Preserve What We Love

December 18, 2009

Dear BerkShares Businesses,

During the holiday time, it’s traditional to consider those things for which we are grateful, the things that sustain us—not just the gifts that we will give and receive but the gifts that we already have, those that we experience daily. Here in the Berkshires, we are lucky to still have the charms of small-town life, while also having access to many frills, such as gourmet restaurants, incredible cultural programming, and an amazing ability to get the things we need locally. We have a network of vibrant small towns with a small city in the center, and that city, Pittsfield, is revitalizing at an exciting rate. And we have BerkShares, our very own currency, a tool for keeping wealth here in the Berkshires. All of this is unique—and increasingly endangered.

The best way to preserve the character of our small towns lies in building the local economy. We can keep our unique shops and restaurants thriving if we patronize them, instead of shopping on the internet or at the big chain stores. We can rebuild our region’s ability to grow more of its food locally if we buy local food whenever possible and eat at restaurants that do so too. And we can keep our local arts organizations, social service organizations, and other nonprofits thriving if we support them, not only by participating in their programs but by, when possible, donating to them outright.

This year, the nonprofit community has been hit hard by the economic downturn. Building a strong local economy can help protect our region from fluctuations in the global economy. It can help protect the rural character of our countryside and the charms of our small towns. It can help the city of Pittsfield continue its reformation in ways that enrich the local populace, instead of distant corporations. It can make the Berkshires an even better place to live.

We know that many organizations send requests to you at this time of year. Making a gift to BerkShares—no matter how small—can help preserve what we love about our community. The truth is, your tax-deductible donation to the E. F. Schumacher Society for the continued research and development of the BerkShares program supports far more than just an alternative currency.  It supports local identity. It supports sustainability. It supports a healthy future for all of us who have chosen Berkshire County as our home.

Sincerely,
 
Asa Hardcastle
 
for the BerkShares board of directors
 
PS: Please note, during this research and development phase of BerkShares, tax-deductible contributions may be made to the E. F. Schumacher Society, 140 Jug End Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Please note that your donation is for the BerkShares program. And please consider making your donation in BerkShares!