[Njagdu] NJAGDU October 15th meeting agenda and minutes from September

Tue Oct 6 11:11:56 UTC 2015

To all Guide Dog Members and Participants,

Our next NJAGDU meeting will be on Thursday, October 15th at 7:30 pm.  The
call in number is (712) 432-0180 and the code is 460994 pound.  Please rsvp
back to me with your availability.  

Below are the minutes from our last meeting.  Please be sure to review them
before the meeting, following the minutes you will then find our agenda.

National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey

New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users

September 17, 2015

1.       Roll Call

Trish Ebel. NFBNJ NJAGDU President

Alice Eaddy, Secretary

Lynn Reynolds, Treasurer

Jerilyn Higgins 

Les Cameron

Joe Braz

Christina Brino

Pat McKenna

Dan Fachini

Jonathan Goodman

Chris Franz

John Luland

Jo Luland

Michael Halm

Steve Rutch

Anna DeSantis

Ann Wasserman

Ryan Stevens, Parliamentarian

2.       Call to order the meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m. Trisha 

3.       The minutes were sent out by Alice: Anna moved to accept the
minutes as read Joe Braz seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

4.       Lyn provided the treasures report: the ending balance as of August
30 $535. There was a $100 Bell donation leaving a balance of $535. Les moved
to accept and Steve Rutch seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

** Note**we skipped to the snack pack topic at this point which is
documented in the appropriate category within the minutes.

5.  Tupperware Fundraiser - Trisha: The Tupperware fundraiser is now up and
running. Please post on social media platforms. We get 40% of the profit.
There is a glitch in that it does not say that your item is in the cart: so
if you accidently get more than you want you can delete the extra. If you
have any problems email Christina at princessregal at optonline.net or Trisha
atpatriciaebel0302 at comcast.net.  Catalogue orders will be shipped to Trisha
to bring to convention.

6. Nominating committee for November elections- Lynn. The other chosen
nominating committee members are Anna and Michael. Ryan offered that Anna's
board seat it not up for reelection, hers is now a two year term, but as per
the constitution nominations can be taken from the floor. Jerilyn stated
that we could collect dues at the end of the meeting for 2016.

7. Convention - Trisha asked who would be attending: Dan, Alice, Anna,
Lydia, Lynn, Ann W. (Friday), Steve, Joe Braz and Ginger (Thursday), Les,
and Pat (Saturday only). The Seeing Eye once again has donated a product
filled tote bag for raffle, Anna has it already.

a. Thursday night dinner the time will be announced after seeing the full
agenda for the state convention. Each person will be responsible for their
own individual check. Anna the guide dog meeting is usually on Saturday as a
breakfast meeting from 7:45 -8:45 am; general session starts at 9 am.

B.  Fundraising and snack packs, Jerilyn and Trisha. There was much
discussion regarding the snack pack that we will be selling as the host
division at convention. Dan will be donating a sizeable portion of its
content. There will be a minimum of 100 bags, (2) cases of chips and
pretzels, cheese and crackers, life savers, plain m & ms and 8oz water.
Thursday night folks will gather at President Trisha's room to assemble.
Chris stated that m & ms should not contain peanuts due to allergy issues.
Where will we be allowed to sell the bags? At the registration table, and
the entrance/exit table in the vendor hall. It was suggested to bring a
shoulder bag or rolling cart for members to help sell from. A schedule will
be setup and people can sign up. Steve will donate bags that say "has a nice
day". Trisha will firm up how to get them from Steve to convention. Lynn
asked are the profits being split with the state affiliate. Trisha will
check with Mr. Ruffalo. The dog race monies are for sure but if everything
is then they should help with the selling.

C.  Friday night activities include the dance/yoga and the dog race. If you
have dog name suggestions should be emailed to Trisha
atpatriciaebel0302 at comcast.net. We will also be responsible for a 20 minute
trivia game show game segment about guide dog particulars; Dusty's law
flyers will be available.

D.  DOOR PRIZE LETTER TRISHA: Brian will be sending out a shortly.

E. scholarship suggestions: One of the current scholarship winners is a
guide dog user. Joe Braz moved that we make a $100 donation to the
scholarship fund Alice seconded. A discussion of membership status and the
ability to make a motion occurred during this process so an accounting from
the bank has to take place to clear up the point of question.

8. NAGDU update - Alice the NAGDU was filled with a great deal of technology
and app related discussion and was tabled until next month

9. New Business the NJAGDU constitution was read and what happens next
discussed. The age of membership into the Division was referenced as being
generally 16 dependent on lifestyle. Should it be opened up to kids as low
as 15? Pat offered that some EDGE students are interested in guide dogs;
further that all EDGE students are being encouraged to come to the state
convention. Ryan said that there is a difference between being members and
participating on the Division calls. Membership is limited to guide dog
users and those in-between dog persons.* see section 1 Article 3 in the
constitution. Trisha was asked to poll the board and let him know if we
wanted to add verbiage that would permit a younger age of membership.
Membership is somewhat vague in the constitution so as not to tie our hands.
Sue we cannot open it up puppy raisers. Les stated that we provide outreach
that the guide dog is invisible all you do is deal with the handler.

10. Old Business

a. Dog fest was scratched due to a conflict of interest

11. Adjournment Alice made a motion to adjourn, Jerilyn seconded and all
were in favor at 8:48 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Alice Eaddy, Secretary

NFB NJAGDU

From: Njagdu [mailto:njagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf of Patricia Ebel
via Njagdu
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2015 7:42 AM
To: 'New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users'; 'Lynn Reynolds
(Legislation)'; annades at optonline.net; 'Alice Eaddy'; 'Tara M. Carty';
danfb at verizon.net; 'Lester Cameron'; Classemt at aol.com; 'Vincent Chaney Jr.';
'joe ruffalo'; jluland at verizon.net; 'Jo Luland'; jdhiggins3 at verizon.net;
suetillett at verizon.net; lydiakeller at comcast.net; 'Joseph Braz'; 'Ginger
Kutsch'; 'michael hamm'; 'Charles McKenna'; 'Christine Franz'; 'Rick Fox
(Membership)'
Cc: Patricia Ebel; 'Brino Christina'; 'Jonathan Goodman'; 'Ryan Stevens'
Subject: [Njagdu] Questions and Answers for game show at convention

Hello to all guide dog members and participants,

As I promised, below is a list of questions for our Friday night game show.
This is actually the fact sheet from the ADA and I have pasted it below.  If
anyone has any suggestions regarding questions you would like to add please
just email me.  If you are interested in joining me on Friday night to run
this game show please email me and let me know.  I would like to start
planning our activities together with all of you that will be attending.  I
have already started collecting prizes for the winners.

Please, any feedback is really appreciated; this is our division not just
mine.

FAQ: Service Animals

Question:

I have a service dog. I made a hotel reservation and told them I have a
service dog. They said that was fine but they would have to charge me extra
to cover the cost of extra cleaning after we check out. Can they do this?

Answer:

No.  Places of lodging, as well as any other Title III place of public
accommodation, cannot impose additional fees, surcharges, or request
deposits because you are accompanied by a service animal.  This also holds
true for places of lodging who normally allow pets at an extra charge.
Service animals are not pets; therefore you cannot be charged a pet fee. If
your animal does any damage to the property then the hotel/business would
have the right afterwards to charge you appropriate fees to cover the cost
of the damage, if it is normally their policy to charge anyone who causes
damage. 

Question:

I work in a buffet-style restaurant. We had a customer come in with a
service dog. The customer got really upset when I explained that we would
have to seat her very far away from the buffet, and that the dog could not
accompany her to the buffet, because it would violate local health codes to
have the dog that close to the food. We are within our rights aren't we,
given our health and safety requirements?

Answer:

No. Even if local or state health laws suggest animals cannot be present
around the food, the ADA supersedes local and state ordinance. Places of
public accommodation, including places that prepare and serve food, must
comply with the ADA. Title III of the ADA applies to any restaurant, bar,
lounge, etc. that serves food to the public.  It is also important to note
that the Food and Drug Administration specifically states that it is not a
health risk or violation for service animals to be around food, including
employees who have service animals with them at work.  

Question:

Is there any place that has the legal right to deny my service animal
access?

Answer:

Yes.  Hospitals may be able to make the case for not allowing service
animals into certain areas of their facility if a legitimate direct
threat/health and safety risk exists, such as in patient rooms, the
emergency room, or Intensive Care Unit. However the animal should still be
allowed in more public parts of the hospital such as cafeterias and waiting
rooms.   Also, churches and religious entities are exempt from ADA Title II
and Title III obligations; therefore they do not have to allow a service
animal access under the law.  Private home owners also have the right to ask
that you not bring your service animal with you into their home. The only
time Title II and Title III covered entities have the right to deny access
is if the service animal has posed a legitimate health and safety risk or
direct threat or if their presence has fundamentally altered the nature of
the business. For example, if a service animal is out of the handler's
control, causes a major disturbance (i.e. barking uncontrollably), or hurts
another person, then the public or private entity would have the right to
request that the owner remove the animal.

Question:

Can my service animal sit with me on the airplane or does he have to ride in
the cargo of the plane, and can the airline charge me extra for having my
animal with me?

Answer:

The Air Carrier Access Act applies in this situation, not the ADA. The Air
Carrier Access Act indicates that service animals and emotional support
animals, are allowed in the cabin or the aircraft as long as the owner has a
doctor's note verifying the need for the ESA.   The airline cannot charge
extra fees or require the owner to purchase an extra ticket. The animal is
typically allowed to ride under the passenger's seat. In certain cases, such
as if the animal is unusually large or the owner has 2 animals, the owner
may have to purchase an additional seat. Another option is to put the animal
in the cargo hold, in which case the airline would not be allowed to charge
extra even under special circumstances.  For more information, see
<http://airconsumer.dot.gov/rules/382short.pdf>
http://airconsumer.dot.gov/rules/382short.pdf.

Question:

I have a service dog and am looking for an apartment. The landlords I have
met with are saying no pets are allowed in their housing units so they can't
rent to me. Is this legal?

Answer:

The Fair Housing Act (FHA), enforced by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), says tenants with disabilities are entitled to reasonable
accommodations "necessary to afford a person with a disability an equal
opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling" even if there is a "no pets
allowed" rule. HUD's position has been that service animals and emotional
support animals may qualify as an accommodation but the person with the
disability may need to "demonstrate the need for the accommodation" if said
need is not readily apparent.  This information is taken from the Department
of Housing and Urban Development 24 CFR Part 5 Pet Ownership for the Elderly
and Persons with Disabilities, Final Rule which can be viewed at:
<http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/24/5/subpart-C>
http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/24/5/subpart-C. Please note, there may
be some exemptions to coverage under the FHA. For example, the owner of a
small rental building, who also lives in the same building, may not have to
adhere to follow the FHA as long as their advertising of the dwelling is not
discriminatory in nature.

Question:

I deal with depression and anxiety sometimes so my doctor said I should get
an emotional support animal or a companion animal, are they the same as a
service animal?

Answer:

No. Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are therapeutic pets that help
individuals with emotional difficulties. They are not trained to perform
tasks or do work for the owner like a service animal is. ESAs cannot enter
"no-pets allowed" establishments, but they are allowed in no-pets allowed
housing and in the cabins of airplanes as long as the owner has a note from
their doctor verifying the need for the ESA.  Companion Animals, sometimes
called Therapy Animals, are pets who are typically very gentle and trained
to behave well in a variety of settings. They are sometimes used for
bringing a higher level of social functioning to people in nursing homes,
schools, hospitals, etc. But they are not service animals nor are they
legally granted access within any no-pets allowed establishments.

Question:

The ADA says I can take my service animal with me into public places. Does
this mean I can take it with me to my job too and my boss can't say no?

Answer:

Title II and Title III of the ADA specifically state that service animals
should be allowed to accompany their owner into public and private business
establishments. The rules are different in the workplace. The Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has indicated that Title I of the
ADA, which covers employment, does not require automatic access for service
animals. The employee must request this as an accommodation and the employer
must consider this request and determine whether granting the accommodation
is reasonable in the person's workplace.

Question:

I run a business- if someone comes in with a dog claiming it's a service
animal can I ask for proof?

Answer:

To determine if an animal is a service animal, a public entity or a private
business may ask two questions: 1) Is this animal required because of a
disability?  2) What work or task has this animal been trained to perform?
These inquiries may not be made if the need for the service animal is
obvious (e.g., the dog is guiding an individual who is blind or is pulling a
person's wheelchair.) You may not ask what disability the owner has nor can
you require any documentation or proof that the animal has been certified,
trained or licensed as a service animal.  The ADA does not require that
service animals wear any sort of identification, vest, or harness.

Question:

Can any animal be a service animal or can they only be dogs?

Answer:

According to the new Department of Justice ADA Title II and Title III
regulations (which took effect March 15, 2011), a service animal is any dog
that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual
with a disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic,
trained or untrained, are not considered to be service animals.  There is
one exception to this limitation. If a miniature horse has been trained to
assist an individual with a disability, then the same ADA protections that
apply to service dogs shall apply to the service horse also.

From: Njagdu [mailto:njagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Patricia Ebel
via Njagdu
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2015 7:07 AM
To: 'New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users'; 'Lynn Reynolds
(Legislation)'; annades at optonline.net; 'Alice Eaddy'; 'Tara M. Carty';
danfb at verizon.net; 'Lester Cameron'; Classemt at aol.com; 'Vincent Chaney Jr.';
'joe ruffalo'; jluland at verizon.net; 'Jo Luland'; jdhiggins3 at verizon.net;
suetillett at verizon.net; lydiakeller at comcast.net; 'Joseph Braz'; 'Ginger
Kutsch'; 'michael hamm'; 'Charles McKenna'; 'Christine Franz'; 'Rick Fox
(Membership)'
Cc: Patricia Ebel; 'Brino Christina'; Jonathan Goodman; 'Ryan Stevens'; Joe
ruffalo
Subject: [Njagdu] article from Tampa Bay Times...myth of 'hypoallergenic'
dogs

Dear All,

                I found this article from the Tampa bay Times to be very
interesting. I thought others would find it so, as well!

Fraternally yours,

Marion Gwizdala

Don't fall for myth of 'hypoallergenic' dogs. Almost daily, I have parents
tell me not to worry because even though they or their children are allergic
to dogs, they have purchased a hypoallergenic dog. I hesitate sharing that
the hypoallergenic dog is just a myth. To be sure, it is an incredible
marketing ploy. Just who started this urban legend remains a mystery. If you
type in "hypoallergenic dogs" on Google, you'll find no shortage of breed
suggestions. Even the American Kennel Club has a list of many dogs that are
best for allergy sufferers. The AKC does not go so far as to endorse them as
best for people with dog allergies, but it does state that "These dogs have
a predictable, non-shedding coat which produces less dander. Let's look at
the science behind dog allergies. The primary allergen from dogs is Canis
familiaris allergen 1, or Can f 1. This allergen, a protein, is found in the
saliva and urine of dogs. The protein sticks to the dead, dry flakes from
your pet's skin, which is dander. An animal's fur is not the source of the
allergen, although it can surely be an irritant to mucous membranes and
airways. A landmark study was done in 2011 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit
to determine whether homes with hypoallergenic dogs had less Can f 1 than
homes with other dogs. All homes were single-dog homes. The results showed
no significant difference in the amount of Can f 1 found in the homes. In
clinical practice, it does appear that certain individual dogs are less
allergenic to certain patients, but this is not a breed-specific
characteristic. Likely, it is a factor specific to an individual dog's
genetics, diet and behavior. More than 33 percent of U.S. homes have a dog,
making canine allergies quite a public health concern. These allergies are
strongly associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. Up to 30 percent of
patients with allergic disease are sensitive to animals. Symptoms of dog
allergy can include: Runny, sneezing nose Itchy, watery eyes Nasal
congestion Cough Wheezing or shortness of breath Hives or itching of skin an
allergist can help identify if you are allergic to your animals. If you do
have dog allergies, you must minimize your interaction with the animal. Your
dog must not sleep in your bed or even in your bedroom. The bedroom must
become a dog-free zone with some barrier to keep the dog from entering even
when you are not there. It is important to have someone clean the bedroom
once the animal has been relocated. All hard surfaces should be wiped down
with a damp cloth to physically try to remove as much dander as possible
from walls, furniture, etc. A HEPA air purifier should be placed at the head
of your bed and run when you are home. This is a prime opportunity to
extract some dander from the air, as Can f 1 is extremely lightweight and
may remain airborne for hours. Bathing your pet weekly also can help to
reduce the amount of pet dander in your home. The very best way to deal with
a dog allergy is to remove the dog from the home. While this is very
difficult for many families, it is sometimes necessary, especially when the
patient is suffering from significant asthma that can be life threatening.
Even after removing an animal from your home, it can take six months to
several years to fully rid the home of animal dander. Talking with your
allergist can help you identify the best ways to diagnose and treat your dog
allergies. Avoidance, medications and allergy injection therapy are all
options that might be right for you. Just remember not to fall for the
"hypoallergenic dogs" myth. Dr. Mona V. Mangat is a board-certified
allergist and immunologist at Bay Area Allergy & Asthma in St. Petersburg.
Find her at bayallergy.com. Contact her atbayallergy at gmail.com.. 

From: Patricia Ebel [mailto:patriciaebel0302 at comcast.net] 
Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 10:58 PM
To: 'New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users'; 'Lynn Reynolds
(Legislation)'; 'annades at optonline.net'; 'Alice Eaddy'; 'Tara M. Carty';
'danfb at verizon.net'; 'Lester Cameron'; 'Classemt at aol.com'; 'Vincent Chaney
Jr.'; 'joe ruffalo'; 'jluland at verizon.net'; 'Jo Luland';
'jdhiggins3 at verizon.net'; 'suetillett at verizon.net';
'lydiakeller at comcast.net'; 'Joseph Braz'; 'Ginger Kutsch'; 'michael hamm';
'Charles McKenna'; 'Christine Franz'; 'Rick Fox (Membership)'
Cc: 'Brino Christina'; 'Ryan Stevens'; jdegen16 at outlook.com; joe ruffalo
(nfbnj1 at verizon.net); Mary Jo Partyka (Capital Chapter & Braille Division)
(choirnfb at gmail.com); Carol Castellano (carol.joyce.castellano at gmail.com);
specialk38 at aol.com; Anthony Lanzilotti (Vehicle Donation)
(Tti777 at gmail.com); REBECCA IRVIN (rirvin14 at optonline.net); Linda
DeBerardinis (ldeber at comcast.net); lydiakeller at comcast.net; Jonathan Goodman
(j.goodman82 at comcast.net); Ginger Kutsch (Ginger at ky2d.com)
Subject: helpful hints for ordering, : [Njagdu] It's Time to kick off our
Tupper Wear Fund raiser!!!

Hello Everyone, 

I know that many of you have been trying to purchase some Tupper wear for
our fundraiser and have been having difficulty.  So here are a few more
ideas.  If you enter on the original link that was first sent out, you then
go to search and put in New Jersey Association of Guide dog Users then find
support and enter on that link.  Then you want to click fundraiser again on
top and it will take you to the catalogue.

If you find what you want you can always call Christina Brino with your
items and a credit card number.  Christina's number is (862) 812 8058 and
she will be happy to take your order.

Here is a link that Ginger shortened and with this after you enter on it
just scroll down and it starts showing all of the items.  Good luck guys and
thank you so much for your patience.

http://www.tupperware.com/b/10106844011?fundraiser=55f32979d8687b303cb84d8d
<http://www.tupperware.com/b/10106844011?fundraiser=55f32979d8687b303cb84d8d
&field_subjectbin=&field_price=&field_color_map=&searchRank=-product_site_la
unch_date&searchSize=12&searchPage=1&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2C
color_map>
&field_subjectbin=&field_price=&field_color_map=&searchRank=-product_site_la
unch_date&searchSize=12&searchPage=1&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2C
color_map

Sincerely,

Trisha Ebel

From: Njagdu [mailto:njagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Patricia Ebel
via Njagdu
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2015 5:35 PM
To: Lynn Reynolds (Legislation); annades at optonline.net; Alice Eaddy; Tara M.
Carty; danfb at verizon.net; Lester Cameron; Classemt at aol.com; Vincent Chaney
Jr.; joe ruffalo; jluland at verizon.net; Jo Luland; jdhiggins3 at verizon.net;
suetillett at verizon.net; lydiakeller at comcast.net; Joseph Braz; Ginger Kutsch;
michael hamm; Charles McKenna; Christine Franz; Rick Fox (Membership)
Cc: Patricia Ebel; Brino Christina; New Jersey Association of Guide Dog
Users; Ryan Stevens
Subject: [Njagdu] It's Time to kick off our Tupper Wear Fund raiser!!!

Hello to all Guide dog members and Participants,

We are ready to rock and roll and begin our Tupper Wear fund raiser!  The
fund raiser will end on Saturday, October 10th with 40% of all  sales going
to our guide dog division!  Please distribute the below link to all of your
family and friends that you are comfortable with selling items to.

Here are a few directions and the link: 

 When you are on the site it says to find a fundraiser.  There is a drop
down box, you will select our state and then you will find it under New
Jersey Association of Guide dog users.

http://www.tupperware.com/?fundraiser=55f32979d8687b303cb84d8d

If you have difficulty please let me or Christina Brino know and one of us
will assist you, contact information is below.

Please note that I will be out of town from Wednesday, 9/23 and will be
returning home on Saturday, 10/3 so please contact me before or after those
dates with any questions.  I will not have full access to my email.

Brino Christina (princessregal at optonline.net)

My cell number is 201 456 0091 and my email just in case of difficulties is:

Patriciaebel0302 at comcast.net

Happy fund raising to all!!!

Sincerely,

Trisha Ebel

President, NJAGDU

AGENDA

1.        Roll Call

2.       .  Minutes Alice

3.       .  Treasury report  Lynn

4.       .  State convention.              All  A.  Firming up snack packs
B.  Friday night activities      C.  Short discussion on relief area  D.
Dog race forms  E.  Dusty's flyers F.  Dog Play at convention      G.
Other

5.       .  New Business All

6.         Old business  All       A.  Door prize letter and items   B.
Tupper Wear Fundraiser 

7.       .  Open floor  all

8.       .  Adjournment  Trisha

Cordially yours, Trisha Ebel

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