April 2016

Recording Library of West Texas

Annual Report 2015-January 2016

As Long as You’re on the Green

Mike Bates lost his sight in his right eye to retinal detachment five years ago. Soon after he

started to lose sight in his left eye to Macular Degeneration. After some treatments he retains

some peripheral vision in one eye, however most of his vision is gone.

Mike began asking the question, “Why me God?” He had been in the prime of his life, doing

well in the oil business and enjoying

golfing and his family time. He was

despondent. At his lowest point he had a

dream that caused him to have a change

of heart.

In the dream he was playing golf into the

wind and tiring rapidly. He decided to use

the wind to get his ball onto the green.

After success in the dream he never

asked “Why me?” again. His question

changed to “Why not me?”

Like a strong wind hindering a game of

golf, Mike’s vision loss seemed like an

obstacle to his best life. Mike found

hope in his dream and changed his

attitude about his vision loss. It became

a catalyst to an unexpectedly bright

future.

Mike discovered the Recording Library of

West Texas in 2011. He began enjoying

reading again and became an advocate for

our services to others experiencing similar

vision loss. Today he dedicates his time to

helping others find hope and services like

ours all over the Permian Basin.

He still enjoys an occasional round of golf with the aid of his grandson Cody. As they were

playing a round together Cody let him know, “You’re on the green! It’s not the one we were

aiming for but you are on the green!”

Mike is the founder of many local support groups for the

visually impaired, including being the founder of the

Vision of Hope group in Monahans. He is the President

of the West Texas Desert Council Chapter of the

American Council of the Blind (ACB) and he serves on

the Board of the Able Center for Independent Living .

2015 Production Report Original

Radio

Programming

Western

Magazine Hour

Wed. @ 2pm

MRT and OA

newspapers

weekdays

@ 3pm

Local Grocery

Ads Wed.

@ 5:30

Texas Book

Hour weekdays

@ 1pm

The Recording Library finished 57

magazines and newsletters.

We sent out 521 Sunday school lessons.

256 books completed, including TTBP books and

custom requests.

Every year the Recording Library of West

Texas records books for the Texas

Talking Book Program. These books are

recorded with Library of Congress quality

standards and are available through

interlibrary loan throughout the United

States. Patrons of the National Library

service all over the country listen to our

West Texas voices reading Texas books.

Thank you for your time and

contributions that make this a reality!

Texas Talking Books Program

Thank You For Your Support in 2016 Donors from 1-1-14 to 2-1-15 are listed

Foundations Abell-Hanger Foundation

Beal Foundation

Bruno Family Charitable Trust

CH Foundation

Chaparral Foundation

Dodge Jones Foundation

Dora Roberts Foundation

Fasken Foundation

FMH Foundation

Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust

J. Robert Jones Charitable Trust

Prairie Foundation

Robert E. & Evelyn McKee Foundation

Wayne and Jo Ann Moore Foundation

Businesses & Clubs Amazonsmile

Beal & Wilkes, PC

Caprock Communications

Chevron Humankind

Crownquest Operating

ExxonMobil Foundation

Great Western Drilling Co

House of Printing

Johnny Johnson Insurance

Lone Star Abstract and Title

Michaelson Producing Co.

Midland College Students in Philanthropy

Midland High School Students in Philanthropy

Odessa High School Students in Philanthropy

Vision Health Specialties

Individual Donors Gerald Adkins

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Aycock

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Babb

Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Barnes

Sidney Beal

Karen Beal

Stanley Beard

Omar Belazi

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bell

Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Bell

Dr. and Mrs. Paul Best

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Black

Dorothy Blair

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Blake

Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Brock

Virginia Brooks

Gregory Brown

Diane Browne

Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Brune III

Randy Bruno

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bryant

Tim Bryson

Amy Buchanan

Ejaz Butt

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Byerlotzer

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Canon

Mr. and Mrs. John Casey

Mary Lou Cassidy

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Catania

Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Chalfant

Charlena Chandler

Janis Chapman

Julie Cole

Bessie Collins

Ted Collins Jr.

Dr. Billy Cook

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Coombes

Ann Creamer

Mrs. Albert Dale

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Darr

Evelyn Davis

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Dickeson

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Dingus

Rick Doehne, Jr.

Susannah Donaldson

Jean C. Donnelly

Robert Donnelly

John H. Doran

Mr. and Mrs. Hyle C. Doss

Johnie Eads

Mr. and Mrs. James E Eakin, Jr.

Arlen Edgar

Elaine Eiland

Elizabeth Einhorn

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Evans

Mike and Stephanie Feagan

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Forrest

Catherine Fowler

Linda Fox

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Fralin

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Freidline

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Gasser

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Gates

Mr. And Mrs. Randy Geiselman

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Getz

Mr. and Mrs. Randal E. Gibson

Mr. and Mrs. Reed Gilmore

Ricky Gipson

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Gleeson

Elizabeth A. Greaves

Mr. and Mrs. David Grimes

Jeanne Guichard

William Hardie

Michael Harrison

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hickman

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hinkle

Dr. and Mrs. Paul Hodges

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Holeva

Calvin Hoover

Mr. and Mrs. William Huebner

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Huff

Jack Huff

Mr. and Mrs. David Hughes

Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Hugly

Keith and Debbie Imken

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Johnson

Lisa Johnson

Sikes Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jones

Gene Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Randy Jones

Judy Rankin

Mr. and Mrs. Curt Kamradt

Marsha Keasler

Texas Monthly

Magazine We record the entire

magazine for the Talking

Book Program of Texas and

broadcast selections on the

RLWT radio station at 3pm on

Sundays.

Thank You!

The Recording Library is designated by

the IRS as a 501(C)3 agency. All

donations are tax deductible. The

Recording Library of West Texas is funded

100% by private donations, we do not

receive any government funding.

Duncan Kennedy

Mary Kennedy

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kerr

Raj Kumar

Florence Larsh

Donald Lawrence

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lewis

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Liberty

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Lippman

Jack Lowder

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Luginbill

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lynch

Mr. and Mrs. Barry Marks

Mr. and Mrs. Donald McClurg

Eric Michaelson

Georgene Miller

Mr. and Mrs. James Mims

James D. Moring

Howard Morrison

Niki Moshell

Steven Munden

Melinda Musselman

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Neill

Dr. and Mrs. Dan Nelson

Arthur M. Odum

Ellen Pafford

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Patterson

Michael Picciano

Charlie Pinkerton

Gerald Pitts

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Pitts

Jacki Pomeroy

Polly Porter

Martha Preston

Luther Randerson

Tammy Ratliff

Suzanne Pomeroy Ready and Tom Ready

Carolyn Roden

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rogers

Neva Rousselot

Michael Rutledge

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Scott

Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Sherrod Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy G. Shrode, Jr.

Shirley Shroyer

Dr. and Mrs. Tulsi Singh

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sitton

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Speight

Mr. and Mrs. Bill St. Clair

Patricia Stahlbaum

Mr. and Mrs. Travis Stice

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Stovall

Vicki Sweatt

Mrs. John Swendig

Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Trimble

Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Vogel

Orin Wade

Mr. and Mrs. James Ward

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Watson

Mr. and Mrs. John Webb

Frances Wheat

Jan Wheeler

Marsha White

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Widner

Mr. and Mrs. John Wilkinson

Mr. and Mrs. Jack B. Wilkinson, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Williams

Bob Williamson

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Winters

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wood

Mr. and Mrs. Garth Wright

Mr. and Mrs. David Yarbrough

Dr. John Young, Jr.

Honorariums

In memory of Chester Armbruster

Bob Williamson

In honor of Dr. Madlyn Babb

Mr. and Mrs. James Ward

In honor of Julia Bell

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bell

In honor of Berry Bellomy

Mr. and Mrs. John Wilkinson

In honor of Florence G. Doss

Mr. and Mrs. Hyle C. Doss

In honor of Linda Fox

Ms. Evelyn Davis

Ms. Polly Porter

In honor of Mike Evans

Mr. Michael Harrison

In honor of John Gates

Mr.and Mrs. Larry Gates

In honor of Roxie Gray

Ms. Ellen Pafford

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Grella

Mr. and Mrs. Jack B. Wilkinson, Jr.

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Tevis Herd

Mr. and Mrs. Bill St. Clair

In honor of Gene and Geneva Kail

Mrs. Frances Wheat

In honor of Sue Roseberry

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Darr

In honor of Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Scatterwhite

Mr. and Mrs. Bill St. Clair

In honor of John Young

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Freidline

In honor of the Recording Library

staff and volunteers

Ms. Bessie Collins

Mr. and Mrs. Randy Jones

Memorials

In memory of Ann Baker

Marsha Keasler

In memory of Nancy Betts

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Freidline

Great Western Drilling Company

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Byrom

Trish Speight

Elizabeth Einhorn

Mr. and Mrs. John Betts

In memory of Roy Blair

Dorothy Blair

In memory of Jack D. Brown

Gregory Brown

In memory of Gladys and Clyde Brownlee

Georgene Miller

In memory of Ed Costello Jr.

Mrs. Albert Dale

In memory of Bobbie Davidson

Exa Kaye Lumen

In memory of Don Ewan

Robert Donnelly

In memory of Doug Guichard

Linda Fox

Recording Library Staff

In memory of Mary Maude Hickman

Janis Chapman

In memory of Parker Humes

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kerr

In memory of Elizabeth Krug

Diane Browne

In memory of Robert Miller

Georgene Miller

In memory of Virginia Moss

Marsha Keasler

In memory of Marillyn K. Odum

Arthur M. Odum

In memory of William and Madeline Pomeroy

Suzanne Pomeroy Ready and Tom Ready

In memory of Michael, Patrick, and Jennye Ready

Suzanne Pomeroy Ready and Tom Ready

In memory of Beth Roberts

Karen Beal

In memory of Antonio Saucedo

Mark Guzman

In memory of Thelmarie Shelton

Jeanne Guichard

In memory of Andrew Sloan

Suzanne Pomeroy Ready and Tom Ready

In memory of Judith Smith

Frances Wheat

In memory of Jimmy White

Marsha White

In memory of Roland Wilkinson

Mr. and Mrs. John Wilkinson

In memory of Margaret Young

Dr. John Young, Jr.

Gifts in Kind

April Barlow

Steve Walton

The ABLE Center

Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you

volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in. —Anonymous

Thank You Volunteers!

Over 300 Hours

Linda Fox

Exa Kaye Luman

2015-2016

Board of Directors

Dr. Madlyn Babb

President

Mike Evans

Vice President

Elise Coombes

Secretary

Amanda Fralin

Treasurer

Sonya Aycock

Lynn Lynch

Danita Maldonado

Carol Sitton

Staff

Trish Speight

Executive Director

Michael Todd

Studio Manager

Stephanie Childs

Production Manager

Cindy Johnson

Volunteer Coordinator

Sarah January

Admin. Assistant

Over 700 Hours

Leslie Rogers

Denisa Casey

Devri Conlin

Preston Conlin

Twyla Doty

Rhiannon Fry

Toni Granat

Jeanne Guichard

Laura Holleman

Lynn Lynch

Brad Melvin

Lisa Mewhorter

Jan Rose

Sue Roseberry

Michelle Serrano

Kim Stowers

Kuohui Suchecki

Charles Thomas

Thanks to all our Volunteers!

50 or More Hours

Becky Armour

Dorothy Blair

T.C. Byrom

Charlena Chandler

Harriet Lyson

Brenda Reynolds

Carol Sitton

Lyn Wood

Over 100 Hours

Sonya Aycock

April Barlow

Donna Byerlotzer

Paul Colgin

Jack Mangan

A Special Thank You to

the Junior League Volunteers

Total hours 155 Daniel Buenrrostro

Albert Canu

Jenae Dawson

Sam Dowlin

Sloan Edgar

Madeline Fryt

Nathan Gabriel

Mitchell Gilbert

Destin Horton

Katelyn Howard

Heather January

Sarah January

Sean McMullen

Rachel Patteson

Phillip Renaud

Chad Schmidt

Behrang Tahamtani

Student Volunteers

Stephanie

Beckham

Junior

League

Volunteer

Steve Knapp

Volunteer Reader

2015 Volunteer Report Over 3400 hours were donated in 2015

Melissa Archer

Kassadie Barela

Kate Bazin

Courtney Beloin

Kate Charuk

Katie Davis

Michelle Harris

Adrienne Horn

Holly Kleypas

Lauren Lawlis

Mandy McCabe

Mollye Plagens

Anne Reese

Leah Roberts

Michelle Ryan

Jamie Soto

Jessica Stoltz

Katy Taylor

Brittany Urrey

Ellen Wheeler

Whitney Wright

For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow

After eight years of hard work and creativity, Michael Todd is leaving

the Recording Library of West Texas. Our long time station manager has been

the heart and soul of the radio station here at the library and he will be sorely

missed. Michael is getting married this May and moving to Austin Texas.

We here at the Recording Library of West Texas wish him well in all his new

endeavors.

Michael started with the Recording Library as a volunteer in 2008.

Very soon after that Michael became a employee and started work on the

website for the Recording Library of West Texas.

Michael’s next big project here at the library was learning about and

installing the Telephone Reader. The Telephone Reader was up and running

by June 2008. This is when the newspaper, grocery ads, etc. were able to be

listened to on a daily basis.

One of Michael’s biggest contributions was his part in setting up the

Radio Station here at the library. Since the summer of 2011, the Radio

Station’s motto, “Read By Listening” has been possible because of Michael’s

hard work and perseverance.

Thank you Michael!

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Midland, TX 79711

Permit #321

Recording Library of West Texas 3500 N. ‘A’ St. • Ste. 2800 • Midland, TX 79705 • 432.818.2602

Telephone Reader Number • 432.617.5555

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