[NAGDU] FW: My Letter of Resignation

[Sandra Johnson]

Hi Marion:

I am sorry to see you go but I respect your decision.  You led the ownership
battle for those of us like you who demand it of our schools.   I thank you
for your many years of hard work for NAGDU and the rights of guide dog
handlers.  You will be missed.   I am as frustrated as you that this issue
never gained enough support of most NAGDU members and NFB.  


Sandra Johnson
-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala, via
NAGDU
Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 5:28 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>; blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Marion Gwizdala, <blind411 at verizon.net>
Subject: [NAGDU] FW: My Letter of Resignation
Importance: High

President Riccobono,

 

                On April 22, 2020, Southeastern Guide Dogs forcibly removed
the guide dog of les Demers, a member of the Tampa bay chapter of the
National Federation of the Blind of florida and the Florida Association of
guide Dog users. As president of the National Association of Guide Dog
Users, I have had several calls relating similar instances in which
Southeastern abruptly and without warning, without evidence of abuse or
neglect, and without due process forcibly removed a guide dog from its blind
handler. On March 5, 2021, I received a call from Rev. susan Blake, a blind
Episcopal priest in the diocese of Orlando, stating that Southeastern Guide
dogs showed up at her residence unannounced on March 4, 2021 and forcibly
removed her dog because it "looks like it is about four pounds overweight".
I immediately contacted Raul Gallegos whose first reaction was "I need to
contact Southeastern." He seemed unconcerned about this abusive,
undignified, unethical, and immoral behavior and contacting Rev. Blake was
an afterthought. President Gallegos has Rev. Blake's contact information
and, as of the date of this writing, has not reached out to Rev. Blake.

 

                The board of directors of the National Association of Guide
dog Users met to discuss the incident concerning Mr. Demers and chose to not
pursue this case. If they had, perhaps Rev. Blake would still have her dog!

 

I have held various elected leadership positions with the National
Federation of the blind since 1987. Since 2004, I have served on the board
of directors of the National Association of Guide dog Users, including
assuming the presidency by succession in 2007 and elected to the presidency
in 2008. I have dedicated my life to protecting the rights of guide dog
users and have invested countless hours and financial assets in the
organization, believing it was the best avenue for change in the manner in
which guide dog users are treated. If you were to ask any active member of
NAGDU what the primary focus of my administration was, most would say
"Ownership upon completion of training". We discussed ownership during
nearly every meeting and I frequently questioned those training programs
with ownership policies other than full and complete ownership after
completion of training as to their rationale for such paternalistic
policies. Their justifications for these policies were as paternalistic as
the policies themselves! 

 

It is very apparent the National Federation of the Blind and the current
administration of the National Association of Guide dog users is not
interested in protecting the rights and dignity of blind guide dog
consumers. I cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve and support an
organization that disregards the basic fundamental rights of blind
consumers. Effective immediately, I am resigning my membership in the
National Federation of the Blind and the National Association of Guide Dog
Users. This will also serve to resign my elected offices as president of the
Florida Association of Guide dog Users and the board of directors of the
Tampa Bay chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of florida.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Marion Gwizdala

 

 

 

 

 

Marion Gwizdala

(813) 626-2789

Marion.Gwizdala at verizon.net <mailto:Marion.Gwizdala at verizon.net>  

 

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