Rita Cobbs is many wondrous things. She is an indispensable pollinator, gathering a wide variety of people into common ground. Rita has a sweet tea smile that can welcome you in and soothe your spirit. Her neighbors all greet her with cheer, and she knows all their stories; hardscrabble rough as well as gravy smooth. But don’t let that beguiling charm fool you. Rita can be as fierce as she needs to be to advocate for someone who needs support.
Tampa Bay Time Bank (TBTB) needed a new coordinator about a decade ago. When asked what drew her into what the center of TBTB had going on back then, Rita’s answer was clear: curiosity. She also said she had no idea what she was getting into when she agreed to take the wheel.
Rita tends to be the first connection for new members, and inevitably, unearths illuminating life stories. She’s not a fan of technology, not one to keep immaculate records, and certainly not one for rigid rules, and yet, TBTB is thriving. 625 members, 43,460 hours total; 4,831 hours in 2023.
Rita loves the humanity that emerges in Time Bank Communities. She is “touched and inspired by people helping each other, the generous idealism, and people innovating creative solutions for diverse challenges”. She is a lifelong learner, studying a wide variety of teachers in many areas: literary, artistic, spiritual, multi-cultural, regenerational, societal, and beyond.
Time Banking here as well as around the world was profoundly impacted by Covid. TBTB can build community with pot lucks, group orientations and other connections that help people build trust and relationships for exchanges. Time Bank 5 Core Values can still show up on Zoom rectangles, but it is not like sitting in a circle in the same room. Zoom has maintained connections for those who prefer or need electronic connections, and done it well. There are times when Rita networks with people in places around the US, seeking what Time Banking offers in Tampa Bay.
Rita has graciously downloaded many administrative tasks in order to focus on what she does best: people. Her engaging demeanor can invite you into an experience you didn’t even know existed, and/or find connections for someone new to our bioregion. We are so grateful for her expansive ongoing contributions, with her loyal rescue dog Lacey at her feet.
Wirtten by Christina Bellamy