[NAGDU] So long and thanks For all the fish

[Sheila]

I am really sorry to hear about this. It has turned in to a real mess 
people are being hurt and there is no good excuse for this. When I 
finally got my first dog, I chose a school that wasn't close to us. I 
didn't want a school that didn't trust me to handle my dog. I also had 
not wanted yearly meetings with school reps and I am now glad that I 
wnet this route because I don't trust anything but full and complete 
ownership.

On 4/9/2021 9:46 AM, Rox Homstad via NAGDU wrote:
> I have been a dues-paying member of this organization for about 8 years now and have been on this list for even longer. One of the things I have always respected about this organization is its fair, even-handed treatment of all guide dog users. I also appreciated that this organization worked as partners with programs, asking for advice and input when necessary, calling out programs who weren't doing right. As an owner trainer, I can tell you that finding an organization who was not so blindly loyal to the programs and who believed in equality for all guide dog users was a refreshing change and I was thrilled to be a member of such a movement.
> Over the last year I have been intensely questioning my membership in the NFB organization as a whole. Their lack of access for Deafblind people, the willful ignorance of the sexual misconduct that is rampant through this organization and other things really had me pondering my future with NFB. The one thing that held me back from walking away completely was NAGDU. I believed in this organization, I believed in what we do and what we stand for. I liked being treated like I was equal with everyone else even though my dog was rescued from a backyard breeder and trained by me.
> But this organization isn't the same one I knew from before. When people sincerely question rules of the list, they are told "this topic is closed." That is basically telling someone to sit down and shut up.
> You know who used to treat me that way? GDB treated me that way when I got dogs from them in the 90's. If I had questions, if I was unclear about seemingly capricious and arbitrary rules, I was told to sit down and shut up.
> I didn't sit down and shut up then and I sure as heck am not doing it now.
> This is the NAGDU list and capricious and arbitrary as the rules appear to be, they are still their rules. If you don't like the rules, don't play the game. I walked away from GDB to make my own rules and to my deep regret I'm going to do it again today.
>
> I will be unsubscribing immediately upon the sending of this email. If anyone would like to message me privately to keep in touch, you are welcome and my email is at the bottom of my signature.
> Before I go though, I just want to say that I find the treatment of Marion Gwizdala, someone who has been a servant to this organization, who has devoted countless hours to amplify, protect, and advocate for the voices of guide dog users for over a score of years to be disgraceful and appalling.
> I am not sure what kind of internal politics are at play here and honestly I don't care. What I do see is that someone who did a fantastic job as a leader, who treated everyone with equity is now being shut out and shut down and when folks ask for clarification we are also told to shut up.
> I wish everyone here the best. I hope you all have many adventures with your dogs in years to come.
> Best,
> Rox'E Homstad
>
> Rox'E and the Kitchen Bitches
> Soleil, Rowan, Phoenix
> pawpower4me at gmail.com
>
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