[MN-at-Large] FW: Sad News from SSB

[David Andrews]

>
>Please see the note below from State Services 
>for the Blind about the passing of Dan Gausman. 
>We echo Natasha’s sentiments that Dan was 
>dedicated to a superior level of customer 
>service, and we grieve with his colleagues, family, friends, and customers.
>
>
>
>Corbb
>
>
>
>Corbb O'Connor (he/him), President
>
>National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota
>
><http://www.nfbmn.org>www.nfbmn.org | (612) 872-9363
>
>
>
>From: Corbb O'Connor <corbb at rushpost.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 4:25 PM
>To: Steve Jacobson <president at nfbmn.org>
>Subject: Fwd: Sad News from SSB
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Begin forwarded message:
>
>From: "Jerde, Natasha N (DEED)" 
><<mailto:natasha.jerde at state.mn.us>natasha.jerde at state.mn.us>
>Date: November 14, 2023 at 11:57:41 AM EST
>Subject: Sad News from SSB
>
>
>
>Greetings Council,
>
>
>
>I have another staff update to share, and this 
>one is not a happy one. It is with sadness and a 
>heavy heart that I share our State Services for 
>the Blind’s team has suffered a terrible 
>loss.  Dan Gausman, Audio Services Librarian at 
>SSB, passed away on November 9th. Dan was a 
>great colleague.  When he saw a need, he did 
>everything he could to make sure that our 
>customers got what they needed, whether it was a 
>radio, talking book player, braille display, or 
>assisting with login information for the 
>National Library Services.  Dan had a quirky 
>sense  of humor, and it was rare to see him 
>without a book in his hand.  Dan was more than a colleague, he was a friend.
>
>
>
>We wanted to share a story that shows the impact 
>Dan made on the people we serve:
>
>
>
>Judy B. is in the Masters of Social Work 
>program. As a person with low vision, Judy 
>employs several strategies to read. Earlier this 
>year, Judy contacted the Communication Center 
>with a book request. For her course work she 
>needed the most up-to-date edition of the 
>Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental 
>Disorders (DSM) or the DSM-5 Text Revised.
>
>
>
>“I almost didn’t make the request,” Judy 
>recalls, “It was such a big project, I 
>remember saying, ‘I can’t expect you to do 
>this. When I got that email saying they were 
>recording the book for me, I read that email through tears.”
>
>
>
>This all was possible because Judy talked to 
>Dan, who told her that he was going to make sure 
>this happens. 15 volunteers got to work 
>recording the nearly 1,000 page book, which took approximately 87 hours.
>
>
>
>We all will miss him tremendously.
>
>
>
>
>
>Natasha Jerde | Director
>
>State Services for the Blind
>
>Department of Employment and Economic Development
>2200 University Avenue West, Suite #240, St. Paul MN 55114
>Direct: 651-539-2272
>
>My telework schedule: I will be in the office on Wednesdays
><http://mn.gov/deed>Web | 
><http://twitter.com/mndeed>Twitter | <http://facebook.com/mndeed>Facebook
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