My Swan Song

Sensory Garden In Spring CLOSED

May 2017 CIRCUIT Vol. 35, Issue 5 The monthly newsletter for Audio-Reader volunteers

CONTENTS F i n d i n g a N e w N o r m a l

1: Finding a New By Jennifer Nigro, Normal Coordinator of Volunteers 2: Meet a Listener By now, most of you have likely heard ers. You are vital to our ability to do that, about the $200,000 in budget cuts levied and we will be calling on volunteers to help 3: May Birthdays against Audio-Reader. The first $100,000 in ways we have never needed before, or 4: Audio-Reader came in the current fiscal year; the second have not needed in many years. The service will hit in July when the new fiscal year is not going away—but we will have to do Fundraiser begins. Many of you have reached out with more with less. 5: News and Notes offers of help as well as extra donations, Many of you have approached me with and we just want to say how much we ap- questions I am not yet able to answer in full. 6: New Faces preciate your support. We ask that you please bear with us as we 7: Get on the A budget cut of this size, over such a short figure out our path forward. Rest assured, time, will have an impact on operations. we will let you know how you can help Greens Our goal remains, as it always has, to con- once we have a plan in place. 8: Picture Perfect tinue to provide core services to our listen- ’ My Swan Song

By Susan Tabor, Administrative Assistant Elsewhere in this issue and in the local news, you’ve read or heard about the massive budget cuts coming to Audio-Reader. One consequence of those cuts is that my position at Audio- Reader is being eliminated as of June 30. Since I have an over- age of annual leave that I need to take or lose, I will be leaving the middle of May so that I won’t lose my annual leave. I have always said that one of my favorite things about working at Audio-Reader has been meeting and working with our won- Closed Circuit derful volunteers! What wonderful, wonderful people you are! I will treasure all of my memories of you and will count you Editor all as friends. So if you see me in public, feel free to give me a Susan Tabor, Administrative Assistant shout! I’ll love talking with you and getting caught up on the news in your lives! Design/Layout Sally Snell Continued on page 4 MEET A LISTENER: GWEN GRAHAM

By Lisa Werner, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator Gwen Graham has lived in Wichita, KS, her entire books are often set in a pioneer era and centered on life. She was born on a cold Christmas Day in 1952. female protagonists. Her first novel wasLove Comes As a child, she thought all the Christmas decorations Softly.” Gwen also enjoys light mystery stories. “I like and celebrations were for her birthday. When she got a little whodunit, but nothing violent or scary or gory. a little older and realized that her birthday was also Nancy Drew type of mystery stories is what I fancy,” Christmas, she wasn’t disappointed. “What could be Gwen shared. “I don’t watch many movies, but when I better than having your birthday the same day as your do it is usually a musical. My favorite movie is Okla- favorite holiday?” Gwen gushed. homa. TV and movies are sometimes just background Growing up, Gwen loved big holiday dinners with noise to me while I do my handwork.” turkey and ham and all the fixings. “Christmas was Of course I greatly enjoyed visiting with Gwen. always the biggest and best dinner of the year. I looked She has such enthusiasm and curiosity for all that forward to and dreamed of my birthday/Christmas she does. She seemed to find joy and importance in dinner all year.” She also dreamed of being a mission- everything we talked about. There were never any ary when she was a little girl. Gwen liked the idea of blasé responses. She “loves” everything: ice cream, helping people and traveling. She didn’t get to fulfill music, holidays, seasons, knitting, food, colors… the that dream, but she greatly admires those who do mis- list goes on and on. To every question her response sionary work and supports anyone who donates their was, “I Love That!” It was as if the world was one big time or money towards helping others. Gwen lost her candy store and Gwen a kid let loose inside. eyesight as a baby due to lack of oxygen when she was Above all, her love of color was most surprising to born, so she did have some limitations growing up and me. “I lost my sight as a baby so I have never seen would sometimes have to rely on the help of others. colors, but others have described colors to me in Music became a big part of Gwen’s life early on. She various ways throughout my life and so I feel like couldn’t read music, but around the age of four, she I understand colors and have good mental images started playing the piano by ear. “When I started out of colors,” she says. “My favorite color is pink. It I wasn’t very good, but the more I listened and the makes me happy, and other people always tell me more I played, the better I got,” giggled Gwen. In ad- that I look good in pink,” Gwen explained. Some of dition to playing the piano, Gwen also enjoys listen- Gwen's other favorite things are chocolate ice cream, ing to various kinds of music. Her favorite types of Christmas, Easter, spring, mornings, corny jokes, silly music are country/western, gospel, and 50’s rock & riddles, and teddy bears. roll. “I like to keep busy. In the evenings I can’t just Unfortunately, Gwen hasn’t had the opportunity to do sit and listen to TV or radio. I have to be doing some- much traveling, but if she could travel anywhere in the thing with my hands as well. I like to knit or string world she would ultimately like to go to London, Eng- beads for necklaces and bracelets.” land. “I have always wanted to visit England. I would Like most of us, Gwen loves food. Holiday dinners like to try their native foods like fish & chips and have with all the fixings are her favorite, but on regular afternoon tea. I don’t really care about seeing famous days she favors Mexican food or a juicy roast with landmarks or touristy stuff. I just like to see how other small potatoes and sweet carrots. She reminisced, “A people live day-to-day,” chattered Gwen. good roast with potatoes and carrots like my mom Above all, Gwen enjoys life and loves many things. made when I was a kid is the best comfort food. It At the very top of her list of life's joys are family and always reminds me of home.” animals. Gwen was blessed with her first husband, When she isn’t listening to TV or radio, you will most a wonderful man, for most of her adult life. She was likely find Gwen reading or watching movies. “Audio widowed in 2013, but then was blessed again in books are the greatest thing,” she says. Her preferred 2015 to meet another wonderful man who is her cur- reads are Janette Oke books. “Janette Oke is a Cana- rent husband. In addition, Gwen is also close to her dian author and pioneer of inspirational fiction. Her brother and sister. Continued on page 7 Page 2 Closed Circuit, the Audio-Reader Network volunteer newsletter MAY BIRTHDAYS We at Audio-Reader wish a festive Happy Birthday to the following volunteers and staff with May birthdays:

1 Karen Boyer reads Breakfast 22 Michael Rapport reads the FYI Table Times on weekends and news and the world and nation is an audio description listener news from the Kansas City Star liaison. on Wednesdays for Telephone Sean Easterly reads from the Reader. Springfield News-Leader on 23 Joyce Richards reads Kansas Sundays. City-area regional news from Mary Howe co-hosts Breakfast our location at Alphapointe. Table Times on Mondays. 12 Kimberly Morrow serves on 24 Garry Huber reads Kansas 2 John Bowden reads Motor the Audio-Reader development City-area news from our Trend magazine. committee. location at Alphapointe. Carla Tilghman reads the 13 John Davis is one of our Max Mayse reads Discover University Daily Kansan on FYEO volunteers. Magazine. Thursdays. 14 Nancy Yockey is one of our Bonnie Sullivan reads Oprah 3 Brandon Edling is one of our Emeritus volunteers. Magazine. substitute readers. 17 Jean Finch is a clean-up Gary Wilbers reads Hunting Jack Wilson reads the Sunflower reader for Telephone Reader Magazine. on Thursdays. Dailies and western Kansas 25 Julian Silverman reads eastern regional news on Thursdays. Jason Kingman reads the Kansas regional newspapers on Emma Kloster reads the Iola Dairy Goat Journal for Special Tuesdays. 4 Requests. Register Weekender edition and 26 Rob Johnson reads Kansas does the layout work for Airwaves, Rex Swartz reads the City-area news from Audio-Reader’s donor newsletter. obituaries from the Kansas Alphapointe, reads USA Today She also volunteers as an audio City Star for Telephone Reader on Wednesdays, and reads the description listener liaison. on Fridays. Joplin Globe on Thursdays. 5 Lisa Coble-Krings reads the 19 Tim Nauman is one of our 27 Daniel Kesterson reads grocery Lawrence Journal-World on substitute readers. ads for the Springfield, MO, Saturdays and is one of our Doug Washburn is one of our area. garden volunteers. audio describers. Ken Miner is one of our Melissa Wick reads gardening Christine Bial reads the VFW Emeritus volunteers. magazines for Special Requests 20 Ladies’ Auxiliary magazine Kip Niven reads Veterans’ and is also one of our garden each month. volunteers. Voices. Janis Hutchison reads the Donna Decedue reads the Price David Wallace reads news from 6 Lied Center program notes and southeast Kansas from our Chopper and Sunfresh Market serves on the Audio-Reader grocery ads and reads books. studio at the Homer Cole Center development committee. in Pittsburg, KS. 8 Carol Holstead reads the Maurice Joy is one of our Anderson County Advocate. George Waters is one of our Emeritus volunteers. Emeritus volunteers. Kathy Blackburn is one of 9 21 Cindy Penzler serves on the Kerry Magee reads books. our front desk receptionist Audio-Reader development 28 volunteers. committee. 29 Gene Vollen reads southeast Jim Powers volunteers for our Kansas regional news from the Vanetta Wick reads Kansas Homer Cole Center in Pittsburg. For Your EARS Only (FYEO) City-area regional news from fundraiser each year. our location at Alphapointe in Lorie Williams is a Telephone 11 Connie Mitchell reads Kansas Kansas City. Reader clean-up reader for City area regional news from Sundays. our location at Alphapointe in Kansas City, MO. Continued on page 5 Closed Circuit, the Audio-Reader Network volunteer newsletter Page 3 My Swan Song An Audio-Reader Fundraiser for your Social Calendar! Continued from page 1 By Beth McKenzie, I won’t be far away though! I will still take part in our Development Director monthly book club here at Audio-Reader which meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month (except in May, when it will meet the 3rd Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.) I will remain Mark your calendars for a benefit concert Saturday, on the Audio-Reader development committee as well. June 3 at the Record Bar, 1520 Grand Boulevard, in Kansas City. To all of you, thanks for what you do for Audio-Reader. Area bands Maria and the Mexican, The Pedaljets, And thank you for your gift of reading for us and your and Broken Arrows will play an amazing benefit gift of friendship! show for Audio-Reader! As some of you know, I am very proud of my Irish This show has something for everyone. Maria and the heritage. I leave you with this Irish blessing: Mexican is known for their mix of Americana soul/ May love and laughter light your days, Mexicana groove, mixing their soulful mariachi roots and warm your heart and home. with contemporary American sounds. The Pedaljets blend indie pop punk and alternative rock and roll, May good and faithful friends be yours, while Broken Arrows plays an energetic and eclectic wherever you may roam. mix of rock and roll, country, and whatever else comes May peace and plenty bless your world to mind. with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons General Admission tickets are only $20, while the VIP tickets ($45) also gain you entry to a private After bring the best to you and yours! Show Party with band members. Ticket information is available at the Record Bar or www.therecordbar.com. See you there!

Summer Audio Description Dates

We’re taking a bit of a breather from audio description in May, but summer looks to be busy with shows at Theatre Lawrence and Starlight Theatre! If you know someone who could benefit from audio description, please spread the word!

Disney’s The Little Mermaid: Saturday, June 3, 8:00pm, Starlight Theatre The Music Man: Saturday, June 17 (7:30pm) and Sunday, June 18 (2:30pm), Theatre Lawrence Mamma Mia!: Saturday, June 24, 8:00pm, Starlight Theatre Jersey Boys: Saturday, July 1, 8:00pm, Starlight Theatre An American in Paris: Saturday, July 15, 8:00pm, Starlight Theatre Something Rotten!: Saturday, July 29, 8:00pm, Starlight Theatre The Bodyguard the Musical: Saturday, August 12, 8:00pm, Starlight Theatre Motown the Musical: Saturday, August 26, 8:00pm, Starlight Theatre Grease: Saturday, September 9, 8:00pm, Starlight Theatre Kinky Boots: Saturday, September 30, 8:00pm, Starlight Theatre

Performances are updated regularly at www.reader.ku.edu/audio-description. If you are interested in learning more about our audio description program, contact Jen at [email protected].

Page 4 Closed Circuit, the Audio-Reader Network volunteer newsletter n e w S a n d n o T E S Five Questions: Name: Don Frey Congratulations to all who are graduating this May! Current reading assign- We wish all of you a bright and exciting future! ment: host of Old Time Radio, Kelly Davis will receive her degree from the KU co-host of Double Order of School of Journalism. She puts together the email Freys (with son Bruce Frey), version of Closed Circuit. Kelly will be leaving us to and Thursday Breakfast Table pursue her career—we are grateful for her help! Times Maverick Moore will receive a degree in Mechanical Years of service: Engineering. He reads our Sunday Magazines program. We’re excited to have him continue as a 20+ years reader while he job hunts. Q: Where did you grow up? A: Evanston, IL On the Road Again - Q: What is your favorite book? April/May schedule for A: You Can’t Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe Q: How or why did you get involved with Outreach Audio-Reader? By Lori Kesinger, A: The chance to be seen on the radio again. Outreach Coordinator and Listener Liaison Q: What is your favorite or most unusual • Tuesday, May 2: Young @ Heart Open House, reading assignment? Mid-Continent Public Library, South Indepen- A: Reading a book for a very young child and hav- dence Branch, Independence, MO, 9am-11:30am. ing to make the sounds of different dogs. The child • Wednesday, May 3: Active Aging Expo, was blind. Lighthouse Presbyterian Church, Paola, 9am Q: What is your favorite thing about to 3:30pm AND Spring Fling, Butler County's volunteering for Audio-Reader? Senior Expo, El Dorado, KS, 9am-3pm. A: The chance to be on the radio again. • Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6: Missouri Lions State Convention, Tan-Tar-A . • Saturday, May 6: Lawrence Humane Society 5K and Resource Fair, beginning at 10AM. May Birthdays • Wednesday, May 10: Young @ Heart Open House, Smithville Branch of the Mid-Continent Continued from page 3 Public Library, 9AM-11:30AM. 30 Ann Dean reads Cosmopolitan Magazine. • Friday and Saturday, May 12 and 13: Kansas Linda McFarlane reads Outdoor Life. Eye-Con (KU Dept. of Ophthalmology), The Evie Rapport reads the FYI section from the Venue, Leawood, KS. Kansas City Star on Fridays. • Saturday, May 20: Heartland Golden Games, Dar Williams is one of our Emeritus volunteers. hosted by Senior Services of Wichita. 31 Katie Bartkoski is a Telephone Reader clean- I need people to staff the table at the Humane Society up reader on Sundays. 5K on May 6 and the Senior Games in Wichita on STAFF BIRTHDAYS: May 20. I could also use one or two more volunteers April 8 for the Active Aging Expo in Paola on May 3. Beth McKenzie is our development director. If you are interested in helping to staff these events or know of additional health fairs, senior fairs, or April 30 other events, please contact Lori Kesinger, 785-864- Meredith Johanning is our development 4625 or [email protected]. assistant.

Closed Circuit, the Audio-Reader Network volunteer newsletter Page 5 NEW FACES Sustained Giving is a Useful Option to Consider By Jennifer Nigro, Coordinator of Volunteers By Beth McKenzie, Development Director Please give a warm welcome to the following new volun- teers! A lot of people have expressed how much they want to help Audio-Reader through these recent budget cuts, Gretchen Burch spent 11 years working as a trainer and we have a wonderful program to help you help us – in the banking industry. She enjoys writing, painting, Sustained Giving! poetry, and keeping chickens! Gretchen learned about Audio-Reader while at KU, through her involvement Our sustained giving option is easy on your time and with Service for Sight. She also enjoys reading and budget. Maybe you can’t give a big donation, but an describing television to her grandmother, who has lost affordable monthly contribution is a HUGE help for her sight, whenever she visits. Gretchen begins as a Audio-Reader! substitute reader. Once a month, an automatic deduction of $10 or more Shantece Gonzalez is a KU student studying clinical will be donated to Audio-Reader. This tax deductible lab science. She has worked as a mass communications contribution is made possible through KU Endow- specialist for the US Navy, and produced a radio show ment’s electronic funds transfer authorization. You for the Armed Forces Radio Network for four years. can change your monthly gift amount or cancel any She also created her own podcast and a YouTube chan- time. The registration form is available at http://www. nel. Shantece begins as a substitute reader. kuendowment.org/Your-Gift/By-Mail,-Phone,-ETF-or- Wire-Transfer or contact Beth ([email protected]) Jill Mignacca recently started working at KU En- or Meredith ([email protected]) in the Development dowment! She has volunteered for Girls on the Run Department. of Greater Kansas City, the United Way of Douglas County, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, and the To- peka YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment. In her spare time she enjoys knitting, writing, and “aunt- What’s Up Wednesday: May ing”. Jill begins as a substitute reader. meeting rescheduled Caroline Ong is an attorney. She enjoys volunteering with her church, often providing meals for funerals and By Jennifer Nigro, collecting food, clothing, and personal items for char- Coordinator of Volunteers ity. She also helped update and revise legal publications on estate planning and trust laws and practices. In her Last month, we announced the beginning of What’s Up spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, gardening, bak- Wednesday, an opportunity to gather informally and chat ing, and quilting. Caroline begins as a substitute reader. about Audio-Reader. It will normally be held from 10- Hal Walter is a retired human resources manager for 11am the last Wednesday of each month. However, due the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He spent to travel to the IAAIS Conference, I am rescheduling the 27 years as a volunteer instructor for the National Mo- May meeting to Wednesday, May 24. Join us in the Audio- torcycle Safety Foundation in North Carolina. Now in Reader living room, and let us know what’s on your mind! Kansas, he remains an avid motorcycle rider, is a pilot, and enjoys woodworking, fishing, and gardening. He begins as a substitute reader on Monday’s Springfield News-Leader.

Page 6 Closed Circuit, the Audio-Reader Network volunteer newsletter Get on the Greens to Meet a Listener

Raise Some Green for Continued from page 2 Audio-Reader! Her brother lives in Virginia Beach and her sister lives just outside of Wichita. “I am lucky to get to By Meredith Johanning, see my sister often. She is just a few minutes away. Development Assistant I wish that I got to see my brother more often, but going to Virginia Beach is a wonderful treat. Audio-Reader’s 8th Annual Golf Animals, pets, have always been part of our family Classic is a little over a month too. Over the years I have had three different guide away! It will be held on Monday, dogs. We also always had a cat or two around the June 5 at the Eagle Bend Golf house. When I had to move to a small assisted liv- Course in Lawrence, KS. Erin ing apartment, I could only bring my one cat. Sadly O’Neil, head coach of KU Wom- she just passed away last month. Losing my cat en’s Golf, is back with us again to has been very difficult for me. I had to ask Audio- chair the event and we couldn’t be Reader to quit sending me the monthly Catster more excited! Since the golf classic started in 2010, it magazine because it was too hard to listen to after has continued to grow every year. We want to make losing my cat. I still love receiving the monthly sure this year is no exception! You can be a part of Guideposts magazine from Audio-Reader, and am helping grow this event by either playing in the tour- so thankful for the woman (Kay Campbell) who nament, becoming a sponsor, or helping us secure new reads that each month. I have only been an Audio- sponsors. Do you work for a company that would like Reader listener for a few months, but I really enjoy to get its name out in the community? Do you own it and am so thankful for it,” Gwen shared. a business that would like to support Audio-Reader? Contact Beth ([email protected]) or Meredith ([email protected]) at 785-864-4600 and we can provide sponsorship information. The deadline to register to play is May 22. To reg- ister yourself and/or your team go to www.reader. ku.edu/audio-reader-golf-classic. We’re looking for- ward to another great event and we want you to be a part of it too. Help us raise some green on the greens for Audio-Reader! ’ Audio-Reader In History By Lynne Ellis, Audio-Reader Volunteer

May 1987: Five staff members returned from the ARRS conference on May 31. Diana Frederick led a work- shop on "Maintaining Quality Volunteers" and did an outstanding job. She and her husband Joey were expecting a baby in January. May 1992: The beginning of the construction of the KANU facility was pushed back to May. Apologies were made for the mess to follow. May 2007: At the International Association of Audio Information Services meeting held in Jackson, MS, volun- teer Darcy Schild won an award in the category of "Narrative Reading I" and producer/engineer Art Hadley won in the "Thematic Production" category for a volunteer banquet promo. May 2012: Audio-Reader forged ties with the Accessible Media Association for the Blind of Western Australia. Volunteer Karen DeVictor recorded children's books expected to be accessed worldwide through the Common- wealth Braille and Talking Book Cooperative.

Closed Circuit, the Audio-Reader Network volunteer newsletter Page 7 CLOSED CIRCUIT PICTURE PERFECT The University of Kansas Audio-Reader Network 1120 West 11th Street Lawrence, KS 66044

(785) 864-4600

(800) 772-8898 READER.KU.EDU

STAFF

Dan Skinner Director, ext. 4603 Billie Archer Weekend Reading Coordinator, ext. 4612 Band members from the Beatles Tribute Band play at Liberty Hall. The Nicci Banman benefit concert, held on April 16, helped raise necessary funds for Audio- Business Manager, Reader. Thank you to everyone who was able to come out and enjoy good ext. 2252 music while also supporting Audio-Reader! Nick Carswell Program Manager, ext. 2686 Meredith Johanning Development Assistant, ext. 4634 Lori Kesinger Outreach Coordinator/ Listener Liaison, ext. 4625 Steve Kincaid Chief Engineer, ext. 4691 Danny Mantyla Webmaster, ext. 2238 George McCoy Telephone Reader Coordinator, ext. 4612 Beth McKenzie Development Director, ext. 5336 Jennifer Nigro Volunteer Coordinator, ext. 4604 Susan Tabor Administrative Assistant, ext. 2201 Lisa Werner Assistant Volunteer Coordi-

nator, ext. 2685 Lawrence, KS 66044 KS Lawrence,

1120 West 11th Street 11th West 1120

Audio-Reader Network Audio-Reader The University of Kansas of University The