[Missouri-l] Fw: Friends of Wolfner Highlights
cory McMahon
cjmc404 at gmail.com
Fri Nov 6 07:47:47 CST 2009
----- Original Message -----
From: "Smith, Richard" <richard.smith at SOS.MO.GOV>
To: <WOLFNER_LIBRARY at LISTSERV.SOS.MO.GOV>
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 7:42 AM
Subject: Friends of Wolfner Highlights
FRIENDS OF WOLFNER HIGHLIGHTS
Volume 4-4: Fall 2009
A Message from the President
Greetings Friends,
I hope this message finds each of you doing well and enjoying the new age of
NLS books. It is just great to work with the new digital player and listen
to books on digital cartridges or downloaded books or magazines from the
Internet. We are very fortunate to be in Missouri, a leader in adopting and
adapting the digital program.
The Board met on October 15, 2009 and had a productive meeting. Most of our
time was spent on initial plans for our membership meeting scheduled for
April 24, 2010. One other task the Board recently completed was the Friends
of Wolfner Library Handbook. I want to spend most of this message on the
Handbook.
Some of you may wonder why we need a Handbook. There are two main reasons.
First, as members of the Friends Board changed over the years, information
was either lost or forgotten. It is a tedious task to go back through past
minutes to find out how things were done. The Board was starting at the
beginning each time we had a project or decision instead of building on the
past knowledge. With the Handbook, we should be more consistent, save time,
and be more transparent in our operations. The second reason relates to IRS
compliance. As we were getting our internal house in order, information
came to our attention which indicated we needed to do a better job with our
organization. IRS has certain expectations for tax exempt organizations to
maintain tax exempt status. One example of an IRS compliance issue is a
need for a written Code of Ethics which we did not, but now have.
I am including here parts of the Handbook which I believe might be of
interest to all members. Friends' members are entitled to a complete copy of
the Handbook upon request. Just contact our Secretary, Karen Skender for a
copy indicating your preferred format. Note that the date which follows
each section is the date of adoption for that section.
***
The purpose of the Friends of Wolfner Library Handbook is to provide
guidance in conducting the business of this organization toward
accomplishing our mission. The Handbook covers responsibilities for the
Friends of Wolfner Library Board, its members and their relationship with
Wolfner Library and third parties.
Table of contents
Introduction
Section A: Board Officers
Section B: The Board of Directors
Section C: General Membership
Section D: Miscellaneous
Appendix A: Friends of Wolfner Library Bylaws
Appendix B: Friends of Wolfner Library Code of Ethics Guide
Appendix C Rules of Order
Appendix D Treasurer's Procedures
Appendix E Checklist for Writing Minutes
Appendix F Checklist for Membership Annual Meeting
Appendix G Checklist for April Board Meeting
Appendix H Thank You Letter for Donations
***
Section C: General Membership
1.0 Procedures
1.1 Unless the request is deemed by the Board to be an undue hardship,
members can request copies of all public records of the Friends of Wolfner
Library in accessible formats. Such requests will be provided no later than
30 days from a written request unless reasonable delays are unavoidable. If
a verbal request is made, a written statement of such request should
immediately be made by the Board member for the record. If there is either
a denial or additional delay in providing the requested materials, the
member will be notified with explanations before the end of the 30 day
period. (July 2009)
1.2 All routine written communications with the membership will be available
in accessible formats. Some examples of this include the membership
application and our newsletter. (July 2009)
1.3 All quarterly Board meetings shall be announced to the membership at
least 30 days in advance and any member may attend as an observer The Board
may choose to announce the next 12 month's schedule of Board meetings at the
beginning of each year. For meetings held by conference call, a member must
notify the President no later than 10 days prior to the scheduled meeting to
ensure appropriate set up for the phone conference. (July 2009)
1.4 In the Board meetings, non-Board Friends of Wolfner Library members may
observe the meeting, but may not address the Board unless called on by the
President. (July 2009)
1.5 For someone not on the Board, the following procedure will be used for
Friends of Wolfner Library members to place items on the agenda of a
quarterly meeting of the Board:
1) Written proposal shall be submitted to the President at least three weeks
prior to the scheduled quarterly Board meeting.
2) The written proposal shall be included on the agenda and sent to the
members of the Board with the agenda. (A member planning to attend the
quarterly meeting with respect to this agenda item may be scheduled to
address the Board).
3) A copy of the agenda may be requested from the President by sending a
self-addressed, stamped envelope at least two weeks prior to the scheduled
meeting or by email.
4) Additional presentations may be made at the Board meeting, time
permitting. (July 2009)
1.6 The information in 1.3 through 1.5 above shall be published and
distributed in the Friends of Wolfner Library newsletter or separately once
a year to inform the membership. (July 2009)
***
Keeping in line with the Handbook above, our next Board meeting is January
21, 2010. Please give me any Board agenda items by December 31, 2009.
If you would like to read the Friends of Wolfner Library bylaws, consider
trying Newsline, available to subscribers through the telephone or Internet.
(Contact Wolfner Library to subscribe.) The Friends bylaws can be found by
following these steps:
By telephone:
1. Dial the Newsline telephone number.
2. Login to Newsline using your access and security codes.
3. From the menu select State information channel by pressing 2.
4. From the menu select Missouri information channel by pressing 1.
5. From the menu select Friends of Wolfner library by pressing 10. The
first article is the Friends bylaws.
If you are logging into Newsline on the Internet, these are the steps:
1. Go to http://www.nfbnewslineonline.org
2. Login to Newsline using your access and security codes.
3. Click on Web News on Demand.
4. Click on Information to Missouri.
5. Click on Missouri Information Channel.
6. Click on Friends of Wolfner Library. Our bylaws are shown on this page.
You can also view our bylaws online at:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/friendsbylaws.asp.
If you have any questions, let me know.
I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful holiday season.
Barbara Sheinbein
Wolfner Library Puts Friends Blank Cartridges to Use!
from Wolfner Library Director, Richard Smith
Since there is currently a shortage of digital titles, Wolfner Library has
taken advantage of the bookshelf feature of the NLS upgrade for the digital
player, which allows multiple books on one cartridge. Wolfner produced a
five book cartridge to send out with the new digital players. The newly
created multi-book cartridge contains 61 hours and 56 minutes of digital
titles that are considered "gentle reads". The cartridge also contains the
upgraded features and usage instructions for the bookshelf feature.
In addition, we are distributing a youth sampler of titles with 48 hours of
reading material. Here are the titles:
1. If I Ran the Zoo (11 minutes)
2. Bedtime for Frances (12 minutes)
3. Blueberries for Sal (10 minutes)
4. Story of Ferdinand (time not given)
5. Corduroy (time not given)
6. Frog and Toad Are Friends (18 minutes)
7. Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh (5 hours, 47 minutes)
8. Toys Go Out (1 hour, 23 minutes)
9. George and Martha (1 hour, 5 minutes)
10. Ramona the Pest (2 hours, 50 minutes)
11. Field Guide (1 hour, 29 minutes)
12. Samsara Dog (17 minutes)
13. Matilda (4 hours, 18 minutes)
14. Penderwicks (6 hours, 15 minutes)
15. Invention of Hugo Cabret (2 hours, 53 minutes)
16. Tales of Beedle the Bard (1 hour, 45 minutes)
17. Graveyard Book (7 hours, 17 minutes)
18. Lightning Thief (10 hours, 53 minutes)
For the curious, Wolfner has posted our digital bibliographies of available
Wolfner-produced digital books at: http://www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/digital.asp
For further information on the digital book program, contact Wolfner Library
staff at 1-800-392-2614.
This program is made possible through a generous donation from the Friends
of Wolfner Library, which provided $50,000 to purchase blank NLS digital
cartridges. Thanks, Friends, for your support!
Treasurer's Report from Fran Benham
The Friends are on target to achieve our goal to support Wolfner Library's
transition to digital recordings. To date, most of the $55,000 allocated for
digital cartridges and mailing containers has been spent and readers are
enjoying the result. A recent donation came with a note from a long-term
reader who remembers several transitions over the years. None, she tells us,
have ever compared to the digital recordings, which she finds so clear and
pleasant to her ears. She looks forward to each new book and is thrilled
with them. Thanks, Friends, you are helping Wolfner make this difference.
Friends' Hoodies: Great Holiday Gifts from Fran Benham
Wolfner Friends have lovely warm hoodies available in various sizes which
can make wonderful holiday gifts. Members pay $12 for an adult zipper-front
hoodie and $10 for a youth pullover hoodie. Non-members who do not wish to
join the Friends pay $18 for either adult or youth sizes. Those who wear our
hoodies have opportunities to talk about the Friends and the importance of
Braille to our community. Those who order by mail need to add $3 per hoodie
for shipping and handling. All hoodies are navy blue and decorated with a
left breast-pocket side logo based on the Friends magnet. They are available
in all white embroidery for a sophisticated contrast on navy blue, or
colorful popular multicolored embroidery. Jumbo Braille embroidery below the
logo spells out Wolfner Friends in white.
Those who wish to order need to send a written request to:
Friends of Wolfner Library
P.O. Box 1671
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1671
and provide name, mailing address and telephone number with a check in the
amount of the purchase, including postage, written out to the Friends of
Wolfner Library. Orders will be filled as received. Larger adult sizes are
available in limited quantities. If we run out, we will telephone that
information. To make certain hoodies are received in time for the holiday,
please order as soon as possible.
Sizes available for adults (zipper front) are Medium, Large, XL, 2X, 3X.
Youth pullovers come in sizes Small, Medium and Large.
Friends of Wolfner Highlights Changing Formats
from the editor, Debbie Musselman
The Friends of Wolfner Highlights newsletter is changing formats. It will
still be available in Braille, large print and e-mail. The new format is
digital; cassette and CD will no longer be produced. The easiest and least
expensive format for us to distribute is e-mail. If you would like to
change the format of your newsletter, contact me at 573-761-5794 or
jcmomusselman at juno.com. Please only request digital format if you already
have a Wolfner digital player. Cartridges must be returned to Wolfner
Library.
Friends Board of Directors
Friends' members may contact any Board member through our official e-mail
address or at the e-mail addresses or phone numbers listed below.
Barbara Sheinbein , President
314-965-8006 or homeplate9 at sbcglobal.net
Judy Redlich, Vice President
314-577-6330 or jredlich6292 at att.net
Karen Skender, Secretary
314-968-9000 or kskender at slsbvi.org
Frances Benham, Treasurer
314-963-9153 or napestlouis at sbcglobal.net
Debbie Musselman, Newsletter Editor
573-761-5794 or jcmomusselman at juno.com
Melinda Cook
New Boston, MO
Joe Dobbs
573-556-6559 or j.dobbs at mchsi.com
Raymond (Chip) Hailey
417-781-6728 or chiphailey at cableone.net
Willa Patterson
816-923-9252
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Subscription requests and address changes should be sent
to:
Friends of Wolfner Library
P.O. Box 1671
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1671
OR send an e-mail to FriendsWL at gmail.com
Richard J. Smith, Director
Wolfner Library
Missouri State Library
P.O. Box 387
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-522-2767
In Missouri: 800-392-2614
Fax: 573-526-2985
Email: richard.smith at sos.mo.gov
Web Site: http://www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/
Not sure what to read next? Find a good digital book at:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/readings.asp
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