[NAGDU] 2018 NAGDU annual meeting minutes...please read

Thu Jul 4 01:58:21 UTC 2019

Dear All,

                The National Association of Guide Dog Users will hold its
annual meeting at the Mandolay Bay in Tradewinds C at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday,
July 9 with registration beginning at 6:00 p.m. In order to save about
fifteen minutes during this meeting, we will dispense with the reading of
the minutes of last year's meeting. However, these minutes will need to be
approved by our membership, so we are sending them out via email. Please
take the time to read these minutes so you can vote on them. If you know of
a user or list of users not included in this message, please forward it on!

Fraternally yours,

Marion Gwizdala, President

National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)

National Federation of the Blind

(813) 626-2789

President at NAGDU.ORG

 <http://nagdu.org/> Visit our website

 <http://twitter.com/nagdu> Follow us on Twitter

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  people
and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds
you back.

From: Marion Gwizdala, President [mailto:president at nagdu.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2019 9:46 PM
To: 'Marion Gwizdala'
Subject: FW: 2018 NAGDU annual meeting minutes...please read

From: 'Sherrill O'Brien' via NAGDU Board of Directors List
[mailto:board at nagdu.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2019 7:57 PM
To: 'NAGDU Board Distribution List'
Subject: FW: 2018 NAGDU annual meeting minutes...please read

Hi all you really busy people!

Since we need to approve, not read, these minutes at the NAGDU meeting,
please read them so we can be prepared to vote on them.

Thanks for reading!

See you real soon. 

Sherrill

                National Association of Guide Dog Users

National Federation of the Blind

Annual Meeting Minutes

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Rosen Shingle Creek

Orlando, Florida

The meeting was called to order by President Marion Gwizdala at 7:02pm EDT.
There were 43 in attendance. President Gwizdala led us in saying the NFB
pledge.

President Gwizdala thanked those who were helping to stream our meeting, and
those enhancing participation through social media via Facebook, Twitter and
emailed comments and questions.

During the meeting a container was passed to collect donations to defray
expenses for the relief area.

Elections

The following officers and Board members were reelected by acclamation:

President: Marion Gwizdala

Secretary: Sherrill O'Brien

Board Member: Aleeha Dudley

Board Member: Jessica Snyder

Update on NFB ride share testing Program

NFB's Legal Program Coordinator Valerie Yingling began the update on NFB's
three year ride share testing program which began in May of 2017. The form
is located at nfb.org/rideshare/test

The testing program welcomes the sharing of both positive and negative
experiences.

The biggest takeaway at this point in the testing is the tremendous
importance of lots of rider feedback. Valerie also emphasized the importance
of following up after a denial by submitting a complaint to Uber or lyft.

Tim Elder from TRE Legal Practice then spoke further about the program. He
said too many drivers are receiving a warning rather than termination. He
said it must be made clear that a service animal denial was a "knowing
violation". He said the company involved must have specific information. He
encouraged taking a screenshot of any relevant text messages. 

Tim asked for comments concerning a situation in an Uber or lyft pool where
a passenger is asked to move from the front to the back seat to accommodate
a passenger with a guide dog.  

Airline Policies Concerning Guide Dogs

Marion talked about the growing number of regulations airlines are trying to
impose on passengers with service animals. He reviewed his meeting in
Baltimore with officials from Delta Airlines. They were receptive and said
they would not make these new requirements mandatory. But when members of
the NAGDU Board and other volunteers checked Delta's website and randomly
called their disability customer service line, they were not given the
latest accurate service animal policy information. So Marion    and Raul
Gallegos met with Delta officials again. NFB's John Pare, Executive Director
of Advocacy and Policy, believes our quick action has helped stem the tide
and kept many other airlines from implementing  Delta's injurious policies.

Legislation

Marion said a bill to watch is the FAA Reauthorization Act. It contains some
ambiguous language regarding service animal policy. Senator Burr of North
Carolina has introduced an amendment we oppose which contains some of the
problematic proposals Delta was attempting to implement.

Important Documents

The secretary read the comments NFB and NAGDU jointly submitted in response
to the DOT's release of its interim enforcement priorities for the Air
Carrier Access Act (ACAA). This release, along with the  Advance notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), allows the public time to comment before the
department issues its  final implementing regulations.

The secretary also read NAGDU's proposed Resolution Regarding Airline Travel
with Guide Dogs.

Affiliate Report

Stacie Gallegos gave a report on NAGDU's Texas affiliate (TEXAGDU).

Marion thanked the following NAGDU 2018 SEMINAR sponsors:

On the Go Guide and Service Dog Products, Orlando Emergency Veterinary
clinic, Ruffwear, and TEXAGDU.

We then held the drawing for  the $150 gift certificate donated by Julie
Johnson's company On The Go. Christi Durham was the winner.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30PM EDT.

Respectfully submitted

Sherrill O'Brien, Secretary

National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)

National Federation of the Blind 

Phone 813-935-0474, cell 813-767-1890

eMail Secretary at NAGDU.ORG

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind people
and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds
you back

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