New Jersey Recorder Winter 2002 (text)

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Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
New Jersey Unit
69 Mapleton Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Phone 609-750-1830
Fax 609-750-9653

New Jersey Recorder

A publication dedicated to our New Jersey family of members, volunteers, staff, and supporters

Winter 2002

Voices Heard 'Round the Nation

Do you know the theory of "six degrees of separation? It,s the phenomenon of a shrinking world where any two people can discover a link through a chain of six acquaintances. In this case, the acquaintance is an anonymous voice on a tape sent to an RFB&D student member and all the support " both physical and financial that helps record that voice.

This is the story of one book and the hundreds who have heard it in a very short time. The book? The Art of Public Speaking, by Stephen E. Lucas.

Photo Caption: Member Adam Goldberg at the West Windsor studio by a map showing all of the requests for The Art of Public SpeakingIronically, the first borrower was Adam Goldberg, son of New Jersey unit board member Daniel Goldberg. Adam, who is dyslexic, needed the book for a mandatory public speaking course at Rowan University in Glassboro, where he is a sophomore majoring in Television, Radio and Film, maintaining a 3.1 GPA.

Adam has been an RFB&D member for nine years. His mother, Debra, says that before RFB&D, "We would spend three to four hours every evening reading." She calls RFB&D "his lifeline" and adds, "I would be willing to say that he would not have graduated if not for RFB&D." The Art of Public Speaking was assigned to the New Jersey unit in early July and requests soon poured in by the dozens. By the time the 48 hours of recording were completed on September 4, 80 individual and institutional members nationwide had asked for it! By mid-November, 129 requests had been made.

There is no way to calculate future requests, but the effect RFB&D's texts have on others now and in the future is even more immeasurable. Who knows how many people each student might influence as a result of listening to RFB&D's recording of The Art of Public Speaking? Each volunteer and donor who gives time, talent and resources to RFB&D has a profound effect on incalculable numbers of people for generations to come.

As for Adam, he is part of the future of communications and wishes RFB&D's digital textbooks would arrive as quickly as possible. He says, "I know CDs are the future. I'd like to see them come out sooner." And RFB&D is proud to be a link leading to his brilliant future.

RFB&D – A Beacon to a Brighter Future

The last issue of The Recorder was hot-off-the-press on September 11. That day's, and subsequent events, have affected us all. Some of the New Jersey units family of staff, volunteers, students and donors lost family members, friends and colleagues in the attack. Some have been called to serve in the war on terrorism. Others were stranded far from home as air traffic was grounded.

The bioterrorism attacks using the United States Postal Service have profoundly impacted both the New Jersey unit and the national organization. As you may know, the Princeton post office, closed due to the discovery of anthrax spores, is next door to both our West Windsor studio and RFB&D,s national headquarters. The tainted letters were reportedly sent through the nearby Hamilton postal facility. This has made the shipping of recorded texts to our student members more difficult. It also put the mailing of the New Jersey unit,s critical annual appeal for funds in limbo. We have had to work creatively to protect our staff and volunteers while serving our far flung family of students who continue to flood RFB&D with requests.

But even as we mourn our profound losses and adjust to these new threats to our nation and way of life, we must not forget the importance of our mission at RFB&D. Though these days seem dark, RFB&D remains a beacon of support for our members who are the light that make the future shine brighter than ever. Thank you for your continued support of RFB&D. It keeps those rays of hope glowing.

Ted

New Digital Booths to Be Dedicated

The New Jersey unit celebrates the donation of new digital recording booths at the Hibben Road studio. One new booth to be dedicated in January, in honor of Jason Regan, was donated by his parents Amy and Jay Regan. Another two booths donated last year by Martha Norris, in memory of her husband, Alfred O. Norris, will be dedicated this winter.

Jason Regan, who is dyslexic, is an RFB&D success story. He used texts on tape from middle school through college and is currently working in Boca Raton, Florida in investment banking. He plans to return to the Garden State this Spring to possibly pursue further studies in non-profit management.

We thank the Regan and Norris families for their gifts; a generous show of appreciation and investment in both the future of RFB&D and generations of students to come.

RFB&D Celebrates the Inauguration of
the Putnam Society

The New Jersey unit held the inaugural celebration of the Putnam Society at the home of unit co-chair Shawn Ellsworth and his wife Robbie, on October 4. The Society, founded in 1999, honors Peter and Durinda Putnam, Princeton residents and driving forces in the development of the New Jersey unit until their recent deaths in 1998 and 2001, respectively. It is made up of individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations that share in their financial commitment to the unit with annual support of $1,000 or more.

Speaking at the event were members Jessi DeLeo of Cranbury, a ninth-grade student with dyslexia who successfully uses RFB&D,s recorded texts to augment her studies at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, Chris Ranaghan, Educational Outreach Director, and Executive Director Ted Taylor.

Jessi explained how the tapes allow her to compete academically despite her print disability. She now volunteers for RFB&D, assisting in audio production at the West Windsor studio. Chris discussed RFB&D's mission to bring its Learning Through Listening Program into New Jersey public schools. Ted showed how financial support funds the development of improved recording and playback technologies for the students who depend on RFB&D's unique services.

Photo Caption:
Peter Gibson (l.) unit board co-chair, with Christine Lokhammer, Vice President and Branch Manager of PNC Bank, Princeton and Wayne Meisel, President of The Bonner Foundation at the Putnam Society inaugural event.

Peter and Durinda had leading roles in the establishment and ongoing success of many humanitarian and nonprofit organizations in the Princeton area. Peter served on the board of directors for the New Jersey unit of RFB&D, and also served a term as President of RFB&D,s national board of directors. For many years he consulted in the area of financial development. Durinda also volunteered at the Princeton recording studio. Their son, Brock, of Litchfield, CT attended the event. The impact of his parents, contributions to RFB&D were not lost on him. "My parents always felt that RFB&D had given them both much more than they had given to RFB&D,"
he said.

Photo Caption: Ted Taylor with Jessi DeLeo of Cranbury at the inaugural celebration of the Putnam Society

Burt Ford Joins Unit as Development Director

Burton A. Ford, III has joined the New Jersey unit as Director of Financial Development. In his new position, Burt is responsible for all fundraising activities.

Burt comes to RFB&D after retiring from Lucent Technologies. He spent nearly 30 years in telecommunications with Bell Atlantic (Verizon), AT&T, Octel Communications and Lucent. He has taught secondary school, consulted and served in the US Army Field Artillery.

Burt looks forward to the immediate opportunities the unit faces for funding its new home and the ongoing transition to digital technology. Executive Director Ted Taylor says, "Burt's energy is a great asset in tackling both our immediate and long-term financial goals. He has a lot of great ideas and we all look forward to helping him implement them."

Burt holds an AB from Princeton University and an MBA-Finance from American University. Burt lives in Skillman with his wife, Marcia. When he isn,t burning up the phone lines with potential donors, he enjoys golf, running and frequent visits from his three grown children and new grandson.

Photo Caption: Burt Ford with his wife Marcia

Would you prefer to receive future Recorders via e-mail or on audio cassette?
If so, please send your request to tgruenewald@rfbd.org.
If you want it via e-mail, include your name and e-mail address.
For the audio version, include your name and home address.
You may also call Tony Gruenewald at (609) 750-1830 indicating your preference.

Record-A-Thon 2001 Highlights

Photo Captions: Rep. Rush Holt, Honorary Record-A-Thon chair, discusses his reading of The American Presidency with West Windsor Studio Director Olivian Boon and Stephen Sullivan (r.), Group President of Covance, Inc.

Executive Director Ted Taylor with NJ First Lady Diane DiFrancesco discuss the fine points of her reading.

Did you receive our annual appeal?

Recent events that interrupted mail service affected the delivery of our annual appeal.
To mail a contribution or to make a secure credit card donation, visit our web page at www.rfbdnj.org/donate.html,
or call Burt Ford, Development Director, at 609-688-0486.
Thank you for your ongoing support!

Newsletter Production Team
Bonnie DiBenedetto
Tony Gruenewald
Ted Taylor

Web Design
Sandra Shapiro

Administration
Ted Taylor, Executive Director
Jeanette Eng, Development Assistant
Deborah Passafiume, Administrative Coordinator

Princeton Studio
Amy Steinmetz,Studio Director
Shamus Adams, Asst. Studio Director
Jessie Falcone, Asst. Studio Director
Raya Kuzyk, Studio Assistant

West Windsor Studio
Olivian Boon, Studio Director
Gail Clauer, Asst. Studio Director
Tony Gruenewald, Asst. Studio Director
Judy Wilson-Smith, Studio Assistant

Educational Outreach Center
Christine Ranaghan, Director of Educational Outreach
Sherry Deutsch, Outreach Officer

Board of Directors
Board Officers
Shawn Ellsworth, Co-Chair
Peter Gibson, Co-Chair
Daniel H. Jamieson, Jr., Vice-Chair
James A. Amick
Jerome K. Freedman, M.D.
Amy Regan
Carolyn Powell Sanderson
James D. Walker

Board Members
Catherine D. Brown
Daniel Goldberg
Geoffrey D. Green
Earl Groendyke
Margaret T. Harper
Paula Henry
Mari Molenaar, Ed.D.
Raymond A. Olson
Sandra Shapiro

Emeritus
Ruth Bogia
Mary-Adele Mather
Hendrick van Oss
Hugh D. Wise, Ex-Officio

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