Where to Start

Please don't let my silence be an indication of the level of excitement for this project. I'm a thinker and then a doer but am still on first step!

Oh so good to hear from you Kerry. Thanks.

Truth is I'm here with you here on the first step. lol Never having done strategic marketing (?) this is all new to me as well. Actually I am on the staring line and haven't taken that first step. I'm trying to understand what is a fitting title. Does strategic marketing of Time Out Alliances encompass what our project is about. Maybe Google can point the way.

Thanks again for keeping topic conversation going?

Hello,
I am finally catching up with my commitments towards building a successful Timebank with Kerry. Lots to learn with you Tony.

:-) Hey Ash great to hear from you. I sure that I will be learning from you as well. do you have thoughts about how to embed Time Banking into the culture of a local community or town? I'm thinking of methods that may be done after a time bank is established and operating all be it just started is no problem.

All the best in 2015

Culture, according to me, has always been... 'this is how we do things'. Even a good change is resisted by default. How to breakthrough then?

I would try to identify a small part of the existing culture that has sharing imbibed in it and start from there. and then let the cultural mix and acceptance help the whole idea of Time banking evolve.

Excellent suggestion, thanks. I love your description.

A new thought just crossed my mind. A big mistake people make is when they follow the mentality 'Build and they will come'. It almost never works that way.

A better way to do it is to Build after you have a compelling reason to organize such a platform for people who have gathered and acknowledge the need.

What do you feel about this?

Hm, there are several if not more premises to think about in your idea to "Build after". What comes to mind is build with people, not for and not to them. The idea is to practice what we preach, walk the talk, simply think and do Co-Production.

It's worth noting the call for this very group "to develop a strategy to market or advertise, the creation and branding of an Alliance or Network of Time Out venues." went out to over 600 timebank program coordinators and yet ONLY four (4) individuals responded.

So what are we to make of this low response for participation?

A very nice question...

The answer might be....

"I don't have time for this!"

Because they don't see the value or significance or need for such a forum.

Good point, people are very busy yes, and don't see or appreciate the importance of a mutual support network system.

Seems that we are back to the beginning question? lol