Two State College Residents Banking on Innovative Idea

A year or so ago State College residents Sean O’Donoghue Morgan and his friend Charlie Kain came up with an idea that would allow people to acquire goods and services they need while increasing a sense of community – all without anyone spending money.

“In our culture, everything is commodified,” Morgan observed, “we wanted to encourage neighborly interaction while letting people share their skills.”

So the two created www.happyvalley.timebanks.org, a site where locals can sign up, list their skills, talents and abilities in order to exchange with others. It works similarly to a bank, but instead of depositing or withdrawing money, users either spend or consume time in one-hour increments.

However, Morgan found that people had signed up for the program, but didn’t really use it with the enthusiasm he had hoped to see. So he and fellow musician Eric Ian Farmer collaborated to present a free concert this past Sunday at Webster’s in downtown State College.

Farmer, a singer-songwriter, performed his work while Morgan drummed up interest in Timebank. So people got to learn more about ways to get involved with the bartering system, while listening to original acoustic guitar and Farmer’s smooth, rich vocal style.

“Music brings people together,” Farmer said, “and that’s what I’m happiest about – the music and service to the community.”

Morgan added that he and Farmer “love to entertain and wanted to share this gift.”

He feels that people frequently have a hard time engaging online and he really wants participants to meet in person to encourage the time exchanges that he’d like to see.

“Sometimes it’s difficult for people to know what skills to offer,” he says, “but our everyday skills might have value for someone else. Like using the internet. A lot of elderly people would like to do that, but don’t know how. So that’s a good thing to share.”

Continuing, Morgan says that lots of people can offer tutoring in different areas, or rides to stores or appointments, or yard work. He encourages people to check out the website and get involved.

“We have a sense of alienation and isolation in our culture,” he said. “This is a way to use technology to bring people together.”