Summer 2025 | Volume 43, Issue 3 |
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| Annual Banquet Celebrates A-R Volunteers |
Our Volunteer Appreciation Banquet brought together 150 volunteers, supporters and listeners! KU’s Joe Monaco joined us too. We set aside this night to celebrate the generous nature, the ever flexible willingness, and the exceptional skill of the Audio-Reader Community!
Randy Austin, Advisory Board President provided the welcome, and Feloniz Lovato-Winston, Audio-Reader and KPR Director, provided an update. Both cheered the volunteers and the tremendous work of Audio-Reader of the previous year.
Felly noted, “You take your volunteer assignments seriously, and our listeners know that. Thousands depend on us and the programming you provide. In 2024, we had 6,755 sessions on Amazon Alexa, from 617 unique customers and 744 skill enablements. Telephone Reader received 8,541 calls last year, an average of 23 calls per day and a total of 184,605 total minutes. Our website, reader.ku.edu, had 8,073 active users and 26,183 pageviews. There was a 71% increase in users the week before the presidential election in November. In 2024, we also launched a site designed specifically for listeners. This was our Outreach Coordinator and Listener Liaison, Martha Kehr’s, idea. She realized that our website wasn’t easy to use with a screen reader and worked with our webmaster Danny Mantyla to design a new site. AUDIO-READER-DOT-NET was launched last spring and, in the remainder of 2024, had 946 active users and 4,995 page views.”
Mary Chappell provided remarks as well. After 34 years at KU, Mary retired in 2016, as director emeritus, KU Recreation Services, David A. Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. Mary has been a listener for many years and volunteer voices have been a source of news and information for her. Mary spoke to the significant impact of the voice of the volunteer reaching out to each listener and bringing connection as well as information with every program.
After a delightful meal from Maceli’s, Beth McKenzie, Director of Development presented the awards for our volunteers celebrating their anniversaries.
5 Years
Joshua McCloud and Aruna Subramaniam
10 Years
Karen Braman, Carol Cole, Michael Cornelius, Susan Craig
Sallie Downing, Lyn Fields, Steve Grimm, Tracy Harrison, William Hawkings, Mary Jo Hobbs, Rob Johnson, Melinda Kearney, Thomas Kearney, Wake Mitchell
15 Years
Kelly Loeb, Michael Hauber, Peter Knutson
20 Years
Terry Betzen, Debra Kirmer, Fred Miller, Betsy Parker
25 Years
Ann Chapman, Marilyn Daniels, Lisa Hallberg
30 Years
Rex Buchanan, Gavin Bruce
35 Years
Elaine Roberts, Max Mayse
40 Years
Karen O’Keefe
45 Years
Darcy Schild celebrates 45 Years as an Audio-Reader volunteer. She is one of three volunteers having accomplished this milestone.
We closed the evening hearing the comments of listeners and also taking a group photo. Gratitude filled the room! Thank you volunteers 🥳
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Volunteers are the heart of Audio-Reader, so we are grateful and excited to announce our new Spring 2025 cohort who have completed their initial training and have started substituting or reading a weekly assignment. Please join us in welcoming these new volunteers and learning a little more about each of them.
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Chris Carpenter
From Prairie Village, Chris joins Audio-Reader as a broadcast reader. He is a recently retired lawyer who also volunteers with the Heartland Center for Jobs & Freedom, a non-profit that advocates for low-wage workers -- eviction defense, predatory lending, workers' rights, etc. He also brings experience to A-R from previous work in radio and voice over fields. He says, “I'd very much like to use my skills to benefit others. And it would be a joy for me!”
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| William "Jerry" Cooper
A Lawrence local, Jerry comes to Audio-Reader with background ranging from Kinesiology to Strategic Planning and Major Gifts Fundraising. Jerry is also building his skills with guitar and French! He has read via a library program in the past and is eager to bring his skills to the listeners of Audio-Reader. He is reading the KC Star via Telephone Reader.
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| Connie Dawson
Recently moved to Lawrence, Connie is glad for the opportunity to share her voice through Audio-Reader. She has previously volunteered with the Women's Resistance Chorus, community band, and the Humane Society. She recognizes the value of the Audio-Reader service and hopes to contribute with her reading. Here first assignment is via Telephone Reader providing the news from the Springfield News Leader.
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Kim Heald
Currently living in Lawrence, Kim previously read for the State of Nebraska Talking Books program and now works with Lawrence Public Schools to help youth improve their reading skills. She also volunteered with the Lincoln Arts Council and several boards as well as her church. Kim is looking forward to being part of the Audio-Reader community and helped out at the IAAIS conference too.
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| Scott Heidner
Scott is a lawyer working in Topeka and volunteering in Lawrence with previous roles in leadership at the Lawrence Humane Society and the previously in Topeka’s Boy’s and Girls Club and Jawhawker Club. He was recommended by Max Mayse and has been filling in for volunteers as a sub. He will start his first regular assignment with the Houston Herald via Telephone Reader – and yes, that is Houston Missouri!
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| Emma Parsley
While previously living in Lawrence and being an Audio-Reader volunteer and staff member during college, Emma moved away for about a decade. While she continues to work full-time, she is back and excited to return to volunteering and supporting the mission of Audio-Reader! Emma enjoys reading, spending time with pets, listening to podcasts, and is a member of community gifting groups.
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Emily Rems
A current Lawrence resident, Emma has volunteered with the Lawrence Senior Resource Center for their Tech Tuesday. She comes to A-R with professional acting, voice, and articulation training. Emma was a frequent guest on New York City’s NPR affiliate WNYC and also did some work for a theater company in DC in the 90s. She was a podcast host for 7 years and you can hear her show, “Poptarts,” on iTunes and at bust.com/poptarts. Emily is currently reading the KC Star via Telephone Reader.
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| Stephanie Ruppen
In addition to being passionate about the communities served by Audio-Reader and the endeavor to make the world a more inclusive place, Stephanie enjoys vocal performance via singing and speaking. As an avid reader, she looks forward to using this opportunity to improve the quality of life of others. Her previous volunteer work includes Little Prairie Community Garden, Council for Disability Inclusion @ KU, and STEM Outreach Advising. Steph has accepted several sub assignments, learning more with each read.
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| Theresa St.Romain
From Bel Aire, Kansas, and currently residing in Wichita with her family, Theresa is a medical researcher, writer, and editor. She has published 21 novels!! Not surprisingly, her favorite pastime is reading. She says she loves words and would be glad to help others access them. Theresa is reading remotely with several sub assignments until her schedule opens up in the fall. She has previously volunteered at her church and with her local public library system.
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Scott Wagner
Hailing from NKC, Scott is a Clay County Commissioner and an adjunct professor at UMKC in addition to serving on the board of Northland Symphony Orchestra and the KC Regional Transit Alliance. He previously served as a City Councilman in KCMO and has been a Parks & Rec Commissioner. He is excited to be reading remotely and his first is subbing for the National Enquirer.
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| Mary Koranda
Mary has been sharing her gifts with Audio-Reader at our front desk; she processes audio files for our broadcast and greets visitors, callers and volunteers too. Now she ads volunteer broadcaster to her list of contributions! Mary is a former nurse and teacher and now in retirement, she is loving volunteering and being a dedicated grandma too!
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| Greg Duchinsky
Greg is a recent retiree in addition to A-R, he is volunteering as a Docent at B29 DOC hangar as well as the Wichita Public Library. Greg's interests are varied from cars to graphic design, playing in the local ice hockey league and having a 3rd degree black belt in Goju-ryu karate.
Greg also formerly broadcast in the collegiate and professional setting; he is excited to be part of the A-R community.
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| Bobby Nichols
Bobby is the Managing Partner at FERN Financial and as a professor at KU he had several peers that volunteered with Audio-Reader too. He also volunteers with LINK and believes it is important to model for his children service to the community. For his first assignment, he is currently reading the Kansas City Newspapers, Northeast.
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Audio-Reader Hosts IAAIS Conference
(and wins 3 awards!!) |
The Audio-Reader Network was honored with three awards during the 2025 Annual Awards Banquet at the IAAIS conference. The awards recognize the talents of Audio-Reader volunteers while highlighting the importance of making voting accessible both at the ballot and in making candidate and voting guides available to people with visual and other print disabilities.
The three awards are:
1) Consumer Information / Public Service - Audio-Reader Network (Lawrence, KS) for "2024 Voting Guide" read and produced by Nick Carswell.
Nick Carswell is the program manager at Audio-Reader and passionate about making voting accessible before and at the ballot box. The 2024 Voting Guide project did just that for voters across the Kansas City region and included detailed descriptions of candidates and ballot measures up for a vote during the 2024 election cycle.
2) Magazines - Audio-Reader Network (Lawrence, KS) for "Field & Stream Magazine" read by Gavin Bruce, produced by Nick Carswell.
Since 1995, Gavin Bruce has volunteered with Audio-Reader either in-person or remotely. During that time, he has read a variety of assignments, each with his professional and intriguing voice to keep listeners coming back again and again. A KU graduate, he has traveled the world, visiting and living abroad multiple times, but he keeps coming back and staying connected with Lawrence.
3) Dramas, Radio Theater, Holiday Specials - Audio-Reader Network (Lawrence, KS) for "Two On The Aisle: Those Who Served" read by Melinda Kearney, produced by Colin Halliburton & Nick Carswell.
Melinda Kearney started volunteering with Audio-Reader in 2015 along with her husband Tom, and they have become super volunteers during that time. Not only do they read multiple programs each week, they serve on Audio-Reader's Advisory Board and volunteer at our many fundraisers and outreach events each year. Kearney's Halloween episode of "Two on the Aisle" is the perfect example of her enthusiastic voice, consistent professionalism, and dedication to Audio-Reader listeners.
Find a full list of awards on https://www.iaais.org/2025-awards
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VCB Updates & Upcoming Events |
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September 13 - Next Audio Sale at the Lawrence Library (10a - 4p , flyer below)
- September 28 - Listener Robert Phillip's Book Launch (2p - 4p) at Union Pacific Depot, North Lawrence
- October 11 - Audio-Reader's 54th Birthday (reception details to come in fall)
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Upcoming Audio Description |
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July 11 & 12 - A Year with Frog and Toad, Coterie Theatre at Crown Center (morning performances)
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- July 26 - Ain't Too Proud, Starlight Theatre in Kansas City
- August 9 - Disney's Frozen, Starlight Theatre in Kansas City
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| Upcoming Virtual Coffee Bars for fall:
July - Summer Hiatus - NO MEETING
August 20, 2pm, Audacity Training, Part 2
Then mark your calendars for the remaining three on September 17, October 15, and November 19 (which will be the FINAL VCB for 2025 as we do not have a meeting in December).
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😎 Sending cool summer wishes 🌴 |
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