COMMUNITY INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTER
P.O. Box 42663
Tucson, AZ 85733
circ2.home.mindspring.com
CIRC can also be reached on-line via MCI mail:CIRC.
as well as with the e-mail address of: circ2 [at] mindspring [dot] com
Operating as a project of NEST, Inc., an Arizona non-profit, tax-exempt corporation, CIRC seeks to promote community health and positive change by supporting the emergence of mutual support structures, participatory democracy, local self-reliance, appropriate technology, sustainable living, and micro-enterprise.
CIRC is a networking hub, an information source, and a support organization. It provides organizing assistance, administrative support, instruction, access to computer and telecommunications technologies, opinion and market surveys, interdisciplinary research, and data analysis. Besides it regional activities, CIRC networks nationally and globally with groups concerned with intentional community, community economics, appropriate technology, right-livelihood, and sustainable living.
Since 1934, the School of Living has been promoting right-livelihood, decentralism, social justice, sustainable economics, communities, and cooperative self-reliance. It publishes a quarterly journal, the Green Revolution.
Founded in memory of the author of Small is Beautiful, the Schumacher Society, like the School of Living, works to foster appropriate technology, human scale, and right-livelihood.
Ithaca MONEY is a tabloid newspaper which issues Ithaca HOUR notes to its advertisers. It provides information about local exchange and self-help options. Communities wishing to institute similar programs can obtain a "Home Town Money Starter Kit" for $25 or 2 1/2 Ithaca HOURS. The kit includes "all start-up and maintenance procedures, forms, laws, news articles, computer programs, updates and an Ithaca MONEY subscription.
Operates in a manner similar to Ithaca MONEY. Publishes a tabloid newspaper called the Boulder Barter Directory, and issues circulating Boulder HOUR notes.
National clearinghouse for information about service credit/time dollar programs, including a directory and organizing assistance.
Provides information about and directory of Community Development Loan Funds.
Provides facilities for telecommunications networking. If you have a personal computer and a modem, you have the world at your fingertips. EcoNet and PeaceNet provide access via electronic mail to subscribers of various networks around the world. It also maintains public conferences on hundreds of topics, which provide valuable information and discussion opportunities. EcoNet includes two conferences which provide on-going dialogue opportunities relating to LETS system developments. Can.lets and oz.lets focus on developments in Canada and Australia, respectively.
In Canada, these same conferences can be accessed through the WEB. Contact:
WEB
401 Richmond St. W., Suite 104
Toronto, ON M5V 3A8, Canada
Tel.: (416) 596-0212
LANDSMAN is operated by Michael Linton, originator of LETS. This is the definitive source for information about LETS theory and operation. Michael is available to work with groups who wish to set-up a LETS system. He has developed a simulation game called "LETSPlay," as well as software needed for computerized operation of a LETsystem. New improved accounting software, called "NLETS," has recently been developed by Michael Linton and Richard Knights.
Greg Meadows who runs the Kitchener-Waterloo LETSystem is perhaps the most active current LETS networker in North America. He is a valuable source of information for anyone wishing to start a LETS system. He has developed a simulation game and edits the K-W LETSystem newsletter. K-W offers "Founding Framework" documents and information package. User's and Administration manuals are available on 5 1/4 inch diskette for $20 (Canadian). K-W LETS also has a bibliography of magazine and newspaper clippings, popular and academic essays on LETS, and overseas LETS information.
Tim Inkpen is the communications coordinator and outreach person for LETS in Toronto. He is a valuable source of LETS information.
Provides accounting software called LETSBase.
Provides an un-orthodox perspective on topics such as money and the economy.
Trade association for the commercial barter industry.
Provides information and assistance on community economic development strategies.
Assists communities with "buy local" programs and import substitution.
Provides information and assistance in forming cooperatives and community
economic development.
Some Known LETS systems in the United States and Canada
Eugene LETS Network
Eugene, OR
(no address available)
(503) 688-6595
Eaglestar LETSystem
19655 Campbell Road
Black Forest, CO 80909
L.A. LETSystem
c/o CRSP
3551 White House Place
Los Angeles, CA 90004
LETS in Toronto
44 St. George St. #303
Toronto, ON M5S 2E4
Canada
Guelph LETS
9 Macdonnell St.
Guelph, ON N1H 2Z2
Canada
Sudbury Employment and Trading System (SETS)
176 Larch St., Suite 302
Sudbury, ON P3E 1C6
Canada
Sangeen Trading Community
RR 3
Chesley, ON N0G 1L0
Canada
Victoria LETS
Box 5525, Stn. B
Victoria, BC V8R 6S4
Canada
Duncan LETS
c/o 5364 River
Bottom Road, RR #2
Duncan, BC V9L 1N9
Canada
Women's LETSystem
1660 Embelton Cres.
Courtenay, BC V9N
6N8 Canada
K-W LETSystem
Box 1731
Kitchener, ON N2G
4R3 Canada
John Zube
Libertarian Microfiche Publishing Company
7 Oxley St.
Berrima, NSW 2577 Australia
This is a unique and phenomenal source of material on free money, free banking, alternative exchange, and decentralism. Zube has converted to microfiche form more than 300,000 pages of material, much of which is primary resource material (letters, unpublished papers) which are hard to find or not available elsewhere.
GREEN$QUARTERLY provides a comprehensive assemblage of information collected from the various LETS systems operating in New Zealand (41 at last count). This source is a "must" for anyone wishing to keep up on LETS system developments and "mutual credit," in general. G$Q provides information about how actual operating systems have dealt with various problems and concerns. It also provides access to resource materials such as new software and a "Management Guide."
National publication for LETS organizers in Australia and overseas.
Blue Mountains is one of the largest LETS systems in the world with over 1500 members.
Offers LETS software called "Gnomes of Zurich."
Has developed updated LETS accounting software using D-BASE III.
Offers LETS Training Manual for AUS$20.
Offers Green Dollar Management Guide for NZ$25.
LETSLink UK Network
61 Woodcock Road
Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 9DH
Great Britain
A "network for the LETSystem, which keeps groups and individuals in touch with LETS developments around the country." Offers a variety of resources and documentation, including a newsletter, a LETS "STARTER PACK" (for £5), and a UK contact list (for 4 first class stamps).
Offers a new version of LETS accounting software and user's manual for £30 and £10, respectively.
Offers Apple Mac LETS accounting software.