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START UP A LOCAL TN

FIND PREMISES

They could be someone's front room, but a permanent situation is far better. A storeroom with electricity supply within, or nearby, need not be very large for storing equipment and doing the clerical and copying work. Temporary use of another larger room for only 3 to 3½ hours is all that is needed for preparation and recording. Note that access time depends on whether recording and copying are done in one go which, starting at 5.00 pm could go on until 10.30 pm or so.

Although it is certainly worthwhile to try to secure good accommodation from the outset, there is no need to spend precious funds on elaborate alterations or building initially - most TNs start in very humble surroundings.

Try the local authority first, but remember that they have a number of departments and each may need a separate approach. Hospitals and Community Associations and even local businesses are worth trying.

CONTACT LOCAL POSTMASTER

TNs are able to use a free postal concession for the visually handicapped. Before your service starts, make contact with your local Postmaster. Get his informal co-operation, explaining that your service will be identical to other TNs using the concession throughout the country. If you offer a sample cassette, ensure that practically all the content is verbal, and that any music is kept to the barest minimum e.g. less than a minute at the beginning and end of each side. If requested, provide a copy of your Constitution, emphasising the special paragraphs relating to posting cassettes.

At all costs, avoid putting the local Postmaster in a position where he seeks advice from Headquarters. The regulations of the Post Office Guide (on display in every Post Office) permit him to give his agreement locally -encourage him to do so!

Arrange mutually convenient times for delivering the yellow pouches to a suitable sorting office or Post Office, so that they arrive at the listeners' homes on a set day.

ORGANISE LISTENER CONTACT

Arrange personal visits to each listener to explain fully how the system will operate, and to demonstrate the use of loaned cassette recorders. It is worth mentioning that the recorders can be used for correspondence with relatives and friends, using the listeners' own tapes of course, and for listening to the many other tape services that exist, and of course commercially produced cassettes of spoken word or music.

Do not forget when delivering cassette players on loan to get the recipient to sign a loan agreement. (A convenient form of wording is given at » Link to APPENDIX 4 (Word Doc)

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