[NAGDU] NAGDU Board Meeting Minutes for August 28, 2016

Thu Sep 29 08:02:28 UTC 2016

Marianne,

	The Americans with Disabilities Act does not apply to air carriers,
though it does apply to the terminals. Once one leaves the terminal and
boards the airplane, the law that governs the aircraft is the Air Carrier
Access Act (ACAA). The regulations are a little different under the ACAA, as
it allows a broader range of animals and does not require training, as does
the ADA. We believe this is problematic, as there have been a number of
incidents in which an untrained comfort animal has become out of control on
an airplane, causing problems for other passengers and service animals. We
believe the regulations need to be amended so that a definition more
congruent with the ADA's implementing regulations are created. It is very
challenging, to say the least, to have an out-of-control animal in the cabin
of a plane at 30,000feet!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marianne Denning
via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 9:37 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Marianne Denning
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] NAGDU Board Meeting Minutes for August 28, 2016

I just read through these minutes. They are great minutes. I read the part
about proposed changes to the air carriers act. Would this be a violation of
ADA? What type of documents are they talking about?

On Wed, Sep 28, 2016 at 2:32 PM, Sherrill O'Brien via NAGDU <
nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hello to all,
>
>
>
> As NAGDU's secretary, starting this month, Marion has asked me to pass 
> along the monthly Board meeting minutes to both the NAGDU Leaders and 
> NAGDU mailing lists. You'll note that these are August minutes. No, 
> they're not hot off the press, since they first need to be approved by 
> the Board. But from now on, you'll receive the minutes following the 
> meeting at which they are approved. We hope that reading these will 
> help you stay informed about what's going on with our organization, 
> and nudge you to participate in our monthly teleconference Board 
> meetings. Who knows, maybe they'll inspire you to become a member of 
> NAGDU, get more active in your division, or even start the process of 
> forming a NAGDU division in your state!
>
>
>
> The minutes are pasted below my signature, and also attached.
>
>
>
> Warm regards
>
> Sherrill O'
> Brien, Secretary
>
> National Association of Guide Dog Users
>
> National Federation of the Blind
>
>
>
>
>
> National Association of Guide Dog Users
>
> Board Meeting Minutes
>
> August 28, 2016
>
>
>
> Those Present:
>
> Marion Gwizdala, President
>
> Michael Hingson, Vice President
>
> Sherrill O'Brien, Secretary
>
> Toni Whaley, Treasurer
>
> Jimmy Boehm, Boared Member
>
> Aleeha Dudley, Board Member
>
> Jessica Snyder, Board Member
>
>
>
> The meeting was held via teleconference, and was called to order by 
> President Marion Gwizdala at 8:00pmEDT. As usual, this was an open 
> meeting, and we welcomed the following guests: Liz Campbell, Texas; 
> Lucy Marr, New York; Holly McKnight, Texas.
>
>
>
> Secretary and Treasurer's Reports
>
> A motion was made by Aleeha, seconded by Mike to approve the August 
> meeting minutes as emailed. The motion passed.
>
> Toni did not yet have a treasurer's report. She said there had been no 
> activity during August. We have fully paid all those to whom we owed 
> money for fundraising products.
>
>
>
> Committee Reports
>
>
>
> Social Media
>
> We currently have 112 followers on Twitter. Marion wants to have 150 
> by October. Jessica reported that we have 404 Facebook members.
>
> NAGDU Website
>
> Mike said that, in order to keep our website updated, we are now 
> paying our web developer Dave Schroeder the monthly $100 fee which the
Board approved.
> Mike will make sure Dave sends an invoice to Toni, and that he copies 
> Marion and Mike. Marion said we need to send Dave a PDF copy of our 
> new brochure to download on our website. It will need to come from our 
> national office.
> Marion is taking an online course from CAVI involving up-to-date 
> technical knowledge geared to blind people. This includes web 
> development, and audio essentials such as creating podcasts.
>
>
>
> NAGDU Information and Advocacy Hotline and Mobile App
>
> Sherrill volunteered to help Aleeha update the state access laws which 
> will eventually be downloaded on our NAGDU app. Marion said most of 
> our hotline calls are now being connected through the app.
>
>
>
> Old Business
>
> NAGDU SEMINAR
>
> James is the chair of the committee which is making plans for a 
> national seminar. Serving on the committee are Board members Mike and 
> Aleeha, as well as NYAGDU president Lucy Marr. James will resend the 
> minutes from their meeting.
>
>
>
> Convention Relief Area
>
> Aleeha said that Seeing Eye trainer Doug Bohl did not have any 
> suggestions for us regarding improvement of the relief area at our 
> national conventions.
> We discussed having a variety of surfaces. There is a material which 
> can be put down which is permeable, thus preventing water from 
> accumulating. James suggested we consider a voluntary button on the 
> convention registration form, giving attendees the opportunity to 
> contribute to relief area supplies and cleanup.
>
>
>
> New Business
>
> Marion said our new Texas affiliate will hold a seminar just prior to 
> the NFB of Texas convention. TEXAGDU president liz Campbell then spoke 
> about their plans for the seminar, which will focus on rights and 
> responsibilities of guide dog handlers as well as education of local 
> business owners. She commended Norma Crosby, president of NFB's Texas 
> affiliate, for championing this seminar. It is hoped that it can serve 
> as a model for other NAGDU affiliates.
>
>
>
> New NAGDU Division
>
> Marion announced that Virginia will be chartering  a NAGDU division at 
> their upcoming convention in November. Marion has been invited to 
> attend.
> Michigan
> also has a formal charter in place and will meet in November.
>
>
>
> D O T Proposing Changes to the Air Carrier Access Act
>
> Marion informed us that the Department of Transportation has formed an 
> accessibility committee to study several proposed changes which would 
> affect
> those with disabilities who are traveling by air. One change would
impact
> those with service animals. The proposal involves the necessity for 
> the presenting of documentation and/or answering a series of questions 
> when booking a flight. NFB's representative on this committee, and 
> thus NAGDU's as well, is NFB Board member Parnell Diggs. Parnell would 
> initially like to hear from NAGDU leaders, so  a teleconference 
> dealing with this subject has been scheduled for Thursday, September 1 
> at 7pmEDT. Sherrill will send out an announcement about this meeting to
the leadership list.
>
>
>
> Marion encouraged everyone to order a supply of our new brochures from 
> the Independence Market, especially with Meet the Blind month coming 
> up in October.
>
>
>
> Our next meeting will be held on Sept. 25.
>
> The meeting was adjourned at 9:18pm.
>
>
>
> Respectfully  submitted
>
> Sherrill O'Brien, Secretary
>
> National Association of Guide Dog Users
>
> National Federation of the Blind
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>

--
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053
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