Winter Virtual Socials
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The Silver Spring Timebank began 2023 with two Virtual Socials on the theme of Beginnings.
January 2023 SSTB Virtual Social
A diverse but harmonious group of 16 current and prospective members met on January 8th, 2023 for a New Year's planning session. Our gracious host Madeline Caliendo and capable organizer Laura Kranis created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, physical distance notwithstanding. This was an excellent opportunity to welcome the new year by taking a couple of hours to breathe in, introspect, share thoughts, and plan a fruitful year ahead.
The meeting started with introductions and sharing our experience with the timebank, what skills we are looking to share, and what kind of help we are looking for. Participants then found a few potential and exciting exchanges with one another.
Madeline then led the group through a relaxing and centering body-scanning meditation that promoted present focus, tranquility, positivity, and gratitude. After the meditation, everyone had a chance to share their favorite New Year's ritual.
Then Madeline used several questions from author Caroline Myss to gently guide participants into a self-assessment of the previous year and a goal-setting session for 2023. Madeline also touched on the topic of "vision boarding" -- how she goes about constructing vision boards, what she includes on them, what inspires her, and how everyone can use vision boards as a self-development and goal-reaching tool.
The group closed out the session with a discussion on a range of topics such as unusual timebank exchanges, inter-trading, and even tool libraries. The dynamic felt as comfortable as a gathering of family and friends, and we all thanked Madeline, our host, with smiles on our faces.
February 2023 SSTB Virtual Social
Despite the capricious weather throughout the DMV at this time of year, there is something we can rely on, and that is the beloved Silver Spring Timebank social. Ten ladies gathered on zoom on February 26 from 4 - 6 pm to exchange tips and tricks and encourage each other to prepare for the fast-approaching spring season with a good Spring Cleaning. As is often the case, most participants at the social were timebank members, and those who weren’t members were intrigued by timebanking and glad to learn more.
Similar to other Silver Spring Timebank socials, this one had a definite theme and was guided by a timebank member with expertise in the field. This social was led by Carrie Noel-Nosbaum of “Carrie it Away." Carrie has been a member of the Silver Spring Timebank since 2016 and a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals since 2021.
Carrie started the first half of the meeting (the Presentation section) in a fresh and interactive way: Participants were invited to answer icebreaker questions about Spring Cleaning. It turned out most participants had tried their hand at spring cleaning with varying degrees of success and reliability. The rest of the first hour was dedicated to a well-structured method for carrying out spring cleaning in an efficient way.
Carrie unfolded her favorite method while allowing participants to chime in with their tips and secrets. Her method is as easy as 1 , 2 , 3: make a plan, execute it, celebrate. Carrie did a wonderful job of explaining creating "S.M.A.R.T. goals," especially as this method pertains to spring cleaning, decluttering, and freshening up one's living space. She taught participants the steps to planning two levels of cleaning/organizing: basic and deep cleaning -- as well as planning how the progress can be maintained once achieved. She went through the details and steps for planning each level of cleaning for optimum success.
The section on Planning was very useful, but the next section on Execution was a godsend. It was filled with actionable steps, advice for including support, accountability partners, and expert help as needed. Most importantly, Carrie beautifully articulated the need to Celebrate Success. It was the most vivacious portion of the meeting: Everyone got to share their favorite way to celebrate success.
Participants had the chance to ask questions or ask for Carrie’s advice and guidance before she ended the Presentation portion of the social with a few questions that urged everyone to think about the takeaways from the meeting as well as how they might help one another through the timebank.
In the second hour of the social, Carrie led participants through practical steps of practicing the lessons learned. She answered questions and gave guidance while everyone had the chance to apply Carrie’s secrets and get their own decluttering, organizing, and spring cleaning done while still chatting over zoom. Participants left the meeting with new knowledge, resources, and a sense of satisfaction at having begun the process.
Thank you to SSTB member Brikena Kay, for reporting on these Virtual Socials! Brikena earned timebank hours for her efforts. You, too, can help your timebank and earn hours for doing it. Please write to silverspringtimebank@gmail.com to discuss which needed tasks are a great fit for you!