[nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Steve,

Good suggestion about drafting a letter to deal with all that, er,
commentary on a factual basis.  Actually, it wouldn't be bad to have a sort
of template to use for those types of communications.

I've heard that same sort of spiel myself -- sometimes in person, where they
cross the legal line by breaking the guide dog protection act by interfering
with my dog -- that I have a lot of ideas for an "appropriate response."
I'm pretty sure none of them are what you have in mind.  /evil grin/

That sort of things gets really old, really fast.  Especially since any
attempt to provide your own facts in support of your position ends up being
pretty useless.  You are, de facto, all those things that woman mentioned
and then some, so nothing you say is worth hearing.  Sigh.

Even once you do successfully owner train your guide dog and go easily about
safely and efficiently using it, you will run into people with the same
attitude who will be quick to remind you that it is not a real guide dog,
that it is not wearing a real harness, that...  

Hm...  When people ask advice in reference to owner-training for the first
time, I suppose I should remember to include that bit in the danger Will
Robinson caveat.  Like Julie, I believe that it is important for people
considering owner-training to have a really good idea what they're getting
themselves into...  But I hate to be too negative at the same time, knowing
how much of that they're going to get elsewhere!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Steve Johnson
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 2:30 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?

Hi Jessica,

I realize that you will get a lot of responses with this one, but what I
would encourage you to do is work with Marion to draft an appropriate
response that clearly educates this individual about owner-trained service
animals as well as the Federal law that protects individuals.  

As far as requests for funding from Lion's goes, there are a lot of projects
that the Lion's do support whether it be International Lion's, their
District's projects, State Lion's projects, Lion's, Lioness, Leo's, Lion
Cubs, Sight First, Diabetes, Lion's Foundation and so much more, so it is
not unusual that the funding aspect is denied.  I can tell you that as a
Lion, it was even difficult to get a sponsorship for my last Leader Dog, and
due to my direct affiliation, it was decided to blend funding from two
different clubs.  

I do hope you consider this as they will most certainly be scrutinizing any
request for funding as they receive literally hundreds and thousands a year,
and demonstrating to any club or organization that you can financially
support the brunt of your own quest, might be more favorable in their eyes.


JMO, Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jessica Pitzer
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 2:53 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?

Hi all,
following is an email I received in response to an email I sent to my local
lions club about asking for help with some of the costs of owner training.
I'm.. not quite sure how to feel right now except baffled as we have some
many owner trainers and I just embarked on this journey myself.
Thoughts?
On 5/2/10, Rosemary Richert <rosemary at richertnet.com> wrote:
> Hi Bert,
>
> It is highly unusual, and questionably irresponsible, for someone to 
> train their own guide dog.  The state only recognizes service animals 
> which have been professionally trained.  Any other such dogs may be 
> banned from places which would otherwise allow access to service 
> animals.  Necessary training of the dog is very comprehensive and time 
> consuming.  And, subsequently, training of the blind person with the 
> dog is, also, very comprehensive and time consuming.  For the person's 
> training, alone, three weeks of on-site training with the animal
determined best suited to their needs is required.
> The blind person needs to prove their orientation and mobility skills 
> before even being accepted into a training program.  Without proof of 
> the adequacy of those skills, they will not be accepted.
>
> I served on the Board of Directors of Leader Dogs for the Blind for 
> four years, and am the person who convinced the facility to become 
> trainers for the blind/deaf community...to the best of my knowledge, 
> it remains the only facility with qualified instructors of deaf/blind 
> individuals.  I tell you this, so that you may understand that I have 
> a credible background in these matters, and know whereof I speak.  I 
> would strongly caution your Lions club, or any other Lions club, about 
> considering involvement with a person who thinks they can train a guide
dog for the blind on their own.
> Involvement under such circumstances could come back to haunt an 
> otherwise well-meaning club.  It would make much more sense for this 
> person to be screened as to qualifications; and, if qualified, be 
> sponsored to a recognized service do training program.
>
> Thank you for your kind consideration.
>
>
>
> God bless.
>
>
>
> With Lionism at Heart, C
>
>
>
> PDG Rosemary

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