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<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><br>
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.<br><br>
<br><br>
Corbb<br><br>
<br><br>
Corbb O'Connor (he/him), President<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota<br><br>
<a href="http://www.nfbmn.org">www.nfbmn.org</a> | (612)
872-9363<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>From:</b> Corbb O'Connor <corbb@rushpost.com> <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, November 14, 2023 4:25 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Steve Jacobson <president@nfbmn.org><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Fwd: Sad News from SSB<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
Begin forwarded message:<br>
<dl><br>
<dd>From:</b> "Jerde, Natasha N (DEED)"
<<a href="mailto:natasha.jerde@state.mn.us">
natasha.jerde@state.mn.us</a>><br>
<dd>Date:</b> November 14, 2023 at 11:57:41 AM EST<br>
<dd>Subject:</b> Sad News from SSB<br>
</b><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Greetings Council,<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>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</sup>. 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.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>We wanted to share a story that shows the impact Dan made on the
people we serve:<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>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.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>“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.”<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>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.
<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>We all will miss him tremendously. <br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Natasha Jerde |</i> Director<br>
</b><br>
<dd>State Services for the Blind<br>
</i><br>
<dd>Department of Employment and Economic Development </i><br>
</b>
<dd>2200 University Avenue West, Suite #240, St. Paul MN 55114<br>
</b>
<dd>Direct: 651-539-2272<br><br>
<dd>My telework schedule: I will be in the office on Wednesdays<br>
</b>
<dd><a href="http://mn.gov/deed">Web</a> |
<a href="http://twitter.com/mndeed">Twitter</a> |
<a href="http://facebook.com/mndeed">Facebook</a><br>
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