[NFBF-Tampa] flagdu 2020 annual meeting minutes

[Sherrill O'Brien]

Greetings everyone,

 

I apologize that many of you will receive multiple copies, but I want to
make sure to reach as many members of our Florida Association of Guide Dog
Users  division as possible. We will vote on these minutes at our FLAGDU
meeting to be held on Saturday at 3:00.

 

Warm regards

Sherrill

 

Florida Association of Guide Dog Users (FLAGDU)

Annual Meeting Minutes

Saturday, October 3, 2020

3:00-5:00PM

 

Because of the COVID19 pandemic, the meeting and seminar were held virtually
via the Zoom platform. 

 

The meeting was called to order by FLAGDU president Merry Schoch at 3:00pM.

She introduced our newly elected National Association of Guide Dog Users
President Raul Gallegos and his wife Stacie. Merry thanked President
Gallegos for hosting and managing the crucial technical side of our meeting.
Raul said one of his goals is to develop greater cohesion among the NAGDU
affiliates. He invited everyone to NAGDU's monthly Yappy Hour get-together
via Zoom, and to the monthly NAGDU open Board meetings.

 

Secretary and Treasurer's Reports

A motion was made by Scott Siegel, seconded by Kathy Davis, to approve the
FLAGDU 2019 annual meeting minutes as emailed. The motion passed.

In his report, Treasurer Tom Bellone announced that our current balance is
$728.41

A motion was made by Kathy Davis, seconded by Marion Gwizdala to approve the
treasurer's report as read. The motion passed.

 

Elections

President Merry Schoch announced that she does not plan to run for another
term.

Marion Gwizdala was elected president by acclamation and took over running
the elections.

Elections were then held for the following officers and Board members:

Vice President (to serve out the remaining one year of Marion Gwizdala's
term), Secretary and two Board members.

The following were elected by acclamation:

Debbie Malone Vice President

Sherrill O'Brien Secretary

Pat Lipovsky Board Member

Scott Siegel Board Member

 

Program

Our guest speaker was Freedom Guide Dog user Lynn Sisson. Her topic was
Raising a Guide Dog Puppy as a Blind Person. She has raised seven puppies
for Freedom Guide Dogs. She thanked longtime Freedom trainer john Byfield
for encouraging her to become a puppy raiser.

 

Guide Dog Training Program Reports

We had the pleasure of hearing from the following guide dog program
representatives:

Rebecca Cook, Placement Specialist and Trainer, Fidelco Guide Dogs

John Byfield, retired trainer, Freedom Guide Dogs

Chuck Hietala, Puppy Raiser Area Coordinator, Guide Dog Foundation

Jake Koch, Community Outreach Specialist, Guide Dogs for the Blind

Chelsea White, Outreach Specialist, the Seeing Eye

 

The meeting was adjourned at 5:20PM.

 

Respectfully submitted

Sherrill O'Brien, Secretary

Florida Association of Guide Dog Users (FLAGDU)

National Federation of the Blind of Florida

 

Phone 813-935-0474, cell 813-767-1890

Email sherrill.obrien at verizon.net

 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind people
and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds
you back.

 

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