Library Collections: Document: Full Text

A tape recorder can open your door to new friends throughout the world.

Members of the Voicespondence Club, a non-profit, cooperative organization of recorder owners living in 40 foreign countries and the United States, exchange ideas, conversation, music, copies of their favorite records, or just tell each other of their daily lives by tape recording.

The Voicespondence Club, with a membership of over l300, is largely a labor of love of Melva and Charles Owen who live in Noel, Virginia. Noel, a tiny hamlet, consists of two houses and a railroad shed, but it is the world headquarters for this international friendship movement.

"Friendship" is the key word to membership in the club, although it does have definite requirements for anyone wishing to belong. 1) He must have a tape recorder. 2) He must reply to all communications.

Members come from all walks of life. They form a cross-section of people of all ages, ideas, religions and nationalities who want social, cultural and technical contacts, by voice, with people of similar interests in other parts of the U.S. and the world.

Regular dues are $3 a year with members receiving a directory in August, with supplements in November, February and May. Each member receives a copy of the club magazine each quarter. It is filled with news about members, club activities, articles relating to tape recording and information of general interest.

Mr. Owen has made a special membership offer to TjG's handicapped readers of $1 per year. The club's Tarver Memorial Fund will pay the additional $2.

At the present time, only a small percentage of the membership is handicapped, but tape recording is really a natural for a great number of the handicapped and is truly ideal for the blind. As opposed to ham radio, there are no tests to pass, no codes to learn and, in comparison, the recorder costs far less than ham equipment. The recorder can be operated, with a micro switch, by mouthstick, foot or a finger or two. Enthusiastic reports have been received from respos Lou Morris, Jackson, Mich., Foster Grundy, Panaroma City, Cal., and Tony Mathews, Savannah, Ga. Tony, photographed with his butterfly collection, wrote: "There is no substitute for meeting people and hearing their opinions and adventures. That is why I joined the Voicespondence Club. If you are looking for adventure, excitement and travel right at home, here is your answer."

When a person applies for membership to Mr. Owen in Noel, his name is then included in the club directory along with his address, type of recording equipment, hobbies and special interests.

The new member proceeds to select a person from the directory with whom he would like to communicate, and writes him a letter or card telling about his interests and hobbies, and asking if he would like to "voicespond."

After the preliminaries, if the reply is positive, the instigator will tell as much about himself, his family, neighborhood, hobbies and interests on the tape as is necessary to give his new friend a complete picture of his personality and life. Upon re-ceipt of the tape, the "voicespondent" should return the same reel in a reasonable length of time with the first message erased by his reply. Thus the same reel shuttles back and forth.

Tape recording owners with an interest and knowledge in special fields enjoy discussing technical subjects. Special education or knowledge, however, is not a requirement for membership. Mr. Owen also stresses the fact that friends are made as easily with the cheapest recorders as with the expensive.

Members agree to abide by these rules: 1) All tapes sent must be returned and all requests to voicespond must get a reply. 2) Dues must be paid in advance.

The club's lending tape library contains several hundred tapes ranging in subject matter from "The Haunted Vicarage -- An eyewitness account of psychic phenomena in England" to comedy monologues, musical programs, unusual tapes such as a 60 minute program titled "Sounds of the Southern Pacific Railroad" and even "Several Readings from Kidds Elocution, edition of 1883 -- comedy and stories with a moral."

This is an exciting idea that has been growing rapidly in popularity the past eleven years. Members of the Voicespondence Club probably would not be surprised to find that old St. Nick himself was down in Noel helping the Owens. They certainly have won the whole-hearted appreciation and approval of Voicespondence Club members throughout the world.