[nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to haveanicecreamatMarble Slab

Marion & Martin swampfox1833 at verizon.net
Thu Nov 19 12:49:07 UTC 2009 

Albert,
    Several of the NYAGDU leaders are on this list. I am certain one of them 
will be able to give you the details!

Fraternally yours,
Marion



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to 
haveanicecreamatMarble Slab


> Cool beans, where do I sign up?
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Marion & Martin
> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:24 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have
> anicecreamatMarble Slab
>
> Albert,
>    There are many "mentors" on this list! Great things are happening with
> the New York Association of Guide Dog Users. You may want to get involved
> with Margo Downey and that group! They are movers and shakers in your 
> state
> when it comes to issues of guide dog handling! Margo is on this list and, 
> I
> am sure, would greatly appreciate your involvement!
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:06 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have
> anicecreamatMarble Slab
>
>
>> Well I have a mentor in you for sure.  As information becomes available I
>> would like to post links on my site to draw attention nationally so we 
>> may
>> help others learn from this experience. Peace.
>>
>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> CEO/Founder
>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>> New York, New York  10004
>> www.myblindspot.org
>> PH: 917-553-0347
>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who 
>> is
>> doing it."
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Marion & Martin
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 8:27 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an
>> icecreamatMarble Slab
>>
>> Albert,
>>    Thank you for your suggestions! The restaurant is a franchise of 
>> Marble
>> Slab located in Atlanta, GA. I have already contacted their headquarters
>> and
>>
>> have spoken with the franchise owner. I am expecting a return call from
>> him
>> today. I have also spoken with the General manager of Centro Ybor, the
>> mall
>> where the store is located, as well as the District Manager of
>> International
>>
>> Security Management Group (ISMG), the company that provides contract
>> security for the mall. With more than 20 years of advocacy experience on
>> guide dog issues, I have learned the value of casting a wide net and
>> taking
>> my concerns directly to the top and calling everyone to task for their
>> employees behavior! I have even been in contact with the media! The story
>> is
>>
>> out on Face Book and individuals I don't even know have called the store
>> and
>>
>> told them how outraged they are with their treatment of guide dog users!
>>    The Assistant Manager is now claiming that Merry's dog "was licking 
>> the
>> cones", something that is not only ludicrous, but impossible, as the 
>> cones
>> are kept above the counter, more than five feet high! The security 
>> officer
>> may have been arrogant, but at least we believe he will tell the truth
>> about
>>
>> the incident. He was there when Merry walked in and the whole time the
>> incident took place. We will have more of the story for everyone as it
>> unfolds!
>>
>> fraternally yours,
>> Marion Gwizdala
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 7:30 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an
>> icecreamatMarble Slab
>>
>>
>>> Find out if they are a subsidiary of a larger chain, like stone cold
>>> creamery, I am getting a sense you could single handedly change
>>> perceptions
>>> across state lines if this is true.  Further, see if you could get the
>>> security company to hire you for proper sensitivity trainings for its
>>> staff
>>> who are obviously ignorant of federal laws governing service animals.  I
>>> love these mickey  mouse cops who cannot make it as peace or police
>>> officers
>>> only to settle for security positions to assuage their own inadequacies.
>>> I
>>> had a similar problem with a village security guard and boy was he 
>>> eating
>>> crow when the real police showed up.  You have a great opportunity here
>>> to
>>> effect change in a few established organizations who have not embraced
>>> the
>>> 21st century and humanity over all.  If you would like to talk more on
>>> the
>>> topic, I and My Blind Spot   would be all to happy to assist. Keep
>>> fighting
>>> the good fight.
>>>
>>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>>> CEO/Founder
>>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>>> New York, New York  10004
>>> www.myblindspot.org
>>> PH: 917-553-0347
>>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
>>> is
>>> doing it."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>> Of Marion & Martin
>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 4:28 AM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an ice
>>> creamatMarble Slab
>>>
>>> Tami,
>>>    Perhaps the word you were looking for was "rude"! (smile) Now the
>>> assistant manager is claiming that kappie was "licking the cones"! How
>>> ludicrous! Especially since the cones are about five feet off the floor!
>>> There just happened to be a security officer in the store when all of
>>> this
>>> happened! Of course, he was ignorant enough to tell Merry that the store
>>> was
>>>
>>> private property and could refuse access to anyone they wished. When she
>>> told him of the law, he retorted that he was a former police officer, 
>>> was
>>> well aware of the law and that no such law existed! He changed his tune
>>> very
>>>
>>> quickly when the real cops arrived! (smile)
>>>    I will be speaking with the franchise owner and the security company
>>> that contracts with the mall today. I will send an update when I have
>>> something to report!
>>>
>>> Peace!
>>> Marion
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
>>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:52 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an ice
>>> creamatMarble Slab
>>>
>>>
>>>> Wow!  I am so sorry that Merry had to go through this.  Great job by
>>>> both
>>>> of
>>>> you, and Sunshine, to straighten things out.  I am impressed, and thank
>>>> yous
>>>> from Oregon for dealing so effectively with access issues!  And for 
>>>> your
>>>> follow up, which I know you are both well capable of doing well!
>>>>
>>>> Banned from the store for being rude!  Well, I never!  That is just...
>>>> Words fail me.
>>>>
>>>> Keep on being rude like that!  Only I hope you don't have to again.
>>>>
>>>> Wishing Merry gallons of her favorite ice cream.
>>>>
>>>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>> Behalf
>>>> Of Marion & Martin
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 8:38 AM
>>>> To: NAGDU List; NFBF List
>>>> Cc: blind411 at verizon.net
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an ice cream
>>>> atMarble Slab
>>>>
>>>>    I am sending the following message on behalf of Merry!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi All,
>>>>    Last night on my way home from school, I decided to stop at Marble
>>>> Slab
>>>> to have some ice cream, since I had time before my bus was due to
>>>> arrive.
>>>> I
>>>> walked in the door only to be told that I could not bring my dog in the
>>>> store.  The assistant manager told me that she would serve me if I 
>>>> stood
>>>> by
>>>> the door to place my order and then sit outside to eat it.  This all
>>>> happened at approximately 8:30 p.m., I arrived home at 10:43 p.m.
>>>> because
>>>> of
>>>>
>>>> the drama.  However, I am pleased to announce that I did get my ice
>>>> cream
>>>> although it took 2 police officers and 1 police Sgt.  from the Tampa
>>>> Police
>>>> Department.
>>>>    Please note, especially all guide dog users, that our education is
>>>> not
>>>> done!  Not only did we educate an Assistant Manager, a security officer
>>>> at
>>>> Centro Ybor, we educated the police officers as well, who at first
>>>> basically
>>>>
>>>> told me that I was not telling the truth.  It was only when Marion
>>>> called
>>>> for the Sgt. that attitudes changed.  I can tell you I was literally
>>>> shaking
>>>>
>>>> I was so upset, my words were assertively calm, but from the beginning 
>>>> I
>>>> was
>>>>
>>>> not going to come out this being the bad guy.  I thank Sunshine and
>>>> Marion
>>>> for being there for me via phone supporting me, and then Marion hopping
>>>> on
>>>> the bus to stand by my side.
>>>>    Of course, this morning more education will be done by calling the
>>>> corporate office of Marble Slab and Centro Ybor Security.  So, all my
>>>> fellow
>>>>
>>>> guide dog users please note that when I finally was able to order my 
>>>> ice
>>>> cream, I told the officers I had just one question to ask the woman...I
>>>> asked her that if 3 guide dog users walked into Marble Slab would they
>>>> be
>>>> served without any problems or being told to go outside.  She replied
>>>> that
>>>> they would be served; however, I am banned from the store for being
>>>> rude,
>>>> HAHA.  I think she's angry because I called the police, who stated that
>>>> she
>>>> was rude not me (imagine that !).  The police officer said if she ever
>>>> denies anyone with a service animal access again, he will slap the 
>>>> cuffs
>>>> on
>>>> her and the owners can come and lock the doors!
>>>>    Education is a great thing...speaking of which two more papers to
>>>> write!
>>>> Blessings to all,
>>>> Merry
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> .net
>>>>
>>>>
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