Paws for GDUI – News You Can Use! – VOL. I, NO. 8, June 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

https://guidedogusersinc.org/

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

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ALERT: Correction!

In our recent issue of Paws for GDUI News You Can Use, Vol. I, No. 7, there is an unfortunate error, which is causing our good friend, Keri Bishop, way more anxiety and hassles than anyone would deserve, and we apologize, sincerely, for our error, which resulted from my misconstruing Keri’s original e-mail message in which she described her new product line.

Keri is not distributing free samples of either her wonderful nylon leashes which are patterned after the leather leashes many guide dog training programs distribute to grads, or her harness signs or pouches. She is donating a portion of the proceeds from sales of these products, and we are very grateful for her generosity.

Please support Keri’s excellent products – they are already very reasonably priced and the craftspersonship and design sensibilities are top notch! She is so generous to donate a portion of sales proceeds to GDUI. You will be so happy with her new leashes, signs and harness pouches.

We sincerely apologize to Keri for our mistake and encourage all of our readers to check out her new product line.

Here is the original advertisement, minus our unfortunate error:

New Products from Keri Bishop!

We are so grateful to Keri, who always donates a sizable portion of the proceeds she earns from her wonderful crafty products to GDUI! Please check out her latest creations, and follow up with her on her web site, then show off your latest Keri-original creations when you and your dog are out and about, encourage your friends to purchase as well, and Keri and GDUI will be the beneficiaries! Thank you, Keri!

I have 2 new items in my craft shop this year, guide dog leashes and

Harness signs. The leashes are duel length like the ones from seeing eye but

made from nylon instead of leather. They are the same length I used Rory’s leather leash as a guide for my pattern. I know some dogs love chewing

leather so I thought it would be good to have a second option out there!

The harness signs have machine embroidery and are made from denim. Embroidery on the signs

Shows a dog inside a Circle round, with a diagonal line indicating no! or “Do NOT pet!” I am working 2 designs, one is just the sign with Velcro straps that wrap around the harness. The 2nd Is identical but has a zipper in the back making the sign into a storage pouch.

To get to my shop go to Etsy.com and click Search for shops type in Kraftykerbear this will take you to my store.

Thank you,

Penny

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

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From Your Editors:

Hello again, and already? Yes, we’re back. There’s already so much news in the month of June, we decided to publish a second issue for the month. We hope you enjoy our magazine, and we’re hoping that reading this publication is at least a little helpful for getting you through this endless sheltering in place situation that so many of us are in, or that we can take your minds off all of the worries you may be experiencing about localities and business establishments that are beginning to open up again.

Don’t miss our invitation to a virtual happy hour to celebrate GDUI’s recent elections and to thank all of those leaders who have worked so hard with us for the past six years, restoring what’s best about GDUI, and accomplishing some milestones along the way. Current officers and board members will continue serving until the GDUI convention ends, and after convention, we’ll have to say a sad farewell to retiring board members and our amazing treasurer, and welcome Sarah and Maria Kristic to their new official roles, and Bob and Margie to the GDUI board.

We are getting excited about our virtual conventions (ACB’s and GDUI’s)! There are a few convention updates here, some new products worth checking into; there’s news about Leader Dogs and Pilot’s training programs, and an assortment of blindness-related news to advise, entertain, and distract you!

Let’s get started.

Official Announcement: The GDUI 2020 Elections Results

GDUI thanks our membership for participating in the 2020 GDUI Elections.

Over 44 percent of our membership voted in this election.

Congratulations to our candidates.

Our two proposed Bylaws amendments required a 2/3 or 66.6 percent approval of the voters in order to pass. Both of the amendments have been adopted with over 94 percent approval

The election results are as follows:

Guide Dog Users, Inc. 2020 Election

Open from 12:01 AM, May 30, 2020 to 11:59 PM, June 7, 2020

Total voters for ballot: 176 (44.2% of 398 total codes); as of 1:00:54 PM on Monday, June 8, 2020; (U.S. Eastern).

Vote mode distribution: 112 e-vote, 0 paper ballots, 64 telephone.

President ( 175 total voters this ballot; vote for 1):
Sarah Calhoun, from Missouri
Votes 174
99.4%
1 Abstain 0.6%

First Vice President ( 176 total voters this ballot; vote for 1):
Maria Hansen (incumbent), from New York
Votes 166
94.3%
10 Abstain 5.7%

Second Vice President ( 174 total voters this ballot; vote for 1):
Deb Cook Lewis (incumbent), from Washington
Votes 166
95.4%
8 Abstain 4.6%

Treasurer ( 174 total voters this ballot; vote for 1):
Maria Kristic, from New York
Votes 173
99.4%
1 Abstain 0.6%

First Director ( 175 total voters this ballot; vote for 1):
Robert Acosta, from California
Votes 158
90.3%
17 Abstain 9.7%

Second Director ( 174 total voters this ballot; vote for 1):
Margie Donovan, from California
Votes 152
87.4%
22 Abstain 12.6%

AMENDMENT 1 of 2: Grounds for Removal of an Officer/Director ( 174 total voters this ballot; vote for 1):
164 Yes 94.3%
6 Abstain 3.4%
4 No 2.3%

AMENDMENT 2 of 2: Term of Service for all Officers, Directors and Appointees ( 174 total voters this ballot; vote for 1):
166 Yes 95.4%
5 No 2.9%
3 Abstain 1.7%

Electronic voting by Vote-Now.com –

Respectfully submitted,

Dixie Sanderson

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Board Of Directors

Nominations Committee Chair

Now we know the results: Let’s Celebrate! You are all invited to join GDUI on Tuesday, June 16, for our Wine and Wags Happy Hour!

GDUI Wine and Wags Happy Hour

When: Jun 16, 2020 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Listen via ACB Radio community events

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83701809445

iPhone one-tap : +19292056099,,83701809445#

Telephone: 929 205 6099

Webinar ID: 837 0180 9445

We are so pleased to invite all of our members and friends to our Wine and Wags Happy Hour! Grab a favorite beverage and snacks for yourself and your guide dog and join our next community call to celebrate GDUI’s successful election, welcome our new president, Sarah Calhoun, and our new treasurer, Maria Kristic, our two new GDUI board members, Bob Acosta and Margie Donovan, and to thank all of our retiring and returning officers and board members for their wonderful service to our organization and our community.

We are looking forward to sharing stories and happily mingling with all of you as we look back on these last six years of hard work and camaraderie and forward toward new milestones and shared empathy and advocacy.

Good News from Leader Dogs concerning Re-Opening

I am very excited to inform you that under the most recent executive order signed by Governor Whitmer, Leader Dogs for the Blind is cleared to resume full operations! We have confirmed with legal counsel that our services are included in the latest wave of businesses permitted to resume operations.

We have developed a Return to Work plan that provides for our operations on campus to resume in phases. The phases of this plan were developed to ensure a safe return for the team, clients and volunteers. Please know that the health and well-being of every foot (and paw!) on campus remains our top priority. All clients, team members and volunteers will be required to complete a virtual training prior to coming to campus.

For those of you who have been accepted into training and are awaiting class placement, we will reach out to you in the coming weeks with more detailed information on what training will look like and what safety measures will be in place.

Some of you may be wondering about the status of field visits and deliveries. Please know that we are continuing to review/operate by CDC guidelines and the extension of the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order in Michigan as it relates to travel and field visits. We will have more information for you soon, but for now, all field visits and deliveries remain suspended at this time.

We continue to accept applications and reapplications for all of our programs!

Thank you for your ongoing support and words of encouragement, especially over the past two and a half months.

We all look forward to the day we welcome clients back to campus for training!

Wishing you well,

David Locklin

Director of Programs

And, just today, by way of one of our GDUI e-mail discussion lists, we heard the happy news that Pilot held their first class since the pandemic began, two weeks ago. That’s good news for Pilot trainees and grads, as well.

Convention News!

As slowly as time seems to be going in some ways, it’s hard to believe that the GDUI and ACB conventions are mere weeks away. So many ACB members and leaders are working, seemingly at all hours of the day and night, to put our virtual convention events together. Convention will be different, mostly because we won’t be exchanging hugs with all of those people we only get to spend time with once a year at convention. No late nights at the bar. No discovering friends or getting reacquainted with guide dogs at the relief area and the play room. No GDUI auction, and no GDUI Barka Lounge.

Yes, it will be different, but it will also be fun! The presentations and seminars sound amazing! And, this year, we might be able to take more of them in than usual – At least, we won’t be getting lost finding our way to the meeting rooms! I have G&T in my own kitchen and a very nice relieving area in my own back yard. I know how to use ZOOM, and I’ve even grown to like using it! If you haven’t registered yet, we really encourage you to! And, it’s time! Pre-Registration closes at 11:59PM EDT on June 21^st. You can register for the ACB Conference and Convention, as well as the GDUI Convention, here: https://acbconvention.org/?p=13.

For a full description of our GDUI convention events, visit this page: https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-program/.

If you are a first-time attendee at an ACB convention, or one who hasn’t attended in a long time, and if this were a normal year that involved airline flights and hotel rooms, and getting lost lots of times, … an important convention event for you to attend would be the seminar called Keys to the Convention! That’s where you would learn how to survive convention week, where to go for help, whom to count on for friendship and advice, and how to fit most of the events that captured your interest into your incredibly full schedule.

This year, of course, you need only find your way from room to room in your way-too-familiar home. But, there are still all of those events and seminars to get to, either by ZOOMing in, listening to ACB Radio, or dialing in via landline or smart phone. So, in lieu of hosting the annual Keys to the Convention event, this year, the ACB Membership Committee is sponsoring Four Calls to Provide First-Timers and Others Information on Attending the ACB and GDUI Virtual Conference and Convention.

The first call will be on Thursday, June 18, 5 pm Pacific/8 pm Eastern. This call will Outline what is available at the upcoming ACB virtual conference and convention. Janet Dickelman will be the main speaker on this call. Those listening will still have time to register for the conference and convention, since pre-registration is open until 11:59 PM, ET, on June 21.

On Sunday, June 28 and recurring on Thursday, July 2, 5 pm Pacific/8 pm Eastern, you can attend calls covering the various ways you can attend the convention – virtually! Tyson Ernst will cover listening on the Victor Reader and joining calls via Zoom. Jeff Bishop will explain listening to ACB Radio via the internet, phone, ACBLink, and Echo products.

After the conference and convention, there will be one more call to let first-timers and others know about ACB benefits and the great advocacy ACB accomplishes. This call will be on Thursday, July 16 5 pm Pacific/8 pm Eastern

Join the calls:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82724760720?pwd=b1VzQjdFc1gvSG5sUUg4WHlXUHVsQT09

One tap mobile: +13126266799,,82724760720#,,636237#

Phone: 312-626-6799

Meeting ID: 827 2476 0720

Meeting Password: 636237

There won’t be any business conducted during General Sessions at the 2020 Conference and Convention, (or at least, no business that would require motions passing or failing or voting up or down), but there will be a resolutions process. Here, from the co-chairs of the 2020 ACB Resolutions Committee, is a description of how ACB members will direct the work and priorities of the ACB board and staff for the coming year.

For 2020, the Resolutions Committee will receive resolutions for consideration through the end of the 2020 ACB Virtual Conference and Convention, Friday, July 10, 11:59 pm, EDT. Resolutions may be submitted for consideration to: advocacy@acb.org.

2 – The Resolutions Committee will forward all resolutions to the ACB National Office with a recommendation for “do pass” or “do not pass” by Monday, August 3rd.

3 – The ACB National office will preliminarily rank the resolutions in consultation with the Resolutions Committee and ACB leadership prior to transmitting the resolutions for consideration by the ACB Board of Directors no later than Friday, August 21.

4 – The ACB Board of Directors will discuss, prioritize, and approve 2020 Resolutions by majority vote at the Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, August 27.

5 – At the meeting on August 27, and In accordance with a 2019 resolution referred to the ACB Board of Directors, the Board will create a working group to reform the ACB resolutions process.

If you have any questions, please contact the ACB Resolution Committee co-Chairs, Jill Noble (jillnoble61@icloud.com) and Gabe Griffith (gabrielgriffith@gmail.com).

A Message from Orcam Technology about an exciting opportunity to win a FREE OrCam MyEye 2 Pro device

Dear ACB Members,

We hope you are as excited as we are for the upcoming virtual ACB Conference in July. We are happy that ACB decided to make the best out of the situation and would like to share with you, our developments and progress since last year’s conference. We urge you to look for our OrCam presentations in the conference agenda, and hope all of you will join and hear what we have prepared for you.

ACB and OrCam have a strong partnership and we appreciate the collaboration to raise awareness of OrCam’s assistive technology among ACB members to support uses in education, employment and the quality of life for Americans who are blind or visually impaired.

OrCam keeps developing its technology to meet your needs, and our alliance with ACB will allow you to receive special promotions as an ACB member. For this year’s conference, we will be giving away a FREE OrCam MyEye 2 Pro device to one of the attendees of the ACB Conference!

To enter the drawing please go this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSCFW99211Z3CDVWd_YJn85Dvuqd0xU2ziX7Ert5d7BZMe2A/viewform and fill out your information and submit the form.

All entries must be submitted by July 7th, 6 PM EST.
Only one entry per person.
The winner of the OrCam MyEye 2 Pro will be announced on the convention connections show just prior to the ACB Banquet on July 10.

Speaking of Raffles – ZOOM is just waiting to meet you and make herself at home in your guest room (or bedroom, or family room, or on the living room couch!) Don’t let your chance to become beautiful Zoom’s new owner slip away!

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 (Graduation, 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 have your friends and family buy some for you if self-gifting is not your style; 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/.

or call Sara Calhoun at 866.799.8436. We will draw the winning ticket – virtually, of course! – at the conclusion of our GDUI Convention

Zoom is a black and tan German shepherd beauty. She’s About two feet tall, and sits 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!

Good news for GDUI from Amazon SMILE!

Good news for you, too – if, like me, you seem to have designated shopping with the Amazon.com app on your I-Phone as your latest – and most frequently visited – form of entertainment!

AmazonSmile customers can now support Guide Dog Users Inc in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.

Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into ‘Settings’
Tap ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

It took me just about two and a half minutes to follow those instructions and begin contributing to GDUI every time a buy six more boxes of Italian pasta or a gift for someone who’s celebrating a birthday, or a ball or a squeaky pink bear for Willow, or, truly, any number of other kinds of items, with my Amazon.com app. Thanks for signing up, too, and helping GDUI’s treasury to grow!

Do you love video description? Do you want more video description? Here’s your chance to let the FCC know!

On April 23, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes expanding the number of broadcast designated market areas required to pass through audio description from the top 60 markets to the top 100, and to use the term “audio description” instead of the term “video description.”

On May 21, 2020, the Media Bureau of the FCC released a public notice announcing the NPRM comment due dates; comments are due June 22, 2020, and reply comments are due July 6, 2020. The text of the NPRM is available at: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-seeks-expand-video-description-visually-impaired-americans-0.

Interested parties may file comments on their own by accessing the Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. All filings must reference MB Docket No. 11-43. People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov.

The ACB National Office will file consolidated comments for this NPRM. If you would like to contribute to the ACB comments, or to have ACB file comments on your behalf, please email your responses for the short survey below to advocacy@acb.org. The comment due date is Monday, June 22, and ACB requests responses by Friday, June 19.

Survey Participant Information

Name:

Address (City & State):

Phone Number:

Email Address:

Part One

The NPRM seeks to modernize the terminology in the Commission’s regulations to use the term “audio description” rather than “video description.” The term “audio description” is used by the rest of the federal government and is the term used in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Additionally, “audio description” is the agreed upon international terminology for audibly describing the visual elements of videos, on-stage performances, and subjects at museum and art galleries. Do you think the FCC should harmonize its terminology and use the industry agreed upon term “audio description” same as the rest of the federal government?:

Part Two

Please complete if you do not currently receive audio description passed through by your four main local broadcast channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, & NBC). A current list of broadcast markets required to pass through audio description is available at: https://acb.org/adp/articles/tvfcctop60.html.

The NPRM seeks to expand the Commission’s video description regulations by phasing in an additional 10 designated market areas each year for four years, beginning on January 1, 2021. This would increase the number of broadcast designated market areas required to pass through audio description from the top 60 markets to the top 100 markets by the end of 2024. If you do not currently receive audio description, please share with us what it would mean for you to have greater access to information and entertainment through receiving audio described content from broadcast television?:

Thank You,

Clark Rachfal

Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs

American Council of the Blind

New Products from Keri Bishop!

I have 2 new items in my craft shop this year, guide dog leashes and

Harness signs. The leashes are duel length like the ones from seeing eye but

made from nylon instead of leather. They are the same length I used Rory’s leather leash as a guide for my pattern. I know some dogs love chewing

leather so I thought it would be good to have a second option out there!

The harness signs have machine embroidery and are made from denim. Embroidery on the signs

Shows a dog inside a Circle round, with a diagonal line indicating no! or “Do NOT pet!” I am working 2 designs, one is just the sign with Velcro straps that wrap around the

harness. The 2nd Is identical but has a zipper in the back making the

sign into a storage pouch. I am hoping to get the word out so I thought I ‘d send you free samples if you are willing to spread the word and tell people

where you got your cool sign, leash or pouch.

To get to my shop go to Etsy.com and click

Search for shops type in Kraftykerbear this will take you to my store. If you

Want samples email me here, keribis@gmail.com.

The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) is excited to announce a new scholarship for grad student applicants studying for a career in the fields of Orientation & Mobility or Rehabilitation Teaching.

Three $2,000 scholarship winners will be announced in the Fall of 2020.
The deadline for submitting applications is August 31, 2020, and scholarship recipients will be notified on or around October 2020.

Refer to the application for eligibility criteria. Download the application by clicking here https://aerbvi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/AERScholarshipApplication_2020.docx.

If you have any questions, please contact me at michele@aerbvi.org mailto:michele@aerbvi.org.
Thank you,
Michele
Online Learning https://aerbvi.org/professional-development/online-learning/

Special Rates for ACB Members who Join AIRA

The American Council of the Blind is proud to partner with Aira to make visual interpreting services available to more people. To encourage ACB members to try their service, Aira is extending special ACB Membership pricing from June 1 through December 31, 2020.

ACB Member Intro Plan

Minutes: 30 per month
Price: $20.00 per month
Plan Share: no additional users

ACB Member Enhanced Plan

Minutes: 140 per month
Price: $99.99 per month
Plan Share: up to two additional users

Plans are only available through the Aira Customer Care Team. To qualify for these plans, one must be a member in good standing of the American Council of the Blind or its affiliates or chapters for the current membership year. Membership will be verified through the Aira Customer Care Team.

Aira provides visual information through their smartphone app and trained agents, 24/7, 365 days per year. Agents are screened and adhere to strict security protocols. The app uses the camera of your smartphone plus GPS and other powerful tools to give you the visual information you need, on your terms.

To learn more about Aira, visit their website at www.aira.io or call their Customer Care Team at 1.800.835.1934.

Do you need a chocolate fix?

Do you like chocolate? Do you like nuts? Do you like helping out nonprofits? Well, here is a way you can do it all.

The Raleigh/Wake Council of the Blind is having a fundraiser. When you buy delicious treats from rwcb.terrilynn.com, you will also make a generous donation to the Raleigh/Wake Council of the Blind.

So please check out rwcb.terrilynn.com often. We thank you for your help.

Lawrence Carter, President Raleigh/Wake Council of the Blind, www.Nccbinfo.org

How about some delicious coffee to go with that chocolate?

Missouri Guide Dog Users has teamed up with White Cane Coffee for a fundraiser! All proceeds will go towards Top Dog 2021 to be held in St. Louis, Missouri!

White Cane Coffee was started by a blind woman and brothers who are autistic. The business provides work for blind and disabled individuals in their community. All coffee products are labeled in both braille and print.

When you order, using the link below, proceeds will go to Missouri Guide Dog Users!

https://whitecanecoffee.com/ref/plm3645/

Thank you for supporting our fundraiser for Top Dog 2021! Enjoy your coffee!

Kind regards,

Missouri Guide Dog Users

Bellhopp tail of the daytime

(Warning: This one is sappy and emotional as opposed to the normal humor they provide.)

Brianna Murray

[Editor’s Note: Brianna is a retiring member of our current board. Her life seems a little too busy to accommodate the demands of board service at the moment! She recently moved from the South to the Mid-Atlantic, started a new job, retired one guide dog (Hopps) and attended training at the Seeing Eye, where she acquired her new guide dog, Belle! Brianna lives alone in her first apartment with both dogs. Do you see what we mean?

Brianna is having fun (mostly) learning to cope with the awesome responsibility of caring – and being cared for by – two guide dogs. This is the latest installment of “guide dog tails” that she has been sharing with friends on Facebook. Thank you, Brianna, for sharing your newest BellHopp Tail with all of us!]

The evolution of the bond between a guide dog and handler is a crazy thing. When that dog is brought into your room, it’s one of the greatest days of your life. It’s exciting, scary, emotional, and just a quick snapshot of the dog that’s going to be by your side for the rest of its lifetime. While I was thrilled in that moment with Belle, to her, it was scary. She was everything I secretly wanted but didn’t ask for. Petite, black, smart, empathetic, cuddly, and wise. If I could have designed a dream dog it would have looked just like her. But she was less than impressed. I was another handler in a very short time, and I was sniffling and crying all over her. She was reserved and cautious with me, and it took us until April to really connect and snuggle like I knew we would eventually. I didn’t blame her. I’m that way with new people too, but it made the transition very hard. It was hard sometimes in those first few months because when I was feeling lonely, Hopps was here to show me love. When I wanted a dog in my lap, there was Hopps. Hopps fulfilled every emotional need I had and so in some ways, I didn’t have a chance to build that bond with Belle like I should have. Hopps also had trouble accepting that I had a new partner. She was ready and willing to work, and she didn’t see why she couldn’t. But part of that evolution in the bond is both of us learning to let go when retirement must occur. Today, Hopps showed she was finally letting go, and Belle showed me she was ready and willing to be my partner in crime.

Hopps has set next to me on the floor during every shower since I got her. One time the curtain got messed up, flooding the bathroom, but still she laid there by my side. When I first got Belle she stayed in her crate while I showered and I didn’t trust anything else. Once she earned her freedom more, she still chose to lay in the living room and chew her bone while Hopps stuck right by my side. Today though, Hopps was laying by the shower when Belle came in. Belle laid down next to Hopps, cramming into a very small bathroom together. At first, neither gave an inch. I was their person and they each wanted to be right there. Eventually though Hopps stood up, stuck her head in the curtain to check I was ok, and left. It was like she said “Ok, she’s yours now. I trust you and I’m passing the baton.” Even once I got out of the shower, and went through my routine Hopps laid in bed. Belle was the one who followed me around every step. Belle hates water. She doesn’t like the shower. But our bond is strong now. She sees her purpose and wants to be near her person. Hopps on the other hand, worked so hard for so long. She’s starting to see that her purpose now is making room for Belle to be my guide. It’s a bitter sweet transition to watch them mature together and fill their new roles. I’m just glad I am lucky enough to have both of them here with me, and I get to watch as my bond with each of them develops. Team Bellhopp forever!!!

Guide dogs have never been taught the 6-foot rule required during the coronavirus pandemic, making it difficult for their owners to get around.

Credit: Guide Dog Foundation & America’s VetDogs

By Joan Gralla

Updated May 15, 2020 2:44 PM

[From: https://www.newsday.com/news/health/coronavirus/guide-dogs-coronavirus-1.44615608 ]

Editor’s Note: We’re making another newspaper article available to you(below) for sharing with sighted family, friends and acquaintances, so that all of us can make our way through these challenging times with safety and grace.]

Should someone draw near with a guide dog, speak up and presume good intent — especially during the pandemic, according to some experts.

The dogs have never been taught the 6-foot social-distancing rule required during these difficult times. Nor have they been trained to wait in line outside stores, let alone stand on marks, or only walk in one direction in the aisles.

Instead, they have been taught to bring their partner right to the door — and go in.

And they are expected to bring their handler to the nearest empty seat on a train or bus, though that might be right next to someone.

Right now, “It’s a little stressful for our clients to go out,” said Cameron McLendon, 28, of Kings Park, a mobility instructor at the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. “One of the biggest problems is that the dogs don’t understand social distancing.”

Diplomacy, patience helps

Like so much else, battling the coronavirus has exposed divisions between people.

Misunderstandings that might have been brushed off now can flare into conflicts as they grapple with a multitude of fears and anxieties, from succumbing to the virus to waiting outside grocery stores only to find empty shelves when you get inside.

As is often the case in any situation, a little bit of diplomacy and patience can make all the difference.

“I think it’s a great thing for people to do all the time — to let people know you are approaching” a guide dog and their handler, said Lauren Berglund, 23, of Kings Park.

Berglund, a coordinator for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind and America’s VetDogs in Smithtown, has had a guide dog since she was 18.

“If someone is getting too close, simply remarking ‘Hey, I’m off to your left,’” is a help, she said.

And it’s likely far easier for the person who can see to avoid the team than vice versa.

Some of the nonprofit’s graduates said they have been yelled at for passing too near other people, Berglund said.

Guide dogs are taught to skirt other people by adding their own width to that of their handlers, explained Heidi Vandewinckel, a total almost certainly less than 6 feet.

“Please just ask me and let me know — and perhaps anticipate” a problem, said Vandewinckel, 62, of East Northport, and a foundation board member who has relied on a guide dog since she was 14.

“It can be kind of daunting for a guide dog to maneuver … it’s kind of a give-and-take,” said Cristina Mirabile, 31, of Centereach, one of the foundation’s mobility instructors.

Unexpected problems have arisen, the experts said.

One client, for instance, found a physician’s clinic had nowhere for him and his dog to wait except the line outside. Yet not all dogs understand what to do when the line moves.

And some patients in line or in the office might be allergic or fearful of dogs.

Some tips and advice

So take the risk of a possibly awkward interchange and help a dog and its handler navigate social distancing rules, the experts said, especially in crowds, or lines, or on mass transit.

Realize people whose guide dogs give them the gifts of freedom and independence must go to stores if online services are overloaded or unwieldy, they said.

Aiding these teams — even during the stressful times of the outbreak — really just requires a little thoughtfulness.

Anyone walking their own dog should let the team know, because the guide dog is not allowed to meet-and-greet.

Never make eye contact with a guide dog while it’s working, offer a treat, ooh and ah, or try to pet it — those are all behaviors that could cause their partner a mishap, like a fall, Mirabile said.

And, the experts said, ask if the team would like help, particularly if there are hazards, like figuring out if a traffic light has changed.

Let them know if there is a line outside a store — and perhaps help them find where it ends, when it moves — and where to wait to check out.

“It’s never wrong to ask a question,” McLendon said.

Remember, however, that these teams have earned their independence. Don’t be offended if they decline an offer of help.

But if they would like you to guide them around obstacles, offer your arm — though not the way one does in a wedding procession. Instead, the handler has been taught to hold your upper arm to follow you safely, the experts said.

And never grab the guide dog’s harness, Vandewinckel said.

“Just be kind and patient with people, especially now — it’s a difficult time for everybody,” Berglund said.

OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING 501)(C)(3) STATUS FOR PINE TREE GUIDE DOG USERS

Bruce Prindall and Pauline Lamontagne

[Editor’s Note: The article below was submitted by our very capable and dedicated Affiliates’ Liaison, Pauline Lamontagne, and her colleague in Maine’s GDUI affiliate, Pine Tree Guide Dog Users, Bruce Prindall. If your GDUI affiliate has not yet obtained or updated your not-for-profit status, the advice which Pauline and Bruce outline below will be very helpful. Thanks to Pauline for keeping all of us on the ball and up-to-date!]

Please note, here is a disclaimer. The below article is NOT legal advice.
It is an overview of Pine Tree Guide Dog Users'(PTGDU’s) experience for
obtaining federal tax exemption status under section 501(c)(3) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and maintaining it.

Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU) in July 2017 was incorporated in the State of Maine. In Maine, the paperwork was submitted to Maine’s Secretary of State’s office under Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions.

There was a filing fee($40 in Maine.) PTGDU also had to attach its
Constitution and Bylaws.

On a yearly basis, a renewal statement with accompanying fee must be
submitted. Thirty-five dollars was this year’s renewal fee. The fee is higher if the corporation is a for profit corporation; PTGDU is a nonprofit corporation in Maine. Please note, the agency and fees that your affiliate will need to apply to will be different from Maine’s. That is, your affiliate will not incorporate in Maine but rather in another state. The site
http://www.nasconet.org/ may be of assistance.

Once PTGDU was incorporated in Maine and prior to applying for 501(c)(3) status, Pine Tree Guide Dog Users had to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the federal government by submitting a completed SS-4 form which was an application for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). There was no fee for the EIN. The instructions are at https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4, and the online fillable form is at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fss4.pdf.

Please note, the creation of accounts and submissions of forms were done electronically with the Federal government. There did not appear to be a snail-mail option. Also, it appeared that the forms had to be completed in one sitting. That is, it appeared that you could not partially complete and save a form and then return later and complete it for submission.

Prior to submitting the 1023-EZ form, a checklist of 30 questions was completed by PTGDU. (The instruction booklet is at: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023ez.pdf), (This checklist was not submitted as part of the 1023-EZ application; however, its completion was used by PTGDU to determine whether the 1023 or 1023-EZ form would be used. (Please note, if you answer yes to any of these questions, you cannot use the 1023-EZ form.
>>>>>>>>> The 1023 form would be required.)

Among the factors that led to PTGDU’s submitting the 1023-EZ form was that PTGDU does not expect to have gross earnings of $50,000 or more on a yearly basis. Also, PTGDU will not be endorsing specific candidates. The latter would make PTGDU ineligible for nonprofit status.

You will also need to determine your National Taxonomy for Exempt Entities (NTEE) , a three character code that best defines your organization type. PTGDU used R99 for civil rights other. As previously noted, The 1023-EZ form must be completed online athttps://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023ez.pdf. in one sitting because once you start the form, you must finish it as there is no option to save it.

When submitting the 1023-EZ form, PTGDU had to create a pay.gov account. The fee was $275.00. (The cost for the 1023currently is $600.00.)

Pine Tree Guide Dog Users appreciates the grant of $400 from President Bob Acosta’s Helping Hands for the Blind organization! It was given with the understanding that the money would be used for obtaining PTGDU’s 501(c)(3) status as well as writing an article for PawTraCKS (NOW Paws for GDUI News You Can Use) so that hopefully others would benefit.

As long as PTGDU does not have gross proceeds of $50,000 or more, PTGDU must file on a yearly basis a 990-N form entitled Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax,. There is no fee. Ironically, PTGDU was notified on September 1, 2018, by the IRS of its federal tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) status and it was made retroactive to July 31, 2017. Therefore, the IRS, when contacted, said that PTGDU was late on filing the 990-N form. Thankfully, there is not a penalty for late filing for that year. However, if an organization does not file for three consecutive years, the tax exempt status may be lost.

You will also need to check in the location where you are incorporated to determine whether there are any other requirements. In Maine, a license is required for soliciting charitable contributions. $50 is required for the first year and then currently $25 is required for subsequent years.

PTGDU expects that 501(c)(3) status will assist PTGDU with fund raising as well as other efforts including possible grant writing. If Bruce, PTGDU’s secretary, or I, President of PTGDU, may be of further assistance, please, e mail Bruce at ptgdu2013@gmail.com or me at plamontagne@twc.com.

Pfew! We told you there‘s lots of news this month.

We hope our latest Paws for GDUI gives you some pleasure as we all cope with the sad and frustrating ramifications of COVID-19, try to find ways to achieve equality and justice and healing for everyone with whom we share the planet Earth, and experience the arrival of summer 2020.

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