[Forum] Berkshares?

[Joshua Field]

The current thread is an excellent discussion and I do not want to 
sidetrack it, but just curious if any of the artists/organizations on 
this list have considered participating in the Berkshares program. It 
seems like just the sort of counterculture activity that would interest 
a group of artists working to find economic alternatives and new ways to 
reach audiences (this was recently featured on ABC World News!):

http://www.berkshares.org/index.htm

If folks are interested (and this is an example of the interesting 
exposure opportunities that come through simply coordinating), it might 
make sense to join as a large group in order to make it press-worthy.

*What are BerkShares?*

BerkShares are a local currency designed for use in the Southern 
Berkshire region of Massachusetts with issue by BerkShares, Inc., a 
non-profit organization working in collaboration with the Southern 
Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, participating local banks, local 
businesses, and local non-profit organizations.

The purpose of a local currency is to function on a local scale the same 
way that national currencies have functioned on a national 
scale—building the local economy by maximizing circulation of trade 
within a defined region. Widely used in the early 1900s, local 
currencies are again being recognized as a tool for sustainable economic 
development. The currency distinguishes the local businesses that accept 
the currency from those that do not, building stronger relationships and 
a greater affinity between the business community and the citizens of a 
particular place.

The people who choose to use the currency make a conscious commitment to 
buy local first. They are taking personal responsibility for the health 
and well-being of their community by laying the foundation of a truly 
vibrant, thriving local economy.

BerkShares will not, and are not intended to, replace federal currency. 
Their use will help strengthen the regional economy, favoring locally 
owned enterprises, local manufacturing, and local jobs, and reducing the 
region's dependence on an unpredictable global economy.

-- 

// www.joshuafield.com
// joshua at joshuafield.com
// +1 [413] 329-4789
// 121 Union Street, Studio 1E
// North Adams, MA 01247 USA