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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Warm regards<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Florida Association of Guide Dog Users (FLAGDU)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Annual Meeting Minutes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Saturday, October 3, 2020<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3:00-5:00PM<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Because of the COVID19 pandemic, the meeting and seminar were held virtually via the Zoom platform. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was called to order by FLAGDU president Merry Schoch at 3:00pM.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secretary and Treasurer’s Reports<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Scott Siegel, seconded by Kathy Davis, to approve the FLAGDU 2019 annual meeting minutes as emailed. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In his report, Treasurer Tom Bellone announced that our current balance is $728.41<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Kathy Davis, seconded by Marion Gwizdala to approve the treasurer’s report as read. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Elections<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President Merry Schoch announced that she does not plan to run for another term.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion Gwizdala was elected president by acclamation and took over running the elections.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Elections were then held for the following officers and Board members:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Vice President (to serve out the remaining one year of Marion Gwizdala’s term), Secretary and two Board members.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following were elected by acclamation:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debbie Malone Vice President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill O’Brien Secretary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pat Lipovsky Board Member<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Scott Siegel Board Member<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Program<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Guide Dog Training Program Reports<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We had the pleasure of hearing from the following guide dog program representatives:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rebecca Cook, Placement Specialist and Trainer, Fidelco Guide Dogs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>John Byfield, retired trainer, Freedom Guide Dogs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chuck Hietala, Puppy Raiser Area Coordinator, Guide Dog Foundation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jake Koch, Community Outreach Specialist, Guide Dogs for the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chelsea White, Outreach Specialist, the Seeing Eye<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was adjourned at 5:20PM.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Respectfully submitted<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill O'Brien, Secretary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Florida Association of Guide Dog Users (FLAGDU)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Florida<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone 813-935-0474, cell 813-767-1890<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email sherrill.obrien@verizon.net<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>