Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:21:28 -0400
From: Rusty McIntosh
Subject: A notebook and a pen
Dear Friends,
This whole thing with the “Plenty” has been a trial for many of us, and has now seemingly split our community and has resulted in another point of contention among us, when what it was intended for was to help the community. I don’t profess to be highly educated, dropped out of Marshall University after “firing” an English Professor in class ( VERY long story) but I have always believed in KISS…
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid
My idea is that we take, at each of our farmers markets (a good central location for all Chatham Communities) and put a notebook and a pen. Inside of that notebook, we offer whatever goods or services we wish to offer or that we need. We put our contact information in the posting and then wait. Someone contacts us and we come to a gentleman’s agreement, sealed by a handshake. If there is a conflict, then we agree to abide by a decision of a third party mediator. Cost to the public and participants, next to nothing. Complexity and reason for outcry, none. The idea of a trade exchange is as old as when the first two fellas got together and decided it would benefit both of them to work together. Rural America has thrived on just this principal and practice for years. Good intentions need good basics, and this is about as basic as anyone can make it. Shoot, I’ll buy the first 4 books and pens if it will help?
I also fully support the Buy Chatham discount card that Mary Millard is working on.
God Bless, Rusty McIntosh