[nagdu] . Re: fidelco guide dogs,----?

Thu Aug 18 19:34:03 UTC 2011

Again the issues aren't with the dogs or even the teams, it is with the 
school themselves.

When we ask any of our schools we should get straight answers from about 
their policies, and hopefully that school will honor them, and not throw us 
for a loop, and take it out on handlers, puppy raisers, people that 
fundraiser for the schools, etc.

Artie, there will be people that love there school no matter what, I love 
GDF right now, but if they did anything to me or break there word or stop 
working with me for whatever reason, I will drop them like a hot potatoe. I 
don't love something like that.

The people that had the issues, we are supporting, and they we don't have to 
give their names out, and it is more than just one person.

It seems whether or not it is happening to us on this list or not, we are 
the consumer advocates for guide dog users. If you don't like what we do or 
what Marion does, in a respectful tone, then why are you here.

Marion and the rest of the officers and the Board have done more in the last 
4 years, then any in the past.

Respectfully,

Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Superior Travel, located in 
Baldwin, NY. www.superiortravel.com

Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise & Travel, Inc.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 2:58 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] . Re: fidelco guide dogs,----?

> Actually, Artie said that the Fidelco graduates he knows have nothing but
> praise for their guides.  It is perfectly possible to get a great guide
> dog from a school with which you have some disagreements, even serious
> disagreements.  And I have seen schools where the instructors treat the
> students with greater respect than some of the admin.  I'm not saying it's
> right, but it certainly does happen.
> Tracy
>
>
> > Artie,
> >     On the one hand, you say there is turmoil between some of the
> > consumers
> > and Fidelco. On the other hand, you say that there is nothing but praise
> > from the consumers. It cannot be both ways! Which is it?
> >     The reality of the situation is that there was a Fidelco consumers
> > group
> > that operated as a Yahoo Group for several years. The agreement was that
> > the
> > staff of Fidelco would not subscribe to the group, allowing them to
> > discuss
> > issues freely and without retribution. When eliot Russman became the
> > Executive Director, he subscribed to the group in violation of the
> > original
> > agreement. He lurked on the group, not letting subscribers know he was
> > reading their messages. As the result of his presence, some of the
> > consumers
> > had negative experiences. One consumer mentioned that her current guide
> > dog
> > and her previous guide dog got into a scrap and, when she attempted to
> > break
> > it up, was accidentally bitten by one of them. A few days later, a 
> > trainer
> > showed up at her door unannounced and repossessed her harness.
> >     When the article I wrote appeared in the Braille Monitor, Fidelco
> > consumers began discussing it on the list, relating some of their 
> > concerns
> > about how that particular consumer was treated and relating their own
> > stories of similar mistreatment. Shortly thereafter, Eliot Russman sent 
> > a
> > message to the moderator stating that use of the Fidelco name was a
> > violation of trademark and the list was to be shut down. Interestingly,
> > until consumers began expressing their concerns about the 
> > administration,
> > there was no problem with the list. It was a great way for Mr. Russman 
> > to
> > keep tabs on consumers. When the consumers began questioning the
> > administration, the list - of which Eliot Russman was a part - suddenly
> > became a trademark infringement.
> >     As I stated in my previous message, Mr. Russman engages in bullying
> > behavior that borders on unethical. Such an organization presents 
> > serious
> > concerns for those of us whose business is the protection of consumers.
> > The
> > best protection we can offer is to discourage consumers from using their
> > services until they can demonstrate to us that they will take the
> > necessary
> > stepts to treat us with dignity.
> >
> > fraternally yours,
> > Marion Gwizdala
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Artie." <anolden at tampabay.rr.com>
> > To: "NAGDU" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 11:31 AM
> > Subject: [nagdu] . Re: fidelco guide dogs,----?
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>    Well, the original Fidelco yahoo group was disbanded a few months
> >> ago,and a new one started by graduates.  There was some turmoil between
> >> SOME grads and the administration, but I didn't pay attention to it as 
> >> I
> >> am not a Fidelco handler.
> >>
> >>    The Fidelco grads are wonderful people, and have nothing but praise
> >> about their guides.
> >>
> >>    Artie.
> >>
> >> From: "Marion Gwizdala"
> >>
> >> As the president of the National Association of Guide Dog Users, I have
> >> had numerous stakeholders - consumers, staff members, donors, &
> >> volunteers -  report to me that the current administration of Fidelco
> >> Guide Dogs for the  Blind engages in behavior that can best be 
> >> described
> >> as "bullying".
> >> Consumers have had their dogs and harnesses repossessed by Fidelco with
> >> no
> >> due process or explanation, have violated their written and verbal
> >> agreements, and have engaged in blatant disregard of basic human 
> >> rights.
> >>
> >>
> >> s's's'sn'n'nipped for brevity.
> >>
> >>
> >> ==================.
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
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