Subject: RE: What I will miss most about the radio reading service
Thanks carl
Just FYI
Frank
PAC members,
Also cc: rand simmons
Just one last note on this issue. A friend, Carl jarvis responded to
my letter with a particularly eloquent statement that I want to share
with you.
Frank,
No one, absolutely no one could have made a more factual/emotional
farewell tribute to an old faithful friend.
In today's harsh world so much is decided on cold, hard dollars. How
many are served at how much per person? How do we place a dollar value
on a spark
of independence? And isn't that exactly what the Evergreen Radio
Reading Service is? A spark of independence? Carrying news,
inspiration, and community
to blind people around our state. People whose only contact with the
blind community might be through their radio.
Interdependence, this sense of being connected with something bigger
than oneself is a central part of independence.
"But", some would say, " the Evergreen Radio Reading Service serves so
few people. How can we justify its existence on balance with the other
services
being threatened?"
When I managed the Orientation and Training Center, this was a constant
argument among program managers, desperate for scarce resources. "The
OTC serves
so few in comparison to the much larger number of blind VR clients".
But is this is our yardstick, then all blind services, all blind
programs, the WTBBL, the Department of Services for the Blind, the WSSB
and all programs
for the older blind would be on the chopping block. All are far too
costly on balance with the greater needs of the larger community.
No! That is a debate we can never win.
Sure, my good left hand is not central to my existence as a human being,
and it is not even a large part of my body mass. But it is critical to
my overall
well being and I'll fight to save it even if it is such a small part of
the total Carl.
Many on this list go back to those days when Ed Foscue and others fought
to gain a toehold for the Radio Reading Service. Remember the mini fund
raiser
with George Shearing? We came so close to the brink more than once,
only to find a way to breathe new life into this small flickering spark
of independence.
So close so many times. Is this really the last and final gasp?
Carl Jarvis
Block quote start
----- Original Message -----
From:
Frank Cuta
To:
'wcb'
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 4:16 AM
Subject: [Wcb-l] What I will miss most about the radio reading service
All,
Reading has always been a passion for me. It's a pastime , it's a
support system, it's a refuge and a way to learn and grow. Although I
read 1 or 2 books a month, the bulk of my reading for the past 20
years has been accomplished by just listening to the radio. But The
impending demise of the Evergreen Radio Reading Service is more than
just the removal of a convenient way of reading it's the death of a
community and special culture. So I want to eulogize briefly some of
the programs I love as I prepare to see them leave my life forever. Not
to be too melodramatic but once the technical expertise, studio space,
production technology and volunteer support structure is lost rebuilding
it anytime in the near future is inconceivable.
Its hard to imagine that the morning reading of the Seattle times and
PI will soon fall silent. Most of these readers are like old friends
although I have never met them. Some of them have been reading me the
paper for the last 10 or 15 years. Its not anything like listening to
the paper read over the telephone or read on line with a personal
computer -- I turn on the radio when I get up and each morning as I
prepare for work I get to listen to these old friends describe the
photos on the front page and read me the morning news.
The show I will miss the most is the science fiction show that Jeff does
and which I never miss. Jeff is our most talented reader and could
probably go to work for NLS. I have been a devoted listener to this
show as long as he has been doing it. There is a lot of science fiction
available in the form of recorded books and periodicals but they can
never replace this very special weekly program.
I will miss so many many programs because they concentrate on reading
materials that have a northwest flavor. Examples are Leanne's show
Publications Northwest where you can always count on hearing some
Robert foldgum; Richard's show state wide news which features articles
from all papers east of the mountains; and john's history show the "Way
it was, which has recently covered the settling of Seattle from the
native american viewpoint, the history of the Tri-Cities and David
Thompson's exploration of the Columbia River.
I will miss another category of shows unique to our radio service that
deal with living healthier, cheaper, greener safer, stress free more
fulfilled lives. Examples are Trish's show contemporary living, which
features articles on relationships and personal growth; Kathy's show
Smart Shopper, which features articles on recycling, living cheap and
green; and Joy's green survival, show on gardening in the northwest.
When the evergreen radio service dies there will be no more
entertainment east, a show that pulls together announcements of all the
plays, concerts, fairs and festivals from all of the major towns east
of the mountains. There is literally no other resource available that
is anything like this for persons who are blind.
I will really miss listening to Chris read the sports news over my
coffee Every Saturday morning. I am sure that there is nothing else
like this on any other reading service because its Chris that makes the
show. This show features articles on a broad range of sports but its
Chris's charm, sharp wit, relaxed demeanor and enthusiasm that makes
this show so enjoyable.
I do not expect to ever find a replacement for Edgar's science digest
and the medical abstracts show. These are hands down the most factual
and professional programs featuring current science and health
technology on the air. They beat hands down the similar shows offered
by other reading services.
medical abstracts has been a great way to stay current on the latest
In cutting edge drugs, treatments and hospital procedures.
Lastly, I am sure that when the radio reading service closes social
commentary in your face publications such as "the stranger" and "real
change"
will no longer be a part of my life or that of any other blind person
who liked to just turn on the radio and listen to them.
I urge you all to attend the PAC meeting Saturday at noon at the library
on ninth and lenora or join us via telephone conference call as we
discuss the dim future of the evergreen radio reading service.
Frank Cuta
PAC Member
Block quote end
Mike,
Unless you have the governor's ear something has to give. There is
just not enough money available to keep everything that we want alive.
Its possible that there are other alternatives worth discussing such as
just keeping the radio service equipment and studio space maintained
and continuing with labor on a strictly volunteer basis.
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Edwards [mailto:mike@ultraemail.us]
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 11:48 PM
To: frank@cuta.net; 'Miller, Danielle'; 'Sue Ammeter'; 'Ryan Bondroff';
'Alice Stephenson'; 'Deborah Jenkins'; 'Denise Colley'; 'Emily
Stevenson'; 'Janice Squires'; 'Karen Johnson'; 'Mike Mello'; 'Norma Jean
Campbell'
Subject: Re: What I will miss most about the radio reading service
Now, is the axeing of the reading service for sure, or just a
possibility?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Frank Cuta" <cuta@bentonrea.com>
To: <frank@cuta.net>; "'Miller, Danielle'" <danielle.miller@sos.wa.gov>;
"'Sue Ammeter'" <sue.ammeter@cablespeed.com>; "'Ryan Bondroff'"
<rnbondroff@gmail.com>; "'Alice Stephenson'" <blindbooks@juno.com>;
"'Deborah Jenkins'" <djenkins88@gmail.com>; "'Denise Colley'"
<dmc0124@comcast.net>; "'Emily Stevenson'" <mrricks@netscape.net>;
"'Janice
Squires'" <janicesqu@frontier.com>; "'Karen Johnson'"
<kljsea@comcast.net>;
"'Mike Edwards'" <mike@ultraemail.us>; "'Mike Mello'" <mike@mello.com>;
"'Norma Jean Campbell'" <normajean@normajeancampbell.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 9:39 PM
Subject: What I will miss most about the radio reading service
> All,
>
> Reading has always been a passion for me. It's a pastime , it's a
> support system, it's a refuge and a way to learn and grow. Although
I
> read 1 or 2 books a month, the bulk of my reading for the past 20
> years has been accomplished by just listening to the radio. But The
> impending demise of the Evergreen Radio Reading Service is more
than
> just the removal of a convenient way of reading it's the death of a
> community and special culture. So I want to eulogize briefly some of
> the programs I love as I prepare to see them leave my life forever.
Not
> to be too melodramatic but once the technical expertise, studio space,
> production technology and volunteer support structure is lost
rebuilding
> it anytime in the near future is inconceivable.
>
> Its hard to imagine that the morning reading of the Seattle times and
> PI will soon fall silent. Most of these readers are like old friends
> although I have never met them. Some of them have been reading me
the
> paper for the last 10 or 15 years. Its not anything like listening
to
> the paper read over the telephone or read on line with a personal
> computer -- I turn on the radio when I get up and each morning as I
> prepare for work I get to listen to these old friends describe the
> photos on the front page and read me the morning news.
>
> The show I will miss the most is the science fiction show that Jeff
does
> and which I never miss. Jeff is our most talented reader and could
> probably go to work for NLS. I have been a devoted listener to this
> show as long as he has been doing it. There is a lot of science
fiction
> available in the form of recorded books and periodicals but they can
> never replace this very special weekly program.
>
> I will miss so many many programs because they concentrate on reading
> materials that have a northwest flavor. Examples are Leanne's show
> Publications Northwest where you can always count on hearing some
> Robert foldgum; Richard's show state wide news which features
articles
> from all papers east of the mountains; and john's history show the
"Way
> it was, which has recently covered the settling of Seattle from the
> native american viewpoint, the history of the Tri-Cities and David
> Thompson's exploration of the Columbia River.
>
> I will miss another category of shows unique to our radio service
that
> deal with living healthier, cheaper, greener safer, stress free more
> fulfilled lives. Examples are Trish's show contemporary living, which
> features articles on relationships and personal growth; Kathy's
show
> Smart Shopper, which features articles on recycling, living cheap and
> green; and Joy's green survival, show on gardening in the northwest.
>
> When the evergreen radio service dies there will be no more
> entertainment east, a show that pulls together announcements of all
the
> plays, concerts, fairs and festivals from all of the major towns
east
> of the mountains. There is literally no other resource available that
> is anything like this for persons who are blind.
>
> I will really miss listening to Chris read the sports news over my
> coffee Every Saturday morning. I am sure that there is nothing else
> like this on any other reading service because its Chris that makes
the
> show. This show features articles on a broad range of sports but its
> Chris's charm, sharp wit, relaxed demeanor and enthusiasm that makes
> this show so enjoyable.
>
> I do not expect to ever find a replacement for Edgar's science digest
> and xx medical abstracts show. These are hands down the most factual
> and professional programs featuring current science and health
> technology on the air. They beat hands down the similar shows
offered
> by other reading services.
> medical abstracts has been a great way to stay current on the latest
> In cutting edge drugs, treatments and hospital procedures.
>
> Lastly, I am sure that when the radio reading service closes social
> commentary in your face publications such as "the stranger" and
"real
> change"
> will no longer be a part of my life or that of any other blind person
> who liked to just turn on the radio and listen to them.
>
>
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