Welcome to Reston USE

What is Reston Useful Services Exchange (USE)

Reston USE was founded in 1975.  Its members are people who live in the Reston/Herndon area of Northern Virginia. Our purpose is to enable neighbors to help each other through the exchange of services. No money changes hands – repayment is in kind, by performing services for other USE members. The accounts of members are kept in hours of USE credit, so we’re often referred to as a “time bank.”

We bring together people with various needs and people who can meet those needs by providing a way to request and offer services. Often lasting friendships blossom as a result of these exchanges.

The USE Organization is in Transition

If you attended our October 23 annual meeting and have read our recent emails, you know Reston Useful Services Exchange (USE) has been struggling for quite a while as a volunteer-run organization. The USE board has made the difficult decision to change how we operate. We’re not going away, just changing how the organization is structured. Please read on to fully understand what is transpiring with this change in status.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we cannot just “stop” operating. We must officially close shop as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by dissolving and terminating the organization with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Otherwise, we’re on the hook for paying the annual State Corporation Commission fee and for filing the IRS tax form. 

Please note, this changes ONLY our non-profit status. We can continue to operate (and we will) as an informal timebank with members helping members.

Kathy Bush, who has served as acting president for over 7 years, maintains the database of members among other duties. Hopefully, once USE becomes an informal timebank some members will step forward to handle some of these duties. We already have active volunteers coordinating the holiday, Lunch Bunch, and international luncheons, the walking group, and picnics and other events. We hope these continue and grow.

What does “dissolving and terminating” USE mean?
We will no longer have:
1. Nonprofit status.
2. Dues from members (we discontinued that a few months ago).
3. A board of directors.
4. Registration with the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
5. The responsibility of filing a 990-N form with the IRS (tax report).
6. Direct expenses (annual State Corporation Commission fee, website hosting and domain and PO box fees).
7. A PayPal account and a checking account with the need for a treasurer and bookkeeper to prepare financial reports.
8. A USE website.

We will continue to have:
1. Camaraderie among members.
2. Members helping members with rides, meals, and other helpful tasks.
3. A Facebook page where members can post requests for services and notices of upcoming events and items of interest .
4. Access to hOurworld where members can request and offer services.
5. Access to the hOurworld database for event coordinators to send messages to members.
6. Our Mailchimp account for mailings to all members.
7. The Walking Group, coordinated by Gail Vogel.
8. Holiday luncheons coordinated by Beth Balmer.
9. Occasional Lunch Bunch luncheons, coordinated by Cheri Wubbels.
10. International Food and Travel luncheons, coordinated by Beth Balmer.
11. Picnics and possibly other events, coordinated by volunteers.

What will happen to the money that USE currently has in its financial accounts?
By law, when a nonprofit is dissolved and terminated, any funds in these accounts must be donated to a nonprofit. The board voted to donate the remaining funds to Cornerstones, the local Reston nonprofit that runs the Embry Rucker Shelter and the food bank.

Respectfully,
The Reston USE Admin Group