FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Scroll down to find the answers to the questions below:
1. Who Can Join Hour Power?
2. Can Youth Join?
3. Can Organizations and Businesses Join?
4. Is Membership a Big Time Commitment?
5. How Do Community Credits Work?
6. What Can I do With My Community Credits?
7. Is it Okay if I go into "Debt"?
8. How do Bonus Hours Work?
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1. Who Can Join Hour Power?
Anyone can join Hour Power, no matter their age or abilities!
2. Can Youth Join?
Yes, youth can join in the following ways:
- Youth under the age of 14: Can only exchange through a shared account with their parent/guardian. Parent/guardian is asked to indicate youth’s membership in their online membership profile and on the Member Agreement and Registration Form. Guardian Angel Mode* is not activated for these accounts unless requested by parent/guardian.
- Youth ages 14-17: Can have their own account. Youth ages 14-17 may provide their email address in their member profile, but no other personal information. Youth ages 14-17 must sign his/her own Member Agreement and Registration Form. The Youth Participation Form must also be completed. Guardian Angel Mode* is activated for these accounts.
- *Guardian Angel Mode (GAM): Allows the Hour Power Coordinator to view the conversations that a GAM member participates in. The Coordinator is also alerted to certain online actions that a GAM member may make e.g. place an ad, reply to a conversation, record hours, and so on. This helps the Coordinator manage and oversee members who are minors.
3. Can Organizations and Businesses Join?
Yes, organizations and businesses can join in the following way:
- Organizations/businesses can join Hour Power. This is a great way to gain assistance with tasks where volunteer help is needed.
- Organizations/businesses can give back to the Hour Power network by volunteering in-kind donations, providing space for events, monetary donations, or providing services your organization/business can offer.
- E.g. photocopies, computer assistance, printing, and so on.
- Hour Power asks organizations/businesses to understand that its members provide services to the best of their abilities.
- Organizations/businesses are required to provide all relevant information concerning organization/business credentials and employee skills upon request by Hour Power members.
4. Is Membership a Big Time Commitment?
Time banking is as much of a commitment as you want it to be! You can exchange as often as you'd like. We do ask that members make an effort to participate in at least 3 exchanges per year.
5. How Do Community Credits Work?
- Hour Power members acquire one Community Credit for every hour they provide a service to another Hour Power member. Acquired Community Credits can be spent on services offered by other Hour Power members.
- Logging acquired and spent Community Credits is done by you, yourself, in your Time Bank account.
- For assistance on how to log credits, please reference the Community Weaver or contact the Hour Power Coordinator.
- You can Sign In to your Hour Power Account on this website by clicking the red “Sign In” link on the right side of the screen
6. What Can I Do With My Community Credits?
- Spend Community Credits on services provided to you by other Hour Power members.
- Donate if you have acquired Community Credits, but do not want to spend them on a service for yourself, you can donate Credits to other Time Bank members.
- To donate Credits, contact the Hour Power Coordinator to transfer Credits.
- Save up your Community Credits to spend them on a service you desire that may take a greater amount of time and/or members to complete.
- E.g. certain home repairs, making a quilt, and so on.
Members are asked to maintain as close to a zero balance of acquired and spent Community Credits as possible. However, this is not a requirement.
7. Is it Okay if I go into "Debt"?
Yes, going into debt with your Community Credits is fine. We ask that you continue to work toward getting back to a zero balance.
8. How Do Bonus Hours Work?
Hour Power members can acquire Bonus Hours in the following ways:
Refer a New Member
If you refer someone to Hour Power and they join, you get one Community Credit per referral.
Attending an Orientation with the Coordinator
Orientation is not required to join Hour Power. However, if you chose to attend an Orientation to learn more about Time Banking, the Community Weaver online system, and ask questions, you will receive one or two Community Credits. To arrange Orientation attendance, please contact the Hour Power Coordinator.
Putting a Picture in your Member Profile
If you put a picture in your member profile, you will receive one Community Credit. Your profile picture can be of yourself or another picture that you like – however, of course, if the picture is deemed inappropriate, it will be removed.
Become an Account Buddy
Account Buddies will be paired up with a fellow Hour Power member(s) who have difficulty gaining access to the internet. As an Account Buddy, you will access the account of the individual you are paired with to enter information and log exchanges for them. Each Account Buddy will receive two Community Credits per month for their tremendous help! There is an Account Buddy Confidentiality and Expectation Agreement Form that must be filled out.