[NFBF-Tampa] Interview ACB radio interview today

Wed Mar 10 15:42:08 UTC 2021

Dear All.

Here the truth about the guide being snatched from its handler.
Marion and Susan will interviewed on ACB radio at 2 pmtoday.  Once I get the link, I will post it!
Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 10, 2021, at 9:35 AM, Debbie via FLAGDU <flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> You know I'm in!
> Debbie
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: FLAGDU [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of MARION GWIZDALA via FLAGDU
> Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2021 4:43 PM
> To: Florida Association of Guide Dog Users <flagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: MARION GWIZDALA <merrys at verizon.net>
> Subject: Re: [FLAGDU] FW: My Letter of Resignation
> 
> Anyone interested in a good old fashion protest, give me a call at 813-625-1850. However, we will not be using the national Federation of the blind’s name in this protest!
> 
> 
> Merry C. schoch,LCSW
> 
>> On Mar 9, 2021, at 4:07 PM, Merry Schoch via FLAGDU <flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Debbie,
>> Since the policy is if you are a member of a guide Dog division, state division, you’re automatically a member of the national division. To make a statement I sent an email to nag dues president at president at nagatea.org and ask them to remove me from nag do the membership role. This way I am still a member of flag do but not a nag do! I also copy the national president at office of the president.org. No spaces in between office of the president. Others are more than welcome to do the same!
>> 
>> With warmest regards, Mdrry
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>>>> On Mar 9, 2021, at 10:50 AM, Debbie Hietala via FLAGDU <flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Marion, instead of you resigning, you should ask for the resignation of the
>>> current National Guide Dog Users.   You are too much of an asset for us to
>>> loose you.  It is not like you not to put up a fight for all of us.
>>> 
>>> Respectfully
>>> Debbie Hietala
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: FLAGDU <flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala 
>>> via FLAGDU
>>> Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 5:27 PM
>>> To: NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org>; NFB of 
>>> Florida Tampa Chapter List <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org>; 
>>> nfbf-leaders at nfbnet.org; flagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> Cc: Marion Gwizdala <marion.gwizdala at verizon.net>
>>> Subject: [FLAGDU] 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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>> 
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