[nagdu] GDF and NAGDU conventions

[Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)]

        I won both an ACB and an NFB scholarship.
I applied for them before I knew I'd get a dog.
NFB made it a requirement I attend their convention in order to receive the scholarship.
ACB still allowed me to receive my scholarship even though I was in my first week of guide dog school during their convention.

I've never forgotten that.

I tend to like NFB's policies more then ACB's.  In terms of kindness and relazing that life happens, ACB wins.

It also does make me wonder where NFB stands on guide dogs.  I only had one time slot for class due to going off to college. ACB understood that, at least on a practical level.



-----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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