[nagdu] Guide Dog School Losing Paperwork and convention

Lisa belville missktlab1217 at frontier.com
Mon Apr 23 17:00:02 UTC 2012 

Hi, Cheryl.

I think part of the problem now is that people just aren't joiners like they 
used to be.  Also mentioning either NFB or ACB can lead to some 
unintentional fireworks on many blindness lists, so this is probably why 
people don't bring it up on a school specific guide dog list.

Lisa

1st Law of Procrastination: that which can be done will be done . . . 
TOMORROW!!
Lisa Belville
missktlab1217 at frontier.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: "nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 6:36 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School Losing Paperwork and convention


>
> Good morning all:
> I have noticed over the years as being a graduate of GDF, that there have 
> been less and less graduates at convention. I also noticed on the GDF 
> List, and I am no longer on there, I just decided to much is to much.
> But I noticed that I was the only NAGDU member or NFB Member, I knew Lisa 
> was on here a few times, and Marilyn Tucci is on here now, etc, as well as 
> some others.  But I don't want to put foot in mouth here, but I had 
> mentioned this to our President before, President Gwizdala, that I felt 
> that the school was a lot GDUI and ACB then anything else. I know schools 
> are not supposed to be biased, but I felt that from the beginning.  I have 
> nothing against the other organization at all, I am just a member of NFB 
> and NAGDU, my choice!
> What does this have to do with losing paperwork, nothing.
> But with Convention only a few short months away, maybe this is something 
> that can be brought up at convention, when we have opened Q&A with GDF.
> Also, I have noticed as well, that at conventions many of the schools have 
> an event for the graduates, GDF used to take it's grads to lunch or anyone 
> interested in learning more about GDF was invited.
> GDF hasn't done this since our last Convention in Dallas, when Nelson and 
> I were there in, 2008.
> JMO!
> Cheryl and Maxx
>
> Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> http://www.echevarriatravel.com
> 631-456-5394
> reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>
> For daily updates read our blog at
> http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
>
>> Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2012 02:19:56 -0700
>> From: rhondaprincess at gmail.com
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School Losing Paperwork
>>
>> hello lisa.
>>  i think you should keep on speeking up. and makeing lots of nouise.
>>  that's the only way.
>>  to get what you want.
>>  i hope it all works out.
>>  *hugs* from rhonda.
>>
>> On 4/20/12, melissa green <graduate56 at juno.com> wrote:
>> > Lisa,
>> > Oh no, I was very outspoken about my process of going to GdF.
>> > In my case, I discovered that a certain staff member was losing the
>> > paperwork, the vidios, and sending e-mails that said things like you 
>> > weren't
>> > accepted.
>> > When I did go to GDF, I found out that there was someone else that this 
>> > had
>> > happened too as well.
>> > I also have a friend who got aproved for home training and it hasn't
>> > happened.  This staff member has told her that its because she wants a
>> > specific breed and that is why its taking so long, and that its her 
>> > fault.
>> > Yet, I had the same experiences with the Seing eye.  Lost paper work, 
>> > and
>> > staff members making the decisions that they think is the right one.
>> > I am glad that I have my girl from GDF.  I believe that grads of 
>> > schools and
>> > others need to continue to speak out and to complain.  That is the only 
>> > way
>> > that it can change.
>> > Blessings,
>> > Melissa and Pj
>> > The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. 
>> > And
>> > the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a 
>> > distance
>> > but live right in it, under its roof.
>> > Facebook: Melissa R. Green
>> > Twitter: melissa5674
>> > windows messenger: graduate1531 at msn.com
>> > skype: lisssa5674
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Lisa belville" <missktlab1217 at frontier.com>
>> > To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 1:26 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School Losing Paperwork
>> >
>> >
>> >     Jewel, Oh, I'm sorry you're having this issue with the school.
>> > Unfortunately, this is a chronic issue with the GDF.  They admit it's 
>> > an
>> > issue and say they're
>> > taking steps to fix it, but it's still happening, and not just to new
>> > applicants, but to returning grads.
>> >
>> > The training is good, but you still need to go through the same office 
>> > if
>> > you want to talk to your trainer or fax a vet form.
>> >
>> > I used to be one of the biggest GDF cheerleaders out there; I helped 
>> > run
>> > their Email list and was on their alumni council for a year.  I had 
>> > these
>> > things happen to me, and I've known people who have had it happen to 
>> > them.
>> > I don't really feel comfortable referring people to the GDF anymore 
>> > because
>> > of it.  I get it: They are responsible for a huge amount of papers and
>> > Emails and faxes that come through there, but every guide dog school 
>> > has to
>> > contend with Emails and faxes and paper work and they don't have these
>> > issues.  If I kept losing paperwork at my last job I would have been 
>> > fired.
>> >
>> > As I said before, how a school handles confidential and time sensitive 
>> > info,
>> > and how they respond to questions from frustrated applicants who need 
>> > to
>> > send a medical report just one more time is just as important as the
>> > training and how you're encouraged to work with your dog.
>> >
>> > This is really heartbreaking for me, no kidding, because I've been
>> > affiliated with the GDF since 1995.  I got to try a GDF demo dog at the 
>> > 95
>> > convention and that clenched it for me.  I've received two awesome dogs 
>> > from
>> > the GDF, I know how good it can be, and I'd love to see it that good 
>> > again.
>> > Yes, things change, but change doesn't mean it has to be done at the 
>> > cost of
>> > time and stress on people who just want a well-trained dog to enrich 
>> > their
>> > life and provide efficient mobility.
>> >
>> > I'd encourage other GDF grads on this list to speak out.  I know I'm 
>> > not the
>> > only one to deal with these issues. Most people just put up with it or 
>> > get
>> > frustrated and move on to another school.  Addressing it with school 
>> > staff
>> > really hasn't helped because they claim these are just isolated 
>> > incidents
>> > when they are most certainly not.
>> >
>> > Lisa
>> >
>> > 1st Law of Procrastination: that which can be done will be done . . .
>> > TOMORROW!!
>> > Lisa Belville
>> > missktlab1217 at frontier.com
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Jewel" <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
>> > To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 1:36 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School Losing Paperwork
>> >
>> >
>> >> It's funny you mention GDF, Lisa, because that's the school I am
>> >> applying to who lost the paperwork. I didn't want to name names, but
>> >> you already pointed out the problem, so I feel it's okay for me to
>> >> point it out, too.
>> >> Is the poor paperwork organization, in your opinion, something that
>> >> affects the school's performance when it comes to training? To send
>> >> vet reports, do you scan them into your computer and then e-mail them,
>> >> or do you send them another way? What's the best way to deal with this
>> >> issue?
>> >>
>> >> I've been impressed with GDF up to this point. I am concerned that
>> >> this will become a problem for me in the future, so am a little
>> >> hesitant about going to GDF now...but I really like their program.
>> >> Should I apply to another school? Or should I just learn to work
>> >> around the poor organization skills of the school?
>> >>
>> >> Lisa, I'd love to hear about how you deal with this problem, and
>> >> whether you feel, knowing now what you do aobut paperwork problems and
>> >> the like, whether you would go back to GDF.
>> >>
>> >> Thank you all for the comments so far; I remain concerned...
>> >>
>> >> ~Jewel
>> >>
>> >> On 4/19/12, Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net> wrote:
>> >>> Hi Jewel.
>> >>> I'd be mighty annoyed if that happened to me, especially if they lost
>> >>> stuff I had to pay to get, like a medical report and an O&M report. 
>> >>> And,
>> >>> considering how much I had to bug my references to get it done, that
>> >>> would
>> >>> be annoying, too.
>> >>> I think Cindy's suggestion is a good one.  See if there's a 
>> >>> supervisor
>> >>> who
>> >>> can open drawers and look behind the desk, I guess.  Sheesh! Pretty
>> >>> sloppy!
>> >>> Hope you can get it straightened out.
>> >>> Tracy
>> >>>
>> >>>> Hey guys,
>> >>>> Has anyone experienced a guide dog school losing your paperwork? The
>> >>>> school I want to attend says they don't have my medical report, my 
>> >>>> O&M
>> >>>> report, and my references. I know for a fact that I sent the medical
>> >>>> report with the video that they do have (they watched it, so they do
>> >>>> have that), my O&M instructor says he sent his report, and all three
>> >>>> of my references said they sent their reference letters. On top of
>> >>>> this, when I had an interview, I was told the interview was the only
>> >>>> thing they didn't have in my files. The interviewer also made a 
>> >>>> second
>> >>>> video of me walking, and they can't find that, either. I've been
>> >>>> offered a spot in the July class, as long as all my paperwork goes
>> >>>> through and I'm accepted, but I *sent* all that stuff. Should I just
>> >>>> go get everything all over again, or should I hold them accountable
>> >>>> for the lost paperwork...and do what?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Concerned about the school's organization,
>> >>>> Jewel
>> >>>>
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
>> >>>> nagdu mailing list
>> >>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> >>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> >>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>> >>>> for
>> >>>> nagdu:
>> >>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>> >>>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> nagdu mailing list
>> >>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> >>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> >>> nagdu:
>> >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail.com
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> nagdu mailing list
>> >> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> >> nagdu:
>> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/missktlab1217%40frontier.com
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > nagdu mailing list
>> > nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> > nagdu:
>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/graduate56%40juno.com
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > nagdu mailing list
>> > nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> > nagdu:
>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rhondaprincess%40gmail.com
>> >
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Have freedom.
>>
>>
>> and listen to your hart Smilely.
>> Rhonda & Mya..
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cherylandmaxx%40hotmail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/missktlab1217%40frontier.com

More information about the NAGDU mailing list