[nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?

[Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)]

Hey there. 
First, the letter you received was rude as well as containing inaccurate
information. I am sorry. 
I do want to say though, that the letter is consistent with the writer's
background. Leader Dogs is in the business of providing guide dogs, and
this person was on the board of directors. So, from that perspective,
her advice and response is consistent with what she knows and with her
position.  It'd be like asking Mcdonalds how to grill a steak, they'd
probably tell you it couldn't be done, they don't know how to do it,
they don't know why anybody would want to do it, and by the way, they do
serve a decent meal of burgers and fries so why would you want to grill
your own steak"? 
Finally, I don't know how you presented yourself to this Lions Club. Did
you send a letter and ask for money? Or, did you offer a presentation
along with another owner-trainer in your area? Presentation is
everything. 
If I were you, I'd figure out why you are so upset by this. Is it the
finantial cost, or is it the rejection and lack of belief? If it's lack
of belief, why does this matter, considering that it comes from people
who don't know you froma hole in the wall? 
Again, I am sorry this happened. Try not to take it personally and keep
on doing your thing.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jessica Pitzer
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 3:53 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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