[nagdu] traveling at convention with a cane versus a dog

Sat Jul 11 00:24:06 UTC 2009

Irish and I slipped out of the banquet along the wall while everyone was
meandering among the tables, too! We jumped on an elevator and got to the
third floor, I got Irish out to relieve and was back in my room in no time,
too! I find the dog is a huge help because they're good at getting through
crowds and they know where those elevators (or lifts as the Ausie dogs know
them) are. I know you guys must be looking forwarad to getting your dogs and
I wish you all the best! 

I wish I could have gotten to more of the actual guide dog meetings this
year but things kept coming up that I had to do like the chapter president's
thing that I only got to a little part of as well because of other meetings
and needing to eat myself and all the other incidentals. I don't know what
others think, but shortening the convention just made it harder to get to
things and sure made it difficult to get some time to visit old friends. I'm
glad I got some time at the NAGDU table as that gave me a chance to get
acquainted with a few of our members. By the way, can you share who won the
VR Stream?

Yesterday when we got home, one of the first things of course was to feed
Irish since we had such a long trip, he hadn't eaten for quite some time.
But I guess he didnt' think he'd had nearly enough to eat and my husband had
opened the suitcase with all my bags of PupCakes in it and forgot that they
were there. I called Irish and wondered just where he'd gotten to, and,
you've probably already guessed where I found him, trying his level best to
get into those ziplock bags. So when I share the treats with others with
four-footed friends, I just have to warn them there's probably dog slobber
on the bags but he hadn't been successful in breaking in. So, Merry I think
the ziplock bags had a good purpose beyond just the other bags breaking!

Also, you can hear Marion sing during the first general session, too.
Hopefully, that will be in the archives as he really did a great job!

After thinking about it, I think I ended up more involved with NAGDU this
year than I'd realized and I really enjoyed getting to know members and hope
next year to be able to actually attend meetings and to also continue to
participate and help out where ever I can. Much of the time, you attend
meetings, and it's like you come and go and sometimes don't really make any
connections with people at all. But with NAGDU I found I had opportunities
to spend time with people and participate so I really appreciate that.

Here's looking forward to next year!

Charlene

  _____  

From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of merrys at verizon.net
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 11:38 AM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nagdu] traveling at convention with a cane versus a dog

Charlene,

After the banquet, we used an esculator to get to the third floor and was on
an elevator within minutes.  That was the only time we were that lucky!!
Thanks for all your help in the exhibit hall.  In fact, thanks to everyone
who took a shift!!

Merry

Jul 10, 2009 06:47:48 PM, nagdu at nfbnet.org wrote:

Before I had my dog, I used to think it must be awlful to take a guide dog
to convention because of all the crowds. However, since I've had my dog, I
have really appreciated having him at conventions as it has often made it
much easier to get places. This year the hotel was confusing no matter
whether you use a cane or dog, but I found that it made life easier having
the dog hands down! But you do need to make some concessions in order to
consider your dog. The crowds at the ends of general sessions could get
particularly bad and so I found it better for the dog and probably myself as
well to get a head start and leave a little early. That leads me to think
that it might not be a bad idea if we developed a little pamphlet of
suggestions for people attending conventions with their guide dogs, a little
survival guide like thing.

Charlene 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Marsha
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 4:40 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] traveling at convention with a cane versus a dog

Hello,
Although I am a guide user, I did not have my pup at convention. Using a
cane at this particular hotel was hard. Not only because the hotel was
confusing, but because the hotel was laid in a circular fashion. I can not
tell you how many times I went in a circle. The circles looked the same to
me, and if things had been in a way that following a route would have been
easier. I have very good canes skills, but this hotel was just confusing.
And spoke to many sighted people who got lost, so I really do not think it
was a sighted or blind issue. Now on the other hand, I am glad in a way that
I did not have my puppy. It was a stressful week, with a lot of canes, a lot
of people. The elevators were very very crowded, and very little space in
the general sessions to spread out. So it is kinda depends on the dog and
the handler, if it had been easier to have a dog or a cane. 

But I am very very very happy to see that we had so many pupps at convention
this year. As a organization we are growing and that is a wonderful thing!
marsha

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Sherri
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 9:24 AM
To: Multiple recipients of NFBnet nagdu Mailing List
Subject: [nagdu] traveling at convention with a cane versus a dog

Hi Merry and Marion,

First I want to commend both of you for a great job with NAGDU at
convention. I unfortunately missed the business meeting, but the other
meeting was great. The speakers were particularly interesting and I enjoyed
learning more about dog massage.

I have a question. Both of you attended the convention without dogs. What
for each of you was the most striking difference in navigating, traveling,
etc.? Though the dogs get stressed, I find it much easier getting around
places like the Ren Center with my dog than with a cane. Just wanted to
know.

Did you two attend the council of dog guide school's reception? I did not
see you there. SEGBY and some other schools were there that did not attend
the NAGDU meeting. The reception was very nice.
Sherri

Flmom2006 at gmail.com

Check out the link and send your used cell phones to help the blind

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