The TAPING RECORDER December, 2003
News from & about Taping For The Blind, Inc. www.tapingfortheblind.org

HOLIDAY PARTY--Join your fellow Taping volunteers and staff as we celebrate
the holiday season on Wednesday, December 10, 2003, from 5-7 p.m. at 3935
Essex Lane. This is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and fun, and it
also is a great chance to meet volunteers you don’t have much chance to
interact with. Don’t miss a great holiday party! Join us on December 10
at Taping! Please RSVP to 713-622-2767. Dress is casual.

FROM THE BOARDROOM--Our November Board meeting can be exciting as we elect
officers for next year and approve our operating budget. Our officers for
2004 are Bob Bartlett, President; David Gillmore, Vice president Planning &
Technology; Randy de La Garza, Vice president Development; Dr. Ed Bradley,
Vice president Client Services; Janet Parisi, Secretary; and Ulyesse
LeGrange, Treasurer. Chris Kiersted continues as Immediate Past
President. Directors elected to a second term include John Hesse, Ellin
Royds, Betti Saunders, Dena Marks Sokolow, and Dennis Tompkins. New
directors include Bill Canning, Larry Foust, and Mary Pedersen. Directors
leaving the board include Fredell Belasco, Susan Boggio, John Deming, Joe
Laughlin, and Robin Rice.

We offer our sincere thanks to our departing directors. They are
people who made a difference here at Taping and we really appreciate their
time and dedication to our wonderful cause. And just because they are no
longer board members does not mean they will no longer be volunteers for
Taping, as most will continue their service.

To our new directors we say welcome and thank you for volunteering
for board service. We look forward to each of you making a significant
contribution to our success.

We say a special thank you to Joe Laughlin for his service as Vice
president of Development. Joe is a splendid guy and has done an excellent
job in a very challenging position. We are pleased he will be around and
spending more time reading than signing letters or reviewing grant requests!

HOLIDAY HOURS--We will have special building hours for Christmas Eve,
December 24, Christmas Day, December 25, New Year’s Eve, December 31, and
New Year’s Day, January 1, 2004. For each of those days the building will
be open from 7-11 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes
you. Please notify any staff member if you will not be available to do
your HTBR show as scheduled. This will allow us to line up a substitute to
keep the shows on the air. We will observe normal hours for the Fridays,
Saturdays, and Sundays following the holidays.

SUPPORT YOUR TEAM--Whether they are running a full or a half marathon,
running or walking 5 kilometers, they are doing so not only to achieve
cardiovascular health, but also to generate donations for Taping. They are
training now for the marathon that happens January 18 on the streets of
Houston (we assume you realize what intestinal fortitude that takes getting
out on those streets). Pledge sheets for our team will be posted in time
for the holiday party, so you can sign up and support your favorite runner,
or sign up and support them all. They are working hard to generate
donations for Taping. Let’s not let them down!

CONGRATULATIONS--We offer our congratulations to volunteer Bill Kreps who
married November 28, and we congratulate his new bride, Hannah, on a great
catch!

NEW VOLUNTEERS--We welcome the following new volunteers for Custom
Recording: Karen Holleman, Susanne Schmelz, Barry Okin, and Peter
Vollers. Thank you for helping us Turn Sight Into Sound!

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS--Happy Birthday wishes go to the following Taping
volunteers with birthdays this month: 12/01 Elaine Anthony; 12/03 Avery
Bonneé; 12/05 Marie Roberts, Sarah Roush; 12/08 Lauren Kelly; 12/10 Bill
Kreps, Robert Rice, R. J. "Skip" Williams; 12/11 Jim Bob Conner; 12/14
Carol Haskins; 12/15 Doug Miller; 12/16 Pat Shannon; 12/18 Pat Arthur;
12/21 Katherin Demetriou, Lewis Kana; 12/22 John Borrowman, Floy
Crutchfield; 12/23 Jeri Herbsleb; 12/24 Julie Burks; 12/28 Bill Canning;
12/30 Bob Cayce, Donna Wilkins; and 12/31 Claire Ellington. If you have a
December birthday and don’t find your name in this list, please let Ginger
know so we can update our records.

SIGNS--the following signs are real according to what I read on the
Internet (so you know that has to be right):

At a Towing company:
"We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."

On a Maternity Room door:
"Push. Push. Push."

At an Optometrist's Office
"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

On a Fence:
"Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive."

At a Propane Filling Station,
"Thank heaven for little grills." (That one is for Hank Hill!)

And to conclude, the four stages of life:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!

RLB