Winter Socials

As the end of Winter 2024 neared, the Silver Spring Timebank offered two more socials, including our first in-person event in a very long time. The socials attracted many plant lovers and book lovers.

House Plant Swap in February

Freepik

Spring was starting to tease us by the end of February, but it was still too far away for outdoor planting, and some of us were getting tired of looking at the same house plants. So the invitation for a plant swap went out. Some dozen timebank members, and a few potential members, gathered at Mary Liepold’s house on Sunday, February 25, to share shoots and cuttings and indoor growing expertise.

We had a real expert in our midst: long-time timebank member Kathy Jentz, author, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine and several other publications, and president of the Silver Spring Garden Club. Others contributed from their own experience, and conversation flowed.

Two people brought mixed-plant baskets of the sort florists provide, in which plants had outgrown their space and were ready for independent living. The rest just had too many specimens of one thing and were looking for variety. Participants dropped their offerings onto the large table Mary provided and took turns choosing what to take home. After half a dozen rounds, everyone left with new green friends--and more human friends as well. Several people suggested they’d like to do it all again. But first, let’s welcome spring!

Book Lovers Unite! in March

At Book Lovers Unite! we learned how different book groups are run, and we picked up lots of ideas for “my next read”!

Fourteen people attended, and Anita Morrison and Tina Slater were co-hosts. Individuals shared the various genres they enjoy --- young adult, archaeology, mysteries, police procedurals, male-male romance, Scottish crime novels, historical fiction, science, historical culture.

It was intriguing to hear the variety of ways different book groups are organized! Some meet seasonally (4 times a year); others choose a book and divide it into four sections, then meet weekly to discuss each section (sort of like a college class).  Other groups collect book suggestions over the year, then at their end-of-year meeting they vote on the books they’ll read the next year.  One group is made up of members of a professional society who gather to read subject matter books, but include lighter reading material as well.  Anita and Tina’s book group (its been meeting more than 30 years) has yet another format and just two rules:  1) whomever hosts the meeting gets to choose the book (no arguing!!) and 2) there must be sufficient copies available on the library shelves (or library ebooks/eaudio) so that no one has put a hold on the book or go out and buy it.

At the social, we came up with a list of favorite reads, which was typed up and shared with the group.  If anyone else wants to see it, we’re happy to share.  Happy reading!!

Both Mary Liepold and Tina Slater earned timebank hours for hosting the socials in February and March. There are so many ways that timebank members can support the timebank -- and earn hours while doing so -- including helping organize events, writing articles (such as this one), helping with the timebank website and newsletter, and helping new members learn about the hOurworld timebanking platform and arrange their first exchanges. Please write to silverspringtimebank@gmail.com  to discuss how you may support the timebank with your time, knowledge, and talents.