[nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have anicecreamatMarble Slab

Thu Nov 19 12:52:16 UTC 2009

Rebecca,
    I'm not sure about the Face Book thing, as I have not yet taken the time 
to work on that site. As for the cone issue, the statement is ludicrous and 
goes to the Assistant Manager's credibility!

Fraternally yours,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at ngc.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have 
anicecreamatMarble Slab


> Where is the story on Facebook?
> And, if Mary's dog was licking the cones, wouldn't that earn the ice
> cream shop a health code violaton as if the cones were in dog reach,
> they're also within toddler reach and yucky trash reach, meaning nobody
> should be eating them.
>
> -----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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>>
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> cast
>>> .net
>>>
>>>
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