[Nyagdu] November 24 Conrference Call Report

[Tracy Carcione]

Thanks Margo.  Nice to know what I missed while I was away.
Tracy

> Hi, Friends. We held a conference call November 24 at 8 p.m.  The
> Attendees were:  Margo Downey, Cheryl Echavaria, Joyce Carrico, Julie
> Phillipson, and for a little while, marion Gwizdala, president of Nagdu.
>
> We discussed the membership and dues structure of NAGDU and its divisions.
>  Joanne Wilson, Afficliate  Action Directory at our National NFB office,
> has reminded all of us that when we belong to a state division, we also
> belong to the National division and we're all connected.  the ad hoc
> committee studying our dues structure and I'm one of the members of that
> committee has recommended to the NAGDU Board  that each member of each
> state division would have five dollars sent to NAGDU.  Some states may
> have to change their dues structures. We were encouraged to go to the
> NAGDU Board meeting on Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 8 p.m. to hear about
> and to speak to this proposal.  The conference call phone number is:
> 641-715-3300 and the code is 560908 and press the pound sign.  We were
> also encouraged to find fund-raising ideas.
>
> We feel the email list is more active and id going well.
>
> We've discussed everyone ordering the brochures concerning wht you meet a
> guide dog team from our National office of NFB.  We had also talked about
> where to place these brochures.  it was suggested last evening that we
> also place them with retailers and businesses in malls, in shopping
> centers, etc.
>
> We need more members--to find more members.  I will write an outline of a
> letter to be sent to chapter Presidents and to our State NFB board members
> to help us find more guide dog users.
>
> We talked about fund-raising.  Julie suggested that we fund-raise at dog
> shows.  Cheryl talked about Mimi's Pupcakes and we'd like Daryl from that
> business to attend a conference call in January or February.  We could
> sell these treats at bazaars, dog shows and through other means.
>
> We discussed the ADA law and state law concerning I D cards.  We talked
> about the ADA trumping the state law if the state law is more restrictive
> and vice versa.  We need to try to get the part of our state access law
> stricken that states that someone can ask to see an I D card to prove the
> animal is a service animal.  The ADA is less restrictive in that the
> Justice Department has determined that an I D card cannot be asked for.
> so, our state law is in violation of Federal law at this point.  one card
> we can use in getting this done is to state that people could file
> complaints with theDepartment of Justice because they were asked to
> produce an I D card.
>
> We also discussed investigating a guide dog incident reported to us before
> going into full action.  for example, the case in Buffalo concerning
> Children's Hospital has ended because the person who experienced the
> incident blew it out of proportion.  However, we are now training hospital
> security guards and hopefully soon will be training police.  So, there was
> a good ending anyway.  The incident was investigated further before full
> action was taken and that was a good thing.
>
> We felt it was a productive conference call and hope more people can join
> us during subsequent calls.
>
> There will be another call this Saturday at 8 p.m. for anyone who did or
> did not attend yesterday's call.
>
> If the other attendees recall something I didn't report, please mention
> it. Thanks.
>
> Margoa nd Elmo
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