[nagdu] thoughts on policy alternatives

Fri Jul 1 17:52:56 UTC 2011

That is one great option for sure. I am still pondering marions request on
how to sort out the bad apples. I would think that the hotel, or the
organization itself would be able to have, certainly by now for as long as
this has been an issue, kept a list of offenders, repeat offenders I should
think, and if and when they attend a conference, as sort of a consequence of
not properly attending to your dogs individual needs, whether that be
cleaning up after them, hiring a dog sitter if your dog is not capable of
being left alone for one reason or another, or as Marion shared, which was
disturbing for sure, allowing their dogs to run freely in the hotel public
areas,, as a condition of the offense, and I would wholeheartedly support a
zero tolerance across the board, would be to withhold the special rates
offered to members and members in good standing. i would think that hitting
them in their purses would shift things just a little, at least that is
where I would think to start changing the bad behavior. Consequences and
rewards have dramatic impacts on all types of behavior.

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
Fax: 212-858-5759
"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 Michael Hingson
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 1:38 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: [nagdu] thoughts on policy alternatives

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

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-----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
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----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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