (each credits the other with the plan’s inception) -- must have been astounded by the range of exchanges, events, and connections produced in this fruitful first seven years.

Co-founder Tina Slater began to list some highlights: potlucks and happy hours, clothing and book swaps, tool and kitchen gadget swaps, holiday decoration and toy/game swaps, Skill Shares, Repair Cafés, game nights, Service Socials, new skills developed, a vast array of services completed – and friendships developed with like-minded people, as co-founder Marjie Ford emphasized. Each event helped established the timebank’s community presence, which attracted more members: Jacqie Wallen learned of the timebank from advertising for the Arts/Crafts swap. Charlotte Cooke read the Washington Post article featuring the SSTB and joined soon after.

Anna Awimbo and Kathy Jentz at a SSTB in-person social.

Appreciation was the flavor of the day, with special thanks extended to our many community partners; to Robin Handleman (who called in from the Philippines, where it was 3 a.m.); co-founder Christy Batta, who contributed our logo and other eye-catching elements of professional design; Kathy Jentz, swap queen and organizer extraordinaire; Jay KapLon and co-founder Jonathan Bernstein, tech wizards; Jonathan, also, for infectious enthusiasm with the County and community organizations; Mary Campbell, everyone’s favorite for mending; Laura Kranis, for decluttering tips and team leadership; Saunya Connelly, for Twittering and raising funds that even an alternative economy can’t do without – and many, many more.

The final section of the two-hour conversation was devoted to gathering thoughts about the future of the timebank as well as on-the-spot plans for exchanges (cooking, sewing, repairs, and custom artwork!):

Each evolution of hOurworld, our global platform, creates opportunities that didn’t exist in 2015. And now that we’re all proficient on Zoom, e-seminars are a possibility, easily set up as a “one-to-many” exchange. Expanded hour-sharing, perhaps through our Community Time Chest, may be another option and could provide services to elderly community members. We could also tap into the energy of teenagers as members (with proper permission and oversight). Other members could organize a bulk-buying group – less expensive and more eco-friendly. Another thought was to keep expanding our range of services to include the more unique and imaginative, partly as a reminder that there really is no end to what is possible in a timebank, even after seven years.

In folklore, as in gambling, seven is a lucky number. Brain science validates common law, describing seven as the age when parts of the brain devoted to relationships flourish. What a bright future we have then, after such a marvelous beginning!

Many thanks to SSTB member Mary Liepold for writing this wonderful article!