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Introducing the Exchange Circle
An open web-based network designed to foster community interaction through the exchange of a community currency
Measuring a Marble
The value of a Marble is flexible. It's meant to adapt to the circumstances. Marbles are valuable because your time is valuable. Time is something we all have equally, and no one can hoard. Our general guideline is that an hour of your time is worth about 10 Marbles.
Making Marbles
Rather than create currency out of nowhere as debt, marbles emerge out of a community exchange. When an exchange takes place, the inherent value of the exchange is mirrored in marbles: one member's balance rises, and another's falls by the same amount. This is the key. Marbles are an abundant resource because the inherent value in people and their time is an abundant resource.
Staying Balanced
Balance is built into the Columbia Exchange Circle. Since each transaction is a mutual-credit exchange (each exchange is bi-directional), the total number of marbles created is zero. While a member may fall below zero, the Circle as a whole will always remain balanced at zero. We encourage members to be as active as possible, and strive for a balanced "Net-Zero" account.
Interacting with the Exchange Circle
We've built an online social network to facilitate the use of our currency. Each member has a profile, can categorize their interests, can post Offers and Requests, and can make a direct Exchange.
Offers
If you have something you'd like to offer to the community, a service, goods, knowledge, anything, simply create an Offer. Other members can then browse your offers, and make Bids on them. You may accept as many bids as you like, then wait for confirmation that it's complete and recieve Feedback!
Requests
If you have some service or good you need, you can post a request. Just like offers, other members can browse through requests, and make Bids on them. Accept the Bid(s) you want, then confirm when it's complete and leave some Feedback for the provider!
Direct Exchange
If someone in the Circle has just done something for you, and you'd like to pay them in Marbles, simply go to their profile and Transfer Marbles to them. Pick an amount and describe what they did for you. That's it!
SkillBank
The SkillBank is a categorical directory designed to help you find what you need. Browse to a category to see all the active Offers and Requests, as well as all the members who are involved.