Salisbury Local Exchange Trading System (SLSALETS)
c/- Jack Young Centre Orange Avenue Salisbury SA 5108
Ph Dorothy: 8250 8474 or Email Dorothy:
billytea1@tadaust.org.au

 

SLSA LETS May 07 Newsletter

THE FUTURE OF LETS,

YET AGAIN TIMES ARE A CHANGING!


In our November 2006 newsletter I told you about the new online database (CES - Community Exchange System – www.ces.org.za) Salisbury, North East and SIS LETS groups had adopted. The system continues to be very successful with members agreeing that it is extremely user friendly. Thanks to Cecilia our Web Manager who has put a link to CES from our Australian site
www.interletssa.info.
At the Salisbury LETS Workshop on 19/5/07 there was a power point demonstration on how to use the CES online trading system. This was timed to correspond with the first market where on completion, members would be responsible for entering their own trades. Lots of questions were asked and answered.
Members were advised that the Co-ordinators for each of the groups would be retiring at the end of their terms and that it would be up to members to step up and “share the load” if LETS groups were to survive. Very positive discussions took place regarding the future direction of our group with everyone present agreeing that LETS not only offered them market "activity" and an opportunity for their offerings and wants but that it was a “community” that had often brought them new friendships and that they enjoyed and valued the system and did not want to see it stop.
As a Panel Meeting followed this market, the information from the workshop discussions carried over into our meeting. We feel that to survive and grow we need to abandon a lot of the old ways of LETS. Hence, a decision was made by North East and Salisbury to scrap their annual subscriptions. When someone registers and is approved, he or she is a registered user for life.



Trading: Everyone will be responsible for their own accounts (just as they are in the conventional economy) and if a user does not have access to a computer then they can approach the Co-ordinator or a LETS member who is willing to undertake the entering of their trades/offers/wants for a unit charge.
Newsletters: Through the CES database the facility exists for our newsletters to be put online, so in order to save precious resources (paper, postage, etc) and labour (photocopying, preparing the mail outs, etc) newsletters will appear online from the next newsletter.
Resource Guides: Offers and wants can appear online and it will be up to members to enter this information or pay (units) to the Co-ordinator or a member to enter the information. Members are reminded to check the offers and wants of the other groups.
Buddy System: One suggestion is that members who do not wish (for whatever reason) to be involved with the online facilities of CES, link up with a “buddy” - a person who is willing to print off their Trading Statement, newsletter, etc from the site and forward it to them. A member could provide a supply of stamped, addressed envelopes for posting and come to an agreed $ amount for ink and paper and an agreed unit amount for labour.
Markets: Discussion took place as to the future of markets as they currently exist. It is recognised that it is the same members who take responsibility for setting up the space, morning tea, lunch (NE), post-market clean up, etc. NE will be calling for different members to put their hands up to run markets and that person (or team) will be responsible for sending out notification. One of the easiest ways for this notification will be via the InterLets email list. A “how to join Interlets email group” is advertised in each of our newsletters. A joint market for Salisbury and North East is currently being investigated. A number of members attend each group's markets and with so many people being “time poor”, perhaps a joint market is the way to go.



Levy: Salisbury and North East groups reaffirmed that for us to be sustainable the 2% levy on trades for both the buyer and the seller (which was activated a number of months ago) should remain in place. We need to raise (units) revenue for administering the groups so that when tasks are undertaken members are able to be paid for their services.
We appreciate that for many, these are indeed very big changes and that they will not get the approval of all members.. However they are changes that need to be made for the workload to be distributed in a more equitable way and to keep to a minimum our need to use resources (stationery, postage) which in turn will enable us to cease charging an annual subscription.
If you are a member who wishes to assist others with using the online database (entering trades, offers, wants, etc.) I ask that you register this information as an “offer” on the online database but I'd also appreciate you letting me know of your desire to assist. In future newsletters we hope to publish a list of Salisbury members willing to assist others with database entries.
LET'S .... not forget the importance of learning new skills. LET'S ... continue to be positive about our direction by grabbing the ball and running with it. Many members have computer skills to share and are able to offer them for units. There are also many free computer facilities and training available at libraries. It is possible to obtain a free email address and the training available at libraries should be able to help you with this. Remember the old saying “if you don't ask you don't get”!!
As all future communications will be occurring either via the CES system or email - could you please update your personal details in CES, especially if you have an email address (see instructions inside this newsletter).
Our world is changing before our very eyes with global warming, peak oil, the need for us to conserve resources and rethink the way in which we live. Our society however has never had a higher credit card burden, consumed more or been more affluent. It has never been more important to see our LETS community grow and prosper, to enable us to share our coping skills and teach others to rethink the way our society works: to think about “less is more”.
If after reading and digesting this information, you have thoughts on the changes that are taking place, ways in which you think we can improve or if you simply need help with the new system then I am only an email or a phone call away.

Lastly I would like to say thank you to all those members who have supported the new system and to those who attended Saturday's CES Online Trading System workshop and shared with us their positive attitudes for the future of LETS!!
Here's to a long and happy future for LETS in South Australia by sharing the load, thinking positively and remembering the importance of “community”.

Deni
Salisbury LETS Database Co-Ordinator
Phone: 8380 5511
Email:
chookstuff@chariot.net.au
_

SA InterLETS Emailing Group

Be the first to know what’s for sale in LETS, future market notifications, etc.
Join the InterLETS SA Emailing Group!  Contact Allison at:
jamiller@airnet.com.au

Future SLSA Lets Markets

Saturday 14 July - Pruning Fruit Trees (not at the Jack Young Centre - at a member's house in Modbury - 8359 6781 or 0400 732 270 for details)

SLSA LETS AGM will follow this meeting - call for: new Co-ordinator - details in next newsletter


Saturday 15 September - Personal Counselling/Life Coach – to be confirmed

Saturday 17 November - Christmas on a budget



REGEN - The Green Shop
The Sunflower Shop (St Agnes) has closed, but the friendly services continues at
ReGen – the Green Shop! Redwood Plaza, Milne Road (near Hancock Road)
Good quality cheap clothing, shoes, toys, books and household goods (and we still gratefully accept your donations)
Original arts & crafts and new designer clothes
All profits stay in the local area, and support our Health and Environment Community Groups
We are all volunteers, and you can join us!
We re-use, recycle and repair, and we care for our environment!

For more information call Gloria ph 8265 5802


OFFERS

n/a

REQUESTS:

Deni looking to buy an electric food dehydrator (in good clean working order). If anyone has got one hidden away that they’re not using, would be interested. Part cash, part units would be great. Deni SLSA chookstuff@chariot.net.au

If you have any small stemmed glasses lurking in your cupboards seeking a new home, please contact Susan NESL0162
sanddll@adam.com.au.She is not fussed if it singles or multiples, hoping to acquire some better quality ones eg Krosno or simliar which are pleasant to hold & drink from, Either cut or blown glass are fine. Happy to negotiate a unit price .

We are looking for a Lets member who is willing to do a talk on Lets at the Community House in Pooraka.

POORAKA FARM NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE
126 Henderson Avenue
POORAKA
Monday 10am - 12noon

SLLets will cover the cost of petrol. If you are interested please contact Noeleen on 8250 1483. The Community House can be contacted on 8262 5544.

SALISBURY LETS COMMITTEE MEETING
26th June 2007
10.30am -12pm
Jack Young Centre
Orange Lane
SALISBURY

All members are welcome to attend.

Other Group's Events:

NESA Lets:


Sunday 22 June
10am-1pm
Hillcrest Community Centre, Queensborough Ave, Hillcrest free Cooking Demonstration LETS cook 'WINTER WARMERS' with FREE TASTINGS held in conjunction with LETS COMMUNITY MARKET Coffee, tea and a tasty home-made budget lunch with a choice of veg or non-veg available enquiries 8266 2757
SISA Lets:


SISA Lets:


May SISLETS Market
Saturday May 5th 10.30am-12.30pm
Clarence Park Community Centre
74 East Ave Black Forest
Come along and support your local LETS market!
Everyone Welcome!
☺Food Co-op and Fresh Food Co-op also open for business
☺Café open offering freshly brewed organic coffee, teas, homemade cake and other goodies.
☺EVERYONE WELCOME – come and join in the friendly relaxed atmosphere and do some trading!
Why not have a stall? Sites & trestles are free for LETS members!
Enquiries & Stall Bookings: Peter 8276 9621

SISLETS Market dates for 2007
Saturday mornings 10.30am-12.30pm – Clarence Park Community Centre -
2 June, 7 July, 4 August, 1 September, 6 October, 3 November, Christmas Market – 1 December

How to Use the CES System

Here’s more information about using the system: Managing Your Offers and Wants (including entering, updating and printing a list)

Accessing your Account:
1. Go to
www.ces.org.za
2. At bottom of screen type in your account name (i.e.SLSA0???) and your password (passwords were issued with the November Newsletter mail-out If you have forgotten your password contact Deni).
3. Press Enter: You will have in front of you ‘……..’s Trading Account’

Entering Your Offers & Wants
Once you have accessed your account:
1. At the top of the screen click on ‘Offerings’ (green section)
2. Then ‘click’ on ‘Add New’ if you want to enter new offering/s
3. A page headed ‘Add New Offering’ will appear. Fill in the relevant boxes (i.e. brief title or heading, category, details, rate – if applicable, etc.)
4. Check details and click ‘Add Offering’ to enter into the system.

To Update an current Offer:
1. Click on ‘Update’ offering (instead of ‘Add New’)
2. A list of your current offerings will appear on the screen
3. On right side of each offering ‘tick’ the appropriate box. Then click on the offering heading (in the column section).
4. An ‘Edit/Delete Offering’ choice will appear. Make the necessary adjustments – i.e. press ‘Update’ or ‘Delete’ and it will be entered into the system.

How to Print a list of all Offers and Wants:
Offers:
1. Click on ‘Offerings’ middle top of screen
2. On right side of screen press ‘View/Print All’. A full list of all members Offerings will appear on the screen.
3. Press ‘Print’
Wants:
1. Click on ‘Wants’ middle top of screen
2. A list of current ‘Wants’ will appear on the screen
3. Click on ‘Add Want’. An “add New Wants’ heading will appear on the screen with appropriate box for filling in details.
4. Once completed press ‘Insert Record’. Your want is added to the system

Accessing Other LETS Systems (Exchanges):__
Both SIS and Salisbury LETS have their own Offers and Wants. To access change the ‘Exchange’ by scrolling down the list of exchanges and clicking on either ‘SIS Adelaide AU’ or NE Adelaide AU’. Follow the same procedure for accessing SLSA LETS ‘Offers and Wants’. You can add your Offers and Wants’ to the other two systems if you would like to.
If you do not have access to a computer ask one of the members listed earlier to print a list of ‘Offers
and/ or Wants’ for you and add your listings to the system. It is hoped that this new system will replace the twice yearly ’Resource Guide’.

Community Events


Kurruru Pingyarendi invites you to a Commuunity Garden Gathering

Sunday 17th June

12.00 noon – 4.00pm
Gilles Plains Community Campus, 489b North East Road, Hillcrest

Bring a plate to share for lunch
Tea & Coffee Provided
Children Welcome

Tour of Garden, Networking Opportunity, Bring seeds / seedlings / produce to sell or swap for trading table

For further information contact Jo or Annegret on 8334 8400, Email:
annegret.lackmann@health.sa.gov.au