[nagdu] the GDF ownership contract terms

Fri Mar 16 02:11:45 UTC 2012

Hello Jenine:

I must admit that you intrigued me when you said that GDF's training methods are different than most other schools--would you terribly mind elaborating on that (off-list, if you feel it necessary)?  I am a psychology and neuroscience major, thus the researcher inside me perked up his ears after reading your message.  

Robert Hooper
Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
The Ohio State University
0653 Buckeye-Cuyahoga CT
653 Cuyahoga Court
Columbus, Ohio 43210
(740) 856-8195

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jenine Stanley
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 9:37 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] the GDF ownership contract terms

R.J. 

We offer home training under very specific conditions and on an individual basis. This decision is made only after someone submits and application and is accepted for training. 

We do not generally offer or recommend home training for first-time handlers.

I will usually advise people who have been to other schools that home training is probably not the best option as some of our techniques are very different. I think Southeastern and GDA are closest to our training model and the next closest schools are Guide Dogs NZ (New Zealand) and Guide Dogs of South Africa. 

Marion had a relationship with our former Chief Training Officer, mike Sergeant which also helped his case for home training. It was also based on his work situation. 

Mike Sergeant is no longer with us and we have a new Director of Training, Anne Mercer, who operates under different protocols for choosing things like who is eligible for home training. The Selection Committee ultimately decides this issue based on the person's application, phone and in some cases home interview and a host of other factors. 

One of these factors that plays into home training is your proximity  to one of our field staff. We currently  have field staff in Georgia, Florida, Virginia and New England. 

Hope that answers your questions. 
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 RJ Sandefur
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 9:26 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] the GDF ownership contract terms

Marion, You keep refuring to comunity training. When and under what conditionsdo they offer this? RJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 9:08 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] the GDF ownership contract terms

> Jenine,
>    My statement was not meant, in any way, to  imply that I "bargained" 
> with my agreement. What I meant was that GDF offered community 
> training, something I was seeking as I did not have the ability to 
> attend a campus, so I compromised my own interest for the terms of the 
> contract. As for the breed of dog, I requested a German Shepherd and 
> was told one was not available, so I agreed to whatever dog was best 
> suited for the work it would do for me. Around the time they were 
> looking for a match for me, I was advised a Shepherd was coming 
> available and I was asked if I would be willing to wait a little 
> longer for a dog so they could finish the Shepherd and see if he would
work for me.
>    as for the term of the agreement referring to the age, I will need 
> to find my agreement and look at it again. I'm not sure where I got 
> the "five-year-old" provision, but it sticks in my head for some 
> reason. I will let the list know what I find.
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 4:00 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] the GDF ownership contract terms
>
>
>>I would like to speak to the terms Marion quoted regarding ownership 
>>and the  contract we require for all graduates of the Guide dog 
>>foundation.
>>
>> Marion stated that his contract said that if the dog was less than 5 
>> years old, we would require that it come back for evaluation. He also 
>> stated that he agreed to this term in order to get home training and 
>> receive a German Shepherd.
>>
>> I wanted to clarify a few things about these statements. I have 
>> worked at the Foundation since 2008 and our ownership agreement has 
>> not changed since then. I was also on class to receive a dog during 
>> that time and have a copy of my own such agreement. The actual term 
>> from the contract used for every graduate of our program receiving 
>> ownership states:
>>
>> "If within twenty-four months after placement I choose to discontinue 
>> use of the dog as a Guide Dog for the purpose trained, I will inform 
>> the Foundation immediately. The Foundation has the option to evaluate 
>> and reassign the dog to another qualified recipient."
>>
>> this contract is standard and is not modified for the purposes of 
>> bargaining or receiving specific services, breeds of dog, etc. Each 
>> graduate receives a copy of this contract in print and on CD in MS 
>> Word in the Going Home packet. The contract is signed by Wells B.
>> Jones, our Chief Executive Officer, and any other agreements or 
>> promises outside of this signed contract related to ownership are not 
>> valid.
>>
>> We determine length and location of training based on very individual 
>> factors such as ability to work with a guide dog,  availability of 
>> staff, location of applicant, etc.
>>
>> though we try to honor breed and gender preferences, the safety of 
>> the team is the most important factor. If our instructors feel we do 
>> not have a dog of the breed and/or gender that will appropriately 
>> match the applicant's needs, we will not place just any dog of the 
>> preferred breed or gender.
>>
>> If you have any further questions about our application procedures, 
>> please contact me off this list. Please know that we will not discuss 
>> individual graduates with anyone and that terms for custody versus 
>> ownership upon graduation are confidential and made on an individual 
>> basis.
>>
>> Jenine Stanley
>> Consumer Relations Coordinator
>> Guide Dog Foundation(R)  and America's VetDogs (R) the Veterans K-9 
>> Corps
>> (R) Providing Second Sight since 1946
>> 371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787
>> Office: 631-930-9000,
>> Toll-free: 866-282-8047
>> Fax 631-930-9009
>> jenine at guidedog.org
>>
>> To make a donation that can change a life... contact the Guide Dog
>> Foundation(R) at www.guidedog.org or America's VetDogs (R) the 
>> Veterans
>> K-9
>> Corps (R) at www.vetdogs.org
>>
>> Visit us on facebook at:
>> www.facebook.com/GuideDogFoundation or 
>> www.facebook.com/AmericasVetDogs
>>
>> Jenine Stanley
>> jeninems at wowway.com
>> http://www.twitter.com/jeninems
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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