2009 Ice Cream Social

Twenty years is a long time. That's how long IRIS and its volunteers have provided reading services to the blind and print handicapped of Iowa. Volunteers, listeners, board members, folks from the Iowa Department for the Blind and political leaders - more than 80 in number - joined together August 27th at AIB College of Business to celebrate, and enjoy ice cream and goodies.

Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell congratulated the organization for its volunteer work, and Jule Reynolds, disabilities coordinator from the office of Senator Tom Harkin read greetings from the Senator. The Director of the Iowa Department for the Blind, Karen Keninger also joined in the festivities, along with a delegation of students from the Department's Orientation Center.
Residents from Wesley Acres came, as several listeners sought out their favorite readers.

This year's winners of the fabulous engraved IRIS flower vase for meritorious service are:

-Darlene Eischeid accepted the vase for her late husband
Jerry, a long time volunteer.
-Eileen Bowerman
-Dave Saurman
-Steve Eckhardt
-John Thompson
-Linda Lundgren

Thanks to all those who helped make the Ice Cream Social
possible - looking forward to next year!

Senator Harkin visits IRIS!

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) stopped by the IRIS office Sunday August 2nd to say hello and read a few news stories from The Des Moines Sunday Register. Greeting him were Board members Mary Ann Nielsen and Jo Slayton, volunteers Steve and Jeanette Eckhardt, Doug Chew and Susan Ford, and staff members Rob Davis, Sasha Djordjevic and Robert Nielsen.

Thanks, Senator Harkin !

From left to right: IRIS Board chair Mary Ann Nielsen, volunteer Susan Ford, Senator Tom Harkin, volunteer Doug Chew, IRIS Board member Jo Slayton, IRIS Director Rob Davis, IRIS Administrative Assistant Sasha Djordjevic

Senator Harkin to visit IRIS on Sunday!

IRIS will host a special guest this Sunday: Iowa Senator Tom Harkin will be visiting the IRIS office and studio Sunday morning. Who knows? He may even read a few stories. Senator Harkin has been instrumental in obtaining the funding allowing the reading service to expand over the past few years.

New IRIS Administrative Assistant!

Madison Van Oort (pictured right), current IRIS Administrative Assistant, has accepted a fellowship to continue her education at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Her last day with IRIS will be Friday, July 24, 2009. We thank Madison for her service with our organization and wish her luck not only her studies, but also her future endeavors! Thanks, Madison!

Sasha Djordjevic (pictured left) will be the new Administrative Assistant for IRIS. Sasha's first day was Monday, July 20, 2009. Sasha recently completed a year of service for the AmeriCorps*VISTA National Service program at AIB College of Business in Des Moines. While at AIB, Sasha assisted IRIS with helping to organize readers for the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil. Welcome, Sasha!

"Touch the Art" at IDB

Last Friday, July 10, the Iowa Department for the Blind invited the community to an event called "Touch the Art."


Here are some photos from snapped by IRIS director Rob Davis, with captions supplemented by news releases from the Iowa Department for the Blind:


Renowned tactile artist Ann Cunningham of Denver, Colorado, unveiled her public art exhibit. The exhibit features seven 3-D pieces installed throughout the Department's Des Moines office. In this photo, Cunningham and a blind community member touch the tactile representation of Grant Wood's "American Gothic", made from slate, bronze, and cherry wood.




Visitors touch the "Regionalist Landscape," which is a tactile representation of farm fields. This mixed-media piece uses bronze, slate, and cherry wood to depict a country road replete with a farm house, barn, large poplar tree, and child using a cane and leading a piglet on a rope.



"Most art is of the 'don't touch' nature," said Colleen Armstrong, Iowa Arts Council board member. "But this artwork is meant to be touched and interpreted. It represents how the Iowa Department for the Blind gets in touch with the blind and visually impaired, with their families, with employers."



Artist Ann Cunningham, pictured at the podium, has been sculpting for more than 30 ears. Her accessible fairy tales have been seen by over 150,000 people. Her work is in many public and private collections, including the Denver Art Museum, the Museum of Outdoor Arts, Englewood, Colorado, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind.

Karen Keninger, Iowa Department for the Blind director, also announced that the Department will expand its field staff-- phasing in new counselors and teachers over the next three months to better serve all areas of Iowa. In addition, the Department unveiled a new logo, which emphasizes the lower case "i." Keninger says, "We believe the new logo and tagline exemplifies the mission of the Iowa Department for the Blind, which is to create opportunities for independence for all blind and visually impaired Iowans." State Senator Staci Appel (D-Warren) is pictured above with Keninger.


The Des Moines Register's Mark Hansen covered the story in Saturday's paper. Check it out at the Register's website:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009907110323

Hum

Attention IRIS Listeners:

You may be hearing a hum over your IRIS radio. We are currently working with our technicians to fix the problem. Thank you for your patience.

Sioux City Volunteer Coordinator Terry Hudson Visits Des Moines and Is Featured in the Journal

Terry Hudson took over as volunteer coordinator for IRIS in Sioux City this past spring, and he has been busy this past week!

Terry was featured in today's Sioux City Journal in a story about IRIS. Check out the article online at:

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2009/07/06/news/top/0bce6df91d8f7f33862575eb0014aa11.txt

Last week, Terry stopped by the Des Moines office, and Rob snapped a few photos:




Madison attempts to teach Terry the ins and outs of online volunteer scheduling. Looks like fun!

Terry cracks a smile.


Thanks for the visit, Terry. Keep up the good work!