How did LETS start?

 

Barter systems are the original form of trade

 

 

between people and communities. They have

 

probably been running for thousands of years all

over the world.

 

 

The LETS system was 'invented' by Michael Linton

 

in Ottowa, Canada in the 1980's.The first groups

 

were set up in Australia in the late 1980's in Malen,

Queensland, Murwillunbah and in several

 

places in new South Wales.The system has spread

 

throughout Australia and is also available to people on all

 

the Continents except the Arctic! There are thousands 

of groups in operation.

 In 1994 the largest group in the World was in the Blue

Mountains with more than 2,000 members trading

over$B40,000 per month.

 

For more LETS History, click  on this link - Wikipedia.

 

What does it cost?

 

 The cost is different for different LETS Groups. LETS

 

South charges $25 p.a. pro rata and this charge has

 

remained unchanged for some years.Costs are

 

currently kept down by the use of email and the LETS

 

South blog.The charges covers

 

stamps,Website,computer,office, insurance and other

 

charges which are unavoidable and not able to be paid

in $B.

 

What area does LETS South cover?

 

It currently covers the Fleurieu Peninsula in South

Australia.The majority of Members live in the Willunga and

Aldinga area.This group began in Willunga 19 years

ago.Anyone wishing to join who lives too far outside this

area may find Members do not want or are not able to

travel to them.In this case it is best to look for another

group or start a new one in your area.

 

What do I get for my Membership?

  

The Membership fee of $25 per year covers the cost of

 

running the group,hire of a venue for Markets,regular

 

Newsletters and Resource Guides, access to the Office

and any help, advice or information you may require

 

during Office hours.It also gives you the opportunity to

be part of a local community in which work and people

are valued.

You also get the opportunity to hold to the values of

LETS South and to respond to others in a different way

than you might if you were employing business people

to clean your gutters,mow your lawns,fix your tap

etc.LETS is neighbourly and caring so there is no place

for disrespect or unreasonable demands.

 

Will LETS suit me?

  

Maybe or maybe not, it does require adjustment for

some people who are not used to community

involvement.You also need to be offering what people

want, in order to earn enough $B to spend on what you

need.If you offer something Members don't need often,

you will not earn enough to cover what you want to

spend.

You need to take into account that many Members are

full time workers and have families, so have many

commitment in addition to their LETS Membership and

work.

You also need to be aware that any unfair or shoddy

trades are quickly found out and you will not get further

work.

We usually suggest you try it out for a year and see how

you go, how often Members take up your offers and

whether you enjoy trading with $B.Then you can decide

on July 1st if you wish to renew your Membership.