The TAPING RECORDER July 2003 News from and about Taping For The Blind, Inc. www.tapingfortheblind.org CUSTOM RECORDING LIBRARY -- Whenever we do a Custom Recording project we usually keep a master copy in case someone else might want that particular document. Now we are pleased to announce that we have a catalog of these items that we can sort by title, author, or subject. This will allow us to make this work available when a client requests it, and it will also be easier to determine whether we have a requested title or not. Considering the variety of materials we have done in Custom Recording, this is quite an achievement. Now that the catalog is computerized, we can better maintain it; and we will be better able to let clients know about it. Our thanks to the following volunteers who have worked so diligently for the last 2 years to make this happen: Bill "Weave" Weaver; Dee Weaver; Fran Dunovsky; Lynn Schmaltz; and Rachel Johnston. As with any project of this sort, there is still more to do as we add books read for broadcast on HTBR to the catalog. And then monthly updates as more work is completed. We are also contemplating adding the catalog to our website to make our work even more accessible. We also recognize Ginger Gish for her good work in making this project successful! SERVICE REQUESTS CURRENT -- Our thanks to Marsha Ulaby and Marie Roberts for their efforts in getting us caught up with our requests for HTBR service. When Marty Ryan was out due to surgery and recovery, Marsha and Marie jumped in and got us current again. This means more clients are enjoying Taping services. We are glad to have Marty back -- and we are glad to be caught up on HTBR applications! RADIO & CLIENT DATA BASE -- We send our clients our special radios free of charge, but this doesn't mean we don't like to keep track of both radios and clients. Volunteer Deborah Filip has developed a system to do this tracking. Along with Marie Roberts, she has developed the procedures required for the care and feeding of this database. These procedures are being tested (thanks to Marsha Ulaby too), resulting in some system design revisions, but after a year of work this project is coming together very well. We are very grateful to each of the volunteers working on these record-keeping projects. With documented procedures, it is much easier to train other volunteers to do the required maintenance of our databases. Thanks to all! CONGRATULATIONS -- We are glad to report news about former Board President Dr. Bill Gordon. Dr. Gordon has moved to Ithaca, New York, and he has let us know that he will soon marry again. While we miss Bill, we are very happy for this turn in his life! And congratulations to Bill Kreps who also will marry soon! THANKS, DESCRIBERS! -- We would like to take a moment to thank the volunteers who have done theater descriptions so far this year: TUTS "My Fair Lady" on Feb. 9 by Monica McHam; Alley "You Can't Take It With You" on March 23 by Monica McHam; TUTS "Kiss Me, Kate" on March 30 by Bill Kreps; Alley "Trip to Bountiful" on May 4 by Cynthia Franzetti; TUTS "Starlight Express" on May 18 by Monica McHam; and Alley "Hamlet" on June 22 by Bill Kreps. We sincerely appreciate the work that goes into making the theater available to the blind and visually impaired of the Greater Houston area. We are also working to do audience building for these wonderful events and at least one recent effort shows some promise. Bob and Victoria Bartlett and Chris Kiersted recently spoke to a low vision support group at the Memorial Methodist Church, and one of those people had season tickets with TUTS but did not know description was available. Now she is going to get tickets for the described performances. Every small step helps. WELCOME, NEW VOLUNTEERS -- Once again we are pleased to welcome new volunteers. New to HTBR are Jeanetta Fields Van Rijn, Christie Kobatake, Laura McFall, and Edmond Toma. New in Custom Recording is Jay Dinwiddie. Welcome to all! LIGHT THE CANDLES! -- We are pleased to recognize those who are adding another number on their personal odometer of life during August: 8/3 Marylynn Coryell; 8/3 Connie Wright; 8/4 Marc Sherman; 8/5 Bette Douglas; 8/5 Stephen Lovett; 8/14 Norris Jackson; 8/15 Brent Burks; 8/17 Betty Williams; 8/18 Gwen Hieger; 8/20 Hanna Lewis; 8/22 Lindsey Copp; 8/23 David Cindric; 8/24 Diane Patrick; 8/26 Marsha Ulaby; 8/29 Chris Kiersted; 8/30 Anna McLean; 8/31 Jean Frey; and Beverly Ellerbee (no day listed in our database, just the month). If you have an August birthday and do not find your name in this list, please contact Ginger so we can update your record. CREDIT UNION -- Remember that as a volunteer to Taping For The Blind, Inc., you are eligible to be a member of the Greater Houston Federal Credit Union. If you don't already have a credit union, you need one. The credit union is organized for service, not for profit. Greater Houston Federal is a full-service credit union with very competitive rates for loans, so give them a call at 713-455-6257 or go to their website (www.ghfcu.org) for more information. Becoming a member is easy and they work hard to bring you personal service for all of your financial needs. GRAPEFRUIT & ORANGES -- We are very pleased to let you know about a fundraising project being done by our friends at the Bellaire Lions Club. They are offering Texas citrus fruit for sale. This is your chance to get case quantities of Rio Star grapefruit as well as Texas oranges fresh from the Valley. We have order forms on the sign-in table. All orders must be prepaid. Orders will be taken until December 3, with delivery on December 10 (and we have a volunteer that will pick them up and bring them to Taping so you can pick your orders up here). Prices are as follows: Rio Star grapefruit are $25.00 for a 40-pound case or $20.00 for a 20-pound case; juice oranges are $25.00 for a 40-pound case or $20.00 for a 20-pound case. There is a $5.00 discount for orders received before November 4, 2003. This is one of those neat fundraisers where you get excellent products as well as help our friends at the Bellaire Lions Club! RLB :=)