[nagdu] GDF and NAGDU conventions

[Jenine Stanley]

Julie, 


Let me give you a little more info on the exhibiting factors that lead to
GDF decisions anyway regarding conventions. 

We have not had a booth at the ACB convention for many years. The primary
reason is that their exhibit hall hours are much longer over a longer span
of time than at NFB and we simply do not have the staff to man a booth and
take part in the activities of the guide dog affiliate, GDUI, which demand
volunteers from te schools to help with various events. 

I'm the GDUI Program Chair this year so I can say things about them. <grin> 

We do, however, hope to have a booth at the NFB convention even though the
cost is more, primarily because we like how the exhibit hall is organized
and run and that this is an audience we have been neglecting for some time.
As you see from my earlier note, that's paid off in the number of people
referred to us through NFB and NAGDU. 

I personally like the dedicated exhibit hall times at NFB as it gives me
time to attend the NAGDU functions without having to worry about a booth and
as I'm the one responsible for said booth, that matters a lot. <grin> 

The ACB exhibit hall is very crowded all week, which is fine but again, we
find that we reach more people by walking around, talking to people, helping
them with various things around the hotel, etc. 

We also have found fewer graduates attending ACB conventions, especially
when held in western states. Some day this balance may swing again, but I
really think that having different strategies for each type of convention,
even the state ones, is important. As long as people know how and where to
find us, That's what really matters. 

Jenine Stanley
jeninems at wowway.com
http://www.twitter.com/jeninems


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J.
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 6:10 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] GDF and NAGDU conventions

I have been to both NFB and ACB national conventions.  At the NFB
conventions I have been to there are generally a handful of the guide dog
program reps there.  It is usually the larger schools, unless the convention
is geographically very close to a smaller program's main offices.  When I
was at the ACB national convention last year, I think there was a booth in
the exhibit hall for just about every program available.  There were
definitely many more than at the NFB conventions.

So I asked myself why this might be?  On the surface it might look like
there is more agreement with ACB so that's why more of the programs attend
that convention.  But I don't think so.  I think a larger percentage of
blind people at the ACB conventions are interested in working with a guide
dog.  If you only have so many advertising dollars, it makes sense to use
them where you are going to get the most out of them.

I've talked with a lot of program representatives over the years.  I can
honestly say that what we talked about wasn't much different based on
whether I was at one of the NFB conventions or the ACB convention I 
attended.   The guide dog program employees talk about dogs, dog 
training and what they have to offer.  After all the guide dog programs 
are businesses.   They are providing trained dogs to blind people, not 
entering into philosophical debates.

Sure I do think that there are employees within the various guide dog
programs that are NFB or ACB members and promote their personal beliefs
purposefully or incidentally through their employment, but I do not think
that any of the guide dog programs as a whole favors one organization over
another.

JMHO
Julie



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