Paws for GDUI – News You Can Use! – VOL. I, NO. 6, May 2020 – A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

President: Penny Reeder

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)

A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

ZOOM on Over to Learn More about Our Candidates, Our Elections, and the Business of Our Board!

There are all kinds of meetings taking place inside the blindness community, and GDUI is contributing our fair share this week, as well. On Thursday, May 21, at 8:00 PM, ET, we welcome your attendance at our second Candidates’ Forum. Come and meet our 2020 candidates. Ask questions, hear stories, and become well informed as you prepare to participate in our 2020 Election.

The call-in information for this second Forum is as follows:

Guide Dog Users, Inc. is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: GDUI 2020 Candidate Forum 2

Time: May 21, 2020 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Join Meeting

Meeting ID: 380 572 719

Password: 520107

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,380572719#,,#,520107# US (New York)

+13126266799,,380572719#,#,520107# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 301 715 8592 US

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

+1 253 215 8782 US

Meeting ID: 380 572 719

Password: 520107

Find your local number: Find Local Number

Then, on this coming Saturday, GDUI will be holding our final board meeting in advance of our coming election. Come an catch up on our ongoing work and the issues that are important to you as guide dog users. Everyone is welcomed! Here are all the ZOOM particulars you need to know:

Topic: GDUI Board Meeting

Time: May 23, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/562675137

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,562675137# US (New York)

+13126266799,,562675137# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kjgqr0DUt

We are so grateful to our board member and candidate for GDUI Treasurer, Maria Kristic, for setting these meetings up for us, for managing the comings and goings during our calls, and for making us all feel more comfortable with this new-to-us and very current communications media choice. Thanks to Deb Lewis, as well, our current Second Vice President and candidate for that office again. Deb has managed both of our community outreach Zoom meeting events, which were carried on ACB Radio, and portions of which have appeared in our GDUI Juno Report. Visit ACB Radio’s Mainstream channel on the first Friday of every month to hear the new GDUI Juno Report:

http://acbradio.org/search/node/And, Visit this link to access GDUI Juno Report podcasts:

http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml

The evening get-togethers for guide dog users across the country were fun for all of us, and we expect to sponsor more community outreach meetings as time goes on.

Speaking of Zoom… Raffle time is here again!!!!

Her name honors the virtual nature of the convention this year. Every time you reach out to touch her silky coat or fondle those irresistible sticky-up GSD ears, you will remember the 2020 way of family gatherings, doing business, learning, visiting with friends, and how Charlie gets his dogs to put a move on. She is ready to guide GDUI in to this new decade and her way in to your home and heart!

Introducing Zoom!! She is a black and tan German shepherd beauty. She’s about two feet tall, is in a sitting position with her ears up and mouth open in a big doggie smile. Zoom’s tag has been wood burnt with her name and she has her own leash. Of course, she proudly wears a magnificent, hand-crafted, Hava Original leather harness!

Getting tickets is the same as in the past with the exception of in-person sales- there will be none of that!

Important information:

Tickets are 3 for $5 or 7 for $10.

Get them as a gift to yourself or use as gifts for others- These tickets are terrific for all gift giving occasions (Graduations, Father’s Day, birthdays, appreciation gifts for hosts, thank you gifts for stylists and groomers, don’t forget your in-laws or that impossible to purchase for relative or friend). Anyone can purchase, so encourage your friends and family to buy some for you! Their ticket purchases increase your chances and support GDUI all at the same time. A true WIN WIN all around!

You can purchase tickets online here: https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-raffle-tickets/ You’ll find adorable photos of Ms. ZOOM on that page as well.

Or, call Sara Calhoun at 866 .799.8436.

We won’t be selling any products at our virtual convention, and there won’t be a GDUI auction this year, so your participation in our Zoom Raffle is your best opportunity to contribute financially to GDUI this summer. We appreciate your participation!

Convention News! In just a couple more days, you’ll be able to register for the events you want to attend at the GDUI and concurrent virtual ACB Conventions! You can already peruse the ACB Conference and Convention program online by visiting this link And clicking on the pre-registration link. If you are using JAWS hit h for heading twice and you will be at the top of the events listing.

There are so many wonderful presentations and activities to look forward to – and (unless you’re a presenter), you can attend any of these meetings in your robe and slippers or cut-offs and flip-flops – your choice! – or you can play Frisbee or do obedience or dispense Frostee Paws with your guide – anywhere inside or immediately outside your sheltering place – and no one will be the wiser! It’s all about virtual enjoyment and on-site comfort!

Registration for all ACB and GDUI programs opens for ACB members (If you’re a member of GDUI, you’re also a member of ACB!) on Thursday, May 21! Registration for non-members will be available a week later, on May 28.

Here’s much of what you need to know about our GDUI virtual convention. Visit this page for all of the details and updates: https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-program/ (Of course, you’ll have to be there – in whatever virtual way you choose (e.g., iPhone, Landline, iPad, PC) to hear what the guide dog instructors have to share with us, to learn from Lukas, to earn CEUs while you learn about the latest technologies, and to find out who this year’s awards will be honoring, and who will be the lucky person to become Zoom’s new owner!)

The GDUI 2020 Convention Program

Saturday, July 4

7:00 PM to 8:30 PM – Go Behind the Scenes with Disney’s Pick of the Litter

Join the Audio Description Project and Guide Dog Users Inc. for this interesting program featuring ACB’s Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, Claire Stanley, who was profiled in two episodes of “Pick of the Litter”.

We will be listening to Episode 3: Training Begins After returning to Guide Dogs for the Blind, the dogs begin formal training; and Episode 5: Meet Your Match. The dogs in advanced training take their final exams in the hopes of being matched with clients.

Claire will answer questions and tell us some behind-the-scene stories of what it was like filming the episodes.

Co-sponsored by GDUI and the ACB audio Description Committee

Monday, July 6:

1:30PM – 2:45PM

The 20/20 Visions from the Guide Dogs Schools

3:00PM – 4:15PM

Sit, Stay, Listen…

Presenter: Lukas Franck, The Seeing Eye, Morristown, NJ

Lukas will discuss clicker training, how he evolved in to it, how well he responds to a clicker, and how he uses it in training!

Tuesday, July 7:

1:30PM – 2:45PM

Hidden Treasures

Presenters:

Steve Famiglietti, Blind Services Vocational Manager, and Adam Kosakowski, Assistive Technology Specialist

NEAT Center at Oak Hill, Hartford Connecticut

During this presentation participants will learn some tips and tricks to help them in using different pieces of software on various hardware platforms. For instance, we will demonstrate both the built in screen reader and screen magnifier, found in Windows 10 and go over a few of the best features of these items. We will also highlight some of our favorite settings and items which you can customize to make using your device a better experience.

We will be focusing on the following devices and software: Windows 10, Apple devices and Android devices.

Topics will include:

Customization of Voiceover on an iPhone or iPad
Changing visual settings on an iPhone.
Customizing Windows 10 for a better experience while using your screen reader. Simple tricks to make reading items easier with the JAWS screen reader.
Tips and tricks for Android users.

Co-sponsored by GDUI and ACBS

3:00PM – 4:15PM:

“Harnessing Her Power at the Iditarod!”

Presenter: Katie Mehrtens, The Right Spot Pet Massage, Illinois

From vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy to obtaining a guide dog, from early childhood special education instructor to massage therapist to the Iditarod, Katie Mehrtens’ life is filled with struggles and successes and a determination to succeed.

Days are often long – and nights too short – during 2020 Shelter-in-Place. Sometimes we just yearn for a little good news (for a change)! Here’s some Good News From Us!

We are pleased to inform you that, thanks to the efforts of several GDUI board members, The 2020 Updates to our GDUI Guide Dog School Surveys Are Now on Our Web Site. You may find them under the Resources page of the site’s main menu > GDUI School Surveys or directly at https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/gdui-school-survey/

Our Web site also now contains landing pages for the 2020 GDUI convention program and raffle ticket purchases. Both can be found in the main navigation menu on our site or directly at https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-program/ and https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-raffle-tickets/.

Our Web site has been updated with the latest approved meeting minutes from our January, 2020 board meeting. You may access our meeting minutes page at https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/meeting-minutes/.

As of May 18, 2020, we have 538 likes of our Facebook page, 289 members in our Friends of GDUI Facebook group, and 305 followers of our Twitter handle. Our Facebook page can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/GDUInc/, our Facebook group can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GDUINC/, and our Twitter timeline can be accessed at https://twitter.com/gduinc.

Help University research teams to understand more about our transportation needs and our experiences with shared ride services.

Researchers at Clemson University are currently soliciting responses for an online survey to gauge the opinions of people who are blind or visually impaired regarding ridesharing services. This is the first of two surveys on this subject. Your participation will help engineers and policymakers better understand the needs and concerns of individuals who are visually impaired in designing ridesharing services and in the writing of related policies.

If you are an individual who is blind or low vision, we would greatly appreciate your participation. Participants will be entered in a drawing for a $300 gift card; we anticipate that approximately 500 people will be entered into the drawing. For additional information regarding the risks and benefits of the survey or to complete the survey itself, please click the link below. The survey information and the survey itself are both screen reader accessible:

https://clemson.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8H3eZiQxELYcX89

Thank you,

Aaron Gluck

Clemson University, Research Assistant

1-864-722-9053

amgluck@g.clemson.edu

Following the current trend during these days of COVID-19, Leader Dogs for the Blind makes their summer camp experience a virtual one!

Leader Dogs for the Blind Virtual Summer Experience Camp 2020

Camp dates: Sunday, June 21–Friday, June 26, 2020
Application deadline: Friday, June 5, 2020

This free camp experience gives teens 14–17 years old in the U.S. and Canada an awesome lineup of virtual activities to build their independence! Participants will explore mobility options like guide dog travel, build leadership skills and make lasting relationships with peers. Using Zoom video conferencing, we will lead two 30-minute virtual sessions each day at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Teens can look forward to a Q&A session with a guide dog mobility instructor, a game session, a private Facebook group to keep the fun going through the week and lots more! Presenters include Leader Dog O&M Instructors, Leader Dog guide dog mobility instructors and some special surprise guests! Participants will receive a free LDB Virtual Summer Experience Camp t-shirt and a chance to win other prizes including a Humanware Victor Reader Trek.

To confirm your commitment for this week of fun, please complete the online application by Friday, June 5. You’ll need to check your email regularly after applying for updates and more information!

Thanks,

Rachelle

Director of Communications & Marketing
Leader Dogs for the Blind

Here, one more time, and because May 30 is drawing close, is Up-to-date News about Our Upcoming GDUI 2020 Election. Visit our election news page, https://guidedogusersinc.org/category/gdui-2020-election-news/, to learn more about the process and the candidates, and please plan to participate in our universally accessible 2020 election.

The Board of Directors of Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) is asking GDUI members to vote for the following positions:

President (term ending in 2022)

1^st Vice President (term ending in 2022)

2^nd Vice President (term ending in 2022)

Treasurer (term ending in 2022)

Two Director Seats (term ending in 2023)

The candidates for these positions are:

Candidate for President: Sarah Calhoun, from Missouri

Candidate for First Vice President: Maria Hansen (incumbent), from New York

Candidate for Second Vice President: Deb Cook Lewis (incumbent), from Washington

Candidate for Treasurer: Maria Kristic, from New York

Candidates for Director:

Robert Acosta, from California

Margie Donovan, from California

There are also two proposed amendments to the GDUI Bylaws to be voted upon during this election.

Proposal 1 of 2: Add the words within brackets – 6.08-2-e_

“(e) Has missed three (3) or more [regular Board] meetings in any twelve month period without being excused.”

Rationale: Section 6.08(2) deals with grounds for removal of a Director/Officer. Paragraph (2e) refers to “regular” Board meetings which are scheduled well in advance. It does not refer to “special” Board meetings which may be called with as little as two (2) days’ notice.

Proposal 2 of 2: Add the below sentence at the end of 5.10(4):

“In the extraordinary event the Annual GDUI convention does not occur, the aforementioned transition shall take place on July 15in the year of election.”

Rationale: GDUI needs to be prepared for the smooth transition of leadership under any extraordinary circumstance.

Section 5.10(4) currently reads:

“(4) Except in cases where persons join the Board to fill vacancies, the term of service for all Officers, Directors, or Appointees shall begin at the close of the annual GDUI convention in the year of election and shall end at the close of the annual GDUI convention in the year that elects and qualifies their successors.”

Any current GDUI member may request a copy of the candidate biographies from the Nominations Committee Chair at the following address: director5@guidedogusersinc.org.

The 2020 GDUI Elections will commence Saturday, May 30, 2020 12:00 AM (EDT) and conclude on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at 11:59 PM (EDT).

GDUI members who have paid their dues by the record date of April 9, 2020 are eligible to vote in this election. Each member has one vote.

GDUI must receive the votes of fifteen percent of the members entitled to vote in this election, or at least sixty votes, for this election to be valid.

Voting System

Once again this year VoteNow will be handling our election. GDUI members will have the option of voting either telephonically or online.

Your old voter ID number will no longer be valid. Next week, , members will receive new voter ID numbers. either by e-mail or postcard directly from VoteNow. Please watch your inboxes and mailboxes for this important information. No one else at GDUI will have access to your personal ID number so, if you misplace that new number, you may call a designated person at VoteNow to retrieve that information. You will also receive the number for telephonic voting and the link to the online ballot.

Many thanks to this year’s GDUI Nominating Committee:

Dixie Sanderson (Chair)

Cynthia Hawkins

Pauline Lamontagne

Deb Trevino

We hope to spend time with you at Thursday evening’s Candidates’ Forum, and at our Saturday afternoon GDUI Board meeting. Meanwhile, check out all of the amazing opportunities to connect with others on the increasingly expanding menu of ZOOM calls, have fun planning your participation in the many intriguing activities at the ACB and GDUI Convention, wash your hands, pet your dog instead of touching your face, be well, and stay safe! Thank you for your support and friendship.

Thank you for reading and sharing our Paws for GDUI News You Can Use! We welcome your feedback and your involvement in our organization. Thank you for your friendship and support.

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor