Job Openings:

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Position:  Project Coordinator: Part time, flexible schedule to be discussed at interview; based in Bangor, ME 

Organization: The Iris Network, 189 Park Avenue, Portland, ME

Definition:  The Project Coordinator will be responsible for development and implementation of the Community Connections Project, a state-wide collaborative pilot project that will coordinate, organize, publicize and strengthen new and existing community-based therapeutic social, advocacy, recreation and leisure activities throughout the State of Maine for people who are visually impaired or blind.  The Project Coordinator will also be responsible for the full range of contract compliance, management, budgeting, implementation and reporting for the Community Connections Project, an innovative state-wide initiative designed to introduce a motivated candidate to a career in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy while pursuing a masters degree in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy at U. Mass Boston through a distance learning program at the expense of The Iris Network.  The successful candidate will make a five year commitment to work for The Iris Network. 

During the first two years, while working on his or her masters degree in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy, the Project Coordinator will work with community-based providers of advocacy, social, recreation and leisure programs throughout the State of Maine to enhance these activities with therapeutic components and arrange for increased involvement of Vision Rehabilitation Services staff of The Iris Network to provide therapeutic services as part of these activities.  At the same time, the Project Coordinator will assist the providers of these activities to increase participation by people who are visually impaired or blind. 

During years three through five and once the Project Coordinator receives his or her master’s degree and becomes certified by ACVREP as a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, the Project Coordinator is expected to be promoted to undertake full-time employment with The Iris Network as a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.

Qualifications:  Bachelors degree in therapeutic recreation, special education or an allied field with a minimum of 5 years of significant experience in management of therapeutic recreation programs and/or community organizing for people with disabilities and eligibility for acceptance at and, admission to, the University of Massachusetts, Boston’s masters program in vision rehabilitation therapy no later than September of 2010 are required.  Local experience managing therapeutic recreation and/or leisure programming in northern/eastern Maine is strongly preferred and experience with clients who are visually impaired or blind is a plus.  Qualified candidates will possess superior writing, communications, advocacy and interpersonal skills as well as excellent presentation and computer ability including effective use of Microsoft Office Suite programs and database applications.  The successful candidate must be entrepreneurial, well organized and able to effectively work independently under pressure, use independent judgment, implement program development techniques and strategies, demonstrate familiarity with effective techniques and practices for community outreach and expansion including volunteer coordination and advocacy, demonstrate attention to detail, work constructively to build relationships with business partners, volunteers  and consumers and produce a high quality work product within tight time constraints.

Contact:  Send cover letter and current resume to Alison Keegan, Human Resources Manager, The Iris Network, 189 Park Avenue, Portland, ME 04102 or akeegan@theiris.org. 

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Click here for a printable Employment Application form

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Maine Airs Volunteer Opportunities:

We invite you to consider becoming a volunteer reader for the Maine Audio Information and Reading service. Readers present local stories from statewide daily and weekly newspapers for listeners who are visually impaired, blind or print handicapped.

We broadcast from studios at 12 Acme Road in Brewer and at The Iris Network, 189 Park Avenue, Portland over the secondary audio program channels of MPBN. Our broadcasts reach listeners from Portland and Lewiston to Houlton and Presque Isle.

We seek readers who can commit to at least a one-hour on-air shift per week or be available for substituting for regular readers. Volunteers read in pairs, and spend about thirty minutes prior to airtime preparing the papers for broadcast. The Maine Reader offers opportunities to record books.  We conduct a brief audition for each new reader prospect.

Our service is warmly received by listeners who otherwise would have little or no access to the news of their communities. Readers make a valuable contribution to helping individuals who are visually impaired or blind to live more independently.

The Iris Network

Maine Audio Information and Reading Service

12 Acme Road, Suite 104 Brewer, Maine 04412

207-989-0058

JOB TITLE: Maine AIRS Reader

JOB DESCRIPTION: Read daily and weekly Maine newspapers either live or recorded for broadcast over Maine AIRS.

TIME REQUIREMENTS: Preferred: 90 minutes per week as a regular reader; at least twice a month as a fill-in or back-up reader

SUPERVISION: Supervised by Director of Maine AIRS

Responsibilities:

1. Arrives at broadcast studio ½ hour before broadcast.

2. Using Maine AIRS guidelines, select, prepare and read articles, ads, obituaries and features from various Maine newspapers without editorializing.

3. Attempts to make printed word come alive without editorializing. 4. Records volunteer hours in time log and notifies Director of Maine AIRS of changes in address or phone numbers. 5. Notifies Maine AIRS in a timely manner if unable to fill shift. Qualifications:

Excellent reading and vocabulary skills. Enthusiasm for the printed word. Satisfactorily passes audition and vocabulary tests. High degree of discipline, motivation, and thoroughness.

For more information and an application, call 989-0058 or 800-715-0097  or click the following link to print out an application form.  Return it to the address on the form.

Click Here for a printable Maine Airs Application Form

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Residence and Recreation Opportunities:

Volunteer in our Residence or
Community Recreation Program

Volunteer in our residence or community recreation program as an activity assistant. Monthly, we offer a full range of recreational activities such as bowling, sporting events, walking, shopping and skiing. We invite anyone interested in helping with these or other activities to call Janet Taylor for more information at 774-6273 or 1 800-715-0097.

Click here for the The Iris Network - Volunteer Application Form