Knitting: I actually began learning to knit from weekly lessons in the AR living room from late AR volunteer Regina Townsend-Krause. Every time I knit a scarf, hat, or afghan, I think of Audio Reader where it all began. Other hobbies include: Learning foreign languages (I have a B.A. in German and Spanish and an M.A. in German), Piano (I’ve returned to piano for the first time since my college studies with virtual piano lessons, hammered and Appalachian dulcimer (I’m a  member of Prairie Dulcimer Club in KC), and ukulele (I attend monthly meetings of the KC Ukesters and the Uke On ukulele jam group.  Chess: I am a member of the United States Blind Chess Association and enjoy playing chess online with other blind chess players from across the world. Recently, I became a congregational care minister with my church, the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection—a very rewarding experience. I also recently returned to membership in the Overland Park Host Lions Club, one of the Lions Clubs that helps with the funding of the Lions Telephone Reader service. Most of all, I find joy in spending time with my fifth guide dog, black Guiding Eyes for the Blind Labrador Retriever Kiwi, and spending time with my beloved mother, Glenna. We lost the love of our lives, my father, Howard, in 2024. No biographical sketch could be written without acknowledging the incredible champions both of my parents have been in my life. I could not have achieved what I have without their love and support over the years. 

Back in the early 2000’s, I won an essay contest at the Kansas City Star that gave me the opportunity to become one of 4 Midwest Voices columnists for a year. I learned so much from the workshops we attended and my interactions with the incredible Star columnists. As an aside: My winning column was titled, “The Song We Choose to Sing.” And it’s true: The song we choose to sing, about our lives, about every moment of each day, affects the way we see the world. 

A Memorable Audio-Reader Moment 

I have had so many memorable people in my life that I met through Audio Reader. Late volunteers Maggie Carttar and Erika Binns stepped up to the plate to read my German texts to me when I was working on my M.A. in German. Later, late volunteer John Trinkl read material for me when I worked on my doctoral dissertation. Without Audio-Reader, I would NEVER have been able to obtain a Ph.D. Absolutely nothing was accessible. Every word had to be read aloud to me. It truly took a village. Another favorite memory: Meeting AR volunteer and pianist Jan Shumway.  Jan invited me to her beautiful home, and I got to experience music and art in a whole new way. Jan accompanied me on two occasions when I sang for Audio Reader volunteer banquets many years ago. Darcy Schild also did quite a lot of reading for me. Then there is the Audio Reader staff. For a couple of years, Art Hadley and I did a Saturday morning show on AR called Heart and Soul. Oh what fun that was. Art gave me carte blanche to invite any guest I wanted onto the show. Memorable guests who stepped forward included Petey Cerf (I’ll never forget that interview and her passion for helping those experiencing life in nursing facilities); singer/songwriter Connie Dover, late KC radio legend Walt Bodine, folk singer Kim Forehand, and another late great KC legend, Shifra Stein.  

In recent years, my memories of AR include serving on the Development Committee. And again, I have met lifelong friends: Beverly and George Wilson have filled my life with friendship and music. Melinda and Tom Kearney are so much more than a ride to and from AR events. Melinda is my Baker Phi Mu sister and she, Tom and I have enjoyed our discussions of music as we travel to and from Audio Reader. Jim Huber and I have had so much fun staffing Audio Reader events together. Every event is an adventure, and I love learning about Jim’s latest endeavors to make the world a better place. He truly changes every life he touches, and I feel so blessed to know him. And then there’s the AR staff: Beth, Meredith, Nick, and Martha have become lifelong friends. We’ve experienced several adventures together and have navigated the world of audio description and universal accessibility with joy and passion. 

Why Audio-Reader?  

Why did you first get involved with Audio-Reader, and why have you stayed? I came to Audio Reader out f a desperate need to have academic materials read aloud to me. Then I began volunteering at AR. Those volunteer experiences, and the people at AR I met along the way, shaped my life. Serving on the AR Board has been one of the most rewarding experiences I could ever have. AR has given so much to me; it is an honor to have the opportunity to give back. Why do I stay? Because Audio-Reader truly is as much a part of me as is breathing. Where would I ever be without it? 

Insight to share 

In your years of service to Audio-Reader, what have you learned (about yourself, or your community, or volunteering)? Please be conscientious of regarding those who are listening to you as your equal. Too often, the world “them’s” people. There is “us”: Those who are fortunate. And then there’s “them”: Those who need our help. What you do, when you read, is to convert people from being “them” to being “us”. It happens through the information you share, that they can now be an integral part of. And it happens in the way we think about those we serve. And I will end on a cautionary note. When you’ve served in any role for 35 years, there is a song one tends to sing. Can you guess the title? “We’ve always done it that way.” I work hard never to sing that song. New ideas and new innovations and new ways of doing things bring about changes that are ultimately beneficial. Every time a change occurs, I remind myself that it’s a new day at Audio-Reader, and to always make change my friend.