History of the
Inland Empire/Orange County Unit

The first RFB&D angel in the Pomona Valley was Ada Blake (pictured). Just five years after the national organization was incorporated, Miss Blake organized the Pomona Valley branch as part of the Los Angeles Unit. The new branch had no money except Miss Blake’s. It had temporary quarters in the La Verne College audiovisual rooms, but could only operate when the college wasn't using them. Scarcely anyone in the Pomona Valley had ever heard of Recording for the Blind.

Ada Blake was a flinty, exacting woman in her late seventies, a former headmistress of Marlborough School in Los Angeles, who had moved to Claremont in retirement. She was a headmistress out of an English novel: exquisitely educated, severe-looking, uncompromising—a frostily witty woman who inspired her good students to higher achievement and who set her lesser students to contemplating flight across the border.

The Branch soon gained solid footing, but the fact that it was not an independent Unit rankled Ada Blake. She warred incessantly with RFB national executives because for years they denied Unit status to the Pomona Valley branch. It was still a branch when she retired in 1959 (at National’s suggestion), and became honorary chairman. She lived to see the Pomona Valley Unit chartered in 1963. When she died in 1969, Miss Blake left an endowment to serve the Unit as long as it exists.

In October 1987, the Pomona Valley Unit moved to new quarters at 700 E. Harrison in Pomona, a suite of rooms in the corner of a manufacturing facility. The manufacturing facility notified the Unit at the end of the five-year lease that they needed the space, and so the Unit was forced to find another facility. That is when the second angel appeared, Mrs. Florence Case (pictured), who purchased the commercial condominium at 1844 W. 11th Street, Suite C, in Upland in 1992.

In 1993, the Pomona Valley Unit became the Inland Empire/Orange County Unit, and a branch studio was opened in leased space at 2021 E. 4th Street, #114, Santa Ana, in early 1994. This was an expansion of the work pioneered in Orange County by Joyce and Ned Kassouf who donated their personal recording booth to the Unit.

By 1995, it became evident that many students with learning disabilities could benefit from using audio books. In recognition of this newly identified segment of the consumer population, Recording for the Blind became Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, launching a nationwide educational outreach initiative to learning institutions.

In 2000, thanks to a generous grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation, the Unit began its 18-month conversion from reel-to-reel, 4 track recording to RFB&D’s AudioPlus, the newest digital recording technology.

Over the years, the Unit has advanced in many areas since its early days of single-handed, volunteer run and managed operations. When Miss Blake retired, Ople Flora and Tina Pattison became co-chairpersons. It soon became apparent to them and other Board members that a paid Studio Director was necessary to carry an increasing workload. Mrs. Flora became that person on a part-time basis for several years. Angie Creek succeeded her for several more years. Both were long-time Board members.

In July 1973, Gisela O’Loughlin took over full-time as Studio Director, and Nancy Sjoholm succeeded her in 1995. With the advent of the digital age, Sherry Weekes became the Digital Production Manager and was subsequently promoted to Studio Director. In February of 1998, Maureen Ahrens was selected as the first Studio Director at the Orange County studio. Mike Davis became the Unit’s Executive Director in June of 1998, overlooking operations at both studios.

Today, the Unit employs four full-time and 7 part-time staff members who work with nearly 235 volunteers. The Unit budget is approximately $500,000 and is supported by donations from private individuals, foundations and local businesses. The Board of Directors consists of thirty individuals who represent the business, educational and consumer communities in and around the Inland Empire and Orange County.

Beginning with Ada Blake, the Inland Empire/Orange County Unit has attracted dedicated volunteers who find joy in their work. With their help, men, women, boys and girls who have challenges that a couple of generations ago would have reduced them to marginal work or reliance on charity, are becoming well-educated, career-oriented, productive members of communities throughout the United States. This note from a blind borrower with a Ph.D. is psychology in the best reward for RFB&D volunteers and employees:

I do not know how I could have come so far in my profession if it were not for the great love which is so beautifully expressed in the very existence of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.