Greetings GDB Alumni –

Below you will find the latest issue of Alumni News and Guide Dogs News. I want to also make you aware of two upcoming conference call events.

First, our monthly Paws and Remember call for those experiencing the loss of a beloved guide dog, will be held on Wednesday, Nov 25 at 4:00 PM Pacific. Call-in: 1-800 835-8395 Code: 1623768

And, there is a new Alumni Chapter forming around the topic of travel. Have you ever wished you could eliminate the stress of worrying about whether or not you have planned or packed well enough for your guide dog when traveling? Do you ever wish you knew what other handlers said to flight attendants who don't understand the rights of people with disabilities when flying? Well, here's your chance! please plan to attend an organizational meeting of a new special interest alumni chapter for GDB grads interested in travel.

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2015

Time: 5:00 pm (Pacific); 8:00 pm (Eastern)

Dial: 800-835-8395 Participant Code: 1693867

Please remember when participating in conference calls to mute your phone by pressing # 1 when not speaking, to unmute simply press # 1 again.

And, now on to Alumni News!

Happy Thanksgiving!

GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND - ALUMNI NEWS

Volume 22 – Number 2

Theresa Stern, Vice President of Outreach, Admissions and Alumni Services, Editor

Leanne Bremner, Copy Editor

Send submissions to the editor via tape, phone, mail, or e-mail

Alumni Association Mission Statement

The Alumni Association will support the vision of GDB of “using our power of partnering to improve quality of life” by building a strong sustainable community of support among our Alumni. We will work to support Alumni success with their guide, in building relationships with others, and actively participating in the greater GDB community.

Alumni Association Board of Directors Mission Statement

Connecting Our Community through Leadership, Advocacy, Communication and Outreach

Alumni News is available electronically, in Braille, and on audio CD. If you are able to access email and would like future issues sent to you electronically, please let Theresa Stern know at . Email allows us to get the news to you in a timely manner and is easy on the environment!

We'd like to send our very special thanks to all of our Alumni who, by their efforts and their examples, refer others to our program.

Table of Contents

  1. From Your Alumni Association

Learning, Laughing, and Loving while “Pawsing” around the World; from the Pups Perspectives, by: Michelle Miller

Meet Our New Alumni Association Board Members – Dorianne Pollack and Marcia Wick

  1. Chapter Chat

Alumni Chapter Update, by: Maile George

  1. News You Can Use

Winter Survival Guide, by: Lauren Ross

  1. Development Spotlight

An Alternative Way to Financially Support Guide Dogs for the Blind...., by: Terry Blosser

  1. In Our Own Words

Stitching Together, by: Patty Mueller

Walks with Wills, by: Theresa Stern

  1. Alumni Bulletin Board
  2. In Memoriam, In Memory, in Tribute
  3. Gift Shop News
  4. Announcements
  5. Alumni Association Board of Directors
  6. List of Alumni Chapters
  7. Guide Dog News Issue 3, 2015

FROM YOUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Learning, Laughing, and Loving while “Pawsing” around the World; from the Pups Perspectives

By: Michelle Miller with Tango

“Wills, Marley, Sparta, Camry, Georgie, and Senator, can you pups believe it’s over?” Tango exclaimed to the guide Dogs all sprawled on the floor.

“It was so fun sniffing so many new friends both furry and not-- I never wanted it to end, “woofed wills.

“Together, let’s take a trip down memory lane and capture all of our memories, “Suggested Sparta the Black lab of the bunch. “We do know quite a bit since we were all part of the planning committee too!”

Did you travel to Portland, Oregon in September 2015 to PAWS Around the World? If not that’s ok! Join us pups on a meander of the weekend’s highlights!

Leading up to the Reunion-Retreat, Theresa Stern and her enthusiastic planning team met 17 times via phone, exchanged nearly 5000 emails from coast to coast, and sent out hundreds of pieces of mail crossing an entire year! Creating a unique action packed experience for over 130 GDB grads, and supporters was the primary goal for the planning team. The weekend’s theme was travel, there were many different planned activities to ensure everyone both had some fun, and learned a thing or two, or paw-sibly even 3.

“Yes let me tell you about the heavenly smells we could not get enough of during the chocolate walking tour,” all of the drowsy dogs sighed with contentment as Senator and Marley gushed about the decadent aromas.

Friday, a group toured down town Portland twisting and traversing their way while tasting scrumptious sweet treats from several different local bars and restaurants.

Meanwhile, another bunch of individuals and their guides delighted in some local beers on another tour, and gain some new facts about the brewing industry in Portland.

An adventurous bunch of small groups spent time competing in a Passport to Portland scavenger hunt and the excitement for discovering some of the city’s best kept secrets was enthusiastically shared and felt by all throughout the entire weekend—even after the winners received their prizes.

“Sounds like fun, but I’m glad I was here at the hotel enjoying my pawdecure with the vet techs and watching the humans doing mind boggling walks while in a maze on the floor and learning some kind of new dance moves. Our silly handlers kept pawing one another followed by spinning around, and landing on the floor.But none of us pups were able to help much. It was great though, we all had a spectacular snooze fest,” Camry enthused!

An active GDB grad, Miranda Brown, who works for the 1 Touch Program, and Steven Nickles, facilitated workshops providing hand- over -hand instruction for self-defense. These trainings were designed for persons with disabilities to feel a greater sense of control. Individuals paired up, and practiced techniques with one another;both as a defender and as a victim. These skills are an invaluable tool, when feeling unsafe when in uncomfortable or dangerous situations.

Also, Maia Scott,a GDB alum, organized a tactile labyrinth experience as part of the ‘PAWS Around the World’theme continuum. These maze-like puzzles can be done competitively or for fun, both in and outdoors. She made it accessible by placing overlay on the maze so the outline could be followed by someone with no vision. Everyone who participated was barefoot while following the colorful, ornate pattern with their feet. This was accomplished by trailing the lines and circling the pattern. Up to 8 individuals were on the maze at once.Each participant began at different intervals. The maze was spread out on the floor of one of the hotel’s ballrooms.Meditation, music, or silence werestrategy options while circumnavigating the maze’s complexities. Several small groups learned the beauty and power of the art of starting and ending something; and how it applies to life’s journey.

“All sounds pretty PAW-SOME,” Georgie proclaimed.

”What else was happening?”

Dan Roberts the Director of the MD Association set up an audio wayfinding system to assist grads and guides locate points of interest in the hotel using an i phone app. And a couple of the breakout sessions facilitated by the Tec dogs Dream Team were aimed at learning about using technology when traveling for both orientation and pre-trip planning.

A variety of information was shared in different formats about how to navigate both nationally and internationally with a guide dog;including everything from paperwork requirements to helpful packing tips. Each country has different laws, and those differences were discussed by presenters and in a question and answer format. Saturday morning’s keynote address focused on dog training programs and schools in other countries. Another highpoint pertained to the weekend’s meals;many of which were shared with new and old friends.Conversations were sprinkled with stories and tips and tricks about traveling. George Kerscher delivered the banquet keynote address. His tales electrified the room’s hearts and paws with love and laughter! His countless travel excursions-- not a dud in the bunch, resonated with everyone. The audience left with feelings of excitement and encouragement about the possibilities for future travel adventures. The evening ended with celebrating GDB’s community by awarding staff, volunteers, and graduates for all of their (above and beyond) contributions.

“Yeah, most of us met Kroner George’s new guide. He’s pretty cool having a name shared with currency in another country; he’ll probably get to visit Europe, and earn frequent flier miles for the trip, “ Wills mused, as he wiggles into a more comfortable position as the stream of memories continued.

To kick off Sunday’s agenda, a diverse group of panelists were selected to share different aspects of travel including; school, work, volunteering, and vacations both in the US and abroad. Finally, the last stop on the trip was a campus tour and picnic lunch shared together.

“It was a gorgeous sunny day, and some of us hard working guides made out with all sorts of new toys, and other souvenirs for our friends and families. The Gift Shop sure has great stuff!” Senator sighed with contentment with his furry friends snuggled around him.

After the trip to boring, the exuberant group headed home in different directions.They traveled as far as Florida to the south, Alberta Canada to the north, Singapore to the east, and Hawaii to the West; but the memories of gaining new knowledge, making new friends, and on a quest together Pawsing around the world, will never be forgotten!

Meet Our New Alumni Association Board Members!

Marcia Wick and Viviane

Marcia Wick is new to the wonderful world of guide dogs – trekking into retirement with Viviane, her first guide dog. Marcia and Viviane spend their time exploring new routes and traveling throughout the U.S., including Hawaii.

Marcia holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Northern Colorado, and she enjoyed a long career in news reporting, corporate communications, public relations, and advertising. She also successfully owned and operated a desktop publishing business with clients in California and Colorado. Most recently, Marcia worked as an administrative assistant to the Principals of a large public high school.

Marcia lives with her husband, Barry, in Colorado Springs. They enjoy skiing, swimming, tandem biking, hiking, and traveling. She has two daughters and a grandson. She volunteers with the Colorado Springs Community Transit Coalition and is active with VIBeS (the Visually Impaired and Blind Skiers of Colorado Springs), having served as a long term board member and past President. Getting back to her roots, she is now launching a freelance writing career.

Dorianne Pollack and Dime

Dorianne lives with her husband A.K. and retired Guide Yvette. In Northern Arizona the four seasons offer a variety of things to enjoy all year round. Dorianne likes to snowshoe in the winter, Take long walks with friends in the spring, tandem in summer, and listen to the leaves crunch under her feet in the fall. Reading and writing for Dorianne is a year round adventure.

Dorianne worked as a Speech/Language Therapist in an urban Phoenix, Arizona school district. Using Spanish as her second language, she was able to do language assessments in both English and Spanish. Then, as a classroom teacher in 1989, earned the National First Year Teacher Award from Sallie Mae Corporation. In 1996 she moved to Parks and served as the principal of an elementary school in a rural town outside of Flagstaff and then in two different alternative middle and high schools in Flagstaff. Since her service in public schools, Dorianne has worked for Rehabilitation Services Administration supporting adults with disabilities through their education and into employment. She has also served on the school board in her community for 9 years, 8 of which she served as the president of the school board. Now Dorianne works at Northern Arizona University in the Disability Resources Department where she supports and provides accommodations for students with disabilities. Creating a campus that is universally accessible to most, is a goal she shares with her colleagues.

Dorianne has attended Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. She holds two Master’s Degrees (both with distinction); One in Curriculum and Instruction and one in Rehabilitation Counseling. She has also completed her doctoral coursework and comprehensive exams. With a teaching certificate, a principal ship, a Certification in Rehabilitation Counseling, and a Certification in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Counseling, it is clear that service is her life’s work.

When she is not working to improve the lives of others and better her community, she spends time with her children and grandchildren, and laughing with friends.

CHAPTER CHAT

Alumni Chapter Update

By Maile George, Alumni Chapter Coordinator

Despite living in California, where some say we don’t have seasons, autumn was definitely detectable this morning! Jasmine, my Guide Dog, was happily trotting by my side, the leaves were crunching under our feet, and I felt the cool morning air and the warmth of the sun on my face. As we briskly continued on our route, I reflected on how the recent alumni reunion was similar to GDB alumni chapter meetings. Both offer opportunities to connect with others who choose to experience the joys and challenges associated with traveling with a Guide Dog.

Because the GDB community consists of a wide variety of people and dogs, GDB alumni chapter meetings and activities also vary widely. What follows are examples of the kinds of activities alumni chapter members enjoyed during the summer of 2015.

  • The Paws of Fame chapter (Los Angeles) helped to organize a dog-centered event on the promenade in Long Beach at which fun was had by all, and a local brewery contributed 100% of its proceeds of beer sales to GDB. In October, chapter members will attend an audio described performance of The Sound of Music.
  • Colorado’s Rocky Rovers met to go on a sensory tour of the Denver Botanic Gardens, and afterwards they enjoyed dinner at an outdoor café in the gardens. In August, this busy chapter held their Pins for Pups fundraising bowling event.
  • Several chapters including the Windy City Guide Dogs (Chicago) and Reigning Canines (Portland) met at local restaurants to dine together and socialize. The Windy City chapter also invited their GDB Field Service Manager (FSM) to join them to catch-up and to talk about grooming, training tips, and canine health.
  • The Orange County chapter (Southern California) held a meeting at which GDB grads and puppy raisers socialized, enjoyed refreshments, and learned about canine CPR.
  • The Greatest Paws on Earth chapter (Utah) invited a speaker who taught members about self-defense.
  • The Foggy Doggies chapter (San Francisco) held a teleconference meeting at which attendees discussed books and films about dogs or disabilities or both.
  • Two of GDB’s special interest chapters were also busy over the summer! The Mommies With Guides chapter used Facebook to stay connected with its members and the community at large by posting pictures and celebrating GDB puppies in training, and on Fridays, chapter members shared tips and tricks on working with a Guide Dog.
  • The TechDogs chapter met monthly via teleconference to discuss evolving technology and the accessibility of various gadgets, tools and apps, and at another meeting, they invited and learned from Dan Roberts, the inventor of the Wayfinding technology used during the GDB reunion.

If this article and/or the Paws Around the World GDB reunion inspired you to join an alumni chapter or to learn more about traveling with your Guide Dog, please plan to attend an organizational meeting of a new special interest alumni chapter for GDB grads interested in travel.

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2015

Time: 5:00 pm (Pacific); 8:00 pm (Eastern)

Dial: 800-835-8395

Participant Code: 1693867

For more information about any of GDB’s alumni chapters, please contact Theresa Stern () or me, Maile George ()

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Winter Survival Guide

By Lauren Ross, Director of Client Services

Editor’s Note – We have shared this excellent article from Lauren in the past and with winter fast approaching it seemed timely to refresh our memories.

Cold and snowy winters pose unique challenges for many guide dog users. Advanced mobility skills and established partnerships can help GDB teams through the worst of it, but – in many cases - additional gear is essential for safe winter travel. Below are some considerations for extreme winter conditions, and a list of resources.