[nagdu] The membership has spoken, and I am disappointed

[Cindy ray]

I AM DISAPPOINTED. Sorry about all caps. Anyway, my state president asked one person how we should vote--someone who has a guide from a school that does not give unconditional membership. She voted no. This made me angry, but I know it wouldn't have passed in Iowa anyway. People think it's OK because the cost of the dog training is so high. Iowa doesn't get guide dogs.


Cindy Lou Ray
Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 9, 2015, at 10:14 PM, Michael Hingson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Buddy, I understand and thought as much. Some do, however believe that. 
> 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> 
> Michael Hingson
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Buddy Brannan via
> nagdu
> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2015 2:28 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Buddy Brannan
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The membership has spoken, and I am disappointed
> 
> Michael,
> 
> I agree with you. I merely used that because someone else would use it as a
> counterargument. 
> 
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: 814-860-3194 
> Mobile: 814-431-0962
> Email: buddy at brannan.name
> 
> 
> 
> 
>>> On Jul 9, 2015, at 5:01 PM, Michael Hingson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> I understand the concept of viewing my guide as a "gift" which in some way
>> it is. However, I prefer to view my guide as a service and team member
> that
>> comes to me through the "gifts" of donors. So what happens if I agree to
>> attend a school like the TSE which gives me ownership for $150. Are those
>> dogs "gifts"? 
>> 
>> No school should have anything except for the highest expectations for ALL
>> blind people. The non-passage of the resolution means we still have a long
>> way to go. 
>> 
>> 
>> Regards,
>> 
>> 
>> Michael Hingson
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of margo and isis
>> via nagdu
>> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2015 1:53 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Cc: margo and isis
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The membership has spoken, and I am disappointed
>> 
>> Buddy, I ditto your remarks.  I am amazed and bewildered that our
>> organization can take a position that promotes low expectations of blind
>> people.  
>> 
>> We get involved in agencies' policies.  Why is so much of a problem to
> deal
>> with guide dog schools' policies.  Why do we put them on a pedestal?  Why
> do
>> we treat them as gods?
>> 
>> Margo and isis
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Buddy Brannan
> via
>> nagdu
>> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2015 4:31 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Cc: Buddy Brannan
>> Subject: [nagdu] The membership has spoken, and I am disappointed
>> 
>> So the resolution re: guide dog ownership and the NFB's support of
>> advocating for the schools to change of ownership just failed to pass. I'm
>> amazed. I'm disappointed. I'm frankly puzzled. How is it that we believe
>> policies saying it's OK for guide dog schools to retain ownership, and
> this
>> apparently does not connote low expectations for blind people, when such a
>> position in any other context would never stand? 
>> 
>> One thing that the folks who spoke in favor failed to mention, though I
>> guess it wouldn't have helped, was this. Even if schools aren't routinely
> in
>> the business of repossessing dogs without due process, the point is that
>> they shouldn't have the ability to do so. It's great that it's never
>> happened to most of us. It's fantastic that you feel as though you own
> your
>> dog in every way that matters. But some day, the way things are now, this
>> may not be the case, and we want to protect against that. After all, yes,
> we
>> are essentially being given an expensive gift. Let's just for the sake of
>> argument say that this is the case, though I know that there would be
>> argument on that point. The point is, if the schools deem a student worthy
>> of this gift, they should feel confident enough in this decision to give
> it
>> without such reservations. If they do not, maybe they need better
> screening
>> processes. 
>> 
>> I'm just flabbergasted. 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: 814-860-3194
>> Mobile: 814-431-0962
>> Email: buddy at brannan.name
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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