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Independence, MO —
Almost all life changing not-for-profit organizations owe their origins to one individual. That is certainly true for the Kansas Audio-Reader Network – which also serves Independence.
By way of personal disclaimer I admit great admiration of this public service inasmuch as the elder of my two daughters has donated hundreds of hours reading books over a PBS radio station on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.
In the Midwest area we have Petey Cerf, a native of Lawrence, Kan., to thank for much of what has happened to provide sightless citizens with the opportunity to hear books read aloud, primarily over public radio airwaves, including KCUR-FM in Kansas City. In 1965 Petey funded research on radio reading services, only to be told that it wasn’t feasible. However, in 1969 Minnesota Talking Books was created. Petey visited them and made plans to found Audio-Reader in Kansas, which was up and running in 1971. By 1991, with more than 20 years of aid by the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation, the Audio-Reader signal was nationwide.
In 1994 The Lions Telephone Reader Service allowed listeners to access the system 24 hours a day to not only audio books, but more than 124 publications, newspapers, etc. using six local toll-free phone lines. “Today,” according to the Fall 2011 issue of Airwaves, the newsletter for supporters of the Audio-Reader Network, there are “over 350 active volunteers, thousands of low-vision and print-disabled listeners able to access their daily newspaper, best-seller or magazines just like their sighted friends and family.”
Eleanor Symons was Audio-Reader’s first local volunteer. She started reading in 1971 and is still reading today. Wade Dexter volunteered from 1982 to 2010, and Erika Binns read from 1985 to 2000.
An additional major point I’m trying to make is about service organizations, whether they be Audio Reader, Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis or any of a thousand other not-for-profit agencies or groups. Your life and the community of which you are a part is poorer if you have never felt sufficient passion about a worthy cause to donate some of your personal time, talent or fortune toward it.
Almost all life changing not-for-profit organizations owe their origins to one individual. That is certainly true for the Kansas Audio-Reader Network – which also serves Independence.
By way of personal disclaimer I admit great admiration of this public service inasmuch as the elder of my two daughters has donated hundreds of hours reading books over a PBS radio station on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.
In the Midwest area we have Petey Cerf, a native of Lawrence, Kan., to thank for much of what has happened to provide sightless citizens with the opportunity to hear books read aloud, primarily over public radio airwaves, including KCUR-FM in Kansas City. In 1965 Petey funded research on radio reading services, only to be told that it wasn’t feasible. However, in 1969 Minnesota Talking Books was created. Petey visited them and made plans to found Audio-Reader in Kansas, which was up and running in 1971. By 1991, with more than 20 years of aid by the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation, the Audio-Reader signal was nationwide.
In 1994 The Lions Telephone Reader Service allowed listeners to access the system 24 hours a day to not only audio books, but more than 124 publications, newspapers, etc. using six local toll-free phone lines. “Today,” according to the Fall 2011 issue of Airwaves, the newsletter for supporters of the Audio-Reader Network, there are “over 350 active volunteers, thousands of low-vision and print-disabled listeners able to access their daily newspaper, best-seller or magazines just like their sighted friends and family.”
Eleanor Symons was Audio-Reader’s first local volunteer. She started reading in 1971 and is still reading today. Wade Dexter volunteered from 1982 to 2010, and Erika Binns read from 1985 to 2000.
An additional major point I’m trying to make is about service organizations, whether they be Audio Reader, Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis or any of a thousand other not-for-profit agencies or groups. Your life and the community of which you are a part is poorer if you have never felt sufficient passion about a worthy cause to donate some of your personal time, talent or fortune toward it.
