Who We Are
Vision: At the Royal Oak TimeBank (ROTB), our vision is a city defined not by borders on a map, but by the social bonds forged through the reciprocity of neighbors helping neighbors.
Mission: The Royal Oak TimeBank seeks to return to the time-honored tradition of neighbors helping neighbors by fostering community interactions that empower members to exchange their time, skills, and talents with one another and in doing so build meaningful personal relationships.
Core Values: The ROTB bases all of our decisions and actions on 5 core values that guide all TimeBanks.
Assets – We are all assets.
Every human being has something to contribute.
Redefining Work – Some work is beyond price.
Work has to be redefined to value whatever it takes to raise revitalize neighbors, make democracy work, advance social justice, healthy children, build strong families, make the planet sustainable. That kind of work needs to be honored, recorded, and rewarded.
Reciprocity – Helping works better as a two-way street.
The question “How can I help you?” needs to change; instead, we should ask “How can we help each other build the world we both live in?”
Social Networks – We need each other.
Networks are stronger than individuals. Community is built upon sinking roots, building trust, creating networks. Special relationships are built on commitment. We must help each other reweave communities of support, strength, and trust.
Respect – Every human being matters.
Respect underlies freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and everything we value. Respect supplies the heart and soul of democracy. When respect is denied to anyone, everyone is injured. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some point in the future.
We honor each other by valuing what each of us has to contribute. No one knows everything, but everyone knows something. Alone, no one can do everything, but each individual can do something. When we help each other, we are all stronger.