With a focus on equality and community building, the Dane County TimeBank strives to encourage all members' strengths and involvement. TimeBank leaders (both members and staff) take great care in matching individuals for the success and benefit of all involved in each exchange. We believe through these exchanges members build positive relationships and we broaden support networks within the community. Things that may not be as accessible due to financial situations, insurance, qualifying factors, etc. become accessible to everyone through timebanking.

A Kitchen Cabinet is a neighborhood steering team for the Dane County TimeBank.  This is an informal group which may or may not hold elections. Some Kitchen Cabinets form from all the willing participants in a neighborhood who serve until they are no longer able and find their own replacements. This group is responsible for outreach and other member contact in order to keep TimeBank exchanges flowing and healthy in their neighborhood. This may involve: identifying people and organizations who would bring needed skill sets, needs or diversity to the TimeBank; organizing events to maintain a sense of community and neighborhood feel; staying in contact with members to help in making matches and checking on quality of exchanges; anything else you can imagine that would make the TimeBank more rewarding for all concerned.

Common Kitchen Cabinet Roles

You don't need a separate person for each role:

·Matchmaker - Helps connect members with others who can meet their needs or use their assets. This more often pertains to members who do not use computers. But members with computer access sometimes need help finding the right match.

·Facilitator - Runs the meetings. Often plans the time and agenda, too.

·Note taker - Takes and posts notes from meetings.

·Outreach - Liaison to Outreach Action Team.  Promotes neighborhood events and TimeBank awareness.

·Coordinator - Signs up new members (after being trained by TimeBank staff) answers questions, lets the Kitchen Cabinet know where and when to meet

·Phoner - Responsible for making sure offline members (and online too when there's time) get calls letting them know about important Timebank events, etc. This person can delegate the phoning to other members.

·Event planner - Plans local outreach events and/or communicates needs and helps the Event Action Team

·Resource Scout - Liaison to resource development Action Team.  Looks for resources in neighborhood including hard goods, new skill sets to recruit, free or cheap space, etc.

·Store Liaison - Promotes awareness about Maxine's the TimeBank store, soliciting and moving donations.

Kitchen Cabinet activities ebb and flow. Sometimes there's a pressing project to work on in a neighborhood, or TimeBank needs that aren't being met. That's a good time for a Kitchen Cabinet to spring into action. But if things are quiet, TimeBank exchanges are flowing smoothly, or Kitchen Cabinet members are simply burned out, it's OK to take a break. TimeBank staff can also help recruit new members if there's work to do but not enough people to do it.

A neighborhood doesn't HAVE to have a Kitchen Cabinet in order to have lots of successful timebank exchanges but it helps!

Assets
We are all assets.  Every human being has something to contribute.

Redefining Work
Some work is beyond price.  Work has to be redefined to value whatever it takes to raise healthy children, build strong families, revitalize neighborhoods, make democracy work, advance social justice, and make the planet sustainable. That kind of work needs to be honored, recorded and rewarded.

Reciprocity
Helping works better as a two-way street.  The question: “How can I help you?” needs to change so we ask: “How can we help each other build the world we both will live in?”

Social Networks
We need each other.  Networks are stronger than individuals. People helping each other reweave communities of support, strength & trust. Community is built upon sinking roots, building trust, creating networks. Special relationships are built on commitment.

Respect
Every human being matters.   Respect underlies freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and everything we value. Respect supplies the heart and soul of democracy. When respect is denied to anyone, we all are injured. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.