2017 GDUI CONVENTION – NUGGET CASINO RESORT
Convention Dates: Sunday, July 2, 2017 – Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Location: Nugget Casino Resort
1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks, Nevada 89431
Pre-registration: Opens May 24th. To make reservations via telephone, call 1-800-648-1177 and ask for group code GACB17. You may also make reservations online by visiting www.acb.org. Follow the 2017 conference and convention link.
Here’s the link to our convention page: https://guidedogusersinc.org/2017-convention/
2017 GDUI Convention Program
President: Penny Reeder
Program Chair: Lilian Scaife
Registration: $15
GDUI’s Suite hours:
Sunday July 2, noon to 5:00 PM
Monday and Tuesday, July 3 & 4, 10:00AM to 5:00 PM
Wednesday, July 5, 9:00AM to 12 noon.
The GDUI Suite is a nice place to hang out during convention! Socialize, take a break. Give your dog the benefit of a 10-15-minute restorative canine massage from Carla Campbell, a professional canine massage therapist, for only $25 (available Sunday afternoon, every morning during suite hours or other days and times by appointment). Come see what Maria Hansen, (Product Chair) has for sale. There will be a variety of products for your dog. And, thankfully, those lovely Louisville Ladies, (Miss Jane and Miss Connie) have agreed once again to offer their valuable assistance whenever and where ever needed! These earthly angels are once again volunteering to brave the expensive, often hazardous travel of the not so friendly skies just to hang out with and offer help to us! They must really enjoy being with us, but most likely they enjoy seeing our dogs.
Don’t miss our Live Auction! Bid on a multitude of goodies including tech gadgets, digital books, jewelry, and even a tasty treat from Penny’s kitchen.
You’ll want to take a chance or three on winning a Golden Retriever in harness, a beautiful golden plush guide dog pup, winnable through either 3 raffle tickets for $5 or 7 for $10.00. Raffle tickets can be purchased in the GDUI Suite.
Sunday, July 2
12:00 Noon: The GDUI Suite opens for business! (Located in Room: Carson)
Sunday, July 2
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Helping Your Dog Adjust to the Stresses of Convention Life (Located in Room Bananza A)
Presenter: Becky Barnes Davidson, Consumer Outreach, Guiding Eyes for the Blind
If this is your first convention or the first in a long time, this is a great way to learn tips for making the chaos of convention a less stressful experience for you and your dog. Presenters will share tips on dealing with all of those long mobility canes slashing back and forth at the level of your dogs’ heads, coping with the relief areas, finding help when you need it, meeting and greeting people and other dogs, and taking advantage of the respite offered in the GDUI Suite.
Sunday, July 2
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
GDUI Hotel Orientation
Please note: For guide dog users only
Once you learn your way around the hotel, you and your guide dog will zip through convention crowds and arrive at your destination relaxed and on time! Orientation provided by seasoned guide dog trainers and volunteers who understand the needs of guide dog users and our dogs.
Sunday, July 2
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Ruffwear Roundtable (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Ruffwear, a leader in the design and manufacturing of gear for dogs will be present at the Guide Dog Users, Inc. conference in Sparks, Nevada from July 2-5, 2017. We are seeking participants that want to be involved in a roundtable discussion about all available dog GEAR on the market today. We would love to learn what products work well for guide dog users, what products nheed to be improved upon, and what ideas you may have for future product development.
The discussion will not be limited specifically to Ruffwear products, so come prepared to share all your products an ideas.
Must RSVP Greg Freyberg at greg@ruffwear.com for session
Sunday, July 2
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
GDUI Board meeting and annual report (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
President: Penny Reeder
Come meet GDUI board members in person and participate, yourself, in this scheduled board meeting. All GDUI members and friends are welcome.
Sunday, July 2
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
GDUI Live Auction (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Where’s the place to be on Sunday night during the GDUI convention? Simple, the GDUI Live Auction, of course! This year, our auction is a live event! That’s right, with everything you love about live auctions – an auctioneer, all kinds of high tech and assistive tech items up for bid, a cash bar, Jewelry, doggie treats and toys, cookies and confections, and so much more. We’ve got it all! Don’t miss the fun and competition and come away with something marvelous for yourself and your faithful guide dog! And, check out our online auction preview, and get ready for some healthy competitive bidding and all kinds of fun at the 2017 GDUI Live Auction event!
Monday, July 3
6:45 AM – 8:15 AM
GDUI Breakfast Club- Rosie’s Café
Join us for a stroll and a bite to eat before a busy day at convention. All are welcome. Note: Rosie’s Cafe is located inside the Nugget.
Monday, July 3
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
GDUI Hotel Orientation
Please note: For guide dog users only
Once you learn your way around the hotel, you and your guide dog will zip through convention crowds and arrive at your destination relaxed and on time! Orientation provided by seasoned guide dog trainers and volunteers who understand the needs of guide dog users and our dogs.
Monday, July 3
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Open Paw-fice Hours (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Come to the GDUI Suite to ask those burning questions you have about convention stress or odd behavior quirks. Make an appointment by way of the Louisville Ladies during this time, and a seasoned guide dog trainer will meet in the Suite to assist you.
Monday, July 3
1:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Introductions, Announcements and welcomes. (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Give a quick intro for yourself and your dog, learn which friends have returned for another year, and hear important upcoming announcements regarding the GDUI convention.
Monday July 3
1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
Session 1: Guide Dog School Updates (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Come learn from the guide dog schools about their matching processes, follow up services, and thoughts on positive training methods.
Monday, July 3
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Session 2: Christine Benninger, President and CEO, Guide Dogs for the Blind (Located in Room Bonanza A)
Christine has experience working for Guide Dogs for the Blind, The Humane Society of Silicone Valley, Hewlett Packard Corporation, and Arthur Anderson and Co. Additionally Chris has held management positions in America and Europe and has a Master’s from Stanford University.
In her spare time, she enjoys biking, hiking, and spending time with her three puppies.
She will share some background about herself, as well as the changes that have occurred since she accepted the role as CEO and president of Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Monday, July 3
3:30 PM – 4:10 PM
Session 3: “How You Get Behavior Really Does Matter” (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Presenter: Lukas Franck, Senior Consultant, Special Projects, the Seeing Eye, Inc.
All methods of getting behavior are not created equal, and none is right for every handler, every guide dog, or every situation. Learn about the most widely used methods of getting a behavior, and a brief overview of the pros and cons of each.
This workshop is aimed at helping handlers gain a better understanding of the various training methods that can be used to get a behavior e.g. molding, luring, targeting, etc., and how those methods affect more than just the dog’s immediate behavior.
Monday July 3
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Session 4: Disability Rights Moot Trial (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
AAVIA, GDUI, and ACBS will present a moot trial regarding the rights of guide dog handlers. Attorneys from AAVIA will portray the attorneys and the judges; members of GDUI and ACBS will portray the witnesses. After the trial the audience will issue a decision.
Monday, July 3
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
GDUI Game Night (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Seven Card Paw: GDUI Game night this year shuffles together the joy of talking about our dogs with the luck and strategizing of a game of poker.
7 Card Paw: You don’t want to miss this experiment in crowd-sourced card barkery.
Facilitated by Maia Scott. $15 preregistration, $20 at the door.
Tuesday, July 4
6:45 AM – 8:15 AM
GDUI Breakfast Club- Rosie’s Café
Join us for a stroll and a bite to eat before a busy day at convention.
All are welcome. Note: Rosie’s Cafe is located inside the Nugget.
Tuesday, July 4
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Open “Paw”-fice Hours (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Come to the GDUI Suite to ask those burning questions you have about convention stress or odd behavior quirks. Make an appointment by way of the Louisville Ladies during this time, and a seasoned guide dog trainer will meet in the Suite to assist you.
Tuesday, July 4
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Session 1: International Travel with your guide dog. (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Presenter: Dr. Wendy David
Dr. Wendy David is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and leads a private practice in Seattle. She consults and presents both locally and internationally on various aspects of disability, personal safety, and mental health. Dr. David’s specialty is trauma treatment and she is skilled in Cognitive Behavioral and Evidence Based treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anxiety, phobias, and eating disorders. She has published two books in the field of blindness which have received wide acclaim. Her most recent book, “Sites Unseen: Traveling the World without Sight” (David, 2010), promotes travel and serves as a resource guide to assist and encourage travel and tourism by individuals with visual impairment.
Tuesday, July 4
2:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Session 2: Panel: Puppy Tales: Raising a guide dog (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Presenter: Vicki Moss, Puppy Leader, Guide Dogs for the Blind
From tiny, squirming pups, to Guide Dog Training; hear the first-hand experiences from a panel of GDB Puppy Raisers as they recount tales from the most precious & fundamental moments of our Guides to be; On that important journey from their hearts to our harness.
Tuesday, July 4
4:15 PM – 5:30 PM
Session 3: “Why Does My Dog Work for Me?” (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Presenter: Dell Rodman, Field Representative, Guiding Eyes for the Blind
An in-depth look into everyday travel with our dog guides and how one can become a better partner.
Learn what motivates and drives your dog to do the things he does. Learn the hows and whys of thinking in a more pro-active rather than reactive thought process while working with your dog guide.
Tuesday, July 4
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Session 4: Canine Massage Techniques (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
($6, $8 – limit 20 participants)
Presenter: Carla Campbell, Quadrassage, Menlo Park, CA
Everyone loves a massage: Dogs do, too. Come learn how and why touch matters from Carla Campbell in this hands-on workshop.
Wednesday, July 5
6:45 AM – 8:15 AM
GDUI Breakfast Club- Rosie’s Café
Join us for a stroll and a bite to eat before a busy day at convention.
All are welcome. Note: Rosie’s Cafe is located inside the Nugget.
Wednesday, July 5
12:15 pm – 1:45 PM
Session 1: Annual Luncheon/Presentation – $24, $26 (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Presenter: Beth Williams P.T., G.C.S., M.A., A.P.T., Owner, K9 Wellness Center, Reno, NV
Ms. Williams specializes in physical therapy and began directing her studies toward animals in 1998. She was the first physical therapist to establish a rehabilitation clinic for animals in Nevada in 1999. In June 2004, she became one of the first registered animal physical therapists in Nevada. She is committed to promoting health, improving fitness, and preventing injury for all of her clients through appropriate exercise and education.
Wednesday, July 5
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Session 2: GDUI Business Meeting & Caucus (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Wednesday, July 5
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Session 3: Uber and Lyft: Your Right to Ride (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Presenter: Julia Z. Marks, Disability Rights Advocacy
Ms. Marks is a staff attorney who works with disabilities rights advocacy. She will speak about “the recently-implemented Uber and Lyft settlements regarding guide dog access.” Additionally, she explains, “I will describe what standards and procedures the settlements put into place, what rights riders have under the new policies, and what riders should do if they continue to experience discrimination. I will also briefly discuss new areas and services where we want to be sure that people who use guide dogs are given fair and equal access.”
Wednesday, July 5
4:15 PM – 5:30 PM
Session 4: Emergency Preparation for Your Guide Dog (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Presenter: Peggy Rew, American Red Cross Dog and Cat First Aid and CPR
Peggy will share tips on how to be the best pet parent for your guide dog, including nutrition and seasonal issues, as well as her years of experience of handling dog emergencies. This hands-on workshop will be informative and fun, so wear comfortable clothes as we work side by side with your guide dog.
Presenter bio:
Peggy Rew is Nevada’s only active American Red Cross Dog & Cat First Aid & CPR instructor and now one of the last active instructors in the US. She has presented classes to several national Guide Dog User conventions, Top Dog Conventions, CCB gatherings and has certified thousands of pet owners and pet professionals. She works with all Northern Nevada Pet Rescues rehoming hundreds of dogs & cats. In 2013, Rew published her book Dog Bite Prevention Education Coloring Book ~ Don’t Be Scared, Be Prepared! She partners with Washoe County Regional Animal Services as a volunteer and they distribute her book throughout the community. She’s been awarded the American Red Cross Everyday Animal Hero Award in 2011 for her Pet First Aid classes and 2016 for her Coloring Book. Peggy will bring coloring books and various pet products to purchase and dog treat samples.
Wednesday, July 5
7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Session 5: Emergency Preparation for Your Guide Dog; repeat session (Located in Room: Bonanza A)
Hotel Details: All rooms at the Nugget have refrigerators and safes. Room rates at the Nugget Casino Resort are $89 (single or double occupancy) with an additional $10 per person for up to four people per room. Room tax is currently 13.5%. There is also a $2 per day tourism tax added to each room. When you book your reservation, one night’s stay will be charged to your credit card.
Included in the room rate is the hotel resort fee, which covers:
- Round-trip shuttle transportation to and from Reno-Tahoe International Airport
- Complimentary wireless Internet in guest rooms;
- Daily complimentary bottled water, 2 bottles per room per day;
- Unlimited use of the year-round Atrium Pool;
- Unlimited use of the Fitness Center;
- Full-service concierge; and
- Valet and self-parking in the secured covered parking structure.
The airport will be staffed by Margarine Beaman and volunteers. To assist airline personnel and Margarine and her volunteers please provide the following information: Your name, the name of the airline you will be arriving on, your departure city, arrival Flight number, arrival date and time, departure airline, departure date, departure time, and your cell phone number.
Send Margarine an e-mail with “airline information” in the subject line at mailto:Oleo50@hotmail.com or call her at 512.921.1625.
Convention highlights include our famous GDUI Suite, a live auction this year, a game night that combines poker and pups in unique ways, the ACB-GDUI walk, a mock trial where attendees serve as jurors, the GDUI Breakfast Club at Rosie’s Café, Carla’s famous canine massages, a nearly life-size plush Golden guide dog to bring home with you if yours is the winning raffle ticket, the always popular guide dog schools updates, and so much more!
2017 Convention Program (Word): Download Here