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<DIV>Charlene,</DIV>
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<DIV>After the banquet, we used an esculator to get to the third floor and was on an elevator within minutes. That was the only time we were that lucky!! Thanks for all your help in the exhibit hall. In fact, thanks to everyone who took a shift!!</DIV>
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<DIV>Merry<BR><BR><BR>Jul 10, 2009 06:47:48 PM, <A class=parsedEmail href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org" target=_blank>nagdu@nfbnet.org</A> wrote:<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: rgb(102,153,204) 3px solid">Before I had my dog, I used to think it must be awlful to take a guide dog<BR>to convention because of all the crowds. However, since I've had my dog, I<BR>have really appreciated having him at conventions as it has often made it<BR>much easier to get places. This year the hotel was confusing no matter<BR>whether you use a cane or dog, but I found that it made life easier having<BR>the dog hands down! But you do need to make some concessions in order to<BR>consider your dog. The crowds at the ends of general sessions could get<BR>particularly bad and so I found it better for the dog and probably myself as<BR>well to get a head start and leave a little early. That leads me to think<BR>that it might not be a bad idea if we developed a little pamphlet of<BR>suggestions for people attending conventions with their guide dogs, a little<BR>survival guide like thing.<BR><BR>Charlene <BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: <A class="parsedEmail parsedEmail" href="mailto:nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org" target=_blank>nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org</A> [mailto:<A class="parsedEmail parsedEmail" href="mailto:nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org" target=_blank>nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org</A>] On Behalf<BR>Of Marsha<BR>Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 4:40 AM<BR>To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'<BR>Subject: Re: [nagdu] traveling at convention with a cane versus a dog<BR><BR>Hello,<BR>Although I am a guide user, I did not have my pup at convention. Using a<BR>cane at this particular hotel was hard. Not only because the hotel was<BR>confusing, but because the hotel was laid in a circular fashion. I can not<BR>tell you how many times I went in a circle. The circles looked the same to<BR>me, and if things had been in a way that following a route would have been<BR>easier. I have very good canes skills, but this hotel was just confusing.<BR>And spoke to many sighted people who got lost, so I really do not think it<BR>was a sighted or blind issue. Now on the other hand, I am glad in a way that<BR>I did not have my puppy. It was a stressful week, with a lot of canes, a lot<BR>of people. The elevators were very very crowded, and very little space in<BR>the general sessions to spread out. So it is kinda depends on the dog and<BR>the handler, if it had been easier to have a dog or a cane. <BR><BR>But I am very very very happy to see that we had so many pupps at convention<BR>this year. As a organization we are growing and that is a wonderful thing!<BR>marsha<BR><BR><BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: <A class="parsedEmail parsedEmail" href="mailto:nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org" target=_blank>nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org</A> [mailto:<A class="parsedEmail parsedEmail" href="mailto:nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org" target=_blank>nagdu-bounces@nfbnet.org</A>] On Behalf<BR>Of Sherri<BR>Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 9:24 AM<BR>To: Multiple recipients of NFBnet nagdu Mailing List<BR>Subject: [nagdu] traveling at convention with a cane versus a dog<BR><BR>Hi Merry and Marion,<BR><BR>First I want to commend both of you for a great job with NAGDU at<BR>convention. I unfortunately missed the business meeting, but the other<BR>meeting was great. The speakers were particularly interesting and I enjoyed<BR>learning more about dog massage.<BR><BR>I have a question. Both of you attended the convention without dogs. What<BR>for each of you was the most striking difference in navigating, traveling,<BR>etc.? Though the dogs get stressed, I find it much easier getting around<BR>places like the Ren Center with my dog than with a cane. Just wanted to<BR>know.<BR><BR>Did you two attend the council of dog guide school's reception? I did not<BR>see you there. SEGBY and some other schools were there that did not attend<BR>the NAGDU meeting. The reception was very nice.<BR>Sherri<BR><BR><A class="parsedEmail parsedEmail" href="mailto:Flmom2006@gmail.com" target=_blank>Flmom2006@gmail.com</A><BR><BR>Check out the link and send your used cell phones to help the blind<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature<BR>database 4231 (20090710) __________<BR><BR>The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.<BR><BR><A class=parsedLink href="http://www.eset.com" target=_blank>http://www.eset.com</A><BR><BR><BR><BR>__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature<BR>database 4231 (20090710) __________<BR><BR>The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.<BR><BR><A class=parsedLink href="http://www.eset.com" target=_blank>http://www.eset.com</A><BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>nagdu mailing list<BR><A class="parsedEmail parsedEmail" href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org" target=_blank>nagdu@nfbnet.org</A><BR><A class=parsedLink href="http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org" target=_blank>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org</A><BR>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:<BR><A class=parsedLink href="http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/caota%40hawaii.rr.com" target=_blank>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/caota%40hawaii.rr.com</A><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>nagdu mailing list<BR><A class="parsedEmail parsedEmail" href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org" target=_blank>nagdu@nfbnet.org</A><BR><A class=parsedLink href="http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org" target=_blank>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org</A><BR>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:<BR><A class=parsedLink href="http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/merrys%40verizon.net" target=_blank>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/merrys%40verizon.net</A><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></html>