An Official Employee Publication From the Office of University Relations

By Joel Francis

As long as there has been Audio-Reader, there has been Eleanor Symons.Symons was recognized at a May 1 banquet by the KU Audio-Reader Network for 30 years of service and for being the first Audio-Reader volunteer. Symons said she enjoyed volunteering, but never planned on being there this long.

“I don’t think I looked that far ahead,” Symons said. “None of us realized it (Audio-Reader) would expand in so many ways, as far as material, coverage and the various programs.”

Symons volunteered in 1971, the first year of Audio-Reader. The program was seeking financial support. Symons couldn’t give money, so she gave her time. Symons was already reading a psychology journal to a friend at the time.

“I figured if I could read psychology, I could read anything,” Symons said.

Symons, a native of Cornwall, England, immigrated to Lawrence in 1957. She answered an ad in a London newspaper for librarians at KU, and decided to give it a try for a couple years.

“I didn’t know if I’d stay,” Symons said. “I thought I’d stick around for a while and see what it was like.”

Symons retired from the university in 1994. Today she volunteers about six to eight hours a week at Audio-Reader.

“I’ve always enjoyed reading aloud,” Symons said. “Growing up in England, I think more reading out loud was encouraged.”

Janet Campbell, Audio-Reader director, said Symons has meant a lot to the organization.

“I can’t imagine the place without her,” Campbell said. “Her name is synonymous with Audio-Reader.”

Symons said one of her favorite memories was meeting some of her listeners.

“A few years ago, the outreach coordinator took me to Kansas City into a workshop for the visually handicapped,” Symons said. “It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the listeners. It was an enjoyment for them because they recognized my voice. I was amazed to see how much the visually handicapped were able to do.”

Symons has picked up a few fans over the years, not the least of which are the staff at Audio-Reader.

“She has a British accent that I think charms our listeners,” Campbell said. “It is unheard of that a non-profit organization that has been around for 30 years still has its first volunteer.”

Audio-Reader also honored the following volunteers at the banquet for their years of service:

5 years: Pat Ashley-Hiscock, Bill Carswell, Dwight Deay, Mary Jane Dunlap, Lynne Ellis, Geri Fordice, Jackie Hilton, Daniel Lassley, Grant Ritchey, Kathy Tomasek.

10 years: Randy Austin, Mary Frederickson, Carol Jones, Kerry Magee, Kris Shields, Rob Tabor, Jim Taylor.

15 years: Betty Bryson, Bill Kelly.

20 years: Harold Asner, Janet Meyer, Calder Pickett, John Walquist.

25 years: Betty Cushing, Donna Laushman, Phyllis Rhodes.

30 years: Rich Bailey, and John Vogel.