How to put on a "Design your own Currency" Workshop
Prepare before the workshop
- samples of community currencies (failing that, of proxy yang currencies)
- prepare Yin and Yang attribue cards
Introduction
- form a semi-circle so everyone can see the center of the circle
- Ask participants to throw whatever currency they have on themselves into the middle of the circle (throw your own collection in)
- lay down the Yin and Yang attribute cards (might be better to do that while waiting for session to start as a stimulant)
- quickly explain the spectrum and ask participants to help you justify where the various currencies fit on the spectrum (place them)
Stories
- anecdotes about Bernard Lietaer the co-designer of the Euro, Michael Linton the local and global pioneer
- the story of the High Middle Ages
- the story of Ancient Egypt
- the story of stamp scrip in USA and Austria
- the story of Argentina 2002
- the story of LETS and Timebanking
- the story of Seedstock and Transition Towns currencies
- optionally: the story of chiralkine (quantum) money
Activities
- create real money (pass blank notes around) and go through step by step how real money is created out of thin air
- catalog creation
- matchmaking
- go through the design process systematically using a real and local example that participants can relate to