I continuously realize that very few people are aware of the full Community Model I am piecing together. The Local Exchange system is only one aspect of the whole, although it is the cornerstone. I just want to say a few things about the whole picture. This is an individual effort. It will serve the region where need for cohesive and organized solutions for our prosperity and sustainability are obvious.

Sustaining Community

Surrounding the exchange system is an entire community sustainability model, similar to “Transition Town”. A difference: this model provides a holding container for all models to sit upon and thereby become more viable.

Sustaining Community Technologies

OurNexChange local online exchange system

The exchange system model I am developing, along with the guidance of those in the field who are quite well studied in all the globally developed community currency systems, is a next evolvement based on the economic study of the strengths and weaknesses learned from those systems. If the OurNexChange is to be successful, it must certainly take care.

Sustaining Community Integrates and Supports other models

This system is designed to collaborate and integrate with other complementary and enhancing models when the models and the people developing them meet the mission and the vision and certain standards of group social/emotional technology are met. Any models that develop which fall outside of those parameters will still be completely supported by the system as it is designed to be a container for all sustainable efforts as well as other types of systems. Example: Heart Circles is becoming integrated, as that system will help us in the goal of highly functional groups. Such systems as Transition Town may be  models which have a container in this system, if they so choose, although not quite”integrated”. Other complementary currencies can also have their own representation within the system. By being held within the structure, visibility, communication, and a connected website become available.

It will be up to champions of these other models to come to the system and study it to find their place in it. There will be people in the Sustaining Community developing groups who are aware of what’s going on out there. If something appears important to foster community sustainability, then we will extend ourselves.

A Peek into the future of Associated Organizations of Sustainable Community

A visual sense of the overall dynamic model (in progress and will always be):

The goal of this emerging system “Sustaining Community” is a self-sustaining system of robust stability over time and increased economic and community health potential for everyone involved. The core of it, the alternative exchange system, is community shared, working within the structure. The associated organizations function as any  organization member of OurNexChange who find volunteers within the system and  encourage them to participate by issuing time dollar units.

The Sustaining Community organizations have guidance and guardianship roles, may operate independently; external to the core, populated by community members forming Community Companies whose services are available as a regular commercial company.

Many of the elements are already in existence and merely require the framework to integrate them. The OurNexChange is the element we are currently exerting most of our energy to bring out in order to help restablize our economic environment. Funds are needed to roll this out quickly and substantially.