[nagdu] National Convention--my opinion

Wed Jul 10 18:14:55 UTC 2013

OK, here's the deal. If we care about our organization and keeping it solvent, or helping to, and if we know that it is a rather large expense to care for those relief areas, we should long to pay a fee. This fee says nothing about the allowance of our dogs' presence. Where you are employed, there are usually not more than ten dogs, and that would be high. Here we are talking 200-400. People who exhibit have to pay for the exhibit hall, and they pay high fees for that. People with kids have to pay for childcare, and there are time limits as to when the kids can be picked up, or rather must be picked up. Canes don't need to be relieved. Our registration is pretty low as conferences go. The one day Rehabilitation Conference put on by NBPCB was $85. That's more registration than we pay for the week, but if you longed to go, you had to pay it. If you enrolled after June 15, it was $100. So if it is unjust for us to care for the relief areas, then what about if they charged everyone in the organization $25 or $30 above what the current registration fee is? Then no one would have to feel he/she was being being penalyzed for bringing the dog. 

CL

On Jul 10, 2013, at 12:59 PM, Aleeha Dudley <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello,
> I do not agree with the required fee for the relief areas. If you have a required fee, that would be going against everything We stand for. Our dogs are supposed to go with us everywhere, without the hindrance of any extra fees that  anyone else would incur on the same day or at the same time. Those with canes do not have to pay an extra fee, so, I think it makes sense to ask for donations, but not to require them. If we start requiring them  for the relief areas, are employers  may also start doing the same things so that we can have a relief area.  This does not make sense to me, though I do not mean to offend anyone by my statements. I say that is the same for us as it would be for any other organization that we might become a part of, including our work, or other activities. We should have the same rights as any other person, and should not have to pay any extra fees, just so our dogs can come with us. I think requiring fees is asking for trouble. People will not relieve their dogs in the relief areas, or they will relieve them, but not clean up after them  or do any number of other things that could damage the hotel property. Also, this could greatly affect people's perceptions of the Nfb's view on guidedogs, a viewwhich we are just now starting to change among the general public. Just my thoughts.
> 
> 
> Aleeha Sent from my iPad
> 
> On Jul 10, 2013, at 1:14 PM, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Margo, I think if we pay a fee that is a required one, and if we don't have the folks to adequately care for it, we need to hire some company. It is a huge issue to have that material hauled from Maryland. I wonder why they don't do it that way anyway? I really hadn't thought much of this.
>> 
>> CL
>> 
>> On Jul 10, 2013, at 12:06 PM, "Margo and Arrow" <margo.downey at verizon.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> I think it should be a required charge.  Also, you know, we can learn from
>>> other organizations and I hope we don't get into the thing of not doing
>>> something because A C B or some other organization does it.  I still would
>>> like to see a company that does this type of work do the work instead of the
>>> National Center.
>>> 
>>> Margo and Arrow
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael Hingson
>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 11:36 AM
>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] National Convention--my opinion
>>> 
>>> The NFB does pay for the relief area.  As I said, I think a voluntary fee
>>> option on the pre registration form and an option for people who register at
>>> the convention would be good.  What we need to do is to make this whole
>>> thing more visible to all members.
>>> 
>>> Not to copy or anything, but the ACB has this option on its registration
>>> forms.  It does work.
>>> 
>>> I will not comment much on making this a requirement except to say that at
>>> the convention people charge for all kinds of things.  It is reasonable to
>>> consider asking guide dog users to help defray the relief area costs.  Also,
>>> non guide dog users may wish to help. 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Best,
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Michael Hingson
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Darla Rogers
>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 08:20 AM
>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] National Convention--my opinion I hear what you are
>>> saying Julie, but would the National Convention pay for it out of its funds?
>>> Darla & Handsome Huck
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 10:01 AM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] National Convention--my opinion
>>> 
>>> Isn't requiring guide dog users to pay a fee for a service or participating
>>> in an event against our beliefs as an organization?
>>> 
>>> I've always felt that NAGDU  was opposed to charging guide dog users fees
>>> based on their choice to use a guide dog.  I don't know about the legality
>>> of doing this in this particular situation, but if the hotel did it, there
>>> would be a giant fuss about it.  If we wouldn't put up with it from the
>>> hotel, why would we impose it on ourselves?  I'm not trying to start
>>> anything, but it seems like a contradiction to me.
>>> 
>>> Julie 
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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