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Flagstaff's
new currency is catching on
By Lisa
Rayner - FNN Director
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In
over 2,500 towns and cities around the world, people are
improving their local quality of life by starting their own
community trading system. Here in Flagstaff, Flagstaff Tea
Party sponsors the Flagstaff Neighborly Notes community
currency.
The
Notes are based on the Ithaca HOURS community currency.
Flagstaff Neighborly Notes were designed by me and Photoshop
whiz Michael French. Eliza Walbridge and Rob Heller drew
Buffalo Park, Dry Lake, Platt Cline and Wilson and Louise
Riles - images that appear on the Notes.
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The
Notes were printed at Aspen Printing on Aug. 31, 2000.
The next day, they were mailed to the first people who
had signed up to accept them. As of Nov. 26, over $1,400
worth of Flagstaff Neighborly Notes are in circulation
in Flagstaff. There are 80 listings for goods and
services that can be bought with the Notes.
Flagstaff
Neighborly Notes strengthen our local economy, making
Flagstaff less vulnerable to outside economic dominance
and instability. The Notes circulate within the
Flagstaff area and are accepted by locally owned
businesses, creating an incentive for people to shop at
local businesses rather than at chains.
Flagstaff
Neighborly Notes promote regional ecological
sustainability. Locally produced goods do not need to be
transported long distances. Furthermore, locally created
products are less likely to cause ecological harm than
products shipped in from far-away places where
environmental laws may be minimal. We have more
influence over local business owners and can hold them
accountable for their actions. |
Louise Hall of Aspen
Printing is shown cutting Flagstaff Neighborly Notes
from large sheets
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Flagstaff
Neighborly Notes also improve our local quality of life. They
facilitate creative use of abundant local talent. They enable
more people to earn a living doing what they really want to
do. Everyone can participate - retirees, teenagers,
homemakers, hobbyists, business owners, those who want to work
for themselves in addition to their "regular" job.
The
HOUR Town Ithaca HOURS newspaper says, "We are rich when
we hire each other. We're paid more than money. When we shop
locally we get more control over jobs and prices, more control
over food quality, more control over environmental effects and
labor conditions. We start new businesses and create more jobs
for kids, parents and retirees. We feel prouder for getting
paid to use our skills and hobbies. We export more goods, keep
wealth local, and set good examples for other cities. We
increase friendly trade and can meet new friends."
Prescott
has the High Desert Dollars community currency. HDDs come in
1-, 5-, 10- and 20-dollar denominations. They are not assigned
a time-value like Flagstaff Neighborly Notes. The HDD Trading
Times directory publishes the listings of community residents
who accept HDDs.
HDDs
and FNNs are mutually exchangeable. Flagstaff Neighborly Notes
may be spent at businesses that accept High Desert Dollars and
High Desert Dollars may be traded here in Flagstaff at places
that accept FNNs. This cooperative alliance will greatly
enhance Flagstaff's and Prescott's ability to develop greater
regional self-reliance.
For
more information on High Desert Dollars, contact the Central
Arizona Mutual Credit Association, P.O. Box 54, Prescott, AZ
86302-0054.
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