[FLAGDU] FW: My Letter of Resignation

Tue Mar 9 21:43:04 UTC 2021

Anyone interested in a good old fashion protest, give me a call at 813-625-1850. However, we will not be using the national Federation of the blind’s name in this protest!

Merry C. schoch,LCSW

> On Mar 9, 2021, at 4:07 PM, Merry Schoch via FLAGDU <flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Debbie,
> Since the policy is if you are a member of a guide Dog division, state division, you’re automatically a member of the national division. To make a statement I sent an email to nag dues president at president at nagatea.org and ask them to remove me from nag do the membership role. This way I am still a member of flag do but not a nag do! I also copy the national president at office of the president.org. No spaces in between office of the president. Others are more than welcome to do the same!
> 
> With warmest regards, Mdrry
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Mar 9, 2021, at 10:50 AM, Debbie Hietala via FLAGDU <flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Marion, instead of you resigning, you should ask for the resignation of the
>> current National Guide Dog Users.   You are too much of an asset for us to
>> loose you.  It is not like you not to put up a fight for all of us.
>> 
>> Respectfully
>> Debbie Hietala 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: FLAGDU <flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala via
>> FLAGDU
>> Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 5:27 PM
>> To: NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org>; NFB of
>> Florida Tampa Chapter List <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org>; nfbf-leaders at nfbnet.org;
>> flagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Marion Gwizdala <marion.gwizdala at verizon.net>
>> Subject: [FLAGDU] FW: My Letter of Resignation
>> Importance: High
>> 
>> 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 <mailto:Marion.Gwizdala at verizon.net>  
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
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