[BlindTlk] [BlTlk] [NAGDU] FW: My Letter of Resignation

Thu Mar 11 20:42:31 UTC 2021

And they didn't even seem to care about having proof of what they said. 
They didn't bring a scale to weigh the dog; just said it looked four pounds 
overweight.  How high-handed of them!  Pam.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Lauren Merryfield via BlindTlk
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2021 11:13 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Cc: Lauren Merryfield
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] [BlTlk] [NAGDU] FW: My Letter of Resignation

Could they revise the contract to exclude taking your dog back? If they won’t 
change it, could Nagdu or even higher, do something to change that rule? I 
think it is awful, unkind, and unfair. Snatching a dog with no warning is 
also unprofessional, I would think.

Now if someone really is abusing their dog, then they could have a powwow 
about it and work on working things out to the agreement and satisfaction of 
the company and their client.
Blessings,
Lauren
"What a power is love! It is the most wonderful, the greatest of all living 
powers. Love gives life to the lifeless. Love lights a flame in the heart 
that is cold.Love brings hope to the hopeless and gladdens the hearts of the 
sorrowful. In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than 
the power of love."
Abdu’l-Baha

From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Judy Jones via 
BlindTlk
Sent: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 5:23 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Judy Jones <sonshines59 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] [BlTlk] [NAGDU] FW: My Letter of Resignation

Hi Peter and All,

Back to the basics.

Southeastern should have a documented policy stated in their contract. I'm 
guessing each handler gets a copy of this contract, and in a media they can 
access later, am I correct?

While I agree with what has been said regarding this issue, and very sorry 
for the loss and pain, the facts are, bottom line, policy is the bedrock of 
that documentation, and has that been disregarded by either party?

I would be pulling out my copy of that contract and revisiting it.

They would have to show me a paper trail before jerking my dog.

Judy
sent from the Android BrailleSense Polaris

----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Donahue via BlindTlk
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Date: Monday, March 08, 2021 06:53 PM
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] [NAGDU] FW: My Letter of Resignation

Good evening everyone,

This is what happens when the NFB becomes obsessed with a particular issue 
and neglects others. Our determination to secure air travel rights for blind 
air travelers in the 1970s and 1980s nearly resulted in the loss of some 
prominent federationists at that time feeling that airline issues took 
priority over other concerns of greater importance to the blind. The current 
obscession with diversity and inclusion is repeating this same behavior 
while the rights of guide dog users are not being protected and our guide 
dog schools paternalistic policies go unchecked. All blind people need to 
feel welcomed and comfortable in the federation but their concerns must be 
addressed equally with the organizations other activities and programs.

Is it no wonder why some blind people do not want to become members 
particularly if they feel their concerns are being ignored or if the 
behavior of federation leaders and members causes them to feel "Held back?" 
How sad.

Peter Donahue

?

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindTlk On Behalf Of Catherine Clegg via BlindTlk
Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 5:24 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Catherine Clegg ; blindtlk at nfbnet.org; Marion Gwizdala,
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] [NAGDU] FW: My Letter of Resignation

I am really sorry to see you leave. Thanks for your leadership and guidance 
for so long. Catherine Clegg

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 8, 2021, at 5:29 PM, Marion Gwizdala, via NAGDU wrote:
>
> President Riccobono,
>
>
>
> On April 22, 2020, Southeastern Guide Dogs forcibly
> removed the guide dog of les Demers, a member of the Tampa bay chapter
> of the National Federation of the Blind of florida and the Florida
> Association of guide Dog users. As president of the National
> Association of Guide Dog Users, I have had several calls relating
> similar instances in which Southeastern abruptly and without warning,
> without evidence of abuse or neglect, and without due process forcibly
> removed a guide dog from its blind handler. On March 5, 2021, I
> received a call from Rev. susan Blake, a blind Episcopal priest in the
> diocese of Orlando, stating that Southeastern Guide dogs showed up at
> her residence unannounced on March 4, 2021 and forcibly removed her dog 
> because it "looks like it is about four pounds overweight".
> I immediately contacted Raul Gallegos whose first reaction was "I need
> to contact Southeastern." He seemed unconcerned about this abusive,
> undignified, unethical, and immoral behavior and contacting Rev. Blake
> was an afterthought. President Gallegos has Rev. Blake's contact
> information and, as of the date of this writing, has not reached out to 
> Rev. Blake.
>
>
>
> The board of directors of the National Association of
> Guide dog Users met to discuss the incident concerning Mr. Demers and
> chose to not pursue this case. If they had, perhaps Rev. Blake would still 
> have her dog!
>
>
>
> I have held various elected leadership positions with the National
> Federation of the blind since 1987. Since 2004, I have served on the
> board of directors of the National Association of Guide dog Users,
> including assuming the presidency by succession in 2007 and elected to
> the presidency in 2008. I have dedicated my life to protecting the
> rights of guide dog users and have invested countless hours and
> financial assets in the organization, believing it was the best avenue
> for change in the manner in which guide dog users are treated. If you
> were to ask any active member of NAGDU what the primary focus of my
> administration was, most would say "Ownership upon completion of
> training". We discussed ownership during nearly every meeting and I
> frequently questioned those training programs with ownership policies
> other than full and complete ownership after completion of training as
> to their rationale for such paternalistic policies. Their
> justifications for these policies were as paternalistic as the policies 
> themselves!
>
>
>
> It is very apparent the National Federation of the Blind and the
> current administration of the National Association of Guide dog users
> is not interested in protecting the rights and dignity of blind guide
> dog consumers. I cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve and
> support an organization that disregards the basic fundamental rights
> of blind consumers. Effective immediately, I am resigning my
> membership in the National Federation of the Blind and the National
> Association of Guide Dog Users. This will also serve to resign my
> elected offices as president of the Florida Association of Guide dog
> Users and the board of directors of the Tampa Bay chapter of the National 
> Federation of the Blind of florida.
>
>
>
> Respectfully submitted,
>
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Marion Gwizdala
>
> (813) 626-2789
>
> Marion.Gwizdala at verizon.net
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/csgclose%40gmail.co
> m

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