Permite o sistema de troca de câmbio local

Vamos ao sistema de troca de câmbio local
Negociação de câmbio local do Reino Unido e moedas complementares.
O LETSlink UK é o principal organismo que suporta os Sistemas de Negociação de Câmbio Local a nível nacional. Representamos o LETS na mídia, no governo e nas organizações nacionais. Organizamos conferências, treinamentos e seminários no Reino Unido, consultoria, networking e desenvolvimento de novas formas de LETS para serviços de saúde, produtores de alimentos, autoridades locais e iniciativas econômicas comunitárias de "terceiro" setor.
Somos uma agência voluntária sem fins lucrativos com objetivos de caridade, dedicada a testar, pesquisar e desenvolver modelos sustentáveis ​​para LETS locais e comunitários e moedas complementares.
Encorajamos os organizadores dos esquemas LETS a estabelecer uma rede com os outros localmente, e estamos desenvolvendo uma série de serviços administrativos práticos e oportunidades de treinamento para os organizadores do LETS.
O LETSlink UK foi fundado em 1991 por Liz Shephard como a primeira agência e rede de desenvolvimento nacional do mundo LETS. Nos seus primeiros anos, a LETSlink UK desenvolveu uma linha de aconselhamento nacional, atendendo mais de 50 mil inquéritos e desenvolveu regras modelo, materiais, backups e diretrizes de "melhores práticas" usados ​​pelos esquemas UK LETS e assinantes. Em 1994, Liz Shephard recebeu o primeiro Prêmio Schumacher por "um triunfo de esforço voluntário" no desenvolvimento de LETS em toda a Grã-Bretanha.
Atualização necessária aqui!
& # 149; Meg Goodare, que tem experiência em publicação acadêmica e membro ativo de North London LETS desde 1996.
& # 149; Dr. John Courtneidge, um cooperador da paz, co-operador e Quaker, que fundou a Campanha pelo Dinheiro Livre de Interesses.
& # 149; Rosamund Stock, pesquisadora em Psicologia Social na London School of Economics, fundadora do The Network Project.
& # 149; Woody Bronson, atualmente presidente do London London London, que atua no LETSlink há muitos anos.
& # 149; Mary Fee, networker da nova era, também coordenadora da LETSlink London, que atua como secretária e web-weaver.
Sim, temos vagas para curadores, e agora estamos fazendo isso uma prioridade.
A LETSlink UK Network é uma organização de membros. Os indivíduos e a organização podem se juntar a uma escala móvel de taxas de & pound; 10 individuais, e libra; 25 grupos, a & libra; 50 financiados e 100% bem financiados. Os benefícios da adesão incluem a inclusão em transmissões de notícias e relatórios de pesquisa, o acesso à área exclusiva do site que inclui um Fórum de Discussão, taxas preferenciais nas Conferências e a adesão opcional aos links & quot; Esquema LETS em toda a Londres.
Para se juntar ou para mais detalhes, escreva-nos com detalhes completos de si mesmo e / ou da sua organização ou insira seus dados diretamente na nossa página de pesquisa (em preparação). As taxas de associação devem ser enviadas para a LETSlink UK, 12 Southcote Road, London N19 5BJ.
Tel: 020-7607-7852 & # 149; Fax: 020-7609-7112 (temporariamente fora de serviço)

Vamos ao sistema de troca de câmbio local
Negociação de câmbio local do Reino Unido e moedas complementares.
Teoria das Moedas Complementares / Comunitárias.
A LETS opera com Mutual Credit. Um grupo de pessoas se junta e concorda com um nome para a moeda (ou eles podem decidir usar Horas). Eles criam um diretório de Ofertas e Quer se deixar conhecer o que eles estão dispostos a trocar e podem contatar-se a qualquer momento. Os organizadores também podem realizar eventos sociais para encorajar os membros a se encontrarem.
A Conta do Sistema - e todas as contas especiais que os organizadores podem criar para facilitar a operação do esquema - são financiadas por meio de taxas fixas cobradas a todos os membros e / ou comissões ou doações. Os custos esterlinosos da execução do regime podem ser apoiados por taxas de adesão / renovação ou angariação de fundos. Cada esquema requer inteligência e administração e divulgação se for para florescer em seu contexto local particular.
Modelo Organizacional: LETS no Reino Unido são geralmente executados como associações não incorporadas. O sistema LETS original foi modelado em troca comercial, e as tarifas foram baseadas em comissões, mas esses sistemas não sofreram no Reino Unido. Alguns esquemas receberam a idéia de "corretagem" como uma das tarefas administrativas em um esquema bem gerenciado, mas isso tenderia a ter uma "pastoral" em vez de motivação comercial na maioria dos grupos LETS.
Contando o tempo dos membros como igual em valor: muitos membros da LETS preferem trabalhar por uma taxa de remuneração igual e muitos esquemas são constituídos sobre essa base ou sugerem uma taxa padrão a ser usada quando os membros desejam negociar em igualdade de condições e quot; . A idéia de uma taxa padrão é crucial para a noção de um hub central para intertrading entre esquemas. Com base na taxa normal, a moeda a ser transferida para outro esquema é traduzida em horas na taxa padrão para esse esquema e, quando recebida por outro esquema, é convertida de volta para a taxa padrão para esse regime.
Supervisão dos comerciantes: a proposição do sistema LETS original era que a transparência e a pressão da comunidade impediam que as pessoas aproveitassem o sistema. Os modelos anteriores baseados em papel não forneceram feedback suficiente aos membros, mas os sistemas baseados na web que mostram instantaneamente o balanço de contas dos membros e também permitem feedback qualitativo fornecem ferramentas de gerenciamento mais sensíveis, e muitos grupos estão agora aproveitando o LETSlink's programa de hospedagem de sistemas online para grupos de membros.
Manter o comércio: o problema dos altos assalariados que não conseguem gastar também é um desafio, e a idéia de "demurrage & quot; pelo que a moeda não utilizada realmente encolhe, por meio de uma espécie de "interesse reverso" muitas vezes foi discutido por teóricos. Para funcionar corretamente, as taxas tomadas seriam proporcionais ao valor economizado e isso poderia ser incorporado como uma opção configurável em sistemas baseados na web. Enquanto isso, continuar cobrando taxas administrativas para as contas em pouso atinge o mesmo resultado, embora de forma menos equitativa.
Trabalhando na Comunidade: muitos esquemas bem desenvolvidos têm um fundo comunitário para cuidar dos membros carentes da comunidade. Os membros podem doar neste fundo e / ou podem ser suportados pela conta do sistema. Este princípio agora é recomendado para apoiar projetos de voluntariado e ativistas baseados na comunidade. Isso permite que os organizadores "direcionem" o esquema de forma positiva, para contrariar a tendência para o comércio formal caducar em esquemas maduros, quando os membros se tornam bem conhecidos entre si e tendem a adotar "altruísta" comportamento.
Para mais discussão sobre esses temas, veja Documentos arquivados.

Vamos ao sistema de troca de câmbio local
Negociação de câmbio local do Reino Unido e moedas complementares.
Agora, em um mundo conectado à Internet, fazer novos links é praticamente sem esforço. O que a nova tecnologia não faz é tornar o link virtual em qualquer comunicação significativa, por isso dependemos do feedback para manter nossas informações atualizadas atualizadas.
Neste site construímos uma série de páginas de mapas do condado que possuem números de telefone de grupos que são conhecidos, bem como um link que leva a um formulário que gera um e-mail de solicitação - coloque seus detalhes geográficos completos para que ele pode ser respondido corretamente.
Essas páginas são constantemente atualizadas, então, se você encontrar informações desatualizadas, ou percorrer alguém que não responda como desejar, informe-nos. Muito Obrigado. Agora vá para: LINKS REGIONAIS e continue clicando.
Para o seu pacote LETS Introductory Pack e LOCAL LETS, envie seu nome, endereço postal e e-mail com um cheque para & pound; 1.50.
Para este mais, o LETS Info-Pack (120 páginas) com instruções completas sobre como configurar um LETS, enviar e libra; 12 (inclui UK P & amp; P, ultramarino e £ 15) para LETSLINK UK: 12 Southcote Rd, London N19 5BJ.
NB, este é um novo endereço para a LETSLINK UK, que atualmente se baseia nos escritórios da LETSlink London.

Sistemas de troca de câmbio locais.
DEFINIÇÃO dos "Sistemas de Negociação de Câmbio Local"
Uma organização econômica organizada localmente que permite que os membros participem no intercâmbio de bens e serviços entre outros no grupo. Os Sistemas Locais de Negociação de Câmbio (LETS) usam uma moeda criada localmente como denominações de unidades de valor que podem ser negociadas ou trocadas em troca de bens ou serviços. Os membros do LETS geralmente vêem os sistemas como esquemas organizados e cooperativos que maximizam o poder de compra enquanto beneficiam os membros e a comunidade.
BREAKING 'Sistemas de comércio de troca local'
Os Sistemas de Negociação de Câmbio Local geralmente exibem cinco características fundamentais: custo de serviço, consentimento, divulgação, equivalência à moeda regional, sem juros. Esses traços, juntamente com diretrizes gerais, como taxas de adesão, registros detalhados de transações e diretórios de membros permitem uma troca organizada e bem gerida. Além disso, as transações não requerem necessariamente uma troca nominal de unidades. Por exemplo, os membros podem reembolsar outros membros que tenham realizado para eles um serviço, fornecendo um serviço em troca, em oposição ao pagamento do serviço original.

Vamos ao sistema de troca de câmbio local
Negociação de câmbio local do Reino Unido e moedas complementares.
ASSIM QUE SEJA?
L ETS - Sistemas ou Esquemas de Negociação de Câmbio Local - são redes de ajuda mútua baseadas na comunidade local nas quais as pessoas trocam todos os tipos de bens e serviços, sem necessidade de dinheiro.
Soluções para a crise econômica.
LETS estão revitalizando comunidades em toda a Grã-Bretanha. Como iniciativas de base, eles estão abertos a todos - pessoas de todas as idades, habilidades e habilidades; clubes e associações locais; grupos voluntários, instituições de caridade, iniciativas comunitárias; cooperativas habitacionais, pequenas empresas e serviços locais - ajudando todos a dar e receber, conectar-se a novos recursos e encontrar uma identidade genuína da comunidade.
Permitir oferecer oportunidades iguais para todos - seja empregado ou desempregado, financeiramente seguro ou de baixa renda, preto ou branco, capaz ou desativado. Use um sistema de créditos comunitários para que não seja necessário fazer trocas diretas. As pessoas ganham créditos LETS, fornecendo um serviço e, em seguida, podem gastar os créditos em tudo o que é oferecido por outros no esquema: por exemplo, cuidados infantis, transporte, alimentos, reparos em casa ou o aluguel de ferramentas e equipamentos.
Pesquisas em meados dos anos noventa indicaram que pelo menos 40 mil pessoas estavam envolvidas em cerca de 450 esquemas LETS, a maioria estabelecida de acordo com o modelo LETS democrático e cooperativo desenvolvido na Grã-Bretanha pela LETSLINK UK, que começou a trabalhar em 1991. Nosso contato atual lista de mais de 300 indica que o seu foi um encolhimento - se dissermos que a participação é de 100 por esquema, isso significa cerca de 30 mil membros ou menos no Reino Unido.
No entanto, isso foi acompanhado por um aumento nas iniciativas relacionadas, como Timebanks, Freecycle, Commercial Barter, Fairtrade Campaigns e Community Networks de todos os tipos, que atestam o interesse contínuo das pessoas em fazer as coisas acontecerem em sua comunidade.
Nosso projeto de pesquisa em curso, lançado em setembro de 2003, tem como objetivo estabelecer o estado atual do LETS no Reino Unido e as necessidades dos organizadores do LETS. Estamos agora buscando um grande financiamento para revigorar e apoiar a nossa organização para que possamos fornecer melhores recursos aos nossos membros e informamos o progresso nesta página - assista este espaço.
Para o seu pacote LETS Introductory Pack e LOCAL LETS, envie seu nome, endereço postal e e-mail com um cheque para & pound; 5 ou siga o link regional do Reino Unido. A taxa anual de afiliação grupal é & pound; 25 - siga o link para o formulário de inscrição aqui.
O LETS Info-Pack (120 páginas) com instruções completas sobre como configurar um LETS, enviar e libra; 12 (inclui o UK P & amp; P, no exterior e & libra; 15) para LETSLINK UK: 12 Southcote Rd, London N19 5BJ.

Permite o sistema de troca de câmbio local
Negociação de câmbio local do Reino Unido e moedas complementares.
Agora, em um mundo conectado à Internet, fazer novos links é praticamente sem esforço. O que a nova tecnologia não faz é tornar o link virtual em qualquer comunicação significativa, por isso dependemos do feedback para manter nossas informações atualizadas atualizadas.
Neste site construímos uma série de páginas de mapas do condado que possuem números de telefone de grupos que são conhecidos, bem como um link que leva a um formulário que gera um e-mail de solicitação - coloque seus detalhes geográficos completos para que ele pode ser respondido corretamente.
Essas páginas são constantemente atualizadas, então, se você encontrar informações desatualizadas, ou percorrer alguém que não responda como desejar, informe-nos. Muito Obrigado. Agora vá para: LINKS REGIONAIS e continue clicando.
Para o seu pacote LETS Introductory Pack e LOCAL LETS, envie seu nome, endereço postal e e-mail com um cheque para & pound; 1.50.
Para este mais, o LETS Info-Pack (120 páginas) com instruções completas sobre como configurar um LETS, enviar e libra; 12 (inclui UK P & amp; P, ultramarino e £ 15) para LETSLINK UK: 12 Southcote Rd, London N19 5BJ.
NB, este é um novo endereço para a LETSLINK UK, que atualmente se baseia nos escritórios da LETSlink London.

Permite o sistema de troca de câmbio local
Negociação de câmbio local do Reino Unido e moedas complementares.
ASSIM QUE SEJA?
L ETS - Sistemas ou Esquemas de Negociação de Câmbio Local - são redes de ajuda mútua baseadas na comunidade local nas quais as pessoas trocam todos os tipos de bens e serviços, sem necessidade de dinheiro.
Soluções para a crise econômica.
LETS estão revitalizando comunidades em toda a Grã-Bretanha. Como iniciativas de base, eles estão abertos a todos - pessoas de todas as idades, habilidades e habilidades; clubes e associações locais; grupos voluntários, instituições de caridade, iniciativas comunitárias; cooperativas habitacionais, pequenas empresas e serviços locais - ajudando todos a dar e receber, conectar-se a novos recursos e encontrar uma identidade genuína da comunidade.
Permitir oferecer oportunidades iguais para todos - seja empregado ou desempregado, financeiramente seguro ou de baixa renda, preto ou branco, capaz ou desativado. Use um sistema de créditos comunitários para que não seja necessário fazer trocas diretas. As pessoas ganham créditos LETS, fornecendo um serviço e, em seguida, podem gastar os créditos em tudo o que é oferecido por outros no esquema: por exemplo, cuidados infantis, transporte, alimentos, reparos em casa ou o aluguel de ferramentas e equipamentos.
Pesquisas em meados dos anos noventa indicaram que pelo menos 40 mil pessoas estavam envolvidas em cerca de 450 esquemas LETS, a maioria estabelecida de acordo com o modelo LETS democrático e cooperativo desenvolvido na Grã-Bretanha pela LETSLINK UK, que começou a trabalhar em 1991. Nosso contato atual lista de mais de 300 indica que o seu foi um encolhimento - se dissermos que a participação é de 100 por esquema, isso significa cerca de 30 mil membros ou menos no Reino Unido.
No entanto, isso foi acompanhado por um aumento nas iniciativas relacionadas, como Timebanks, Freecycle, Commercial Barter, Fairtrade Campaigns e Community Networks de todos os tipos, que atestam o interesse contínuo das pessoas em fazer as coisas acontecerem em sua comunidade.
Nosso projeto de pesquisa em curso, lançado em setembro de 2003, tem como objetivo estabelecer o estado atual do LETS no Reino Unido e as necessidades dos organizadores do LETS. Estamos agora buscando um grande financiamento para revigorar e apoiar a nossa organização para que possamos fornecer melhores recursos aos nossos membros e informamos o progresso nesta página - assista este espaço.
Para o seu pacote LETS Introductory Pack e LOCAL LETS, envie seu nome, endereço postal e e-mail com um cheque para & pound; 5 ou siga o link regional do Reino Unido. A taxa anual de afiliação grupal é & pound; 25 - siga o link para o formulário de inscrição aqui.
O LETS Info-Pack (120 páginas) com instruções completas sobre como configurar um LETS, enviar e libra; 12 (inclui o UK P & amp; P, no exterior e & libra; 15) para LETSLINK UK: 12 Southcote Rd, London N19 5BJ.

LETS - Sistemas de troca de câmbio locais.
Benefícios do modelo LETS:
Nenhuma autoridade central é necessária para garantir a moeda e gerenciar seu fornecimento: a LETS é apoiada por bens e serviços e é criada como crédito mútuo (como ROCS e Time Dollars).
Dado que não há juros sobre a moeda LETS, o incentivo incorporado para desconto do futuro encontrado nas moedas nacionais é reduzido, mas não revertido.
Como os créditos LETS são emitidos:
Quando é emitido muito dinheiro, a moeda local vai se inflar ou se tornar completamente inútil; Quando a moeda está subestimada, o problema que a moeda local deveria abordar - muito pouco comércio entre as pessoas na comunidade - permanecerá. Portanto, não é uma tarefa trivial para ninguém ou qualquer grupo adivinhar a quantidade correta de dinheiro a emitir, porque essa quantidade ideal irá variar continuamente de acordo com a taxa de aceitação da moeda local, que mudará ao longo do tempo; e o estado geral da economia local (incluindo as condições da economia na moeda nacional "normal"), que também mudará ao longo do tempo).
O crédito mútuo resolve esses dois problemas de forma auto-organizada.
Letsystems mede Dólares verdes na unidade monetária nacional correspondente.
As permutas de permuta são negociáveis.
Incentivos estruturais no LETSystems:
Moedas complementares, porque não representam juros (que descontos ganhos futuros em relação ao dinheiro presente),
promover o planejamento a longo prazo, incentivando os participantes a investir em ativos produtivos, em vez de investir moeda; e.
incentivar comércio e cooperação, porque o dinheiro está em oferta suficiente.
Essas moedas complementares apoiadas por uma referência externa (uma mercadoria ou serviço), em vez de uma autoridade central, são menos suscetíveis à inflação.
Aplicações do modelo LETS:
Recursos relacionados.
Também no site Transaction Net:
WALLETS mantém informações sobre o LETSystems na Austrália Ocidental.
A página inicial de John Turmel, um advogado único e prolífico da LETS.
com a mensagem 'junte-se econômicas (seu nome)'
Para remover-se da lista, envie o correio para: mailbase@mailbase. ac. uk.
com a mensagem 'leave econ-lets (your name)'
O site Transaction Net é um fórum independente e aberto, onde todos e todos podem explorar novas mídias econômicas, então, se você souber de outro site que merece atenção, informe-nos. Você também está convidado a se inscrever e se juntar a nós na Conferência do Dinheiro.
A Conferência de Dinheiro.
Junte-se a nós na Conferência do Dinheiro, onde estamos nos reunindo para comparar insights sobre todos os tipos de sistemas de dinheiro - antigos, novos, de alta e baixa tecnologia, reais ou teóricos - e sintetizar a partir de nossa experiência compartilhada mais sábio e mais eficiente modelos de mídia de intercâmbio. Inscreva-se para a conferência Motet, depois entre e se apresente, ou passe diretamente para nossa conversa LETS.

Permite o sistema de troca de câmbio local
Este documento foi preparado por John Croft, da Fundação Gaia. e editado por Warwick Rowell - warwick@bettong. EEPO. au. Ele descreve o porquê, o quão e o que faz com os sistemas do Sistema de Transferência Econômica Local (LETS).
AS QUINQUERAS PERGUNTAS MAIS PERDIDAS SOBRE DEIXA.
Q.1 O que é um sistema LETS?
Um LETSystem é uma empresa comunitária localmente iniciada, organizada de forma organizada e sem fins lucrativos que fornece um serviço de informações da comunidade e registra transações de membros trocando bens e serviços usando a moeda de créditos LETS criados localmente. A moeda de crédito LETS não envolve moedas, papel-moeda ou tokens de qualquer tipo, mas sim atua como um sistema de pontuação, acompanhando o valor das transações de membros individuais dentro do sistema. É simplesmente um sistema de informação da comunidade ligado ao seu próprio mercado. LETSystems diferentes chamam seus créditos LETS por nomes diferentes, adicionando um "sabor local".
Q.2 Como funciona o LETS?
LETS funciona um pouco como um clube de baby-sitting, onde os membros ganham créditos por baby-sitting de crianças de outras pessoas, gastando sempre que precisam de cuidados infantis. Ao contrário de um clube de baby-sitting, no entanto, LETS amplia a gama de serviços para o que está disponível localmente. Um sistema LETS bem sucedido pode fornecer aos membros serviços de alimentos, roupas, habitação, transporte, saúde e jurídicos, reparos, equipamentos, serviços empresariais, entretenimento e muito mais, com um custo reduzido ou nenhum em dólares federais, através da operação de um crédito baseado na comunidade economia. Está disponível para qualquer pessoa que seja membro da comunidade e que se junte a um sistema LETS. Indivíduos e empresas podem usá-lo para anunciar bens ou localizar o que eles querem, por telefone, correio ou pessoalmente. As informações são atualizadas regularmente, adicionadas ou excluídas a qualquer momento e distribuídas regularmente aos membros. Não há limitações ou obrigações de uso. LETS é o seu nome e "vamos" é a sua natureza! Ao pagar uma pequena taxa de inscrição, os membros são emitidos com um número de registro que atua como uma licença para negociar. Ao se juntar, os membros também listam os bens e serviços que eles estão preparados para oferecer, ou exigem da comunidade LETS. Na maioria dos sistemas, os membros também elegem um Comitê LETSystem ou Conselho de Assessores em uma Assembléia Geral Anual e estabelecem um sistema para manter contas LETS e atualizar folhas de negociação, anunciando os bens e serviços disponíveis ou necessários.
Q.3 Por que iniciar um sistema LETS?
Quando o dinheiro ordinário é escasso, os projetos comunitários necessários são mantidos em prazos indefinidos, as empresas locais falham, as pessoas se tornam desempregadas e os indivíduos e as famílias sofrem, não porque não têm nada a oferecer, ou porque não possuem habilidades e habilidades, mas simplesmente porque não há dinheiro suficiente para dar uma volta.
O LETSystems ajuda a desenvolver e comercializar mercados locais operando como um banco comunitário, nos quais os membros abrem uma conta. Ao contrário de um banco, no entanto, oferece crédito ilimitado sem juros, gerado no ponto de venda, para facilitar a negociação com outros membros. Desta forma, LETS atua como uma moeda suplementar, criando um sistema adicional de valor em uma comunidade. Ao complementar o fluxo de caixa convencional com uma moeda local, uma comunidade pode manter o pleno emprego e se proteger das mudanças e flutuações na oferta monetária.
P.4 Que outros benefícios existem ao iniciar um sistema LETS?
Existem muitos benefícios para o LETSystems. Alguns outros são: Mobilizar a riqueza real de uma comunidade: o conhecimento e as habilidades de suas pessoas é a riqueza real de uma comunidade. Uma moeda local mantém essa riqueza trabalhando na comunidade, mesmo que o dinheiro convencional escorra, gerando emprego e renda para todos os envolvidos. As pessoas que acumularam uma ampla gama de habilidades e habilidades de repente se tornam mais uma vez membros altamente valorizados da comunidade. Ajudando os Grupos da Comunidade: o LETSystems ajuda outras organizações de comunidades locais, dando-lhes acesso a recursos para estender seus serviços a clientes ou clientes que atualmente não tenham acesso. A queima de voluntários é reduzida, pois o LETS ajuda as organizações a reconhecer e reconhecer o tempo e o esforço doados, permitindo que os voluntários atinjam suas próprias necessidades atendendo às necessidades dos outros. Fomentar a auto-confiança e a auto-estima: em nossas comunidades, o desemprego está crescendo ao mesmo tempo, um número crescente de pessoas não consegue atender suas necessidades. O apoio a pais solteiros pode precisar de cuidados de repouso ou outros serviços para seus filhos. Os pensionistas idosos também precisam de uma variedade de serviços especializados ou podem simplesmente exigir que a empresa combata a solidão. Atualmente, a capacidade de uma pessoa para acessar estes e outros serviços é proporcional ao seu poder de compra. LETS quebra esse gargalo, tornando mais possível combinar a necessidade de alguém com o trabalho disponível de outro. As pessoas não são mais dependentes do bem-estar ou da caridade, e os benefícios da auto-estima de todos. Aumento da poupança pessoal e renda descartável: porque os membros podem obter bens e serviços locais através de um sistema LETS, os membros podem substituir LETS por dólares federais. O rendimento disponível em dólares federais, disponível após as necessidades básicas, é realmente aumentado. Para aqueles envolvidos que estão negociando regularmente em LETS acharão que eles ganham mais dinheiro nos bolsos no final de cada semana. A taxa de poupança da comunidade e, portanto, da geração de capital de investimento da comunidade, e com ela a qualidade de vida de todos, irá melhorar. Oportunidades para empresas: LETS adiciona um novo nível a uma economia local e gera riqueza que não pode ser acessada através do sistema monetário convencional. Essa riqueza cria novas oportunidades de expansão de negócios locais existentes, ou mesmo mercados de novos produtos e serviços que anteriormente não estavam disponíveis. Criando controle econômico local: o LETS ajuda a conectar o balde vazio da economia local, criando uma moeda local que não pode deixar a comunidade, reduzindo assim as saídas de capital descontroladas e que limitam a atividade. Como os créditos da LETS só têm valor na comunidade em que foram gerados, eles permanecem circulando para criar mais riqueza para todos. LETS dá aos membros da comunidade uma poderosa ferramenta nova para "orientar" a economia local em direções que beneficiam todos. Apoio ao Local de Compra: Atualmente, as economias de escala, os preços de transferência e a capitalização de mão-de-obra ou matérias-primas do Terceiro Mundo baratas permitem que grandes fabricantes e varejistas multinacionais e interestaduais dêem a chamada "área de jogo nivelada" em sua direção, detrimento de empresas locais. A LETS fornece um desconto no dólar federal para aqueles que usam empresas locais, fabricantes e varejistas, sem sacrificar a renda total na esperança de compensar o aumento de negócios. As empresas locais prosperam. Criando redes de suporte comunitário: porque o LETS conecta os membros em uma rede local de informações, ele fornece residentes novos ou isolados morando em uma comunidade local com um sistema de apoio comunitário instantâneo, o que evita o constrangimento de apresentações para estranhos. Através da rede LETS, todos os membros têm uma razão pronta para solicitar suporte ou ajuda. Os pensionistas idosos, os jovens desempregados, os pais de apoio, os recém-chegados e as famílias de renda única com parceiros "presos" em um subúrbio dormitório, podem criar amizades firmes em relacionamentos estabelecidos através de uma conexão LETS. Promovendo a justiça social e a igualdade: porque o valor atribuído ao tempo e ao compromisso de cada um é definido individualmente entre os membros participantes, um sistema LETS iguala o diferencial salarial que existe no valor da economia convencional ao trabalho das mulheres comparado ao trabalho de homens. Esta igualdade maior ajuda a impedir a polarização da comunidade entre aqueles que "têm" em comparação com os "não têm". Não há valor na acumulação de créditos LETS, pois eles não podem ganhar interesse. É somente colocando-os em um trabalho produtivo que o indivíduo ou a comunidade se beneficiam. LETS promove a participação local na comunidade em todos os níveis. Apoio a projetos comunitários: existem muitos projetos e atividades comunitárias dignas e valiosas, que se deterioram por falta de dinheiro. Ao doar créditos LETS para um cofre comunitário, podem ser geradas grandes iniciativas comunitárias para melhoria local ou trabalho de caridade, sem colocar uma pressão severa sobre a renda do dólar federal. Como os créditos LETS locais permanecem na comunidade local, a riqueza doada irá circular de volta ao doador como uma forma de "garantia de devolução do dinheiro" a longo prazo, para gerar demanda pelos bens e serviços que estão fornecendo à sua comunidade. Construindo um senso de comunidade: o estilo de vida cada vez mais transitório, temporário e móvel na Austrália prejudicou muito nosso senso de pertencer a uma comunidade significativa. Como um LETSystem constrói relacionamentos locais, é um meio poderoso de regenerar um senso de confiança entre os membros, um componente necessário para a saúde de qualquer comunidade. À medida que as comunidades se tornam mais conscientes e auto-suficientes como resultado de um sistema LETS, o isolamento, o medo e a solidão da comunidade diminuem e todos se beneficiam.
Q.5 O que é o Multi-LETS?
Um Multi-LETSystem é um LETSystem como qualquer outro. Como qualquer outro LETS, um Multi-LETS fornece um registro de membros, em que as transações são registradas, demonstrações e contas são preparadas, e um quadro de avisos ou folha de negociação de ofertas e pedidos são preparados.
Um Multi-LETS, além disso, tem a possibilidade de existir uma série de redes separadas dentro do registro único. Essas redes se assemelham a sistemas LETS separados, na medida em que cobram suas próprias taxas de adesão, que os membros de uma determinada rede podem negociar bens e serviços em sua própria moeda local, de acordo com as regras e condições em que os membros concordam, podem fornecer sua própria lista separada de ofertas e pedidos, e sua própria newsletter. Mais uma vez, como um LETSystem, as unidades de crédito LETS não podem ser transferidas para fora da base de membros ou retiradas do sistema.
A diferença com um sistema LETS convencional é que, no Multi-LETS, as pessoas se juntam inicialmente ao registro geral, especificando em quais redes eles gostariam de participar. Em troca, eles recebem um único número de registro comercial que pode ser usado no registro geral e em qualquer rede à qual eles possam pertencer. As pessoas então podem escolher se deseja registrar a transação no sistema geral ou no nível de uma rede específica.
Em um Multi-LETS, todas as transações são registradas ao nível do registro Multi-LETS, portanto as redes podem ter as vantagens de um sistema LETS, sem necessidade de se preocupar com a gravação de transações ou a emissão de declarações. Isso pode ser uma vantagem imensa para um determinado clube ou grupo que não tem membros interessados ​​em "executar o sistema", mas que desejam usar LETS para seu próprio propósito, sem necessariamente querer passar pelo incômodo de iniciar seu próprio sistema LETS . Seus membros também obtêm acesso a uma gama mais ampla de bens e serviços através do registro geral do que seria em um sistema menor de sua própria rede. Em um Multi-LETS pessoas têm maior liberdade de escolha, pois eles podem escolher as redes que querem participar e quais as causas locais, clubes ou grupos que eles querem apoiar enquanto comercializam em LETS.
P.6 Como faço para me juntar a um sistema LETS?
Cada sistema LETS é independente e tem sua própria pessoa de contato ou endereço de correspondência. Depois de tomar uma decisão sobre o sistema LETS ou sistemas em que deseja participar, faça contato e eles dirão o quanto custa. Geralmente as pessoas, em seguida, preencher uma folha de ofertas e pedidos, o nome, endereço postal e número de telefone. O LETSystem informará o novo membro do seu Número de Registro dentro desse sistema, que atua como sua licença para começar a negociar. Diferentes LETSystems têm diferentes maneiras de renovar as associações, mas geralmente os membros têm que renovar sua associação uma vez por ano.
Q.7 O que acontece com a minha lista de ofertas e pedidos?
Você já listou o que deseja receber da Comunidade LETS e o que está preparado para contribuir com essa comunidade em troca. Estes são incorporados aos de outros na Folha de Negociação. Há uma taxa de uma proporção de um crédito LETS por linha para listagens em cada folha de negociação (para pagar o administrador que atualiza a listagem). Sua conta pode voltar para trás, portanto, se você não estiver negociando.
É uma boa idéia, portanto, verificar regularmente sua lista para se certificar de que reflete o que você está preparado para fornecer ou preparado para receber. As you will discover, it can be frustrating to members to have to make a large number of phone calls before they find a "genuine" trader in that item, or if they discover that it was sold 6 months ago! This can be overcome in part by keeping your list up-to-date. This is your responsibility. It does not cost you to delete an item, and will save your account the expense of listing unwanted or no-longer-traded goods and services.
Q.8 What should I do now? Como faço para começar a negociar?
Your LETSystem, like all LETSystems, works best through your participation. Rather than waiting for someone to contact you about your listings, your LETSystem will best meet your needs if you use it actively, rather than passively. Contact someone perhaps who is requesting some good or service that you can offer. It may be something that you did not even consider listing in your offers in the trading sheet, something that you never considered before. Whatever it is the person you phone will be glad to make a new LETS contact.
This will give you a taste of trading, and show you how it is done. If that person is interested in your assistance, make sure that you clearly establish exactly how many LETS Credits you propose to charge. This may result in some friendly "haggling", but do not proceed until a mutually agreeable "price" has been set. Make sure that both parties to the transaction have the correct name, registration number, and amount before completing the cheque tab, or phoning the transaction through to the Trustees.
Q.9 How do I get most personal benefit from my LETSystem?
Your LETSystem will have the greatest economic use to you if you look at where you currently spend money. Have you built a personal relationship with the people involved, or is it only a commercial transaction? If you can recruit to the system individuals with whom you normally spend Federal Dollars, you will find that being able to buy the same goods and services in part for LETS will have a big effect on increasing your savings and disposable income. For instance, if you can buy local foodstuffs and groceries for LETS it will have a big impact upon your spending patterns and you may save Federal Dollars! If you want help enrolling someone into the LETSystem, ask your area coordinator, Trustee or LETS Committee. If successful, you can start to spend local currency more widely, so creating more jobs and increasing the wealth of your local community!
Try to develop the LETS habit by using LETS first, Federal Dollars second, only if you have to! LETS gives people a chance to meet their neighbours in a new way, enriches your community life and provides you with a community support network of great strength and durability.
Q.10 How much is a LETS Credit worth?
For most business transactions it is easiest to equate one LETS Credit to one federal dollar. Business people find it hard to cope with a system of value that varies widely between different times and different people trading.
Most transactions in a LETSystem, however, are for goods and services that would be called personal arrangements, social arrangements, hobbies or pass-times. For these, people are free to set their own value scale, which can vary wildly between times of the day, depending upon the amount of free-time one has, or the nature of other pressures or demands they may have on their time.
As a result, in a LETSystem, you may find a wider range of pricing than you would in a conventional market system. Prices for such items are negotiated freely between the two people engaging in the transaction, and there is rarely a "set take-it-or-leave-it" price as one finds in a conventional money purchase. This helps the relationship building nature of a LETSystem.
Because people attach their own value to what they change, many of the inequalities that exist within the normal economy are not found in a LETSystem. The gap in hourly wage rates between professional and labouring work, between the work of men and the work of women, and between tasks that would be normally considered voluntary or unpaid, and those that are paid for, are narrowed or do not exist. Generally, a person's purchasing power in a LETSystem is equal to the purchasing power of anyone else, although the demand for their services may vary widely.
Q.11 Can I charge part LETS Credits/part federal Dollars in a Transaction?
Sim. If in providing that service you will have to pay federal dollars for providing part of what is requested (eg. for paint, petrol, your tax (if you are a tradesperson or professional exercising their regular occupation)) you can ask for dollars to cover this needed component. Make sure that the other person understands why you are charging dollars, as this helps make sure that they feel what you are charging is fair.
Q.12 How should I charge in LETS if I run a business?
If you run a business, a useful way to start is to offer what you think would be a fair percentage in LETS Credits and federal dollars. The other person in the transaction is free to accept or reject, as in LETS, there is no obligation. LETS is its name and LETS is its nature!
The only requirement is that you are prepared to consider trading in LETS Credits for whole or part of the transaction. Make sure that the other person understands in advance of providing the goods or services if you are not trading any item for LETS. Not doing so will come as a nasty shock to your customer, and may lead to them telling others of their unfortunate experience, with the result that you may find you do little trading in the future!
If you are running a business and wish to trade in LETS, ask us about the "LETS Do Business" information. We can explain how you can record transactions in part LETS part dollars in an easy and reliable fashion. Members of a LETSystem would prefer to trade in local currency, so you will probably find that your number of sales, and your total cash turnover will increase as your business joins the local system.
Q.13 Do I have to be in credit before starting to buy?
No. You do not have to be in credit before making your first buying transaction. In this way your LETS Account is very different from a conventional Bank Account! If you wish to purchase a good or service from the LETSystem, you can do so straight away, as when you go into debit (which in LETS is a measure of your future commitment to the system), someone else will go into credit. The system will in this way stay balanced at zero.
It is by buying that "new LETS Credits" enter the system, creating more wealth in the local trading community. As the LETS Credit cannot leave your LETSystem, eventually they will come back to you in the form of someone who wants what you provide. A debit (or commitment) thus is a "money back guarantee". This is very different to money.
Q.14 What happens if I leave the area?
It is a good idea to inform the Trustees or your area coordinator immediately you shift residence. This helps make sure that they can send any future trading sheets or newsletters to the correct address.
If you are shifting out of the region of the LETSystem, you have a number of options.
Firstly, you can keep your account open, in case you visit the area and want to do some trading, or if you are prepared to provide services to your LETS members who visit your new place of residence.
Secondly, you can close your account. This can be best achieved by returning your balance to zero. Your area coordinator or LETSystem Trustees can help show you how this may be done.
Thirdly, if you leave with either a credit or a debit balance, you should not worry too much, as the LETSystem as a whole will still be balanced at zero, and the LETS Credits, unlike federal dollars, can never leave the area. People will still be able to trade, and get their needs met.
Obviously, if everyone left your LETSystem, it would become inactivated, and transactions would dry-up. This has happened to LETSystems in the past, but nothing is lost, and no-one is hurt by the process (again, unlike the conventional money system).
Q.15 How can a person "rip-off" the LETSystem?
Esqueça. They cannot. Surprisingly LETS Credits provide one of the only theft-proof, non-rip-off-able currency systems possible in the world. Its simple rules operate in a fashion entirely different to conventional money, which can be stolen, and is often "ripped off". LETS Credits operate in a fashion wholly different to federal dollars.
Consider, for instance, the question of debt. If I borrow 100 federal dollars from you, then I effectively have $100 of your money which you cannot spend until I pay back. This is inconvenient to you, and, as a measure of this inconvenience you charge me interest (I may have to pay back $110 eventually).
In LETS if my account is 100 LETS Credits in debit, it means I have already paid someone 100 LETS Credits! No-one is inconvenienced, and so there is no interest. I can discharge my commitment whenever it is most convenient to me to do so. LETS by name and LETS by nature!
Q.16 What about Tax?
Do I have to pay tax on LETS Credits? The Australian Taxation Office ruling on LETS, released in February 13th 1991 states that there are no Taxation implications for personal arrangements, social arrangements, hobbies or pass - times. These constitute about 70 to 80% of all LETS transactions.
Only if I am a tradesperson, a professional, a business, or a retailer or wholesaler and I am trading in my business is there any implication for tax. In such cases, "Income" is income, and I have to pay tax on my LETS Credit earnings just as I do on my federal Dollar earnings. At present you should estimate the amount of tax you would have to pay on the transaction and charge that as part of the federal Dollars component to the person purchasing your services or buying your goods. The "LETS Do Business" guide will help you keep track of the amount you need to charge. These dollars you collect will have to be paid, eventually, to the Taxman, just as you do with any federal Dollar earnings. There is no difference with LETS.
LETSystems across Australia, while agreeing recommend to their members to abide by the Taxation ruling, also think it unfair. Tax on LETS should be paid for in LETS - Tax on Dollars, paid for in Dollars. This has the effect on keeping taxes collected on local transactions in the local community. If you would like to help your LETSystem lobby the government on this matter, get in touch with your Trustees or area coordinator.
Your LETSystem believes that tax is an individual matter, and an individual responsibility. LETS is not a Taxation Avoidance Scheme. Your LETSystem takes no responsibility for collecting or policing tax, and will not act as an agent of the Taxation Office. Under law, it cannot prevent the Taxation Office obtaining legal right to view our documents.
Q.17 What about insurance?
Your LETSystem does not provide insurance, workers compensation, public liability nor any other coverage. These are individual matters and should be checked, if required, between the individuals involved in the transaction. If insurance is required, you may have to pay federal Dollars to help the other person cover the cost of the premiums (unless the LETSystem has managed to enrol an Insurance Company! If you would like to help enrol an Insurance Company, contact the Trustees or the area coordinator!)
Q.18 What about Social Security?
It is a matter of interpretation whether and what degree LETS is "valuable consideration" under the Social Security Act. If you are concerned about Social Security, it is a good idea to keep your LETS account as balanced as much as possible, close to zero. For each positive transaction, try to provide a negative one balancing up as soon as you can. If Social Security becomes a matter of concern, contact your LETSystem, or ask Social Security about the Appeals Procedure, as an appeal against any Social Security ruling that is open to interpretation is your right under the Act. In Western Australia 50% of appeals are found in favour of the appellant, and Social Security have to reimburse any payments lost.
If you receive Unemployment Benefit, and you wish to continue to do so, you should not allow your involvement in the LETSystem interfere with your ability to seek full time or part time work. After - hours involvement is probably best.
Q.19 How are decisions determined within this LETSystem?
LETSystems are democratic organisations, controlled by their members. Your LETSystem will probably have an annual general meeting for the election of office bearers and committee members. Committee meetings are usually open to members and all are invited to participate. If you are interested in participating in either the administration or development of this LETSystem, you should get in touch with the local contact or LETS Committee. Increasingly, all work done for LETS Administration or Development will be acknowledged and paid through the system!

Lets local exchange trading system

Don't miss the "Joke Of The Month" at the end of this article.
The LETSaholic Twist)
Keeping Score Nothing More.
So, my LETS philosophy is …
Don’t think of LETS points like dollars. Think of them as favours. LETS Favours.
It was easy for me to accept this attitude because my first contact with LETS members, at the NM LETS Get-Together, presented them in the same way. They were offering their services to me without any hint of obligating me to give back to them. Then, when Robert cycled all the way to my home – maybe over an hour’s ride! & # 8211; and gave me a massage that lasted for two long and extremely relaxing hours, I felt he was doing it in the same caring way. I didn’t ask for a two-hour massage, but Robert noticed my muscles were very tight – due to stress – and needed additional massage, so he did what was best for me. And when I volunteered to design the newsletter for C&D LETS, whenever I was stumped and needed help, it was given to me at once and without hesitation.
I am very similar to most people so I am sure I would be hesitant to “give” if I felt the LETS members were trying to take advantage of me. It is human nature to treat people as they treat you, so when LETS members gave to me unselfishly, I gave back to them in the same way. This is the LETS attitude I tried to instill on every LETS member I came in contact with ever since.
So what is a LETS point to me?
Let me start by saying that the generally accepted view by all LETS people is that a LETS point is not cash, or federal currency, and I agree. However, I do not feel comfortable viewing LETS points as an alternative currency with an equivalent value in cash. I prefer to interpret LETS points as being like LETS favours. That has always made trading more enjoyable for me. I love doing favours for members and they show genuine appreciation for the favour – in LETS points. It doesn’t get any better than that!
I view LETS more like a voluntary self-help group where like-minded people in a local community give their time and experience to help their fellow members and feel welcomed to ask for the same in return … just as they would from family and friends.
But rather than do all this helping without any recording at all, keeping LETS accounts allows the group to keep track of the members’ activities so they can balance their trading activities fairly, knowing that once their accounts are back to zero, they have given to the group just as much as they have received. Basically, it’s just a matter of keeping score and nothing more. This is how I like to explain LETS accounts to new members:
The LETS group's function is to act as a bookkeeper for their members' activities; keeping record of these ‘favours’ and putting the members' accounts into debit or credit accordingly. An account that is in credit identifies a member who has given more favours than he has received, and an account that is in debit identifies a member who has received more favours than he has given. These credits have no value and cannot be exchanged for cash. Their only purpose is to keep track of each member’s involvement in the group so they can aim to bring their accounts back to zero – a sign of fair and equitable participation in the system.
The presentation I gave to LETS groups around the world was aptly titled …
Improving your lifestyle through LETS.
I noticed the biggest impact I had on an audience was when they grasped the LETS Favours concept. That mind-shift produced a couple of results I am very proud of: an immediate increase in membership – half the guests in the audience joined on the same night – and an increase in trading for the following month (usually about thirty percent). The type of feedback I received from audience members, especially from inactive members was, “I feel much happier about trading if I think I’ll be helping people”. So, it seemed that members would rather trade when they thought of LETS points as ‘favours’ rather than ‘money’.
I also found that focusing on helping members built a community-spirit within the group, and placed a friendlier tone on each trade. That motivated me much more than being profit-motivated. As far as I was concerned, LETS points did not have any monetary value. They simply represented the value of appreciation shown by the member who had been assisted.
The LETS members I helped over the years knew I was not obligated to help them. Trading through LETS was never compulsory; it was always – and still is – optional. The members were grateful to get my help; in fact, any help. It was obvious just how appreciative they were because when I performed tiring services for members – such as lawn mowing, painting and rubbish removals – they always offered me snacks and drinks. They never even complained if my work was not ‘spot on’. Por que eles? Would you complain to your neighbour if he agreed to help you with some tedious chore? Wouldn’t you just be grateful that he agreed to be there and help you as best he could? That was how a community-spirit was built within the group. That was how trading became a friendlier and more enjoyable activity. And that was how I saw LETS: a voluntary self-help group of members who were willing to help each other in times of need.
Here is a detailed example of the caring and sharing that took place with my LETS hosts while I was travelling overseas …
IT’S ALL ABOUT CARING AND SHARING.
In March 2004, Kit, my LETS host in Kitchener (Ontario, Canada) asked, “Can you paint a room for me?”
Now, you had to keep that request in perspective.
My stay in Kitchener was originally supposed to be for only one week: January 11-18. Nine-and-a-half weeks later, however, I was still there! Apart from a couple of weeks spent in Welland, Brantford, Montreal, Granby, Ottawa and Toronto, I spent the rest of my time in Kitchener … and it looked like I would be there for another seven weeks, making it a total of over three months!
Now I was not in the habit of staying in the same place for such a long time; my average stay with a host was about a week. But things just turned out that way when my plans to visit South America fell through a couple of months earlier.
Not only that, but Kit also organised: two performances of my play, The Glory of Athens; three speaking engagements with local Toastmasters groups; a Murder-Mystery night; a winter camping weekend with thirty-seven other crazy Canadians; a visit to an Emu farm; a lift to Montreal, which was a six-hour drive; two lifts to Toronto and back (an hour each way); a cross-country skiing trip; and an ice-hockey game … plus my day-to-day needs, as was originally requested when I first made contact with KW Barterworks, the LETS group Kit belonged to.
My commitment to the LETS group, and their commitment to me, ended after my first week, so all those extras had been provided by Kit.
When the visits to the South American countries had to be cancelled, Kit immediately offered to host me a while longer, because I was the ideal travel guest!
Here’s why: I washed the dishes every day; I regularly shovelled snow from the paths and driveway around the house; I registered a domain name for Kit’s business web site; I also provided the web hosting; I gave web page design tuition; and I was good company to have around, always having something positive to say.
The more I did for my host, the more my host did for me. It was all about caring and sharing, and having said that, I wasn’t going to paint a room … I was going to paint the whole freakin' ground floor! That was four rooms and a staircase, which meant stripping paint off all the woodwork – doors, windows, skirting boards, and staircase; filling in cracks in the plaster; then painting the ceilings and floors.
On my travels, there were many times when I had ‘given more’ or ‘received more’ than our original agreement had stipulated. To be quite honest, I found my hosts exceeded their obligations on almost every single occasion. Here are a few examples I recall from my European and African LETS Speaking Tour in 2002:
In England, I had use of a bicycle for a week and repaid the favour by doing a few hours of house renovating for another member.
Also in England, I cleaned a kitchen, bathroom and toilet. I got no extras in return, but I knew my host was expecting a visitor for the next couple of days, and because he was working all day, he wouldn’t have enough time to clean those rooms himself. So I did it for him, and when he got home he couldn’t believe his eyes!
In Spain, I washed the dishes one morning while my hosts were sleeping in. I just wanted to be helpful.
In Norway, I was given a Polynesian Massage and repaid the favour by helping out in a couple of ways before I left. [details Chapter 3]
In South Africa, I got my first taste of working my butt off for LETS. I was giving up to three LETS presentations each day for four days, and by the fifth day I lost my voice!
As you can see, we just helped each other out whenever possible. But I digress, so back to painting those four rooms for Kit …
When was the last time you stripped? & # 8230; paint, that is.
Well, I only allowed two days for paint stripping. Meanwhile, six days later I was still stripping!
I had a couple of agonising days sanding the woodwork to a neat finish. Why agonising? Because I did not use sandpaper; I used steel wool soaked in mineral turpentine. Very soon I found that applying pressure with my thumbs gave the best results. Unfortunately, it made them ache so much that I could not snap my fingers for six days! Just as well I was not performing my play during that period because when I played the role of Archimedes, snapping my fingers was an essential part of my act!
What started out as a simple weekend paint job, turned out to be a self-inflicted sentence lasting about three weeks. The results, however, were very worthwhile and I never regretted it for a moment.
How did I go about my work? In a very organised fashion … just like everything else I did.
Here is how long it took:
-one day of planning and re-organising four rooms;
-one day of emptying three rooms of all furniture;
-one day of removing a wallpaper strip, filling wall cracks and seventy-nine holes, repairing a door handle, removing loose plaster off the kitchen ceiling, buying paints and painting equipment;
-six days of stripping paint off the woodwork;
-two days of sanding;
-two days of painting;
-and one day of replacing furniture in rooms and stacking books and CDs back into shelves.
That completed three rooms of painting before I had to leave on my Ottawa LETS trip. However, on my return I completed the job by painting the kitchen as well.
That took another:
-two days of stripping paint;
-one day of filling cracks;
-one day of sanding;
-and two days of painting.
A grand total of twenty days!
But what a great job! I was very neat and considerate, cleaning up after myself at the end of each day. In fact, it was very reassuring to know that if I ever ran out of audiences to speak to, and web sites to design, I could always offer to renovate houses!
By the time the soldier pulled into the little town, every hotel room was taken.
"You've got to have a room somewhere", he pleaded with a proprietor. "Well, I do have a double room with one occupant, but he is an Air Force guy" admitted the manager, and he might be glad to split the cost. But to tell you the truth, he snores so loudly that people in adjoining rooms have complained in the past. I'm not sure it'd be worth it to you.
& quot; No problem." the tired Army guy assured him, "I'll take it." The next morning the soldier came down to breakfasts bright-eyed and bushy tailed. "How'd you sleep?" asked the manager. "Never better", said the soldier. The manager was impressed. "No problem with the other guy snoring all night long?" "No, I shut him up in no time", explained the soldier.
"How'd you manage that?" asked the proprietor.
"Well, he was already in bed, snoring away, when I walked into the room, so I gave him a kiss on the cheek" explained the soldier. “Then, I whispered in his ear 'Good night beautiful', and he sat up all night watching me."
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LAST UPDATED: Wednesday, 9 March, 2018.
(writing from Shanghai, China)
The LETSaholic Twist.
. but didn't know who to ask.
Dear James, Thanks so much for sending your wonderful e-book so promptly. There is so much useful advice and so many excellent suggestions that I found myself wanting to give our core group members a digested version but restrained myself as it's often better to give people a chance to discover things on their own. But we do have a Christmas Fair on Saturday and auctioning off unsold items is a great idea! Of course we will be happy to credit you in any excerpt we may use in our newsletter or handbook. With thanks and best wishes,
. Suzon (Forscey-Moore) Membership Secretary, CamLETS, Cambridge - 8 Dec 2008)
James, I contacted you earlier to order an e-book, The LETSaholic Twist .
It's really a good book! Bem . we decided to order 20 books soft cover, to give away as a present to all the LETS groups that will visit our yearly LETS happening.
. Erik (LETS Vlaanderen - 8 Sep 2007)
Dear James, I have read your book ( The LETSaholic Twist ) and found it a great inspiration! . when you next come to England I would love to host you and have some help at giving our LETS group a boost.
. Katy (Dorchester, Dorset - 6 Jan 2008)
For More Information About LETS .
Link back to LETS-Linkup with.
- Improving Your Lifestyle Through LETS.
as presented from Aug. 2002 to July 2004.
article printed in New Community Quarterly - June 2003 (Australia)
presented Nov. 2001.
A very sad accident happened to Bosse. Maybe you know already? He is dead, drowned in his well. Since you met him he had moved to another place in the middle of Sweden. I am so sorry for him. He was a fabulous guy and during a few years we had very close contact and cooperated in money matters.
Love and respect to you and your work!
Viktor, my LETS host in Goteborg (Gothenburg) had arranged a trip to Branno Island with Melina (a LETS researcher from Italy), her boyfriend Eli, and Eli’s parents, Aldo and Marina, who’d only just arrived to Goteborg the day before. But they were late getting to the port and missed the ferry by only a minute or two. Viktor and I got on board because it would be another 2 hours before the next ferry, and we had an important person waiting to meet us.
Bo Ljungqvist (pronounced Bor Lioongvist) is a very lean man, about 58 years old, and looks like a hermit. But he’s an ideologist concerned about world problems … trying to solve problems that are called ‘normality’.
Bo lives on Branno, an island inhabited by only 800 people, which is only a short 10-minute ferry ride from Goteborg, Sweden’s second largest city (situated on the east coast). Up to 3 years ago this island was out-of-bounds to foreigners because of ‘sensitive military issues’. And this coming from a country that has not been at war for nearly 2 centuries! Though their historically neutral military status had to change recently when they joined the European Union.
Anyway, Bo has lived on Branno for 30 years and relishes his natural lifestyle. First of all, cars aren’t allowed on the island so he walks or bike’s his way around. And his house is an ecological project that he works on relentlessly.
Bo was a Human Ecology university lecturer for 15 years and he’s put much of this expertise into practise. He has a large glasshouse butting on to the back of his house and apart from providing an endless supply of fresh vegetables it also helps keep the heat and cold from getting into the house. I admired the tomatoes as soon as I saw them.
“Help yourself,” ele disse. The tomato was delicious!
Above the glasshouse, Bo had covered the entire wall with solar panels. You could see his handy-work everywhere. In fact, you could even see his workshop … in the lounge room!
“Most people don’t like that I have my workbench in here, but I can’t be without my tools,” ele disse.
Bo Ljungqvist . one of the most interesting LETS characters I've met.
We sat outside in his overgrown and naturally wild yard, eating homemade tomato and lemon marmalade on bread. And he kept bringing out the hot coffee. He was enjoying the hot Swedish summer and was only wearing a pair of black shorts, which contrasted heavily with the long white hair on his chest and head, though many years of smoking had given him a nicotine-stained beard.
I smiled as he wandered from the table to wash his hands in a nearby bucket that still had rainwater in it. And I followed suit shortly afterwards. A lush green reed plant, over 2 metres tall, grew nearby.
“I didn’t think it would do so well,” he said, “but it’s growing beautifully. It’s wild you know.”
The crowing of a neighbour’s rooster was constantly interrupting our conversation.
“I thought roosters only crowed in the mornings,” I said, and I made a gesture implying that I’d like to shoot it.
Then as I turned, I saw a wire enclosure only metres away from me with a lone black rooster in it. “Oops!” I said, “Didn’t know it was your rooster.”
“He crows all the time”, Bo said. “The other rooster you hear is across the street, and has 5 hens. So mine is probably just jealous. I suppose I should get him a hen.”
A visit to the bathroom was an ecological experience.
“As long as you sit down, everything will go in the right place,” ele disse.
On close inspection I found that a metal ‘funnel’ was positioned to catch the urine and direct it into a different container to that of the ‘heavy’ coisa. So in this way he was able to recycle the human waste most efficiently.
By the end of the day we had quite a gathering in Bo’s backyard, with a couple of neighbours joining us for a chat over coffee.
But the day’s classic line went to Eli’s mum, Marina, after I mentioned that in China I insisted on being photographed with a large toad and snake before I ate them.
She couldn’t pass up the opportunity, and with a big smile she said, “Then it’s dangerous to be photographed with you!”
MESSAGE FROM BO . (November 24, 2003)
Subject: Renaissance of a LETS on Brännö Island, Sweden.
& gt; Hello James, I am glad and proud to tell that our system Brännö Bytesring Sweden with approx 30 members is now in operation again. All the best from, Bosse - accounter and ex-co-ordinator.
A word from James Taris 4 Oct 2018.
The LETSaholic Twist)
"Any committee is only as good as the most knowledgeable, determined and vigorous person on it."
(Lady Bird Johnson)
The most successful administration system we had, in the LETS groups I was involved with, was the 10-committee-roles system … where ten members were voted into specific committee roles by the LETS membership. By giving the committee members specific roles, and giving them the authority to perform their duties ‘to the best of their abilities’, the administration of the group got the freedom it needed to advance in leaps and bounds. Por quê? Because, rather than trying to run the group by bringing items for discussion to a once-a-month committee meeting, decisions could be made by individual committee members responsible for their specific roles at any time of the day, or day of the month. They carried out their activities with more enthusiasm, accepting praise for a job well-done and taking personal responsibility for jobs not-so-well-done.
Here are the committee roles that were allocated in the LETS groups I was associated with – along with their duties:
1 - Group Co-ordinator.
2 - Meeting Secretary.
3 - Cash Treasurer.
4 - Promotions Co-ordinator.
5 - Membership Co-ordinator.
6 - Events Co-ordinator.
7 - Newsletter Publisher.
8 - Directory Publisher.
9 - Website Webmaster.
10 - Office Co-ordinator with Office Helpers.
Over the years I noticed that the success of a LETS group, just like any other organisation, was usually the result of good leadership, that is, having a good Group Co-ordinator. What was our Group Co-ordinator supposed to do? & # 8230; NOTHING! Now that I have your attention, let me explain what I mean by ‘nothing’.
The most common reason for a new LETS group ‘dying’ was the reluctance for members to replace a retiring Group Co-ordinator. And why would they want to?
The typical profile of a LETS Group Co-ordinator for a newly formed group was like this:
-had a passion for LETS;
-would seek help … but would accept doing things themselves if they could not find anyone to help them, or their helpers were not doing their job well enough;
-thought about LETS twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year.
So, one day they would get out of bed and say, “Gee, that was a stupid thing to do. I was so comfortable in bed. I don’t really need this LETS headache any more. Nobody helps me, nobody cares, and I don’t get any thanks for it. And guess what … I don’t care any more either,” and they would go straight back to bed again, getting the best sleep they had had since they started their LETS group … their LETS ‘baby’.
Of course, when a replacement Group Co-ordinator was sought, the response was always the same.
“Are you kidding? Jill looked great before she started LETS. In the last twelve months she’s aged ten years! Her hair wasn’t always grey, you know.”
“I could never do what Jill did. She produced the newsletter, and the directory; she arranged all the group’s promotions; she handled all the membership enquiries and organised the LETS events; she kept all the member trading accounts, and goodness knows what else she did.”
Yes, Jill had suffered from burnout, a very common problem affecting overworked, and overwhelmed, people in the workforce, businesses and organisations.
To avoid this happening in our LETS groups, I made several recommendations:
First of all, the Group Co-ordinator should to do NOTHING! That is, NOTHING ELSE but co-ordinate, or oversee, the activities of the other committee members. By sharing the workload with nine other committee members, nobody would ever get overwhelmed again, thus ensuring the survival and growth of the LETS group. In fact, because each committee role was reduced to only a small time commitment, whenever that role became vacant it was not hard to find another member to replace them. Actually, the best, and an often overlooked source for new committee members, were the new LETS members. They were keen about LETS and could earn LETS points while performing their new role.
All the roles automatically became vacant at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) – held each year. That allowed members to elect their preferred member for each role, though I cannot remember that ever being necessary. Most members were just happy to see a position filled. In fact, once a member had accepted a nomination they were virtually assured of getting the position. The reality was that several committee positions usually remained unfilled after the AGM. That was not seen as a problem, though. We just continued to advertise the vacant committee role in our monthly newsletter until it was finally filled. In the interim, the vacant roles were temporarily filled by the other committee members. Not jointly, but by several committee members taking on a second role.
So, back to the Group Co-ordinator’s role …
Apart from chairing a monthly committee meeting, the Group Co-ordinator was only required to keep in contact with each of the committee members to ensure they were able to fulfill their duties. That was it!
Holding regular and productive LETS Committee Meetings is a crucial part of running any LETS group. Here are a couple of tips on how we ran our meetings:
1) Our meetings were open to all LETS members … the more the merrier. In fact, members were even encouraged to participate in the meeting. Basically, each committee member gave a report on how their role was progressing. If they wanted any help, they asked for ideas, and any suggestions given during the meeting were just that … suggestions.
As each committee member was totally responsible for their own role, they decided which suggestions to accept … if any at all (although suggestions were usually greatly appreciated and accepted). Rather than being a recipe for chaos, it worked quite smoothly, avoiding many debates and clashes (typical meeting scenarios).
We did not worry about having a quorum in order to make committee decisions. As far as we were concerned, even if only two members turned up, all interested parties were present and would therefore make any group decisions that did not impose on any committee member’s role. We felt that was a much better scenario than putting off decision-making for months on end if we could not get a quorum at our meetings.
2) We held our committee meetings at the same location as our LETS events, but they were held an hour earlier. There were several benefits from dong this. Firstly, it guaranteed we would have several more members at our events … us! Secondly, it guaranteed that the venue for our LETS event would be open and members would not be kept waiting outside if ‘the person with the key’ was running late. Thirdly, it guaranteed that more new memberships would be obtained because guests would be greeted at the event by a committee member and encouraged to join.
These four friends were so confident that the weekend before finals, they decided to go on a road trip and party with some friends from out of town. They had a great time. However, after all the partying, they slept all day Sunday and didn't make it back home until early Monday morning.
Rather than taking the final then, they decided to find their professor after the final and explain to him why they missed it.
They explained that they had gone to visit friends for the weekend with the plan to come back and study but, unfortunately, they had a flat tire on the way back, didn't have a spare, and couldn't get help for a long time. As a result, they missed the final.
The Professor thought it over and then agreed they could make up the final the following day. The guys were elated and relieved.
They studied that night and went in the next day at the time the professor had told them. He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet, and told them to begin.
They looked at the first problem, worth 5 points. It was "List the reason why you were unable to take the test yesterday". (5 points).
"Cool," they thought at the same time, each one in his separate room. "This is going to be easy."
Each finished the problem and then turned the page. On the second page was written:
(For 95 points): "Which tire?"
A monkey is sitting in a tree smoking a joint when a lizard walks past and looks up and says to the monkey, "Hey! What are you doing?"
The monkey says, "Smoking a joint, come up and have some."
So the lizard climbs up and sits next to the monkey and they have a few tokes together.
After a while the lizard says his mouth is 'dry' and that he's going to get a drink from the river.
The lizard climbs down the tree, ditty bops on thru the jungle to the river and leans over the river to get his drink.
Well, the lizard is so stoned that he leans too far over and falls into the river.
A Crocodile sees this and swims over to the lizard and helps him to the side, then asks the lizard, "What's the matter with you?"
The lizard explains to the crocodile that he was sitting in a tree and smoking a joint with the monkey and got too stoned and then fell into the river while taking a drink.
The crocodile says he's gotta check this hippie monkey out and walks off into the jungle where he finds the tree where the monkey is still sitting and toking on the joint.
He looks up and says "hey you!"
The Monkey looks down and says, "ffuuucccckkkk dude. how much water did you drink. & quot;
A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who's dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans.
Saint Peter addresses this guy, "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?"
The guy replies, "I'm Joe Cohen, taxi-driver, of Noo Yawk City."
Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the taxi-driver, "Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
The taxi-driver goes into Heaven with his robe and staff, and it's the minister's turn. He stands erect and booms out, "I am Joseph Snow, pastor of Saint Mary's for the last forty-three years."
Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the minister, "Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
"Just a minute," says the minister. "That man was a taxi-driver and he gets a silken robe and golden staff. How can this be?"
"Up here, we work by results," says Saint Peter. "While you preached, people slept; while he drove, people prayed."
One day an Irishman, who has been stranded on a desert island for over ten long years, sees an unusual speck on the horizon.
"It's certainly not a ship," he thinks to himself. As the speck gets closer and closer, he begins to rule out the possibilities of a small boat, then even a raft.
Suddenly, emerging from the surf comes a drop dead gorgeous blonde woman wearing a wet suit and scuba gear.
She approaches the stunned man and says to him, "Tell me how long has it been since you've had a cigarette?"
"Ten years," replies the Irishman.
With that, she reaches over and unzips a waterproof pocket on her left sleeve and pulls out a pack of fresh cigarettes. He takes one, lights it, takes a long drag and says, "Faith and begorah! Is that good!"
"And how long has it been since you've had a sip of good Irish Whiskey?" she asks him.
Trembling, the castaway replies, "Ten years."
She reaches over, unzips her right sleeve, pulls out a flask and hands it to him. He opens the flask, takes a long swig and says, "Tis absolutely fantastic!"
At this point she starts slowly unzipping the long zipper that runs down the front of her wet suit, looks at the man and asks, "And how long has it been since you've played around?"
With tears in his eyes, the man falls to his knees and sobs, "Oh, Sweet Jesus! Don't tell me you've got golf clubs in there too."
A woman was out golfing one day when she hit her ball into the woods. She went into the woods to look for it and found a frog in a trap. The frog said to her, "If you release me from this trap, I will grant you 3 wishes."
The woman freed the frog and the frog said, "Thank you, but I failed to mention that there was a condition to your wishes - that whatever you wish for, your husband will get 10 times more or better!"
The woman said, "That would be okay," and for her first wish, she wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the world. The frog warned her, "You do realize that this wish will also make your husband the most handsome man in the world, an Adonis, that women will flock to."
The woman replied, "That will be okay because I will be the most beautiful woman and he will only have eyes for me." So, KAZAM - she's the most beautiful woman in the world!
For her second wish, she! wanted to be the richest woman in the world. The frog said, "That will make your husband the richest man in the world and he will be ten times richer than you." The woman said, "That will be okay because what is mine is his and what is his is mine." So, KAZAM she's the richest woman in the world! The frog then inquired about her third wish, and she replied.
"I'd like a mild heart attack."
John was sitting outside his local pub one day, enjoying a quiet pint and generally feeling good about himself, when a nun suddenly appears at his table and starts decrying the evils of drink.
"You should be ashamed of yourself young man! Drinking is a Sin! Alcohol is the blood of the devil!"
Now John gets pretty annoyed about this, and goes on the offensive.
"How do you know this, Sister?"
"My Mother Superior told me so."
"But have you ever had a drink yourself? How can you be sure that what you are saying is right?"
"Don't be ridiculous--of course I have never taken alcohol myself"
"Then let me buy you a drink - if you still believe afterwards that it is evil I will give up drink for life"
"How could I, a Nun, sit outside this public house drinking?!"
"I'll get the barman to put it in a teacup for you, then no one will ever know."
The Nun reluctantly agrees, so John goes inside to the bar.
"Another pint for me, and a triple vodka on the rocks", then he lowers his voice and says to the barman "and could you put the vodka in a teacup?"
"Oh no! It's not that Nun again is it?"
After 17 years of marriage, a man dumped his wife for a younger woman.
The house was in his name and he wanted to remain there with his new love so he asked the wife to move out and then he would buy her another place.
The wife agreed to this, but asked that she be given 3 days on her own there, to pack up her things.
While he was gone, the first day she lovingly put her personal belongings into boxes and crates and suitcases.
On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things.
On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their candlelit dining table, soft music playing in the background, and feasted on a pound of shrimp and a bottle of Chardonnay.
When she had finished, she went into each room and deposited a few of the resulting shrimp shells into the hollow of the curtain rods. She then cleaned up the kitchen and left.
The husband came back, with his new girl, and all was bliss for the first few days. Then it started; slowly but surely.
Clueless, the man could not explain why the place smelled so bad. They tried everything; cleaned & mopped and aired the place out. Vents were checked for dead rodents, carpets were steam cleaned, air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in, the carpets were replaced, and on it went.
Finally, they could take it no more and decided to move.
The moving company arrived and did a very professional packing job, taking everything to their new home . including the curtain rods.
For me, 2009 will be the year I made a feature-length movie, Everything is Possible , without any money .
This site is designed and maintained by James Taris.
and has been operating since 11th October 2001.
Please send corrections or updates to JamesTaris@gmail.
Register your email address here to keep up-to-date with all the latest additions to LETS-linkup and also make contact with LETS members from all over the world.
List of Countries.
This is a list of countries with entries listed in LETS-linkup so far. You can click on their links to go straight to them!
We now have representation from every continent in the world! (. apart from Antarctica of course. Any suggestions on how we can get the penguins interested in LETS?)
It's now as easy as setting up an egroup.
To try it out, play the game.
(Comox Valley, Canada)
You can still download my game that shows how hour money would improve on capitalism and socialism. It's available free at hourmoney . Instructions can be downloaded from there also.
Here's an article from the UK where you can see how their government.
and various researchers are in the process of exploring the use of LETSystems in the school system. This article is a precursor, laying out their concepts, with the possible benefits and pitfalls.
The economics of this current reality is about money: give it and take it.
The dynamics of bartering is, instead, the experience of abundance: giving as much as you can and receiving as much as you can for the simple purpose of sharing pleasure.
(Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada)
and say what you feel,
because those who mind don't matter.
and those who matter don't mind.
LOYAL ENGINEER'S 1997 PETITION OF.
RIGHT TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II.
1) The day I got my 1997 Guinness Book,
Of Worldly Records, for my name, Turmel, I had to look.
I noted on same page, Elizabeth, Your Majesty,
Holds record among ruling Queens for Your longevity.
Perhaps P. M. of India, Morarji "wise" Desai,
Who holds a record on next page for age at work most high,
Imparted to Your Majesty the secret of his youth,
A secret I have verified as nature's greatest truth.
2) Your Majesty may not recall that during '50s tour,
In Hamilton, a child on father's shoulder, waving sure.
Your Majesty may not recall on Parliament's front yard,
On Canada's Centennial, a Cameron in Your Guard.
But Majesty should not forget in 1983,
At patriation of our constitution meeting me,
My soldier's bonnet now a hard-hat for "The Engineer,"
My rifle now a pauper's picket sign with message clear:
3) "Abolish Interest," reporters saw on Regal lips,
Which made well worth the effort of nine different picket trips.
I bring you joyful news of abolition in your realm,
Of usury but soon we'll need Your guidance at the helm.
Within Your Commonwealth have risen systems LETS of hope,
So paupers of Your Commonwealth with unemployment cope.
Parliamentary member in Australia, Maggie Deahm,
Said LETS is helping needy trade employment like a dream.
4) Four hundred branches serving fifty thousand Brits to date,
With branches new developing with funding from the State!
Two hundred in Australia where legislation passed,
Exempted needy from the tax on income LETS amassed.
With Councils offered Green, there is no need for funds to hunt,
Laws passed allowing councils to accept Green tax up front.
Within New Zealand are a hundred LETS to save the day,
With dozens more in Canada to pave the better way.
5) At end of 1994, six hundred LETS around,
At end of 1995, twelve hundred LETS abound.
Two thousand and five hundred at the end of '96,
It's doubling yearly exponentially, the world to fix.
Your subjets who have joined the barter LETS make accolade:
"The trade of goods and services more easily is made.
The program that is used to track our "trading work" accounts,
Is known around the world as LETS . To barter it amounts.
6) "Local Employment Trading System" is the name it got,
To run the banks' computers right, a way once vainly sought.
Greendollars are the currency used in a LETS account,
Without the interest that forces growth of due amount.
A member who is spending may go negative at will,
A positive goes to the one who makes use of his skill.
And though we use no money, we have found a way to trade,
A giant step in the reform of money has been made.
7) A butcher bought some pastry at the bakery one day,
And called the LETS exchange recorder. He was heard to say:
"Please debit 20 dollars Green from my account for cake.
A credit to account of baker , you, in Green, should make.
The baker took his family to the restaurant one night,
And called the LETS exchange recorder and was heard to cite:
"Please debit 20 dollars Green from my account for meal,
And credit the account of restauranteur in this deal."
8) The restauranteur, needing meat, had Green with which to buy,
And called the LETS exchange recorder to so testify:
"Please debit 20 dollars Green from my account for meat.
To read the balance of this verse and the remaining 20 (of 28) verses of Turmel's poem,