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Exchange Stimulus Package
March 5, 2009
The wound is the place where the light enters you.
-Jalaluddin Rumi, Poet

Everyone is offering theories on how to survive the current economic downturn. The common theme to much of the advice is: “Cut back, pull in, weather the storm.”  And, this sounds sensible at a time when businesses are failing right and left, when every day brings news of more lay offs and cut backs.

We seem to be a nation holding our breath, waiting for the new president to perform a miracle, to make everything right again. But what happens if everyone pulls back, plays it safe, stops growing, stops looking outward?  Can we afford to dig in and wait for the federal government to solve all our problems?  Should we simply sit back and wait for change to happen?

At Exchange, we have a wildly divergent theory:  We believe that even though this crisis was primarily caused by Wall Street executives who got greedy and public officials who looked the other way, its up to  the everyday workers in our society, to turn this sinking ship around. In the just released March issue of Exchange we announced the "Exchange Stimulus Package". Exchange and our advertising partners Community Playthings, Teaching Strategies, Inc, and Kaplan Early Learning Company have teamed together to offer $10,000 to stimulate your ideas and actions.

Exchange and our partners are challenging you to make change happen. We invite you to share your ideas on the steps your program can take, big and little, to start reversing the downturn one family, one neighborhood at a time. In your next staff meeting, hold a brainstorming session on what you can do to support each other, to help families weather the storm, and to assist small businesses in your community to start growing.  Then tell us about your best "Make Change Happen" idea on our web site by March 20, 2009.

We will share many of the ideas received and ask the readers of ExchangeEveryDay to vote on the most creative ones.  The top ten vote getters will each receive $1,000 in no-strings-attached gift certificates.  The winners will be announced in the May issue of Exchange and in ExchangeEveryDay.

Don’t sit back … step up and Make Change Happen!

ExchangeEveryDay

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Comments (6)

Displaying 5 of 6 Comments   [ View all ]
Sunny Davidson · March 06, 2009
color outside the lines
tyler, TX, United States


Funny thing! I believe that we are all part of the change that we want to see happen in ourselves and in our centers and in our country. During the campaign for the presidency, the word "change" was used often. So on the night of the inauguration, the guests who came to our home saw "BE THE CHANGE WE WANT" "HOPE" "HOPE MAKES THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE" and other thoughts on signs all over the house. They took them home for further encouragement. We all need that. It all starts with "ME", whoever that is.

Patricia Wells · March 05, 2009
Turtle Mountain School
Grantham, N.H., United States


I think we should be a flexible and offer care arrangements for people who are working different shifts- drop in care, sliding schedules, and jobs that offer flexibility for staffers that support their families as well. We need to really think about customer service and how good of job we are doing. We need to help cover care for school agers during school vacations, snow days and other days when schools are closed. We need to provide financial policies that are fair but firm and don't let families get too far behind. When we are asked if something is possible (care arrangements that are a bit different) we should try to make them possible. We have been able to do these things at Turtle Mountain for the past 14 years and I have never regretted it! I have lived lean for so long - all this seems normal to me! Above all we must create an atmosphere of love and positive support for our families no matter what the economy is doing- we can be a shelter from the storm- I really believe that.

Gerry Slater · March 05, 2009
Milwaukee, Wiscosin, United States


Congratulations Exchange and sponsors for another fantastic idea and action! What a great way to get people turning over the "downturn" with creativity and positive action.

Pat Creighton · March 05, 2009
Buncombe County Child Care Services
Asheville, North Carolina, United States


This is WONDERFUL! I am taking the liberty of sending this out to all centers and family child care homes on our R&R distribution list so that many who may not be aware can participate (with the bonus of their becoming more aware of the great job you folks do and perhaps subscribing). Exchange has been a shining light for directors and others almost my entire career. Many thanks.
Pat Creighton
Training Specialist
Buncombe County Child Care Services

Lisa Parone · March 05, 2009
Imagine
Newark, New Jersey, United States


I felt that the issue was very informative and educational. I hope that you continue to reach all your readers with interesting topics in education. I look forward to reading your next issue.
Thank you.



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