Armchair Reader, NEIRRS on TV, SIF and New People at NEIRRS

Summer reading is fantastic!  Unfortunately, we can't sit in the back yard and get some 'rays' at NEIRRS.  However, I've requested 15 books from ACPL and will be choosing readers to bring those stories to life over the coming two months.  Topics include Allen County History, pipe organs, castaways, remarkable animal stories, Parish Nursing, words from our fathers, memorable moments, on being a pharmacist, fathers who cook, spy stories, and even a few children's anecdotes and poems.  It will be wonderful to add new content and treat our growing number of listeners.  

Did you know that we are now heard on TV at Lutheran Hospital, Ortho Hospital, & Rehabilitation Hospital in Fort Wayne?  We are and it's fantastic!  Thank you to Lutheran Health for handling the technical side.  A big thank you to our donors who made the equipment purchase needed, possible!  

We are also heard on TV at Heritage Pointe in Warren, Peabody's Retirement Center in North Webster, and The Towne House and Parkview Hospitals in Fort Wayne.  Other print-impaired people listen using a special radio loaned to them at no charge.  Or they listen to our Web Stream, or tune in to a Podcast.  We are now serving nearly 5,000 people in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio.

As the chairwoman for the annual Senior Information Fair, I'll be busy with promotion of this great educational healthy-aging event - September 22 from 9:00 to 3:00 at the main library.  This year's added feature is on Veterans' benefits.  Bookmark the SIF web page to learn more:  www.seniorfair.info 

Welcome: If you haven't met the newest member of our NEIRRS Team, you are missing out.  Say hello to John Dorrill at NEIRRS on Saturdays and Sundays and sometimes during the week, too.  He's a man of many talents and a great sense of humor.  We're very glad he's working with us.

We are always auditioning great readers at NEIRRS.  If you have an excellent vocabulary, are 21 years of age or over, and are interested in reading newspapers and magazines to people who are blind or print-impaired, please call Lisa Bordner, NEIRRS Manager at  421-1375.  

Here are just a few of the newest folks reading at NEIRRS:

Judy O'Dwyer

Judy Bennett

Rick Dumford

Allyson Ellis

Debbie Hallett

Rita Voors

Steve Morrell

Doug McGehe

Joan Richardson

Busy is Great!

Feeling left out or blue?  Well you'll have to put on running shoes to keep up with us.  Here are a few things that have been going on at NEIRRS in April:

Lisa went to Boston to attend the National Conference on Media Reform.  It was awesome and inspiring.  She attended on behalf of the IAAIS (International Association of Audio Information Services).  Lisa's on their board and the IAAIS is very concerned about the future of accessibility for people who are disabled -- and by association, the future of delivery for our various reading services.  


Along that subject, how does NEIRRS stack up?  Well, NEIRRS is webstreaming, available by Podcast, available as one of the audio choices in the iBlink application, and networking like crazy with other programs.  Lisa is also working on expanding availability locally to hospitals and assisted living centers who have closed circuit TV systems.  


The whole staff is involved in welcoming Meredith - who joined NEIRRS in April as a weekend Control Room Operator.  She'll be running the board every other Saturday and Sunday.  Stop in to say hello if you're reading.


We've created two new email databases to help us communicate more frequently.  We now have a "weekend reader" database, and a "week day reader" database.  Watch your email for NEIRRS News!


Everyone is preparing for Volunteer Recognition, too!  This year's Volunteer Recognition Luncheon is June 2nd at the Towne House.  Volunteers join us from noon to 1:30 for a great meal and some major appreciation for the 6500 hours they volunteered last year to provide our 24/7 service.


You will also see Lisa and Advisory Council Members or Reading Volunteers exhibiting at many of the area's Focus on Health locations.  Grab your best friend and get a check of your health at one of the FOH screening locations.   


In May you'll see Lisa and volunteers exhibiting at Senior Circle Expo at Safety Village on May 6th and at the DisABILITY Expo at the Coliseum on May 7th.


The 3rd week in May Lisa will be going to the IAAIS Annual Conference in St. Louis, MO.  Another networking, learning, and leading opportunity.  Lisa's been asked to moderate the Wizard Panel - discussing new technology opportunities for Member Stations.  


And don't forget the Central Lions Bill Smith Golf Outing on May 26th.  The Central Lions have been organizing this fund raiser for many years, and NEIRRS is one of 4 blind service recipient agencies that benefits.  Grab your clubs and fill out an application to participate!


It's already a GREAT SPRING!

NEIRRS begins blog transformation

During 2011, we'll be changing over our Blog page from www.readindiana.blogspot.com to http://neirrs.blogspot.com/
Oddly enough, "NEIRRS" wasn't available when we started our Blog two years ago...but now it is.  So, it should be much easier for you to remember and easier for you to follow what's going on at NEIRRS.

We'll be posting to both Blog locations for 2011 and then moving over to just the NEIRRS.blogspot.com address in 2012.  Stay with us and be sure to share your comments.  You have to register for a G-mail account (that means you have to sign up for a free gmail email address to comment) - but it's easy and free. Tell us what you're reading, why you enjoy volunteering at NEIRRS, and if you know anyone whose life has been improved by using the NEIRRS service.