What if there was a way to really stimulate the Buy Local economy and keep the dollars spent on Deer Isle circulating on Deer Isle? We think there is a way and several other towns and cities across America have successfully proven that it works. The method is creating our own currency (ie: “Deer Bucks”) and offering an exchange rate to the US Dollar that acts as a favorable incentive to
local citizens, traveling tourists, and businesses to use the local currency.
Ithaca, NY is doing it with “Ithaca Hours” (a currency that is tied to an hourly wage). The Bershires in Mass are doing it with “BerkShares”.
Baltimore, MD is doing it with “BNotes”. Pittsboro, NC is doing it with “The Plenty”. There are many many more. These towns took control
of their fiscal destiny…and Deer Isle can, too! (In fact, in New Orleans the farmers market sponsors its own currency!)
I have assembled several links to information explaining what local currency is and how it helps strengthen the local economy.
I’ve put up a page on the internet so you can easily click thru to jump to other links for easy reading including a downloadable
PDF file of a study proving that local economies benefit by this type of project. PLEASE CONSULT WEBPAGE “THE DEER BUCKS PROJECT”:
You’ll find everything you need at the webpage to get yourself familiar with the idea. At the top of the list is the website of a leader
in this thinking, Paul Glover. Paul is available to speak on the subject and to give a workshop to our island on how to get this thing
off the ground. It would be ideal to get him up to Stonington to speak— the Opera House Arts would be the ideal venue—and perhaps
there is some grant money available to pay his travel costs and his honorarium? There is a “How To” book he’s written that is available
for $10 on his website that could also get us started.
The Deer Bucks Project has the potential to tie our community of artists, fisherman, businesses, tourists, and local citizens both year round and from
away together. We’d receive a massive amount of publicity (great for our island and surrounding region!) and this would attract
additional business.
My role is to raise awareness and handle publicity of the Deer Bucks Project and facilitate dispersing info. However, what’s
needed to go forward is some year round residents of Deer Isle to act as community organizers and/or an already existing entity
with the power to make this happen and to spearhead the project.
First step: who agrees this is a good idea and wants to pursue it further?
Second step: get the “How To” starter book copies into the right hands and
Third step: invite Paul Glover to speak (assuming sponsorship funding is available for this) to us
Fourth step: find a local bank or patron willing to back the Deer Bucks
Fifth step: roll out the first printing and get businesses to sign up for a directory, get the publicity going and watch the results!
Thank you and happy new year! I apologize in advance if you receive this email more than once. I am sending it out to various
groups and individuals.
Sincerely,
Katy Allgeyer
