[nagdu] thoughts on policy alternatives

Fri Jul 1 17:38:05 UTC 2011

Hi,

Here is a thought which has worked elsewhere.

Perhaps some of the guide dog school reps who attend the convention might be
willing to have a room or rooms where they can baby sit dogs.  Ski for Light
does this.  Trainers may wish to do this, for example, rather than attending
the banquet.

Personally, I take Africa with me everywhere as I brought her and think it
is my responsibility to use her and be with her at all times.  I recognize
others feel differently and it is not my place to assume all will act as I
do.

Best,

Michael Hingson

The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
 “Speaking with Vision”
Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info at michaelhingson.com
To learn more about my upcoming book, speaking topics and speaking
availability please visit www.michaelhingson.com
Thunder Dog is now available for early ordering on Amazon!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Dog-Blind-Triumph-Ground/dp/140020304X/ref=sr_
1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289090352&sr=1-3

for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Marion Gwizdala
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 8:17 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] moderator notes

Albert,
    Do you have any suggestions on how we should deal with the "bad apples" 
other than creating a policy, applicable to all, with specific remedies? I 
have heard a great deal of comments against the policy; however, none of 
those who disagree have offered an alternative.

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: Friday, July 01, 2011 7:57 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] moderator notes

> Well then perhaps the handlers should be banned rather then a whole
> community who for the most part are more on top of their responsibilities.
> It goes back to not letting one bad apple spoil the   whole bunch. Not
> cleaning up after ones dog is unconscionable. /
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
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> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
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>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Julie J.
> Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 9:04 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] moderator notes
>
> Dan,
>
> Fleas were just the beginning. There were also issues of barking and not
> cleaning up accidents.
>
> Julie
> On 6/30/2011 7:28 PM, Dan Weiner wrote:
>> So let's see...some dogs had fleas and therefore the rule is not to leave
>> your dogs unattended?
>> Explain that one.
>>
>> Dan W.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Julie J.
>> Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 6:42 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: [nagdu] moderator notes
>>
>> Hey all!
>>
>> Wow!   There are a ton of messages.  I haven't read through all of them
>> yet.  I will.  In the meantime I wanted to interject a few things.
>>
>> first and foremost, some of the messages have had a tone that is 
>> bordering
>> on rude.  I am a very, very, strong advocate of letting people speak 
>> their
>> mind.  However the writer *must* always be polite and keep
>> the message          on thoughts, ideas, facts or plans.  It is
>> absolutely not okay to flame an individual or even an organization.  Now
>> before people go all crazy on me, please disagree to your hearts content.
>> Please tell us all the things you don't like about the NFB.
>> I'm all ears, but where I draw the line is when constructive
>> critisism turns into just plain whining or worse.
>>
>> So explain why it is that you don't agree with the policy.  Tell us an
>> alternative that could work just as well or better to solve the problem 
>> of
>> barking and other problems with guide dogs left unattended in hotel 
>> rooms.
>> Tell us what you have done to ensure that your dog isn't barking even 
>> when
>> you are not there to know for sure.
>>
>> I also think it's important for people to know the history behind this
> rule.
>> It hasn't always been a policy of NAGDU and the NFB.  Many years ago at 
>> an
>> NFB convention in a very nice hotel that had given us very nice room
> rates,
>> guide dogs came that had fleas and were generally a huge problem.  This
>> hotel would not host our conventions ever again after their horrible
>> experience.  It turns out that hotels, just like all other sectors of
>> commerce, talk amongst each other.  It got around that guide dogs at
>> convention were a problem.  Other hotels were very reluctant if not
> outright
>> opposed to hosting our conventions.  You will
>> notice that NFB conventions get very, very good room rates.   A hotel
>> cannot deny a guest with a guide dog access, but when you are talking
> about
>> an entire convention you are talking about a very different thing.  The
>> excellent room rates were in jeopardy.  So NAGDU and the NFB came up with
>> the plan to self regulate guide dog problems in order that the hotel 
>> would
>> continue to give us the low room rates.  This is why you are asked to not
>> leave your dog unattended, to clean up accidents or to
>> get a NFB affiliated person to assist instead of hotel      staff.
>> These policies were not dreamt up to single out guide dog users or to 
>> make
>> our lives more difficult.  They were drafted after problems occurred that
>> were affecting the entire organization.  So if there had been no fleas in
>> the first place or no dogs barking like crazy in hotel rooms, we would 
>> not
>> have these policies and would not be having this discussion right now.
>>
>> Thanks for making this list great!
>> Julie
>> NAGDU list moderator
>>
>>
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