THE SPEAKER

2022 FRIENDS TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS / MISSION 2

HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE 3

LOOKING FOR NEW TALENT 4

VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON 5

CONGRATULATIONS TO ONE OF OUR SUB-REGIONAL LIBRARIES IN FLORIDA 6

A STRONG PILLAR OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IS NO LONGER WITH US 7

HOW ABOUT READING THE NEWSPAPER AGAIN? 8

NOMINATIONS FOR FRIENDS BOARD OF TRUSTEES 9

APPLICATION AND RENEWAL FORM 12

BALLOT 13

Below is an updated list of Board Members. Officers’ positions are noted after the Board Member’s name:

Board members

The Friends of Library Access, Inc. receives no government support. We are a nonprofit corporation, and count on individuals, such as you, to become members of Friends of Library Access, Inc.

Your annual dues and generous donations enable the Friends to assist the Braille and Talking Book Library in providing equal access to information needed for independence, education, employment, and pleasure to Floridians who are print impaired.

Since its inception in 1992, the Friends has helped the Bureau of Braille & Talking Book Library continue its service of excellence through key equipment purchases and community awareness activities. We have also sponsored annual volunteer appreciation luncheons throughout the years, providing awards for their invaluable service.

In addition to membership in the Friends, we gratefully accept donations, grants, gifts of cash, and bequests.

Memberships and donations may be sent to:

Friends of Library Access, Inc. P.O. Box 10716 Daytona Beach, FL 32120-0716

You may also visit this web site

For further information, contact: Patricia A. Lipovsky, Membership and Outreach Chair at: plipovsky@cfl.rr.com or 386-255-0288.

We thank you for your generous support.

The Friends is managed by a Board of twelve trustees, who are elected for three-year terms by the membership. Each November, four seats are open for election.

Board meetings are open to anyone interested, and are held quarterly on the 2nd Saturday of February, May, August, and November. All meetings are held via telephone conference, except for our November meeting where those that can, also meet in person in addition to those who prefer being on the phone.

Please consider serving on the Board by submitting your name and a brief letter stating your experience, expertise, and goals as it pertains to the Friends. Letters of Interest may be submitted by email to: Paul Kurtz, phktrumpet@gmail.com, or in print or Braille and mailed to the Friends at:

Friends of Library Access, Inc. P.O. Box 10716 Daytona Beach, FL 32120

Note: You must be a member of the Friends for at least one year, and have attended at least one quarterly board meeting, before you can apply for a Board position.

For more information, contact the chair of the Nominating Committee: Paul Kurtz at 904-388-1192, or email phktrumpet@gmail.com

Each year, for many years, one of the things the Friends of Library Access has done has been to sponsor a volunteer appreciation luncheon for our volunteers. Unfortunately, in 2020, due to the pandemic, this luncheon had to be put on hold for everyone’s safety. However, the good news is that this year, we are pleased that the Friends was once again able to re-initiate our long-standing tradition of this appreciation luncheon for our dedicated volunteers.

A total of 72 participants attended, which consisted of our volunteers, and some library and DBS staff. In addition, there were several door prizes, along with a 50-50 drawing, and two guest speakers, DBS Director Robert Doyle, and Librarian Maureen Dorosinski. They provided us with a very informative and interesting Library update.

Everyone seemed to have a good time, indulging in good food and conversation, just happy to be able to meet once again in person.

Thank you to everyone who attended. Hopefully, we will see all of you again in April of 2023.

Each year, The National Library Service presents an award for the state talking book library and sub-regional library that has provided outstanding service to their patrons.

This year, the library recipient for the sub-regional library was the Pinellas Talking Book Library located in Clearwater, Florida.

On behalf of the friends of Library Access, Inc. we want to take this opportunity to congratulate you in receiving this recognition!

Nancy Burgess Hall was a retired speech-language pathologist with over 30 years of experience. She was a member of the Friends of Library Access, Inc. since its inception in 1992, and served on the Board since 1999. Prior accomplishments include working collaboratively with members of the Braille and Talking Book Library staff and FLA Board members to update the Friends brochure, help design the Friends signature guide, and help design a license plate promoting Accessible Media for the Friends of Library Access.

She also served in the offices of President, Vice President, and Secretary, and participated in numerous public education events promoting Braille & Talking Book services and accessible media.

Aside from the Friends, she was an active member of Halifax Council of the Blind, Florida Council of the Blind and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization (TPO).

Unfortunately, we lost Nancy earlier this year, on April 24th. Many thanks to Nancy for all her efforts and hard work throughout the years. She was a wonderful advocate for people with disabilities, and will be missed very much by those who got to know her.

How would you like TO READ the newspaper with your morning cup of java? Well, now you can!

The NFB of Florida is proud to offer you National Federation of the Blind Newsline®, a program sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida and a grant from the Florida Division of Blind Services.

Many seniors have lost enough vision that reading the daily newspaper is no longer possible. Now, once again, they can enjoy being able to participate actively in community affairs. NFB Newsline gives subscribers access to newspapers, emergency weather updates, television listings, job ads, Target store ads, many magazines, and 14 Florida newspapers. Over 40 magazines, ranging from the arts, sciences, health and fitness, pop culture and national and international news are also available. In addition, there are multiple access methods such as the telephone, computer, NLS Talking Book player, hand-held reader, and the iPhone.

NFB Newsline has well over 300 publications and it’s still growing. Four Spanish-language newspapers are available to all subscribers. The service handles thousands of phone calls each day for individuals across the country. This also enables those who cannot read conventional print to have access to all content offered on NFB Newsline when traveling throughout the United States, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

NFB Newsline of Florida has an experienced and dedicated staff of marketers and volunteers waiting to help you. To reach Russ Davis, Coordinator for NFB Newsline of Florida, or any of the other incredible staff members, (Wendy, Sheri or Paul), just call 1-844-827-7371 and select the staff member you’d like to reach from the directory. We are available seven days a week, but ask that you call between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Below are the nominees who have applied for our openings for 2022. We currently have four seats open. They are each 3-year terms. Please look the applicants over carefully and select who you think would be best suited to fill these positions.

Hello, I am Dolor Ginchereau; I am running for re-election to the Friends Of Library Access Board this November. When I retired from my job in 2012, one of things I did was to activate my participation in the Talking Book program again. I enjoy listening to audio books. I believe that the Talking Book Program is one of the best programs for the blind and print disabled. If I am re-elected, I will work with my fellow Board members and the Friends of Library Access to continue to support the Talking Book Library system. I would appreciate your support in this effort.

Patricia A. Lipovsky

My name is Patricia A. Lipovsky. I am currently a resident of Daytona Beach, Florida, and a proud mom of three children, and six grandchildren. I moved to Florida in the early 80’s, and have been a patron of the Braille and Talking Book Library ever since.

I was elected to the Friends board in 2010. I am currently the treasurer of the Friends, and also the editor of the Friends of Library Access Newsletter.

I am a member of several advocacy groups, serve on the state board of the Florida Rehab Council for the Blind, and serve as the Vice-President for both the Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind, and the Braille Revival League of Florida. In addition, I also serve on two local boards in Volusia County: the Citizens Advisory Committee, and the Local Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating board of Votran.

The Braille and Talking Book Library provides a wonderful service, not only to me, but to many throughout the state of Florida, and is truly a God send for those who are print impaired. Being on the Friends board has given me an opportunity to give back something in return for this wonderful service that was, and still is, being provided to me, as I truly do appreciate such a service, and love my books!!

It is still my desire to continue giving back to the Braille and Talking Book Library by remaining on the Friends of Library Access board. I will continue to do whatever deemed necessary to insure the quality of service to all print impaired patrons throughout the state of Florida, as having accessibility to books for independence, education, employment and pleasure is paramount to all.

Thank you.

To whom it may concern: My name is Jeff Saunders and once again, I wish to be considered for the Friends of the Library Access Board as an active member. I am continuing to promote and share the power of Talking Books to anyone who listens and to educate those who want to remain independent when life changes develop, including exploring new means and ways to spread the word.

As a former board member, I am prepared to give the time and effort of such a commitment to enhance shared knowledge in SW Florida, where I currently live year round. I am a retired Federal Government employee; I was with the IRS and SSA, including private industry experience. I have been married to my amazing wife for 40 years. She has the patience of a saint and an incredible laugh. I started out in life as an Electrical Engineer with an MBA. I became visually impaired 20 years ago. I still can spot a pretty woman, however, I cannot tell you how old she is! I am also a certifiable GOOD troublemaker who will always ask "why not?" and find a way to get it done!

Please consider this my request to return to the board and thank you for your time!

Membership is for the calendar year, January 1 to December 31. All dues received after 9/1/2022 will be applied to the remainder of 2022 and the calendar year 2023.

Fill out this form to become a member.

You must be a Friends member in order to vote. If you are not a current member, please include membership dues with the ballot.

Print your name:

Place a check in front of the candidate’s name of choice below:

We must receive your ballot by Friday, November 4, 2022, unless you vote in person.

You may MAIL the ballot with your name on it to: Friends of Library Access, Inc. 421 Platt St. Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Or email to: jwooly@bellsouth.net

Make Your Voice Heard – VOTE!

Friends of Library Access, Inc. 421 Platt St. Daytona Beach, FL 32114