Minds Eye

I decided recently that I need to do something constructive while I continue to hunt for a job. Since my phone is not exactly ringing off the hook with job offers or even interviews, I figured I should do something to keep busy and try to extend myself a little bit beyond my comfort zone.

A couple years ago, I learned of an information service called "Minds Eye". They provide closed-circuit radio broadcasts for the blind. I was intrigued by it....possibly due to my lifelong regret of not pursuing a radio career (yes, folks, I always wanted to be on the radio), but also I think it is a pretty valuable service. At the time, I filed it away in my mind because with working many hours a week, travelling for work, and keeping house and family, I just did not have time to give it much more consideration.

In any event, I started thinking about what I could do to volunteer that would be an activity I would get some satisfaction from and I remembered Minds Eye. Essentially, they provide live and pre-recorded "broadcasts" of all kinds of materials from newspaper, to magazines, to books, even the Wal-Mart ad circular is read on air. The radios are provided free of charge to the blind and mostly elderly recipients, and the reception is within about a 75 mile radius. They are also expanding the service to the internet.

Anyway, since I have a lot of time on my hands now, I decided to apply for a volunteer position. I went there this morning for an interview and an audition. It was really interesting. They showed me around the "station" which is at the Shrine of our Lady of the Snows. Then, the administrator pulled a couple things for me to read and gave me instructions on how to work the recording device in the booth. The first article was from our local newspaper and it was a fairly short article about a possible murder in town. The other was a "Dear Dr. Donohue" column about cholesterol. I practiced each several times, to make sure I could pronounce all the words and when I was ready, I pulled the mic near me and hit the record button. I only stumbled once...when I got to a prescription medicine that was listed in the Dear Dr. Donohue letter. Other than that, I think I did pretty well.

If I pass the audition and the background check, they will probably start me out as a "sub". That's basically when you get called in to read when someone is ill or on vacation and it is a pre-recorded session. Some sessions are live on-air, but I think I'll need more practice reading aloud before I can do that! If I am not selected to read, they have outreach and other things such as mailings, etc. that volunteers can do. At this point, I would be happy to take on just about anything to keep busy!

So, I will see what happens next. It's amazing how different reading aloud seems. You're more self conscious of how you sound and your vocal tones and enunciation of words when you know you're being evaluated for your voice! Hopefully they take that into account just a bit!