[nagdu] NFB Convention Guide Dog Policy
Alysha
anjeans at att.net
Thu Jun 30 22:48:22 UTC 2011
I can also see both sides of this argument. Disruptive dogs can certainly be
a big issue, but I'm not sure NAGDU is handling it as well as we could. Of
course our abilities are limited by the number of volunteers we can get, but
has there ever been an effort to set up any kind of organized dog-sitting
program during convention? I like the analogy to children; the NFB doesn't
tell people how to handle there kids at convention, but they offer childcare
during the day. I for one think I would actually enjoy volunteering some of
my time to watch dogs while people are busy with non dog-friendly
activities. There may be too many logistical issues to deal with for it to
work, but I think it's worth considering.
Also, I think people might take this policy better if it was a suggestion.
Encouraging people to limit the amount of time they leave their dogs alone
is far different, and in my opinion preferable, to forbidding them from
doing it. We are all adults here, and I'm sure NAGDU, and the NFB, wants to
avoid appearing to uphold some of those custodial attitudes we're always up
in arms about :).
And last, I'm really not okay with the argument that if you don't like the
policy, you can just leave your dog at home because that's less hassle
anyway. I hope most of you can see why this doesn't really make a whole lot
of sense. NAGDU should be the last entity creating policies that drive
people away from bringing their dogs to convention, and the choice to take a
dog or not should be a freely made, personal decision. This argument is like
saying that because access denials in cabs are such a problem, we should
just never try and take a dog in a cab. I'm not trying to suggest that this
policy is similar to an illegal access denial. I'm just saying that we
shouldn't be told that the solution to dealing with a policy we disagree
with is to leave our dogs at home.
If this has consistently been coming up for several years as an issue, maybe
it's time to look for some kind of compromise. Clearly some NAGDU members
have no problem with the policy, but many others are quite opposed to it.
I'm sure none of us want our dogs to be responsible for disturbances in the
hotel, so maybe we can work together to suggest some positive, but still
effective, alternatives to the current policy for the future.
Alysha
----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie McGinnity" <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 5:58 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] NFB Convention Guide Dog Policy
> Hi guys.
>
> Well, I leave my inbox for about 4 hours to go out to lunch and look
> what happens! Explosion!
>
> I'm starting to become very amused over here. I am actually on the
> fence about this one. On one hand, yes, nagdu does make this rule for
> a good reason, and everything would run smoothly if we did not hear
> barking and howling from guide dogs in hotel rooms. I understand.
>
> But... I think that a dog is like a child in the respect that it can
> make noise like one. Some children can be left alone in a hotel room
> for an hour, and they will be chill and watch tv or whatever, but some
> children will make noise and bounce off the walls. People have to be
> responsible and *know* that their dog will behave properly if they are
> going to let it alone in the room. As every guide dog handler knows,
> there are some things you can trust your dog to do, and there are some
> things that are just too much for the dog.
>
> Just for fun... What about all the other noise that comes out of a
> convention? What about canes hitting the walls at midnight? What
> about rooms by offiliat action suites? Where people are partying and
> carrying on. And with all the people, you can't tell me that people
> don't get complaints about other things like children and loud groups
> of people and who knows what else.
>
> I think this is a good discussion, and I really need to pick a side
> here! It's unnerving to see both sides of an arguement. Lol
>
> On 6/30/11, cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> Lyn, I had tried to explain this when the stuff hit the fan, but it went
>> in
>> the wrong direction. slapping my own hand for trying to stop it.
>>
>>
>> Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
>>
>> Cheryl Echevarria
>> http://www.echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/>
>> 631-456-5394
>> reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
>>
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
>> CST-1018299-10
>>
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise & Travel,
>> Inc.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Lyn Gwizdak<mailto:linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>> Users<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 5:15 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] NFB Convention Guide Dog Policy
>>
>>
>> Here we go again on this topic that crops up every year before
>> convention!
>> (sigh! rolling of eyes)
>>
>> Sarah, NAGDU or anyone else isn't telling you what to do. Maybe Marion
>> needs to spell it out each year - about how the NFB gets greats rates
>> in
>> hotels that host the annual convention. About how there are problems
>> each
>> year with folks who leave dogs in rooms and those dogs create problems
>> with
>> other hotel guests who don't want to hear howling dogs far into the
>> night.
>> About accidents dogs may have because people aren't as attentive as
>> they
>> should be to their dog's needs - and they leave the mess for others to
>> step
>> in and smear throughout the hotel. These problems can cause problems in
>> NFB
>> getting the great rates or even the hotels it gets for conventions.
>>
>> Guys, these rules are there to make it pleasant for all and I wish
>> people
>> would see it that way. But no, every year, we have people on the list
>> who
>> whine about their rights being tranpled or it paternalistic or
>> something.
>> this reminds me of kids who aren't getting their own way.
>>
>> THE RULES MAKE IT PLEASANT FOR ALL and nothing more.
>>
>> If there's a huge problem of wanting to enjoy convention without the
>> hassles
>> of having your dog with you all the time, you might like to look into
>> the
>> possibility of leaving your dog at home with a friend and bring your
>> white
>> cane. Some folks do this and that's fine.
>>
>> Now, everyone going have a great time! Sorry for this rant - I get as
>> tired
>> of seeing the complaining after Marion remeinds us of the NAGDU rule
>> abouot
>> dogs in the rooms alone. I completely agree with these rules and I
>> abided
>> them with no problem when I went to the convention.
>>
>> Lyn and Landon (waiting for the s**t to come my way)
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Sarah Clark"
>> <goldflash9 at sbcglobal.net<mailto:goldflash9 at sbcglobal.net>>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 1:04 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] NFB Convention Guide Dog Policy
>>
>>
>> > To consider it I would have to see that it is in fact a policy of
>> this
>> > particular hotel, and not of Nagdu. Nagdu doesn't have authority over
>> what
>> > I
>> > do or don't do in my hotel room.
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org>
>> [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> > Of cheryl echevarria
>> > Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 11:27 AM
>> > To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] NFB Convention Guide Dog Policy
>> >
>> > fyi, in any situation whether blind or sighted, hotels that allow
>> dogs
>> do
>> > not allow them unattended, it is a fair statement that NAGDU follows
>> this
>> > policy.
>> >
>> > And if you are not going to convention then you have nothing to worry
>> > about.
>> >
>> >
>> > Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
>> >
>> > Cheryl Echevarria
>> >
>> http://www.echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/<http://www.echevarriatravel.com%3chttp//www.echevarriatravel.com/>>
>> > 631-456-5394
>> >
>> reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com%3Cmailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com>>
>> >
>> > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
>> > CST-1018299-10
>> >
>> > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise &
>> Travel,
>> > Inc.
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Albert J
>> Rizzi<mailto:albert at myblindspot.org<mailto:albert at myblindspot.org>>
>> > To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>> > Users'<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>>
>> > Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 2:23 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] NFB Convention Guide Dog Policy
>> >
>> >
>> > I would have to agree here. It also harkens one to think that the
>> very
>> > organization which professes our need to be independent and self
>> > determining, that perhaps those of us with a guide have no apparent
>> > control
>> > over our dogs. I for one leave my dog home from time to time and use
>> my
>> > cane. I never come home to anything other then a possible chewed up
>> piece
>> > of
>> > random paper which I lef out. I also have traveled extensively and
>> have
>> > left
>> > my guide in the hotel room, only to find what you would ask? a
>> sleeping
>> > dog,
>> > who behaved perfectly while I was out. ridiculous.
>> >
>> > Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> > Founder
>> > My Blind Spot, Inc.
>> > 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>> > New York, New York 10004
>> >
>> www.myblindspot.org<http://www.myblindspot.org/<http://www.myblindspot.org%3chttp//www.myblindspot.org/>>
>> > PH: 917-553-0347
>> > Fax: 212-858-5759
>> > "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one
>> who
>> > is
>> > doing it."
>> >
>> >
>> > Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From:
>> nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org%3Cmailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org>>
>> > [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> > Of Tracy Carcione
>> > Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 2:15 PM
>> > To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] NFB Convention Guide Dog Policy
>> >
>> > I object to this policy. I object to the notion that I need special
>> > rules
>> > and supervision because I choose to use a guide dog. It makes me
>> feel
>> > unwelcome at convention. Of course, I'd be perfectly welcome, if I
>> > acknowledge that I need others to tell me how to handle my dog, or,
>> > better
>> > yet, leave the smelly troublmaking beast at home.
>> > So I will be spending my time, money, and energy in places where I
>> will
>> > actually be treated like an intelligent, responsible adult. Too bad
>> > that's not the NFB convention.
>> > Funny thing is, I bet Marion would object too, if it wasn't NFB
>> > leadership decreeing it.
>> > Tracy
>> >
>> > > Dear All,
>> > > In advance of the national convention, I want to remind
>> everyone
>> of
>> > > the NFB policy concerning guide dogs during convention. It is the
>> > > policy of the National Federation of the Blind, endorsed by the
>> > > national Association of Guide Dog Users, that guide dog shall not
>> be
>> > > left unattended in guest rooms at any time. Violation of this
>> policy
>> > > may result in the member's restriction from attending the next two
>> (2)
>> > > conventions of the National Federation of the Blind. We appreciate
>> > > your cooperation and adherence to this policy.
>> > > As the person responsible for responding to concerns about
>> guide
>> > dogs
>> > > during our conventions, I want to share that I have had the
>> necessity
>> > > to respond to at least two complaints during each convention for
>> the
>> > > past four years. In every case, I was told by the guide dog user
>> that
>> > > their dog does not bark when left alone, in spite of the evidence
>> to
>> > > the contrary. It is not my desire to prohibit our members from
>> > > attending convention; however, it is also not my desire to allow a
>> > > guide dog user to disrupt others at convention by another's
>> > > irresponsible behavior. I encourage guide dog users to comply with
>> > > this policy in an effort to maintain order and peace during
>> > > convention.
>> > >
>> > > Fraternally yours,
>> > > Marion Gwizdala, President
>> > > National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU)
>> > > National Federation of the Blind
>> > > 813-626-2789
>> > >
>> President at NAGDU.ORG<mailto:President at NAGDU.ORG<mailto:President at NAGDU.ORG%3Cmailto:President at NAGDU.ORG>>
>> > >
>> HTTP://WWW.NAGDU.ORG<http://www.nagdu.org/<http://www.nagdu.org%3chttp//www.nagdu.org/>>
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>
> --
> Julie McG
> Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
> Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
> Eyes for the Blind
>
> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
> life."
> John 3:16
>
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