Aberdeen LETS News, March 2001
Membership Renewal
All members who joined during 2000 will be regarded as current for a year from their date of joining. If you joined before 2000, please ensure that I have your update details by April 30th. If I haven't heard from you by then, I'll presume you're no longer a member - but I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know for definite. I don't want to waste communication, nor leave anyone out if they're still interested.
Please also pass on any comments you have that might help current or future members. We've had a few problems over the past year or so, largely due to lack of member involvement. So don't feel you have to be polite about the service; honesty's far more helpful!
LETS Work
The management team have agreed that any work undertaken for Aberdeen LETS will be payable at 4 Cassies per hour. This includes attending relevant meetings and distributing leaflets, and other tasks that just about anyone can do (not just the management team!). So if you want to earn a few more Cassies, let's trade!
Timesheets will be available (and may also be used to record several transactions with one member). Travelling expenses may also be claimed, as long as they're arranged before you travel.
For What It's Worth ...
Throughout 2000, our photocopying and postage expenses were covered by Aberdeen City Council (thanks to the Community Economic Development Unit). This was because we had no income, having waived the membership fee in an attempt to raise membership.
Many new members joined, but trading did not significantly increase. Moreover, research into other LETS indicates that free membership may be less valued, giving less motivation to trade.
We also offered 25 Cassies to start off new accounts, but this did not seem to affect trading either. Some of the management team suggested that it was not sufficiently publicised, but it was also noted that existing members might regard it as unfair.
The membership fee should cover stationery, printing and postage costs, which we try to keep to a minimum. We have therefore decided to start charging C/£1 per newsletter and directory, which we aim to produce quarterly. If you prefer, you can pay C/£4 for the whole year.
Either way, if you can help with the following, you can quickly and easily cover your own subscription!
LETS Deliver!
We could minimise costs (and get the News circulated more promptly) if some members could help deliver newsletters. For instance, you could receive the LETS newsletter along with information from the Mental Health User Network or the World Development Movement.Perhaps you already receive something else that's circulated locally, and think that the sender might be interested in getting involved with LETS. Or do you circulate something yourself that might be appropriate?
The other method of delivery would be by hand. In other words, members could arrange to pop your news through your letter box. This would involve letting them know your address, which we never pass on without your permission.
Please indicate your preferences on the update form.
Message Board
Have you read something that might interest other members? Do you have a question or idea to discuss?You can now post your messages on our message board.
All messages will be acknowledged, considered and answered.
LETS Make It Better
Check your diary for 11th April. You could help Aberdeen LETS become really useful!
We are lucky enough to be able to welcome members of Stirling and Alloa LETS, who can testify to the effectiveness of "LETS Make It Better".
"LETS Make It Better" is a self-help group for people recovering from mental health problems. It has around 90 members and is part of Stirling and Alloa LETS. It has proven to be an effective way for disadvantaged people to use their skills and learn new ones. And as LETS means give-and-take, they can not only earn but also help others to realise their potential.
"LETS Make It Better" aims to help people recovering from mental illness to:
- become involved with the local community;
- use their skills and learn new ones;
- help each other, through taking part in Stirling and Alloa LETS.
Its successes have included:
- sales of furniture, bikes, craft work & foods
- community cafe providing jobs, therapy & healthy dishes
- mental health resource library
- craft group
- community garden and allotment
- furniture recycling business.
Would you be interested in getting involved in a scheme like this, in Aberdeen? You could help vulnerable members to trade, by befriending them - keeping in touch, discussing what they want and have to offer, and helping them make that first call.
But this isn't just about helping them; they have a lot to offer everyone else.
For one thing, mental health is very much like LETS, in that it's a great leveller. You can meet and swap skills with an amazing range of people, from all backgrounds, professions, age groups and income brackets.
And for another?
For several years now, with my Information Analysis hat on, I have been scrutinising the LETS phenomenon worldwide. It has flourished spectacularly in all kinds of places and situations, and the secret of its success is simple.
LETSystems need to link into established support networks. In some places, it is the small business community; in others, a particularly strident environmental movement. And in Aberdeen, it could be the Mental Health Service User Network.
We could all experience mental health difficulties. In fact, most of us do at some point in life, to some extent. But it rarely wipes out our interests, our talents, our contacts - or, of course, our usefulness.
Perhaps this is why the User Network is one of the healthiest networks in Aberdeen. (Pun absolutely intentional.) In any event, if you'd like to be more involved in LETS, show what we could really do with it and/or earn more Cassies, this could be the ideal opportunity.
The workshop will take place on Wednesday, 11th April, 1 - 4 pm, at The Blue Lamp in the Gallowgate. It costs £5 for service providers, and is free for service users and the general public.
Refreshments will be provided, and it is guaranteed to be an inspiring afternoon!
Details of the Stirling & Alloa project can be viewed at http://www.letsmakeitbetter.co.uk
Pillar Groups
Pillar Aberdeen (Acc No 142) is looking for people who can demonstrate relaxation techniques to groups of adults with mental health problems. Or perhaps you have craft skills, or you'd like to share your gardening expertise?
If you are interested in working with Pillar, or would like to know more about it, call 621266 or ask SarahJane (I have a copy of their timetable).
LETS Go Gorbals!
Anyone fancy a trip to the Gorbals?
Scotland's only Time Bank (so far) is located in this regenerating area of Glasgow, and I'd like to go down and find out more about it. If you would as well, then give me a bell. (There's so much else to do in Glasgow, we could easily make a day of it!)
| Trading Tip 2: How much should I charge?
This is completely up to you, but I hope the following will help you decide:
- Your time is as valuable as anyone else's, and no more so.
- LETS can help people access services they couldn't otherwise afford - but only if the hourly rate is reasonable. (You can work out your cash expenses separately to ensure you're not out of pocket.)
- If you are offering your regular line of work (i.e. you usually charge for it in £ sterling), it counts as income for tax purposes. You may wish to reflect this in your rates.
You may wish to charge "the going rate" or equivalent (i.e. what such services usually cost, but payable in Cassies). This is fine, as long as you can justify it.
If you'd rather just take "an hour" for "an hour", you may wish to use a timesheet. (This is also useful if you trade regularly with the same member.) Just ask, and I'll send you one. |
