CRIS Director Marks One Year Anniversary

Just over a year ago Diane Weaver Dunne was in a quandry. She had to choose between continuing to serve as the managing editor of the Hartford Business Journal or accepting the position as the executive director for CRIS Radio - Connecticut's talking newstand for the blind and print handicapped.

Weaver Dunne decided to follow her heart and took the job with CRIS on March 8, 2010.

"I thought I could help more people doing this," she said.

As a self-professed news junkie, she realized that the immediate media access she experienced wasn't available to the CRIS audience and she wanted to bring more resources to the stations listeners.

The Connecticut Radio Information System, Inc. (CRIS) is a Windsor-based nonprofit organization that provides news and information to people with visual, learning, mental health or physica disabilities.

The programming has been geared more toward the adult listeners, but now Weaver Dunne is adding children's programming, which will be available on-line and On Demand. July 1. The Kid's On-Demand programs will focus on science, technology, environment/nature and math for pre-schoolers through high school students.

A plan to add Spanish language programming to support the Connecticut Hispanic population plagued by blindness caused by diabetes is also in the works. Spanish speaking volunteers are needed and you can pick up an application at the CRIS website.

Meanwhile, CRIS has also formed a Speakers' Bureau to present CRIS to civic groups and schools. "The more people who know about the services, the more people CRIS can support," says Weaver Dunne. Volunteers who are interested in becoming speakers will also learn how to run the board as a substitute reader.

CRIS expects volunteers to make a one year commitment to help out for a minimum of one hour a month. If you're able to offer more hours, they'll be happy to put you to work.

Fund-raising events can also use your participation. New this year is the Dining  & Dancing in the Dark "A Night to Remember" on April 9 at Maneely's in South Windsor. The dinner dance, truly in the dark, will feature music by The Cartells  and an auction. 

Then, once the snow clears, CRIS will host their 14th annual Golf Tournament  on June 29 at Manchester Country Club. Tickets and sponsorships are available for both the dinner dance and the golf outing.

It has been a busy year for Diane Weaver Dunne and her team but she feels that at this stage of her career she wants to "Make a real difference in the lives of others in a positive way."