[nagdu] Some Perspective on the Policy

Sat Jul 2 03:07:48 UTC 2011

Don't worry about it, even I make mistakes, but don't tell anyone--smile
 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Marion Gwizdala
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 10:09 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some Perspective on the Policy

Dan,
    You are correct! I was mistaken. I was at both and got the dates
confused!

Marion


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 7:40 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some Perspective on the Policy


> Just one minor correction.
> The convention in 1994 was in Detroit, I was there.
> The Chicago convention was 1995.
>
> Dan W.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Lyn Gwizdak
> Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 6:39 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some Perspective on the Policy
>
> Thank you, thank you, thank you, Marion for this post!
>
> Maybe you need to hang on to this to paste it into your remeinder of the
> policy next year and maybe the folks who complain will finally understand
> it.
>
> Have fun - I don't envy you when you have to bust people at the 
> conventions.
>
> Having close to 5,000 people this year!  Wow!
>
> Lyn and Landon
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 7:46 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Some Perspective on the Policy
>
>
>> dear All,
>>    I hope everyone will read this entire post and that it will give a
>> little perspective to the NFB policy concerning leaving dogs unattended 
>> in
>
>> guest rooms during convention. Please keep in mind that this policy was
>> enacted in an effort to resolve some very serious problems the
>> organization faced in the past. It is not an arbitrary policy the
>> Federation issued to attempt to make life difficult for guide dog users.
>> Also, please keep in mind that the NFB Board of Directors is very
>> supportive of the National Association of Guide dog Users and its 
>> members.
>
>> This year, the NFB will spend about $8500 providing relief areas for our
>> guide dogs. This is quite a significant investment! Now, to the purpose 
>> of
>
>> this post.
>>    In order to understand the need for the policy, we need a bit of
>> historical perspective. In 1994, the NFB convention was in Chicago, Ill.
>> During that convention, there were some very serious problems, as it
>> pertained to guide dog handlers. There were more than the average number
>> of accidents, partly due to the fact that the area around the hotel had
>> very little grass, except for Grant Park, which was swamped with millions
>> of people for the Taste of Chicago. In addition to these accidents in the
>> public areas of the hotel, several guide dog users left their dogs
>> unattended to go to the fireworks in grant Park because they knew their
>> dogs were afraid of the noise. A very large number of stressed-out dogs
>> carried on well into the night, disrupting other guests staying in the
>> hotel. Furthermore, some of these dogs literally destroyed the rooms. The
>> long story short, since the guests were unable to pay for the damages, 
>> the
>
>> NFB had to cover the cost, which ran well into the thousands of dollars.
>> Of course, some will say that the NFB should have required the 
>> responsible
>
>> parties to pay the damages, but you know the old adage of getting blood
>> from a turnip! If the NFB didn't pay the damages, they would have been
>> hard-pressed to find another hotel willing to offer us the rates we are
>> accustomed to receiving. Even though we did pay the damages, though, word
>> travels quickly in the hospitality industry and the NFB was having a
>> difficult time finding properties willing to host our conventions and
>> negotiating the rates.
>>    The NFB attempted to assess a surcharge of $25 for each guide dog 
>> user,
>
>> but this was met with a great deal of resistance and this plan was
>> scrapped very quickly. The resulting compromise was the policy that draws
>> so much contention every year.
>>    I would like to offer a real-life analagy. Most communities have a
>> public intoxication law. Basically, this law says that, if you are
>> intoxicated and behave in a disorderly fashion, you are going to jail. 
>> The
>
>> law is enacted because there was a problem with intoxicated people
>> behaving in a disorderly manner. Now, some could argue that it is their
>> right to drink if they are over the age of 21 and they would be correct.
>> Therefore, they would argue, it is their right to become intoxicated and,
>> again, they are right! However, if your public intoxication results in
>> behavior the community deems disorderly, impinging on the rights of 
>> others
>
>> to be free from such behavior, the police have the right to impose the
>> remedies available under the law. at the same time, if one chooses to
>> become intoxicated in public and behave themselves, no one really cares.
>> It is only when that state of intoxication imposes negative consequences
>> on public order that the remedies available are imposed.
>>    One post implied that I was only agreeing to the policy because it 
>> came
>
>> from the leadership. This member is absolutely correct. Policies and laws
>> are enacted for the general good of the community in an effort to provide
>> remedies for behaviors that negatively impact that community. Barking and
>> destructive dogs negatively impact the NFB community and the leadership 
>> of
>
>> this community has designed a policy to resolve this issue and provide
>> remedies. As a member of this community, you agree to abide by the
>> policies or laws that govern that society's behavior or face the
>> consequences for their violation. Whether that society is a country,
>> state, county, city, place of business, workplace, or the NFB convention,
>> there are acceptable behaviors and consequences for unacceptable 
>> behavior.
>
>> Anything else is anarchy!
>>    I reject the notion that this - or any other - policy treats one like 
>> a
>
>> child. In fact, what is childish is being intentionally oppositional and
>> defiant of societal norms and mores. Remember that it was not too many
>> months ago when someone believed he had the right to insult anyone he
>> wanted to on this list and no one could do anything about it. How many of
>> you rejoiced when it was announced that he was permanently banned from
>> subscribing to any of the NFBNET lists? Parenthetically, he telephoned me
>> to advise me that he intended to disrupt the NAGDU meeting this year. the
>> Board has taken the measure of refusing his membership for conduct
>> unbecoming a member. Since only members in good standing can speak on the
>> floor, this effectively bars him from disrupting our meetings. Might he 
>> do
>
>> so anyway? Perhaps! But there are other remedies available, too!
>>    I hope you have a better understanding of how this policy came to be
>> and the practical issues it addresses. It is not an anti guide dog 
>> policy;
>
>> rather, it is meant to prevent a serious issue and maintain order for the
>> common good of all concerned. It is unfortunate that such a policy had to
>> be implemented to deal with a problem created by a few. Just as most
>> people are generally honest, but we have laws against stealing to provide
>> remedies for the few that are not, most guide dog users are responsible.
>> The policy is to provide remedies for those who are not!
>>    I hope that everyone has a fantastic convention. I understand that we
>> are expecting more than 4000 in Orlando. That means we will most likely
>> have close to 500 guide dog teams! I hope many of you will join us for 
>> the
>
>> NAGDU meetings on Sunday & Tuesday in the Panzacola H-3 ballroom at 7:00
>> pm! I'll see you then or here on the list afterward! Have an awesome
>> Fourth of july!
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU)
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> 813-626-2789
>> President at NAGDU.ORG
>> HTTP://WWW.NAGDU.ORG
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