How It Works

Start by joining the Community
Exchange System (CES), a platform for digital currency (“time
banking”), which can be traded instead of US dollars. This facilitates
bartering, and provides a way to support each other when the jobs get
cut.  It’s free, it’s easy, and it helps you save a lot of money!

As people contribute to the RING network, they “bank” currency in the
CES. This can be pulled from for basic needs if they lose their job or
other income.

Start here: Join your
local CES

Once you join a CES, you can help build community and resilience by
joining or organizing one-time events. For example: swap meets, repair
cafes, musical events, BBQ’s in the park… the list goes on!

If you have time, you are invited to join a neighborhood RING. 
Rings are small groups of people who live hear each other and look out
for each other carefully, while also learning practical skills. Each
neighborhood RING provides for themselves, prepares
for the future, and protects each other. If there is a
disaster, the RING checks in with each other to make sure everyone is
OK.  You do not have to join a Neighborhood RING to participate
in the network; however, it’s a great way to get to build deeper
relationships with your neighbors, which you may need to call on in
the future.

Each Neighborhood RING will have at least 5 people:

• Coordinator: Helps facilitate the meetings.
  Organizes logistics, scheduling, transportation, etc.
• Food Manager: Runs a garden, finds and
  distributes food, and plans and prepares meals.
• Builder: Repairs homes, machines, cars. Plans and
  executes building projects. (For example, garden beds, etc.)
• Material Resources Manager: Shops, scavenges, and
  scours, to find free or cheap items the group needs.
• Nurturer: Monitors the mental and phyiscal health
  of the group. Helps find childcare, healthcare, and pet care.

Do you need to be a specialist in one of the 5 areas to join a
RING?  No!  The beauty of it is that you will learn
as you go.  Pick an area you are interested in, and we
will provide resources to help you you learn about that topic
throughout the year. Not only will you learn incredibly valuable
skills, you will be “paid” (in timebank / CES hours) to do so! 
Win-win!

Each RING needs all five roles filled.  More than one
person can (and probably should) fill each role. But you need at least
one person in each role.  That said, everyone does a little
of everything. Even though some people specialize in their
knowledge, we all help with all the projects.

Every week the RING meets in someone’s home for a potluck meal. They
begin with a structured set of questions and discussion points. After
eating and cleaning up, everyone then works on projects together. Each
weekly meeting should take about 2 hours. Members are “paid” for their
time using the CES.

Step 2: Join
a Neighborhood RING (click here)

The small neighborhood RINGs are powerful. However, some problems
cannot be addressed at such a small scale, so we also need RING
networks that cover districts, cities, and states. As more and more
people join RINGs, regional connections will be formed.

City/District/State RINGs:

District / City / State RING networks provide the following services:

• Place interested newcomers into neighborhood RINGs.
• Offer community swap meets, concerts, repair events, workshops…
  and any other helpful / fun events that will support everyone in the
  network.
• Coordinate Neighborhood RINGs, if needed
• Keep materials on hand, to give to neighbors in need
• Run a lending library, for neighbors to pool resources and share
  supplies
• Run community gardens and farms
• Connect people with professional services, when access is
  otherwise impossible

• Run the CES  (including transparent accounting)

The RING network is not yet large enough to have these services, but
we are working towards it!

Getting started is easy! You can participate at any level you are
comfortable with.

• Start
  by joining your state’s CES. Make a few posts, trade
  some services, and see how it goes.
• Build community spirit by attending or hosting a one-time
  event!  Contact your CES administrator if you have an
  idea for a fun community event. This could be a musical
  event, a game night, a repair cafe… there are tons of options!
• After a bit of time, you can attend a local meeting near
  you to see how the Neighborhood RINGs work. (Contact
  us to find one.)
• If you like the meeting format, feel free to join
  a Neighborhood RING. If it’s not your cup of tea,
  that’s fine. You can still help your neighbors by participating in
  the CES, and attending or hosting local events.

Philosophy behind
RINGs Benefits
to you How
to Participate FAQ’s
& Contact