[nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?

[Marion Gwizdala]

Steve & Jennifer,
    I would be happy to help on this!

fraternally yours,
marion



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Johnson" <stevencjohnson at centurytel.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 5:29 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?


> Hi Jessica,
>
> I realize that you will get a lot of responses with this one, but what I
> would encourage you to do is work with Marion to draft an appropriate
> response that clearly educates this individual about owner-trained service
> animals as well as the Federal law that protects individuals.
>
> As far as requests for funding from Lion's goes, there are a lot of 
> projects
> that the Lion's do support whether it be International Lion's, their
> District's projects, State Lion's projects, Lion's, Lioness, Leo's, Lion
> Cubs, Sight First, Diabetes, Lion's Foundation and so much more, so it is
> not unusual that the funding aspect is denied.  I can tell you that as a
> Lion, it was even difficult to get a sponsorship for my last Leader Dog, 
> and
> due to my direct affiliation, it was decided to blend funding from two
> different clubs.
>
> I do hope you consider this as they will most certainly be scrutinizing 
> any
> request for funding as they receive literally hundreds and thousands a 
> year,
> and demonstrating to any club or organization that you can financially
> support the brunt of your own quest, might be more favorable in their 
> eyes.
>
>
> JMO, Steve
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Jessica Pitzer
> Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 2:53 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?
>
> Hi all,
> following is an email I received in response to an email I sent to my 
> local
> lions club about asking for help with some of the costs of owner training.
> I'm.. not quite sure how to feel right now except baffled as we have some
> many owner trainers and I just embarked on this journey myself.
> Thoughts?
> On 5/2/10, Rosemary Richert <rosemary at richertnet.com> wrote:
>> Hi Bert,
>>
>> It is highly unusual, and questionably irresponsible, for someone to
>> train their own guide dog.  The state only recognizes service animals
>> which have been professionally trained.  Any other such dogs may be
>> banned from places which would otherwise allow access to service
>> animals.  Necessary training of the dog is very comprehensive and time
>> consuming.  And, subsequently, training of the blind person with the
>> dog is, also, very comprehensive and time consuming.  For the person's
>> training, alone, three weeks of on-site training with the animal
> determined best suited to their needs is required.
>> The blind person needs to prove their orientation and mobility skills
>> before even being accepted into a training program.  Without proof of
>> the adequacy of those skills, they will not be accepted.
>>
>> I served on the Board of Directors of Leader Dogs for the Blind for
>> four years, and am the person who convinced the facility to become
>> trainers for the blind/deaf community...to the best of my knowledge,
>> it remains the only facility with qualified instructors of deaf/blind
>> individuals.  I tell you this, so that you may understand that I have
>> a credible background in these matters, and know whereof I speak.  I
>> would strongly caution your Lions club, or any other Lions club, about
>> considering involvement with a person who thinks they can train a guide
> dog for the blind on their own.
>> Involvement under such circumstances could come back to haunt an
>> otherwise well-meaning club.  It would make much more sense for this
>> person to be screened as to qualifications; and, if qualified, be
>> sponsored to a recognized service do training program.
>>
>> Thank you for your kind consideration.
>>
>>
>>
>> God bless.
>>
>>
>>
>> With Lionism at Heart, C
>>
>>
>>
>> PDG Rosemary
>
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