quaLity

                                 hEalth

           communiTy

                                         Sustainability

What is the reason for developing the LETS system? Is it important to know how to use it? I will outline some of my experiences with LETS, and share with you some thoughts as to why we should share our LETS System with others.

In case you have not noticed, the society in which we live is in trouble. Most of our social agencies, schools, governments at all levels and businesses, are in trouble. The very fabric of our social system is in jeopardy. If something is not working you must look to the system and the values under which it operates.

While the media is very quick to point out all the ills of society, the media caught in the morass of its own existence cannot see the possibilities of solution because it sees its function as reporting the facts. They will not however write lucid articles on LETS because they do not perceive this to be in their interest. The fact is that the media has used LETS or Lets-like systems (barter, trade, etc.) since its very early days, not because it wanted to, but because it made sense to do so. Air time, once spent, cannot be recovered. Why not barter it to a hotel? And the hotel, if you are operating at only 60% capacity, why not trade over some of your rooms for air time. This works in radio, television billboards etc. Media does this with suppliers, promotions, furniture, services, travel; you name it. Each media business has its own formula for how much it can barter and still be in business. The variables are finite for each form of media because of the finite size of its revenue generation component. i.e. air time, or number of pages of print etc. A hotel has a time line formula as well. They make their decisions based upon their capacity and their "real" costs or needs.

In fact, if you are using LETS, you should develop your own formula. Determine how many LETS dollars you can afford to receive and spend effectively. It is no good to accumulate a lot either way. If you are spending money in an area and they do not know about LETS, approach the owners and show them how LETS can work for them.

Let me give some examples: I contributed $750 LETS dollars to a municipal campaign in the last election. (November /94) In June of 1996 I received a cheque from the government for $342.50. I mention this because you, the LETS member, should be aware that you can support a political campaign with your LETS contribution and be reimbursed in Canadian cold hard cash. The campaign used my donation to pay volunteers and services in Green dollars. The campaign made certain that it had spent all the LETS dollars and only received what it was able to spend. Before the election, Sat Khalsa had suggested to the membership to support any political campaign with your LETS dollars, if you wanted to get a voice in the government. But make sure the candidate knows what you are talking about. This is good for several reasons. It teaches the candidate how to use LETS, and it rewards you the giver with real live Canadian dollars in return.

The government is afraid of LETS. They do not understand it. People fear anything they do not understand. They label it as black market. It is important that LETS not be perceived as black market transactions. It must be dealt with in exactly the same way as you deal with Canadian money. If you understand this, then we can start giving to the provincial government LETS money to cover the PST collected on the LETS portion of our sales revenue. We can do likewise with the Federal government with the GST. In order to do this, we must be ethical in how we deal with our LETS transactions. If we do not, we will never achieve the level of growth that will be beneficial.

The Toronto Board of Education was approached with a proposition on how they could save $50 Million Canadian if they joined the LETS system. Ron Turbovitch, the Financial comptroller of the Toronto Board could see no flaw in the proposal. Did it happen? Not. Did any of the elected trustees Toronto Board of Education develop an understanding of how this could happen and save the Board $50 M. Not. Just look at who the people of Toronto elected as trustees. The old guard is alive and well. Come next election time, get your green dollars ready and give them to candidates who understand how the LETS system works. If you want the system to change, you must educate people into how to use this system effectively. And use your vote too!.

I have three concrete recommendations:

• Bring in a greater variety of members and services to LETS
• Develop a quality control / recommendation service for members
• Develop LETS as a symbol of quality, health, community, and sustainability.

As a closing comment, I want to identify a weakness in the LETS system. We have not educated our own members in how to use the system effectively. Every one is coming to the system out of their own self interest and not from a perspective of receiving for the purpose of sharing. This is a fundamental principal that we must bring into our attitudes and behaviour of members if we want this system to work effectively.

Mitchell Gold a Chartered Accountant is the Canadian Representative of the International Association of Educators for World Peace IAEWP, an NGO with status at various UN agencies. He also is the IAEWP Plenipotentiary Envoy as well as Assistant to the Executive vice-president. Currently he is working on the Eighth World Peace Congress of the IAEWP to take place in Split Croatia Nov. 26. - Dec. 1, 1996, where he will be presenting a workshop based on the values of the Home Planet Alliance a project of the IAEWP - an educational program that teaches entrepreneurial skills, creativity, and global thinking. For workshops in the Canadian Market contact Mr. Gold at 416-924-4449. LETS dollars welcomed.