Constantin Gurdgiev

Privjet! I'm Constantin.  I'm glad to be a member and supporter of the Clonakilty Favour Exchange. When I'm in West Cork I love to fish. Skills to Trade Fishing advice given and gratefully received. Qualifications and experience Economist and lecturer in finance, but plenty of fishing experience too whenever I have time. Contact details  @GTCost (on twitter)

Bill Liao

Hi I’m Bill.  I am the CFE Giving Officer, coordinating voluntary community projects on behalf of the membership. Skills to Exchange Organising community projects and helping hand Qualifications and experience Social networking pioneer   Contact details clonfavour@gmail.com

Sunday Times Think Tank

Sunday Times Sunday Think Tank Column 29th April 2012

Necessity is the mother of invention, as the old saying goes. Let’s face it, times are increasingly difficult for most people. But we’re not as dependent or helpless in the face of economic hardship as it might seem. Local Exchange and Trading Schemes, or LETS as they are known, are not new. LETS are moneyless exchange systems of goods and services that have been around for about 30 years, based on the ancient system of barter – a commodities exchange system that does not involve money.

 In recent times, schemes known as Time Banks have evolved - more popular in the US and the UK than elsewhere. These are exchange schemes into which people contribute labour and skill to their community and bank the time given as an insurance policy for old age, for instance. A comparable scheme is ‘Freeeconomy’ founded by ‘The Moneyless Man’ author, Mark Boyle - members contribute without any expectation of exchange. The giving and receiving is expected to balance out over time.

In Clonakilty we’ve come up with a slightly new and more immediate twist on Time Banks and LETS schemes: the Favour Exchange. Since it started just under two months ago The Clonakilty Favour Exchange has attracted much interest locally and nationally. Administered centrally via its website, CFE now has approaching 60 members actively engaged in exchanging skills and labour on a goodwill basis. The scheme has its own currency known as The Favour - the equivalent of 15minutes of time. Direct exchanging is not necessary – once you are a registered member any favours you give can be redeemed from any other member for any skill that is on offer.

The exact balance of your account is unimportant. Members start out with a credit limit of 100 favours – or 25 hours – and are encouraged to go into ‘debt’ immediately – asking for favours is the engine of the scheme because it is the best way of getting things going for everyone. CFE now has approximately 170 different skills on offer to its members – from help with pets, music lessons, gardening, energy efficiency, tax advice, a variety of therapies, and marketing – to transport, plumbing and careers guidance.

Following an interview on RTE Radio 1’s John Murray Show, enquiries arrived at CFE from all over the country and there is now also a Killarney Favour Exchange with other schemes planned for Limerick and Stillorgan. The theme which CFE has adopted to help promote itself is the ‘alternative economics of goodwill’. In response to the interest shown, CFE are holding a national workshop at the internationally renowned Kilkenomics economics festival in Kilkenny in November – organised and hosted by David McWilliams and others.

On Friday May 4th, the Clonakilty Favour Exchange will be launched formally in Clonakilty. The economist Constantin Gurdgiev will join CFE members on the day at their stall at the local farmers’ market to help spread the word - and also at a briefing for the press during the afternoon – and for tapas at Richy’s Bistro in the early evening! We are also delighted to have on board the internet entrepreneur Bill Liao who has joined the scheme as its Giving Officer. The founding principles of the scheme are that it should be an open and transparent network of goodwill, committed to community building and giving. Bill Liao will coordinate the membership’s ‘Help Squads’ to provide support for community projects – tidying and planting a common area perhaps, helping decorate a community centre – anything that the membership can offer voluntary support for. At heart, the Clonakilty Favour Exchange is about altruism – the real glue that binds healthy communities and societies. It’s also about sustainability and sound community economics albeit in a personal and informal way. It has been rewarding to be part of this scheme – socially, personally and practically – there’s a great buzz about it and an uplifting sense that many more things are possible than we’d become used to thinking. If our experience is anything to go by, we believe the country would benefit very significantly if there was such a scheme in every town.

Miriam Cotton is a founder member of the Clonakilty Favour Exchange.

Margo Fergusson

Hi, I’m Margo, I live in Clonakilty and I'm a qualified and experienced swimming coach. Skills to Trade I am a sports coach, specializing in teaching swimming.  I have 30 years experience of teaching adults, children, parent and child, one to one or small groups Qualifications and experience Fellow of the Institute of Swimming and Coaching UK Contact details margofergusson@hotmail.com 086 3116542

Louise Roseingrave

Hi, Louise here, recently moved to West Cork, and a freelance journalist Skills to Trade PR advice Yoga instruction Dog sitting Study Skills Lifts to and from Cork Qualifications and experience Qualified Yoga instructor Qualified teacher (English and History) Journalist with 7 years experience Contact details louiseroseingrave@gmail.com

CFE Book Club !

The next book club event will be a summer meeting with author Lane Ashfeldt.  This will be a great chance to meet an up and coming local author. 

 

  The book

'Saltwater' by Lane Ashfeldt

Reader reactions: SaltWater

“A superb collection of stories. Beautifully crafted. The sea laps at the pages from start to finish.” Danielle,  Amazon
“As Real as the Sea Lane Ashfeldt’s short story collection SaltWater embodies the sea that everywhere splashes about its digital pages – it is fresh, powerful and natural, with an ever present sense of danger. ‘You had to be ready for the sea because, if not, then the sea would be ready for you’.”  Alice Walsh, editor, The Bohemyth, Dublin
“I’ve been skiving off work & reading SaltWater this morning and what a pleasure it is. I love the startling changes of point of view in ‘The Boat Trip’ and then the way that story links to the title story, ‘SaltWater’. I like the big canvas Lane works on — both in terms of time and geographically.”  Vicky Grut, author, London
“A gorgeous collection by a bright talent.” Nuala Ní Chonchúir, author, Galway
“SaltWater made me homesick for West Cork, for the times I would kayak and sail around Roaringwater Bay, and the rest of it.” Clem Cairns, Fish Publishing
“Raw and Elegant.” Bookmunch, England



New members for the Book Club are always welcome. For further information email clonfavour at clonfavour@gmail.com

Enjoy the read !

Ann Dinneen

Hello, I'm Ann. I live in Clonakilty.  I think Favours is a great idea - a modern version of an old Irish custom when neighbours did 'favours' for each other without expecting payment.  I'm involved in writing, complementary therapies (retired now) including Nutrition and Bach Remedies. And, very interested - or rather concerned - about the water we drink. Skills to Trade Public speaking coaching i.e. best man, father/mother of the bride. Help with organising or publicising an event.  Listening ear over a nice cup of tea! Basic computer skills - e-mails, Skype, Internet research.  Help with form filling, typing and printing of letters - help with composing letters.  Lifts to airport.  Reading to someone. Qualifications and experience Area & Divisional Co-Ordinator of Toastmasters International. Advanced Communicator Award.  Diploma in Nutrition.  London Trained & Registered Reflexologist (retired but offering as a favour).  30 years experience of Bach Remedies (interview required before recommending) Contact details 023 88 35662 & 087 2751229 adinneen@hotmail.com

Patrick Gleeson

Hi, Patrick here.  I moved down from Wicklow.  I’ve a great personality and I specialise in energy work and gardening. Skills to Trade Landscaping Helping out in the garden Working with animals Reiki and energy work Qualifications and experience Worked in a nursery for 6 months Volunteer with Dog Sanctuary 2 years energy and Reiki work   Contact details 089 4545093 Paddygleeson8@gmail.com

Sumi Anwara Begum

Hi, I am called Sumi.  I am from Bangladesh and I came to live in Clonakilty 10 years ago. Skills to Trade I love to cook Indian food and can teach you how to cook Indian dishes or desserts or can cook a dinner for you.  I am also willing to help with any jobs around the house if you need a helping hand. Qualifications and experience Housekeeper and cook for many years!   Contact details 086 3738417

Marion O'Regan

Hi I’m Marion. I have lived in Clonakilty all my life and I love it. We all know each other and try to help each other as much as possible. Skills to Trade I was taught knitting and darning by my mother and would like to pass it on.  If any body needs anything darned or would like me to knit baby clothes, hats, children’s outfits – you name it – just give me a call. Qualifications and experience Knitted all my life Contact details 085 2306491

Deborah Ni Chaoimhe

Hi, My name is Deborah. I have worked as a community artist for 15 years and as a result have various arty skills like mask/costume making, face painting, singing, drumming, sculpture, felt making, ceramics etc... I am happy to turn my hand to any creative projects! Skills to Trade Introduction to any of the following felt, ceramics, mosaics, singing, drumming, crochet or face painting. Qualifications and experience Degree in Fine Art and 15 years working with oodles of community groups! Contact details deb@camusfarm.ie

CFE Launch invitation to Press

County Cork leads the way again!

Clonakilty Favour Exchange Official Launch - Press Conference, Friday May 4th, 3pm O' Donovan's Hotel, Clonakilty

You may have seen reports in the media about the Clonakilty Favour Exchange in recent weeks.  This is a new project in the region which has attracted tremendous support and interest, locally and nationally.

Constantin Gurdgiev

Our website is here with full information : http://www.clonfavour.com/p/cfe-in-news.html

CFE is intended to be a positive response to present difficulties - a means by which people in the area can help one another by a free exchange of labour and skill.  Goodwill is the only requirement for membership.  Following an interview on RTE Radio1 the idea looks set to take off nationally - there's another Favour Exchange in Killarney and others due to start up elsewhere.  Internet entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Liao has also joined the Exchange as its Giving Officer and CFE will be holding a national workshop in Kilkenny later in the year.

We are holding our official launch on Friday the 4th of May. The day's events include:

Information stall at the weekly Friday market 12-2.00 - with singing by AcapellaBella at 1.00pm

Press conference at O' Donovans Hotel at 3pm with economist Constantin Gurdgiev who is travelling from Dublin to support our theme: the alternative economics of goodwill.

Tapas at Richys Bistro from 5pm

We hope that you will be available to cover this event.  If not, I will be glad to speak to a reporter and to forward any information that might helpful.

Yours sincerely

Miriam Cotton

089 4352675