Sertoma makes 'sound' investment

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The planned McCook Community College Events Center has received the support of the local McCook Sertoma Club, which has pledged its support to provide funds for the installation of state-of-the-art assisted-listening technology in the Center's main gymnasium.

Through the use of a telecoil (t-coil) built into an individual's hearing aid and a conductive wire looped around the Events Center gymnasium, a hearing aid wearer will be able to pick up crystal-clear sounds and speech broadcast through the gym's public address system or any microphone by simply pressing a button built into the hearing aid.

Well-established throughout Europe, induction-loop technology is growing in the United States, and based on preliminary research, MCC's induction loop system will be an initial installation of such magnitude in the state of Nebraska.

The Sertoma service organization, has been a leader in advocating and sponsoring t-coil systems through their "Sound Investment" program. The local McCook Sertoma Club realized the positive impact such a system would bring to the MCC Events Center, and approached the McCook College Foundation and MPCC/MCC administration regarding their interest in funding an induction-loop system in this new MCC facility.

The current cost estimate for the system is $20,000, and McCook Sertoma made its announcement and presented an initial pledge payment at the recent public meeting hosted by MPCC which previewed the current architectural renderings for the MCC Events Center.

McCook Sertoma will sponsor various fund-raising events in the months to come, including its Wear Green With Your Jeans in March and Volleyball Classic in June, to raise all of the necessary funds to install this induction-loop technology in the MCC Events Center main gymnasium. Anyone interested in making a donation to Sertoma should contact any Sertoma Club member, or the current club President, Linda Koetter at (308) 345-1744.

Sertoma is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; therefore, all donations are tax deductible.