October, 17, 2008

Dear Friends,

Copies of the newly printed BerkShares User Guide & Directory are en route
or have already found their way to BerkShares exchange banks and businesses
throughout Berkshire County. Directories were recently seen flying off the
bar and stirring lively conversation at the Egremont Inn, one of the latest
businesses to sign-up to accept BerkShares. If you have not yet requested
that copies be sent or dropped off at your business or picked some up at one
of the local exchange banks, please reply to this email and let us know how
many Directories you would like to have on hand.

The new directory is particularly helpful to the business community as it
includes a business-to-business listing (BtoB), which focuses on goods and
services that are particularly relevant to the needs of the business
community. Why not pay for your next business luncheon or space rental in
BerkShares? The BtoB can help you think creatively about how to recirculate
your Berkshares, guiding you to local businesses with whom you can
advertise, redecorate, or introduce a new website or software to your
business. Find out how you can finance office repairs, maintenance and
supplies using BerkShares, or even seek legal counsel and get your taxes
done. The more times a BerkShare changes hands without being traded in at
the bank, the greater the benefit to the local economy.

Many new businesses have signed up to accept BerkShares in the last few
weeks, in no small part thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of our new
Executive Director, Sharon Palma. Attorneys Hunter & Graziano, Pumpkin Patch
Quilts, Zabian's Jewelers, Juice N' Java, and Lee Print & Design provide
increased BerkShares shopping opportunities in Lee, while restaurant Local
111, just over the New York border in Philmont, carries on its dedicated
work as an exemplar of everything 'go local' by signing up as the newest
BerkShares accepting business.

We encourage you to revisit the BerkShares Directory online frequently at
http://www.berkshares.org/directory/index.htm in order to find out about new
businesses that have signed up but are not yet listed in the print edition
of the Directory. Please also look out for details about upcoming monthly
events for new and prospective BerkShares businesses to meet, greet, and get
information and answers to questions about accepting BerkShares.

Warm regards,

Sarah Hearn and the BerkShares Team

BerkShares
P.O. Box 125
Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 528-1737
http://www.BerkShares.org
info@berkshares.org