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Talking Information Center’s Annual Report 2013 Turning Print Into Sound TIC
NETWORK
Striving to inspire, motivate and empower the disadvantaged so that they may live more “T U R N I N G P R I N T I N T O S O U N D”
independent and fulfilled lives. Ron Bersani, Executive Director Thirty‐five years. Wow! Now that’s a long time. What is 35 years? Counting leap years, it’s 12,784 days; 306,816 hours; 28 new studios and hundreds of volunteer readers. Over the past 35 years, we have experienced many highs and lows, TIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jon S. Davis President Edward F. Perry Treasurer Beverly R. Johnston Clerk Al Bennett Linda Dirksen Susan H. Donahue Dr. Ralph Eaves Barbara C. Elliot Jacqueline Keith Carol McClintock Susan Price Susan Sommer Christine Trenz TIC STAFF MEMBERS Ron Bersani, Executive Director Bob Daly, General Manager Jennifer Dallaire, Director of Development Fran Cleary, Director of Volunteers John Shea, Production Director Katie Crocker, Production Assistant Frank Stas, Chief Engineer Rich Mahanor, Engineer SUPPORT STAFF Steve Callahan, Engineer Joe Regan, Announcer Inspiring Lives grown mightily, improved exponentially and never stopped believing in the mission we are serving. In all that time, I can’t think of a year in which more has been accomplished. I hope that, after you have read this Annual Report, you will agree. But TIC’s success can’t be summed up in a single year. Our success is due to the cumulative efforts of our amazing Board of Directors many of whom have been here since the beginning; our dedicated and hard‐working staff each of whom puts in countless hours in what is an avocation and not a vocation and our selfless volunteers who give up their most precious commodity – their time – to keep TIC vital in every way. We are so grateful to everyone who has supported our efforts with contributions of time, money, gifts in‐kind and words of encouragement. We have grown from an all‐volunteer organization serving 10 listeners to a network that stretches across Massachusetts and the nation serving thousands of listeners every day. As we enter our 36th year, we look forward to continued growth and prosperity with your help. Changing Lives... To truly understand the difference TIC makes in the lives of visually impaired individuals, imagine, just for a moment, that you awake without the ability to see. The world around you narrows because in the dark, you cannot read the newspapers. No longer can you cut out coupons and know what is on sale at the grocery store. Your knowledge of current events becomes severely limited, and you are unable to dive into the worlds of all the books on your must read list. You wonder how you will provide for your family and question how you will even learn of appropriate job opportu‐
nities. This is my reality, the reality of a blind woman in Massachu‐
setts and TIC has been my life line and friend for many years as it is for over 25,000 other visually impaired individuals across the state. —–An excerpt from a TIC listener and Board Member Comments from our listeners: 
Said service was “outstanding in every way!” 
Appreciates the people who read and are making the survey calls 
Has been listening for 17 years. Listens to calendar‐ early AM (Weekend Outlook), MCB Horizons is very good, good info going on regarding devices, just discovered “old time radio”, we should have more old time radio, does not know of any programs like this 
“Without vision, it takes so much longer to do things!” “You guys have done a lot for me!” 
“You are perfect,” couldn’t live without TV or us, learns a lot and passes it on 
“I like the way they read the newspaper” 
“It is a wonderful service and it definitely expands peoples connec‐
tions to the outside world” 
Absolutely wonderful, “Wouldn’t know what to do without it,” “Nothing but good on TIC” 
“As close to perfection as I ever thought it could be” 
“TIC keeps me connected with the world. I find the service invalu‐
able and hope that it continues long into the future. Thanks to the readers, too!” Also loves food, computer and consumer shows. 
“It’s my lifeline” Inspiring Lives TIC’s impact is far reaching TIC Broadcast Outlets WATD‐FM Marshfield 95.9 SCA WVBF‐AM Middleboro 1530AM WERS‐FM Boston 88.9 SCA WMWM‐FM Salem 91.7 SCA WUML‐FM Lowell 91.5 SCA/OPEN Middleboro FM Station 88.5 WRRS‐FM Goes on the Air In June 2012, TIC began broadcasting on WRRS‐FM 88.5 in Mid‐
dleboro. This was the culmination of a five year quest to acquire the license to operate the station. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) first published the notice of availability in Au‐
gust 2007. WDJM‐FM Framingham 91.3 SCA TIC, along with over a dozen other applicants, submitted a pro‐
WICN‐FM Worcester 90.5 SCA posal to the FCC. In the initial stages of the lengthy process to WTCC‐FM Springfield 90.7 SCA WFCR‐FM Amherst 88.5 SCA WJDF‐FM Orange 97.3 SCA WRRS‐LPFM Pittsfield SCA WUMD‐FM N. Dartmouth 89.3 SCA award the license, we were denied. However, we don’t give up easily. Thanks to hours of donated services from Engineers Steve Calla‐
han and Dave Doherty and the perseverance of our FCC attorney John McVeigh, we continued to file amendments to our original application and to challenge the FCC’s decision. WHAI‐FM Greenfield 98.3 SCA Ultimately, these efforts proved successful and on May 4, 2012 WXTK‐FM Yarmouth 95.1 SCA TIC received the final positive determination. It was a long strug‐
WPTX‐FM Truro 102.3 SCA gle, even for TIC – the ultimate little engine that can – but we are WRRS‐FM Middleboro 88.5 OPEN now providing service to many more people in Southeastern CRIS Radio Reading Service in CT– Nights and Weekends www.ticnetwork.org Internet streaming & archiving Massachusetts without the need of special radios. During an EEE scare that threatened that specific area of the Commonwealth over the summer, this was a particularly important asset to the community. Pennsylvania Radio Reading Service Visits TIC For Many of us, our birthday wishes may include dinner out and a movie or maybe that long sought after gift that you have been waiting for, but for Rob Scheid of the the Pennsylvania Radio Reading Service, all he wanted was to come and visit TIC Network in Marshfield. Far Reaching Far Reaching Impact TIC has a number of radio reading services throughout the country who depend on us to provide them with a significant portion of their programming. National Radio Reading Service Partial List and Growing All the Time: Wichita, Kansas Urbana Illinois San Diego, California Tampa, Florida Winston Salem, North Carolina Chicago, Illinois Harrisburg Pennsylvania Lancaster, Pennsylvania Columbia South Carolina Trenton, New Jersey Pittsboro, North Carolina Littleton, Colorado Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Greenville, North Carolina Downey, California Lafayette, Louisiana Lexington, Kentucky Houston, Texas Des Moines, Iowa St. Louis, Missouri In September 2011, with assistance provided by a grant from the Verizon Foundation of Massachusetts, the TIC launched a national radio reading service for people who are blind or visually impaired. Over the past two years, TIC had become an important source of programming for other services nationally and portions of our program schedule are now carried by reading services in 22 states. The national service differs significantly from the statewide service. The national service is provided on a separate audio stream. It offers programs of national interest twenty‐four hours a day. And….Our International Listeners Taiwan South Korea Japan Brazil Mexico Korea China Latvia Italy Germany England There are portions of our statewide programming that by design are focused on local interest programs such as local daily newspa‐
pers, local supermarket ads and calendars of events. The national service provides convenient re‐broadcasts of national publications such as the Wall Street Journal so that services in different time zones will have access. The service is offered at no charge to services across the country. The Verizon Foundation has a long history of partnering with nonprofits that are committed to improving access to information and services for people with a wide range of disabilities, according to Richard Colon, Verizon Director of Public Affairs. "It is an honor to partner with the Talking Information Center to expand its national reading service for the blind and visually impaired." We’re thrilled to be able to offer this service to other reading services many of whom are struggling in this economy. We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of innovation in radio reading services. Far Reaching VOICE Program Expands VOICE Vocational Opportunities In Communication Education A quote from Katie Crocker (pictured above); A recent graduate “In the fall of 2010, I was fortu‐
nate to be among the four train‐
ees that made up the inaugural class of VOICE. As I learned the various aspects of radio broad‐
casting, it became clear that this would be a lifelong passion. Af‐
ter graduating, I continued to volunteer at the MCB studios, conducting interviews and pro‐
ducing programs. Before long, I had the opportunity to begin working full time at TIC as a Pro‐
duction Assistant. I’ve been at TIC for over a year now, and love my work! I am still involved in the planning and instruction of the VOICE pro‐
gram. This program gave me not only a new passion for ra‐
dio, but confidence to enter the working world. It is incredibly rewarding to see each class be‐
gin, and to have a hand at intro‐
ducing new trainees to this amazing world of radio.” Inspiring and Empowering TIC and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) have expanded the VOICE Program (Vocational Opportunities in Commu‐
nications Education) to a second location at TIC’s Lowell affiliate, the Lowell Association for the Blind. The VOICE program is the first in the nation to utilize this collabo‐
rative effort involving radio reading service to address job building skills through the communication field for blind and visually im‐
paired youth. The program’s goal is to prepare marginalized youth to become con‐
tributing and self sufficient citizens with gratifying careers. The training program is intensive, interactive, and hands‐on focusing on experienced based learning that will provide lasting and valuable skills for visually impaired consumers to seek new opportunities in the working world with self confidence and competitive skill sets. Three graduates of the program have gone on to paying positions in the communications field. To give the gift of one’s independence is truly priceless Addressing Community Need In Massachusetts, there is a staggering 70% unemployment rate among visually impaired and blind people of working age. Many are highly educated and driven; however, their education experience has not prepared them for entering the working world. It is a frustrating di‐
lemma for the visually impaired to realize that their years of study are just not enough. In his own words… Shaun Doherty is a recent graduate of our VOICE program. “They say that public speaking is people’s greatest fear. Not mine, but I was still anxious before my first “street” interviews. Barely a month into the VOICE program I found myself at the State House pushing a microphone at strangers asking them questions for a radio show. It actually went well and I found the experience exhilarating! VOICE, though centered on broadcasting, offers training and skills translat‐
able to any field. Researching topics and writing business letters are cov‐
ered through VOICE, but I had become enthralled with the world of radio. Upon completion of the class I enrolled at the Connecticut School of Broad‐
casting to further my education. Their course was accelerated and taught me the commercial aspects of the industry. This complemented my VOICE experience and solidified my desire to make radio my career. I graduated and the school helped me find work. Now I am a producer at a local AM radio station. I also co‐host a talk show that airs over the internet. Radio is a shrinking field, but new media such as podcasting offer new opportuni‐
ties. The VOICE program changed my life for the better. Everyone, regard‐
less of educational background or life experience, can benefit from the les‐
sons taught here. I am proud to be an alumnus and look forward to meet‐
ing the next class. “ Lifelong Impact PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS American Foundation of the Blind Massachusetts Commission for the Blind National Federation of the Blind Bay State Council Mass Assoc. for the Blind and Visually Impaired The Carroll Center Perkins School for the Blind The Lions Club VIBUG (Visually Impaired Blind Users Group) IAAIS (International Association for Audible Information Services Local Councils on Aging REMOTE BROADCASTS IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS This year, TIC continued a long tradition by covering the two annual conventions of the Bay State Council of the Blind and the Massachusetts chapter of the National Federation of the Blind. For over 15 years, we have provided live coverage of the Saturday sessions making them available to people who could not get to them. The Bay State Council Convention was at the Burlington Marriot, in March. John Shea and Katy Crocker anchored the morning and afternoon sessions. Two weeks later, they went to the Doubletree Inn in Westboro to cover the NFB gathering, again a morning and after‐
noon event. We have gained a lot of recognition over the years for this coverage and the two consumer groups look forward to having us there. We are able to turn this coverage around by making e‐copies and cd cop‐
ies available to interested consumers. Since our first broadcast of this event technology has advanced that now allows us to broadcast the con‐
ventions live. This same technology enables us to go almost anywhere to broadcast an event of importance to our audience, such as the Guberna‐
torial Debate from Perkins in 2010. The following is a listing of Foundations, Businesses and Civic Organizations that have generously supported TIC’s mission of turning print into sound for the thousands of individuals we serve. 95.9 WATD FM Copeland Family Foundation Mass Banker’s Association Barnard Dirty Deeds Done Cheap Natick Lions Club Bayrd Foundation Duxbury Kingston Kiwanis Olympus Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA Emerson Swan Plymouth Lions Club Bond Printing & Marketing Fedele’s Chocolates Red Hat Society Bridgewater Academy Lions Club Forte Foundation Scituate Federal Savings Briteway Carwash Hanover Lions Club South Coastal Bank Brennan’s Smokeshop Cabot Family Trust Commonwealth Cooperative Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation Marshfield Chamber of Commerce Working together to make a difference South Shore Playhouse The Barker Tavern Tiny & Sons Working together to make a difference Dragonfly Memorial Reaching out …. In June of 2013, TIC celebrated its second an‐
nual Dragonfly Memorial. This fund was estab‐
lished to honor and recognize those gifts that were made in memory of a loved one. TIC is deeply touched and honored to receive such gifts. The Memorial Funds that were honored in June of 2013 were: Olive MacQuarrie 9/11 World Trade Center Eileen MacKinnon Victims & Families George Maloof 4/15 Boston Marathon Wayne Meredeith Bombings Victims & Carol Murray Families Josephine Panajia Phillip Brennan Melanie J. Powell Gloria Carlson Edward Arthur Scarry Leslie Carlson Helen & Edward Sealfon Rogers Swan Chase Neal and Virginia Slack Roberta Cutler “Bobi” Virginia Stas Tiffany Amber Dallaire Margaret C. Sullivan Garth Dirksen Maryanna Thompson Arthur Dunphy Irene Tarbox Dale Eckburg Winifred J. Walker Peter Elefterakis David & Jane Walsh John Fullerton Ellen Walsh Charles F. Govostes Maurice Harlow Dick Warye Alan Holliday Norm Williamson Alyce Kennedy Irene Kiaunis Father Joe Laughlin Marjorie G. Mahanor Kevin McHugh Touching Lives In 2012, TIC recognized 13 memorial funds and celebrated their lives. In 2013, TIC saw a 300% participation increase in this program and was honored to recognize the lives of more than 40 memorial funds established at TIC. Honoring and Remembering Loved Ones Passed Good Deeds TIC was presented with a check for $1,200 from Janet La‐
Berge, owner of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap in June at their new thrift shop “Good Deeds”. Janet believes in giv‐
ing back to community and paying it forward. She in an in‐
credible business woman and an even more impressive and caring individual. TIC’s Speaker’s Bureau This volunteer group is tasked with reaching out into the community to raise awareness about the services that the Talking Information Center provides. They speak at Lion’s Club meetings, Councils on Aging, Low Vision Groups and Assisted Living Facilities. They also attend Senior Fairs and Community Festivals. Internship Program Another example of how TIC is reaching out into our com‐
munities is our newly expanded internship program. In the Spring of 2013, TIC attended an internship fair at Stonehill College and was fortunate enough to recruit 2 student in‐
terns. In addition, we continue to work with local high school students that have shown an interest in communica‐
tions and broadcasting. This relationship has been very productive in getting the word out about our services as well as assisting in our public relations and fundraising ef‐
forts. The students love the experience and leave with a better understanding of radio broadcasting as well as radio reading services and the community which we serve. Working together to make a difference TIC in the Community Our Supporters Peter & Maryanna Abren Linda Abromson John Ackerly George S. Anthony Joyce Backman Barbara Jean Baker Anthia Balabanis David and Susanne Beldotti Al Bennett Leonard & Dolly Bicknell Jonathan Bond Roger & Elizabeth Borghesani David Boyle Jean Boynton Geoff Brennan William & Melissa Bristol Janice Brodil Harriet & Barry Brotman Iris Brough Matthew & Heather Brown Francis & Edith Bryant Maria, David & Christopher Butler Steve Callahan Stanley Campbell Barbara Canney John & Helen Carr Barbara Carver Zani Carl Catani Mr. & Mrs. Philip Chaplin Michele Christensen Ciccolo Family Francis Cleary Frances Cleary D. Jarrett Collins Michael Collins Peter Collins Timothy Collins Catherine Collins Margaret Corrigan Leah Cotton Katie Crocker Basil & Anne Cronin Jennifer Dallaire Jon & Jane Davis Jeb & Jan DeLoach Bob Detwiler Harriet DiMarzio Linda Dirksen Joseph Disabato Ellen D'Isidoro Rosemary & Keith Dobie Judy Doherty James & Mary Dolphin Susan & Digger Donahue Renee Donohue Renee & Michael Donohue Kevin & Kathleen Donovan George Dow Joan Dowd Arthur Dunphy Ralph Eaves David Ebate James ElefterKis & Lee Ann Foucher Warren & Nancy Emerson Diane Esslinger Roberta & Peter Fairbanks Olivia Ferrante Patricia Flaherty Robert Foley Marie Foss Carol Friedman John & Martha Germaine Eva Gilarde Mike Gilcoine George Govostes Nicholas & Elaine Guarda Deborah Gustafson Many Thanks to everyone supporting our mission Richard Hall Chip Hart Robin Hart Mary Ann Hayes Lucile Holliday Tim Horan John & Kimberly Hussey & Fletcher Christine James Martha Johnston Beverly & Phil Johnston Dr. Norman Katzman Kaufman Family Jackie Keith George & Ruth Kelly Jacquelyn & Brendan Kilroe Ann Kirby Jean & Russ Knibbs Jane Krahmer Kathy Krakowski Mary & Robert Kustka Elizabeth Lamphier Robert & Sandra Lee Diana & Angelo Li Rosi Robert MacBean Rich Mahanor George Maloof Edmund & Karen Marcarelli Maryellen Mastriani Thomas McBride Carol McClintock Marguerite & John McGann David & MI Y McLaughlin Marylou McLean Craig McLellan Doug McLellan Lesse McLellan Our Supporters Rita McMunn Linda McNeil Jim McNeil Gail Midgley Adele Milani Susan Mimno Pat & David Mitchell Kathleen Moody Brian Mooney Richard & Jane Moriarty Tom & Denise Mullen Linda Murphy Michael Murray Nancy Nicosia O'Gara Family Paul & Marjorie O'Leary Michael Papantones John & Beverly Penhallurick Mildred Peters Judy Picariello Mary Lou Pitts Kelly Powell Susan Price Rosalind Rabinowitz John & Joanne Rakoc Don Ranney Deborah Raptopoulos James Regan III David Roberts Joan Rogers Karen Roop Carol Russell Vincent Santosuosso Paula Santosuosso Lillian Savage Margaret Scarry Howard Schlansker Robert & Joan Shea Pearl & Alan Siegal Jeremy Slack Susan Sommer Eugene Spriggs Frank Stas Jack & Nancy Stebe Pamela Sullivan Jay Swartz Charles Tarbox Grace Taylor Charlene Terravecchia Joan Thomas Jeannette Travaline Jim & Christine Trenz Jane Trotta Jean Tsokanis Paul & Netta Vercollone Lynne & Vinnie Walsh Michael & Lucille Walsh Lynne & Vincent Walsh Eileen West John & Carol Whippen John White Susan White Barbara Wiberg Jill & Eric Widdup Marilyn Wilburn Janyce Williamson Donna Young Many Thanks to everyone supporting our mission TALKING INFORMATION CENTER Explanation STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION of Financial Statements ASSETS: Cash $58,503 As noted, the Talking Information Investments $101,116 Center is funded primarily from State agency fund receivable $26,941 the Massachusetts Commission Deposits $710 for the Blind. Receivers and broadcast equipment $278,992 One third of our state funding, $466,262 $250,000 is direct pass‐through Total Assets funding to support our affiliates in LIABILITIES: Accounts payable and accrued expenses $4,178 Lowell, Mashpee, Worcester, $4,178 Springfield and Pittsfield. TIC also Total Liabilities provides all technical and engi‐
NET ASSETS: Endowment $30,000 neering support for each affiliate. Unrestricted $432,084 Affiliates raise a total of approxi‐
Total Net Assets $462,084 mately $300,000 in matching $466,262 funds. Total Liabilities and Net Assets State funding is supplemented by corporate underwriting, founda‐
tion grants, fund raising events Where TIC gets their money... and private individual contribu‐
tions. Over $600,000 is contrib‐
uted annually in‐kind by corpora‐
tions, community leaders and vol‐
Public Funding
unteers including over $200,000 in Corporate/Foun
dation
the value of volunteer reader Individual
Donations
hours. According to the Independ‐
Events
ent Sector, a national coalition of non profits, foundations and cor‐
porate philanthropy programs, the value of a volunteer’s time in Mas‐
sachusetts now averages $26.87 per hour. Planning for Excellence Over the next 5 years, TIC plans to build upon its recent success and leverage its relationships to reach more individuals and to grow funding among our individual and corporate givers. We will accomplish this by establishing more relationships with businesses by showcasing the current underwriting opportunities we have in the Middleboro area. We have grown our relationships with businesses by 20% just over the last two years by adding sponsorship opportunities to our fundraising events. Our revenue from fundraising events has consistently and steadily grown. In addition, we plan on executing a more targeted and strategic outreach in an effort to service more individuals that may be print handicapped with our newly formed “Speakers Bureau”. The technology challenges that we have faced and conquered over the past 35 years are mind‐boggling, but we believe they may pale in comparison to those we will face in the years ahead. As our aging population grows even older and as today’s seniors are replaced by a younger, more technically savvy generation who are used to instant and interactive news sources, we must be willing and able to meet the challenge. Multiple audio streams on the Internet, podcasts to a variety of devices and more coverage of community and national events are just some of the exciting possibilities. We know we are
more than up
to the challenge!
TIC
NETWORK
Turning Print Into Sound “T U R N I N G P R I N T I N T O S O U N D”
Talking Information Center Springfield TIC NETWORK Valley Radio Reading Services 130 Enterprise Drive 44 Hampden St. Marshfield, MA 02050 Springfield, MA 01103 413.747.7337 TIC AFFILIATES Mashpee Audible Local Ledger (ALL) 681 Falmouth Road Deer Crossing Mall Mashpee, MA 02649 508.539.2030 Lowell Lowell Association for the Blind 169 Merrimack St. Lowell, MA 01852 978.454.5704 Inspiring Lives Worcester Audio Journal, Inc. 799 W. Boylston Street Worcester, MA 01606 508.797.1117 Pittsfield Berkshire Talking Chronicle 208 West Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 413.442.1562