Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Ballona LETS webpages.  The Ballona LETS could be called a "favor exchange network."

• 10+ Reasons Why We Need a LETSystem 

• How to Join Ballona LETS

• Principles / philosophy

• How to Use Ballona LETS

• Guidelines / rules

• How to Enter Data

• Less-Frequently Asked Questions

• Print Checks

• Intro pamphlet

• How to Support Ballona LETS

• More about community-based finances

• Member database

• Calendar of Events

>> back to Ballona LETS home page

Under construction. 

Meanwhile see the right sidebar of our main Ballona LETS page , our "10+Reasons we need LETS", and refer to the Principles of Asheville LETS

You can print a black-and-white tri-fold pamphlet which tells about Ballona LETS.  This is good for sharing with neighbors as you tell them about our LETSystem.  All of the information that is in the pamphlet (plus more) is contained in these webpage FAQs so you're not missing anything by reading online.  But some people still just gotta get something to hold in their paw ...

• Ballona LETS introductory pamphlet (pdf)

The Ballona LETSystem is a neighborhood community as well as a sophisticated bartering system.  Thus we have some prerequisites for membership:

(1) LOCAL PEOPLE.  The Ballona LETSystem is founded around the idea of cultivating the local economy within our immediate geography.  To understand more about this, please read ...

• membership information on our FAQ page to understand the geographic area in which our LETSystem operates.
• We emphasize "local" for some pretty specific big-picture reasons (see right sidebar here). 
• If you don't live in our neighborhood, there are many similar local systems in nearby neighborhoods. (see right sidebar here). If your neighborhood isn't listed, we'd be happy to share resources about how we got started so that you can do this too.

(2) PERSONAL MEETING.  In the interest of building our community, we want to meet you!  Thus we ask that you attend one of our local events and simply introduce yourself. You might ...

• attend a Ballona LETS potluck or orientation meeting, or
• attend a meeting of the Environmental Change-Makers, or
• stop by our "work together days" at the Community Garden, or
• drop in to the office of Holy Nativity Church any Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat, or Sunday, and ask to see Peter.

(3) EDUCATION.  Because our system is somewhat sophisticated, we want to make sure you understand how it works, what you can get, and how you can contribute.  Thus we ask that you ...

• view the Central Coast (Australia) LETS video (4:14 min) and the Asheville NC LETS orientation video (8:32 min), or
• attend a Ballona LETS orientation meeting

Examples: You could attend a Ballona LETS orientation meeting and handle both the personal meeting and the education requirements. Alternatively, you could watch the videos at home to handle the education requirement, and then attend any session of the Environmental Change-Makers and sign up for the Ballona LETS.

As part of the registration process, you will be asked for your personal contact information (name, email, phone, neighborhood/zip, etc.), which is how other Ballona LETS members will find you to arrange trades.  This information is confidential within our system and is only revealed to other members.  You will also be asked what goods or services you might offer in trade.  Initially, we prompt people to think of perhaps 3 things they might list in the offerings.  You can add plenty more later.  Remember, Ballona LETS only works when we USE it!

The Ballona LETSystem is easy to use.  After you have joined as a member and have been entered into the system ...

1. Browse the online offerings of other members and see what you might like to use.
2. Contact the Ballona LETS member who is offering the goods or services you want.  Arrange the details of the trade.
3. When your transaction is completed, the Ballona LETS member who provided the service (the "seller") should record the transaction in the Ballona LETS online database.  It's pretty simple, but you can see "How to Enter Data" below if you are unsure how to do this.

Whenever possible, browse the Ballona LETS offerings prior to choosing outside vendors.  Using our local system assures that economic benefits remain inside our local community; this is how we cultivate a truly local economy.

Our computer system is set up so that you can directly enter transactions yourself.  If, however, you absolutely have to have a paper document to record the transaction, or if you are a non-computer user, you may use "checks" to record your transactions.

1. Print a sheet of Ballona LETS checks (pdf).  You may use any black and white printer.  If you cannot get it to work, you may pick up checks at any of our Ballona LETS potluck events or at any of the events listed under "personal meeting" above.
2. To use a Ballona LETS check, fill it out just like you would one from traditional banks.  You will, of course, need to fill out your personal identifying information, since we're not equipped to preprint that.
3. Give your completed check to the Ballona LETS member you traded with.  He or she can snail-mail or hand-deliver the check to the Ballona LETS office, and Ballona LETS volunteers will enter the transaction into the computer system.

As a volunteer-run community organization, Ballona LETS is always looking for assistance with a variety of tasks.  There are many ways that you can contribute to the expansion and improvement of our LETS. Please consider one or more of the following:

• First and foremost, Use the Ballona LETSystem!  Our LETS only works in building an interconnected local community when people are actively trading with each other.
• Fulfill a specific need – See the WANTED listings under member name BALLONA LETS to learn what our LETS organization currently needs. These might range from running an errand for the LETS to doing some computer data entry.
• Outreach -- Tell your neighbors about Ballona LETS and invite them to join.  Ask your favorite local businesses to join, and increase the diversity of our offerings.
• Leadership -- Join the Ballona LETS Organizing Group, and help with policies and organizing people. Even if you don't have time to join the Organizing Group, maybe you can be "on call" to organize one of our regular Ballona LETS potluck events.

Ballona LETS holds a regular "LETS potluck" event.  The LETS potluck is like a neighborhood party and a country store, where members bring business cards and flyers/brochures about their services to put on display, or bring goods for real-time LETS trading.  See a video of a similar event in Australia.

The LETS potluck is a great time to bring a neighbor to introduce him or her to the idea of the LETSystem.  New members can get an orientation to the LETSystem and register as members at the LETS potluck.