CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Time banks are part of a growing phenomenon, not just here in the United States, but all over the world.

They generally incorporate specialized software for members to post their service requests and offers, and to keep track of the time each member has invested in helping others.

This, however, is the least interesting part of the story.

Time banks allow their members to trade their time for the important services they need, in a democratic venue where each members time has the same value as all other members.

It can work like this: The talented self trained seamstress offers mending services to the community. A local electrician and a bookkeeper arrange with another time bank member to have their mending dropped off and picked up.

The seamstress then spends her banked mending hours to have her fence repaired, while the person doing the deliveries uses her time for a foot reflexology session.

While the exchanges themselves are valuable to the participants, other values are growing too.  

People begin to see themselves and their skills as valuable, they begin to rebuild the self confidence that our flagging economy has thwarted, and their personal networks and friendships grow – all through time banking.

You are invited to learn more at the Time Bank of Lake County's free orientation on Wednesday, April 25, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

Participants will learn more about time banking and how to sign up, meet current time bank members, have an opportunity to ask questions and get an introduction to the time bank software.

If you are unable to attend visit the group's Web site for more information, http://timebanklakeco.com/ .