[NFBF-Tampa] apology

[Gloria Mills Hicks]

Hi Merry, 

 

I accept your apology. I realize that there is a problem when blind people
with service animals are denied access to transportation. I suppose I was
trying to gather information. I probably asked the wrong question. 

 

Gloria Mills Hicks TR

3708 W. Bay to Bay Blvd.

Tampa FL 33629

813 837-1100

Cell: 813 340-9754

 

From: NFBF-Tampa [mailto:nfbf-tampa-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Merry
Schoch via NFBF-Tampa
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2017 9:14 AM
To: 'NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List'
Cc: Merry Schoch
Subject: [NFBF-Tampa] apology

 

Dear Chapter Members,

 

Since I publically offended Gloria, I would like to publically apologize to
her for offending her. If I offended any other members who were present at
our chapter meeting, I sincerely apologize to you all. Over the past several
months, and intensively over the past few weeks Sherrill, Marion, and I
have been working on the denials of guide dog users. In many of our
conversations, We have come against some of the same language that was
spoken at our meeting. My words were reactive and I apologize for those who
I have offended.

 

With that being said, I believe it is important that we who have faced
discrimination due to our mobility choice as well as those that currenly use
guide dogs discuss the importance of continued education to those who are
unaware of the laws that exist to protect our rights. 

With warm regards,

Merry

 

From: NFBF-Tampa [mailto:nfbf-tampa-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marion
Gwizdala via NFBF-Tampa
Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2017 6:37 PM
To: NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List
Cc: Marion Gwizdala
Subject: [NFBF-Tampa] October 15 Event

 

Dear All,

 

                I have more information about the October 15 event to share
with you. The event will begin with a walk supported by the Treasure Island
Police Department to raise awareness to pedestrian issues on the island. It
is not specifically a White Cane Safety Day event, as many other groups of
interested pedestrians will take part. The walk will begin at the Treasure
Island Recreation Center, about one mile north of the St. Petersburg Lions
Beach House where it will end. Once at the beach house, they will have beer
and bar-b-q as a fund raiser for the Guide Dog Foundation.

 

                Merry and I have discussed this event and have some issues
with it. Our first issue is that it is not specifically blindness related
and I believe this lessens the impact of the day set aside to raise
awareness of this issue among drivers. The law concerning blind pedestrians
is different than that for other pedestrians, so I think our concerns will
be lost

 

                Though I am a consumer of the Guide Dog Foundation and have
been asked to participate in this event by providing some music and a
prewsentation about guide dog user access, I do not believe the NFB should
support any guide dog training program. If individuals within the
organization would like to do so, that is their prerogative.

 

                I believe it would be more worthwhile for us to invest in
conducting our own White Cane Safety Day event rather than supporting one
over which we do not have control over the message and activities. We have
discussed an event in Lykes Gaslight Park and I will look into it more on
Monday.

 

Fraternally yours,

Marion Gwizdala

 

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