From info at michaelhingson.com Wed Jun 5 21:05:36 2013 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 21:05:36 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: letter to the board of directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind Message-ID: <023701ce626b$19ed2e00$4dc78a00$@com> All, The following is a letter I just sent to the board of directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. Although it may appear that the content of this letter is guide dog specific I believe you all should be aware of this issue as it reflects on how agencies which should do better are in fact treating blind people and their own staffs. There are now significant problems within the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization which stem from bad leadership by a relatively new CEO. The problems in part are due to a poor attitude about blindness and partly they stem from his lack of competence in managing well a nonprofit organization, at least as far as I am concerned. Actually, hundreds of consumers have already sent letters concerning this issue to the board and many others have signed a petition concerning this. The petition is located at http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-the-board-its-time?source=c.em.mt&r_by =7790633. I am widely disseminating my letter because many of you may be asked about this issue, especially around the convention. Also, as many of you know I happen to be a quite visible guide dog user due to my experience on 9-11. The fact is that what is happening at GDB should not be permitted nor ignored. You may wish to sign the petition and I ask you to consider so doing. There are issues I did not discuss within the letter in order to protect staff at all levels within the organization. However, suffice it to say that the amount of outrage and pushback by consumers and other stakeholders toward the leadership of Guide Dogs for the Blind is unprecedented. Again, I send this for your information. Should you feel it necessary to contact me please feel free to do so at info at michaelhingson.com. Thanks for reading. Best, Michael Hingson -----Original Message----- From: Michael Hingson [mailto:Mike at michaelhingson.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 08:47 PM To: bburke at guidedogs.com; gkerscher at guidedogs.com; sodell at guidedogs.com; ruthann.dodson24 at gmail.com; jboyd at guidedogs.com; mwatkins at guidedogs.com; sbutton at guidedogs.com; dgershen at guidedogs.com; jharris at guidedogs.com; amathieson at guidedogs.com; smansfield at guidedogs.com; jackscott at guidedogs.com Cc: mike at michaelhingson.com Subject: letter to the board of directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind Dear Members of The Board of Directors, Guide Dogs for the Blind, For some time I have been monitoring the changes at our school and the stakeholders' reactions to them. I am writing to express my feelings. Before proceeding let me introduce myself to those of you I have not met. My name is Michael Hingson. I received my first guide dog from GDB in June, 1964. For the past forty-nine years I have used guides only from GDB. I grew up with the school, its staff, and its advancements in guide dog and student training. While a college student I assisted Guide Dogs' staff in preparing testimony concerning pending legislation to change current guide dog laws in California. I am a firm believer in the value a guide dog brings to blind persons who can effectively learn to use it, and I know firsthand the value and strength of the human-animal bond. You see my fifth guide, Roselle, and I worked in the World Trade Center and escaped from the attacks on 9-11, 2001. Because of a story GDB put out concerning our escape Roselle and I became quite visible throughout the world. After 9-11 I came to work at GDB where I stayed for six and a half years. During that time I worked to keep Guide Dogs for the Blind visible to donors and prospective donors, possible students, and others. I successfully raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the school and I met with countless donors and spoke to tens of thousands of interested persons about the organization. In June, 2008, after a change in the leadership at GDB I left the organization to continue a developing speaking career. I now travel the world talking about issues like strengthening the Human-Animal Bond. In 2011 Roselle's and my story was published in a book called "Thunder Dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog, and the triumph of trust" which became an instant New York Times Bestseller and which has now been published in 12 languages. Today I continue to travel, consult, and speak worldwide. I tell you all this to say that I understand change and know the challenges change and new ideas bring to any organization. Specifically I have seen much change during my 49 years associated with Guide Dogs. I have seen the school lead by several different CEOs each with their own leadership style and priorities. I also have seen the concern each time a new leader came along and took the school in a different direction. I never have found it necessary to speak out concerning a CEO until now. Below are my thoughts. When Bob Phillips took the reins in 2001 he brought something new to the school when, for the first time, the CEO had a daughter who was a graduate of GDB. Bob's empathy permeated throughout his leadership as he worked to bring more of a marketing effort to the school. During his term Bob helped the school grow to be the largest guide dog school in the United States. While some were concerned that he was bringing too much of a "business approach to the school", what he did was to improve the efficiency of the organization, and he helped enhance the reputation of GDB within the guide dog community, the service animal world. He supported actions which improved the reputation of Guide Dogs within the ranks of blindness consumer organizations. I participated in efforts Bob promoted to integrate GDB more into the local and Marin business community. In short, during 2001 to 2007 Guide Dogs for the Blind began to move out of a role as a large nonprofit, but relatively isolated from the world around it to a responsible community family member which was growing in stature and standing within the world community. After Bob Phillips left the organization a new CEO was hired. We need not go into her contributions except to say that for the most part Nancy Gardner's leadership proved destructive to many of the initiatives begun by Bob Phillips and his predecessors. When Paul Lopez began his term as CEO there was much optimism for continued growth among many stakeholders. Some of us had concerns that he did not have a good grounding in a positive philosophy about blindness, but everyone took a wait and see approach. Rather than growth Paul has demonstrated that his approach is not well suited to a nonprofit philanthropic organization such as Guide Dogs for the Blind. I know you have heard from many concerning the issues stakeholders have with Paul's leadership and I do not want to go over ground you already have encountered. However, I believe my perspective is somewhat unique since I have a 49-year history as a student, and a six and a half year back ground as a GDB mid level management and leadership staff member. Also, I have served in management positions within various companies including serving as a company president, vice president, and I have served as a senior level manager in more than one sales organization. I know first-hand good leadership as well as poor and disconnected leadership. Paul Lopez is not demonstrating good leadership for the benefit of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Let me illustrate. 1. Consumer Relations. To date Paul Lopez has not made an appearance at any of the blindness consumer organization National meetings, and it is my understanding that he has not even attended any of the California affiliate meetings. I know he has received such invitations in the past because I delivered one to him personally last year long before the time of the National convention season. I also know he has received written invitations this year, but has not accepted them. The National organization conventions are the best places for any new leader to learn about the issues blind people find important. Also, they are the best platforms for any new blindness related program director to market their organization and to promote discussion. The fact that Paul has not attended National conventions among blind people is noticed by blind people throughout the country and red flags have gone up especially since his lack of action is directly opposite to what Bob Phillips did to promote relations during the early 2000s. Given the lack of visibility by the school and its newest CEO, and given the bad press within the consumer world I believe any positive momentum concerning consumer interest is gone. Furthermore I believe Paul Lopez's lack of visibility concerning consumer organizations is a bad reflection on his value of input and cooperation with blind people. On another front I have heard from many students who have attended classes over the past year and a half that Paul will not spend time with them, or at least he spends very little time with them, especially in the past few months. This is the exact time Paul should be selling his decisions and actions to his consumers, but he seems to be having none of that. 2. Budget. Earlier this year when the announcement of lay-offs took place we all heard that the decision to terminate eight employees was in part a budgetary one. The local newspapers also reported the layoffs and stated that the reason was related to a need to reduce or adjust the budget. This makes little sense especially when the stock market and the GDB reserves are growing. Also, given that ten employees lost their jobs in a similar move during the Nancy Gardner administration it is hard to understand why an additional eight, mostly long time employees, were dismissed. I like the concept of establishing the new call center which can help improve efficiency if handled properly. It seems to me that any time a call goes unanswered for more than one business day any organization which permits this is remiss in its obligation toward the consumers it serves. If students' did not get return calls before and if that has changed then well and good. Creating the call center should help improve efficiency. However, laying off several long-term key staff people and choosing to terminate the head of graduate services given his standing in the world-wide guide dog community and the vast amount of knowledge and respect from consumers he brings to GDB does not seem efficient or wise. The community at large does not buy the budget and efficiency arguments for laying off some of the people who were terminated earlier this year. I agree with them. It can never be good to lose people of the caliber of those employees who were let go and expect any organization to continue to operate as well as it did before. Also, one aspect of decreasing the number of field reps while increasing the call return effectiveness is that you may find that more people actually need visits from a GDB rep. While Mr. Lopez has chosen to believe it more efficient to send people from GDB you cannot yet know if it might have been better to keep the people you lost, but work to keep them busier with visits as well as better involving them in GDB's marketing effort. Also, given that some of the employees worked on campus might it have been better to reassign or split their duties rather than dismissing them outright? Please do not say it was for budgetary reasons as GDB was not and is not in peril of going under. The "business decision" to let them go is a bad one by any basic business staffing morale standard. Speaking of morale, I have not heard any positive comments about moving Barbara Browning away from the switchboard and removing the friendly face that greets visitors to the administration building. The approach taken with Barbara again shows a business orientation not suited or appropriate for a nonprofit like GDB. 3. Trust. While blind people go to guide dog schools to obtain guides and gain the additional mobility assets they feel come with using a guide dog, the trust of the senior staff of guide dog schools often is lacking. Senior staff have, for example, in the past changed school policies concerning dog ownership, reduced consumer representation on boards, reduced the influence levels of or eliminated consumer advisory committees, and downright ignored issues and input by stakeholders. Many of us have seen new senior staff come with ideas of "making the organization run more like a business" and "improving efficiency" while all they do is to alienate stakeholders and not grow the organization. The result is that students go to schools because of positive experiences with the staff members who work directly with them and they ignore leadership which they view as something which doesn't concern them, or they go elsewhere or decide not to use a guide dog altogether. I have seen all three happen regularly. The unfortunate reality is that "business oriented CEOs" do not understand the subtleties of running a nonprofit or philanthropic organization. Yes, nonprofits should operate more in line with business practices than most do today. In fact, some of today's concepts regarding the "good" operation of a nonprofit are the very things which keep it from growing as they go against what makes any organization grow in our changing world. However, while trying to bring good business practices into the nonprofit arena the "corporate way" as it exists today also tends to exclude some of the very attitudes, drives, and strengths which make good nonprofits great. The most important of these is Trust. If a CEO arrives and changes some of the very core foundations upon which an organization is built without obtaining support from stakeholders then he or she loses the faith of those individuals and probably staff as well. Nonprofits must have emotional buy-in and support in ways many corporations today seem not to have and seem not to need in order to be successful. Corporations can buy loyalty while today's nonprofits cannot. Also, with an organization like GDB consumers have no permanent stake in the organization since they have many choices of guide dog schools. So, if they become disenchanted or dissatisfied with one school they do not suffer a financial hardship when deciding to attend another. Trust and emotional buy-in are all the building blocks a school like GDB has to make a consumer relationship work. In the past five years 18 people have been laid off from GDB. Right or wrong no employee had ever been laid off before. Before 2008, budgets were cut, some staff perks were cut, some positions and departments were realigned, and puppy raisers and breeder keepers were asked to shoulder more financial obligations to care for their charges, but no employee was simply eliminated in order to decrease staff size. When the first ten people were separated there was grumbling and concern, but in general, stakeholders felt that the programs would continue and thrive. However, with the latest staff reductions, programs and staff directly connected to consumers were dramatically affected. Well loved, trusted, and effective staff members were removed. Personal access to trusted staff was eliminated. Consumers were asked to trust a decision maker who had not established any kind of bond with them as he made changes those very consumers considered part of the fabric that made GDB better than ANY OTHER SCHOOL. Also, it didn't stop with the lay-offs. Two very senior staff members retired at a time many of us find suspicious at best. Terry Barrett and Don Frisk worked at GDB long after they might have retired simply because they loved their jobs and because they wanted to continue to make contributions. I tell you that you will have a very hard time convincing consumers that the timing of these two retirements is a coincidence. In addition, at least one other training supervisor has quit and left the guide dog field completely. Right or wrong, again, many of us find this additional departure not to be coincidental. If all the "changes" aren't enough Paul Lopez has further eroded consumer confidence in his leadership with what he has done concerning Guide Dogs for the Blind's reputation and involvement in the international guide dog community by reducing the number of GDB certified assessors for the International Federation of Guide Dog Schools from four to one, all in the name of saving money. Previous administrations spent time and effort to move GDB into the 21st century including establishing relationships and connections which made our school one of the preeminent guide dog organizations in the world. Trainers came to consult with the GDB staff. GDB experts helped insure that other schools throughout the world were held to high standards of excellence in all aspects of their operations. GDB could do this only because it is so large and staffed so well that it had the necessary expertise within its ranks. Even before the lay-offs three assessors working at GDB were told to withdraw from their IFGDS commitments which also mean that fewer individuals will attend International Federation meetings. Guide Dogs for the Blind has lost the trust and confidence of much of its consumer base. I said earlier that due to my 9-11 experiences I am a highly visible guide dog user. I am contacted daily by GDB users who tell me they will not return to this organization for their next guide. I have been told by people who are in a position to know that staff is demoralized in ways never experienced before. I have spoken with past members of the board who tell me that they are angered and outraged at the way the organization is being run today. I am amazed that the board has not done anything visible to stem the tide of outrage and anger and that its only public position is that people simply do not know the internal issues and budgetary challenges which led to the decisions we now discuss. When I am asked my opinion and guidance I do not have positive encouragement I can offer because I have come to have the same views as others. I know I will be asked about the GDB issues when I attend the consumer National conventions this summer, and I do not have anything I can say with confidence that will alleviate consumer fears and concerns. It is hard for me to write this letter. I love GDB, but I, like many, have no confidence in Paul Lopez and I am concerned that the board of directors has not done anything obvious either to show the value of Mr. Lopez's decisions or to remove him as CEO. I call on the Guide Dogs for the Blind board of directors to take a vote of no confidence toward Paul Lopez and I call on the board to remove him as CEO and begin a search for a truly qualified replacement. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best, Michael Hingson The Michael Hingson Group, INC. "Speaking with Vision" Michael Hingson, President (415) 827-4084 info at michaelhingson.com To order Michael Hingson's new book, Thunder Dog, and check on Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit: www.michaelhingson.com To purchase your own portrait of Roselle painted by the world's foremost animal artist, Ron Burns, please visit http://www.ronburns.com/roselle From Kenvolonte at comcast.net Thu Jun 6 00:40:58 2013 From: Kenvolonte at comcast.net (Ken Volonte) Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 00:40:58 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: letter to the board of directors of Guide Dogs for theBlind References: <023701ce626b$19ed2e00$4dc78a00$@com> Message-ID: <30D1B90FEDBD4F8D822935746E3E36DA@kenvolonte> Thanks for this Mike. I've signed the petition, wrote a couple messages on the CAGDU list and wrote to Betty White about this. These folks went above and beyond the call. They cared about us and our dogs. They gained specialized knowledge about o and m, assistive technologies, the law etc. They were gdb's best and brightest. I did talk to Beth Hamilton yesterday, so I'm glad she's back. Take care. Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Hingson" To: ; "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" ; "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" ; "'NFB of California List'" Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 9:05 PM Subject: [Cagdu] FW: letter to the board of directors of Guide Dogs for theBlind > All, > > The following is a letter I just sent to the board of directors of Guide > Dogs for the Blind, Inc. Although it may appear that the content of this > letter is guide dog specific I believe you all should be aware of this > issue > as it reflects on how agencies which should do better are in fact treating > blind people and their own staffs. > > There are now significant problems within the Guide Dogs for the Blind > organization which stem from bad leadership by a relatively new CEO. The > problems in part are due to a poor attitude about blindness and partly > they > stem from his lack of competence in managing well a nonprofit > organization, > at least as far as I am concerned. Actually, hundreds of consumers have > already sent letters concerning this issue to the board and many others > have > signed a petition concerning this. The petition is located at > http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-the-board-its-time?source=c.em.mt&r_by > =7790633. > > I am widely disseminating my letter because many of you may be asked > about > this issue, especially around the convention. Also, as many of you know I > happen to be a quite visible guide dog user due to my experience on 9-11. > The fact is that what is happening at GDB should not be permitted nor > ignored. You may wish to sign the petition and I ask you to consider so > doing. > > There are issues I did not discuss within the letter in order to protect > staff at all levels within the organization. However, suffice it to say > that the amount of outrage and pushback by consumers and other > stakeholders > toward the leadership of Guide Dogs for the Blind is unprecedented. > > Again, I send this for your information. Should you feel it necessary to > contact me please feel free to do so at info at michaelhingson.com. Thanks > for > reading. > > > Best, > > > Michael Hingson > > -----Original Message----- > From: Michael Hingson [mailto:Mike at michaelhingson.com] > Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 08:47 PM > To: bburke at guidedogs.com; gkerscher at guidedogs.com; sodell at guidedogs.com; > ruthann.dodson24 at gmail.com; jboyd at guidedogs.com; mwatkins at guidedogs.com; > sbutton at guidedogs.com; dgershen at guidedogs.com; jharris at guidedogs.com; > amathieson at guidedogs.com; smansfield at guidedogs.com; > jackscott at guidedogs.com > Cc: mike at michaelhingson.com > Subject: letter to the board of directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind > > Dear Members of The Board of Directors, Guide Dogs for the Blind, > > For some time I have been monitoring the changes at our school and the > stakeholders' reactions to them. I am writing to express my feelings. > Before proceeding let me introduce myself to those of you I have not met. > My name is Michael Hingson. I received my first guide dog from GDB in > June, > 1964. For the past forty-nine years I have used guides only from GDB. I > grew up with the school, its staff, and its advancements in guide dog and > student training. While a college student I assisted Guide Dogs' staff in > preparing testimony concerning pending legislation to change current guide > dog laws in California. > > I am a firm believer in the value a guide dog brings to blind persons who > can effectively learn to use it, and I know firsthand the value and > strength > of the human-animal bond. You see my fifth guide, Roselle, and I worked > in > the World Trade Center and escaped from the attacks on 9-11, 2001. > Because > of a story GDB put out concerning our escape Roselle and I became quite > visible throughout the world. > > After 9-11 I came to work at GDB where I stayed for six and a half years. > During that time I worked to keep Guide Dogs for the Blind visible to > donors > and prospective donors, possible students, and others. I successfully > raise > hundreds of thousands of dollars for the school and I met with countless > donors and spoke to tens of thousands of interested persons about the > organization. > > In June, 2008, after a change in the leadership at GDB I left the > organization to continue a developing speaking career. I now travel the > world talking about issues like strengthening the Human-Animal Bond. In > 2011 Roselle's and my story was published in a book called "Thunder Dog, > the > story of a blind man, his guide dog, and the triumph of trust" which > became > an instant New York Times Bestseller and which has now been published in > 12 > languages. Today I continue to travel, consult, and speak worldwide. > > I tell you all this to say that I understand change and know the > challenges > change and new ideas bring to any organization. Specifically I have seen > much change during my 49 years associated with Guide Dogs. I have seen > the > school lead by several different CEOs each with their own leadership style > and priorities. I also have seen the concern each time a new leader came > along and took the school in a different direction. I never have found it > necessary to speak out concerning a CEO until now. Below are my thoughts. > > When Bob Phillips took the reins in 2001 he brought something new to the > school when, for the first time, the CEO had a daughter who was a graduate > of GDB. Bob's empathy permeated throughout his leadership as he worked to > bring more of a marketing effort to the school. During his term Bob > helped > the school grow to be the largest guide dog school in the United States. > While some were concerned that he was bringing too much of a "business > approach to the school", what he did was to improve the efficiency of the > organization, and he helped enhance the reputation of GDB within the guide > dog community, the service animal world. He supported actions which > improved the reputation of Guide Dogs within the ranks of blindness > consumer > organizations. I participated in efforts Bob promoted to integrate GDB > more > into the local and Marin business community. In short, during 2001 to > 2007 > Guide Dogs for the Blind began to move out of a role as a large nonprofit, > but relatively isolated from the world around it to a responsible > community > family member which was growing in stature and standing within the world > community. > > After Bob Phillips left the organization a new CEO was hired. We need not > go into her contributions except to say that for the most part Nancy > Gardner's leadership proved destructive to many of the initiatives begun > by > Bob Phillips and his predecessors. > > When Paul Lopez began his term as CEO there was much optimism for > continued > growth among many stakeholders. Some of us had concerns that he did not > have a good grounding in a positive philosophy about blindness, but > everyone > took a wait and see approach. Rather than growth Paul has demonstrated > that > his approach is not well suited to a nonprofit philanthropic organization > such as Guide Dogs for the Blind. I know you have heard from many > concerning the issues stakeholders have with Paul's leadership and I do > not > want to go over ground you already have encountered. However, I believe > my > perspective is somewhat unique since I have a 49-year history as a > student, > and a six and a half year back ground as a GDB mid level management and > leadership staff member. Also, I have served in management positions > within > various companies including serving as a company president, vice > president, > and I have served as a senior level manager in more than one sales > organization. I know first-hand good leadership as well as poor and > disconnected leadership. Paul Lopez is not demonstrating good leadership > for the benefit of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Let me illustrate. > > 1. Consumer Relations. To date Paul Lopez has not made an appearance > at any of the blindness consumer organization National meetings, and it is > my understanding that he has not even attended any of the California > affiliate meetings. I know he has received such invitations in the past > because I delivered one to him personally last year long before the time > of > the National convention season. I also know he has received written > invitations this year, but has not accepted them. The National > organization > conventions are the best places for any new leader to learn about the > issues > blind people find important. Also, they are the best platforms for any > new > blindness related program director to market their organization and to > promote discussion. The fact that Paul has not attended National > conventions among blind people is noticed by blind people throughout the > country and red flags have gone up especially since his lack of action is > directly opposite to what Bob Phillips did to promote relations during the > early 2000s. Given the lack of visibility by the school and its newest > CEO, > and given the bad press within the consumer world I believe any positive > momentum concerning consumer interest is gone. Furthermore I believe Paul > Lopez's lack of visibility concerning consumer organizations is a bad > reflection on his value of input and cooperation with blind people. > > On another front I have heard from many students who have attended classes > over the past year and a half that Paul will not spend time with them, or > at > least he spends very little time with them, especially in the past few > months. This is the exact time Paul should be selling his decisions and > actions to his consumers, but he seems to be having none of that. > 2. Budget. Earlier this year when the announcement of lay-offs took > place we all heard that the decision to terminate eight employees was in > part a budgetary one. The local newspapers also reported the layoffs and > stated that the reason was related to a need to reduce or adjust the > budget. > This makes little sense especially when the stock market and the GDB > reserves are growing. Also, given that ten employees lost their jobs in a > similar move during the Nancy Gardner administration it is hard to > understand why an additional eight, mostly long time employees, were > dismissed. > > I like the concept of establishing the new call center which can help > improve efficiency if handled properly. It seems to me that any time a > call > goes unanswered for more than one business day any organization which > permits this is remiss in its obligation toward the consumers it serves. > If > students' did not get return calls before and if that has changed then > well > and good. Creating the call center should help improve efficiency. > However, laying off several long-term key staff people and choosing to > terminate the head of graduate services given his standing in the > world-wide > guide dog community and the vast amount of knowledge and respect from > consumers he brings to GDB does not seem efficient or wise. The community > at large does not buy the budget and efficiency arguments for laying off > some of the people who were terminated earlier this year. I agree with > them. It can never be good to lose people of the caliber of those > employees > who were let go and expect any organization to continue to operate as well > as it did before. Also, one aspect of decreasing the number of field reps > while increasing the call return effectiveness is that you may find that > more people actually need visits from a GDB rep. While Mr. Lopez has > chosen > to believe it more efficient to send people from GDB you cannot yet know > if > it might have been better to keep the people you lost, but work to keep > them > busier with visits as well as better involving them in GDB's marketing > effort. Also, given that some of the employees worked on campus might it > have been better to reassign or split their duties rather than dismissing > them outright? Please do not say it was for budgetary reasons as GDB was > not and is not in peril of going under. The "business decision" to let > them > go is a bad one by any basic business staffing morale standard. > > Speaking of morale, I have not heard any positive comments about moving > Barbara Browning away from the switchboard and removing the friendly face > that greets visitors to the administration building. The approach taken > with Barbara again shows a business orientation not suited or appropriate > for a nonprofit like GDB. > > 3. Trust. While blind people go to guide dog schools to obtain guides > and gain the additional mobility assets they feel come with using a guide > dog, the trust of the senior staff of guide dog schools often is lacking. > Senior staff have, for example, in the past changed school policies > concerning dog ownership, reduced consumer representation on boards, > reduced > the influence levels of or eliminated consumer advisory committees, and > downright ignored issues and input by stakeholders. Many of us have seen > new senior staff come with ideas of "making the organization run more like > a > business" and "improving efficiency" while all they do is to alienate > stakeholders and not grow the organization. The result is that students > go > to schools because of positive experiences with the staff members who work > directly with them and they ignore leadership which they view as something > which doesn't concern them, or they go elsewhere or decide not to use a > guide dog altogether. I have seen all three happen regularly. > > The unfortunate reality is that "business oriented CEOs" do not understand > the subtleties of running a nonprofit or philanthropic organization. Yes, > nonprofits should operate more in line with business practices than most > do > today. In fact, some of today's concepts regarding the "good" operation > of > a nonprofit are the very things which keep it from growing as they go > against what makes any organization grow in our changing world. However, > while trying to bring good business practices into the nonprofit arena the > "corporate way" as it exists today also tends to exclude some of the very > attitudes, drives, and strengths which make good nonprofits great. The > most > important of these is Trust. If a CEO arrives and changes some of the > very > core foundations upon which an organization is built without obtaining > support from stakeholders then he or she loses the faith of those > individuals and probably staff as well. Nonprofits must have emotional > buy-in and support in ways many corporations today seem not to have and > seem > not to need in order to be successful. Corporations can buy loyalty while > today's nonprofits cannot. Also, with an organization like GDB consumers > have no permanent stake in the organization since they have many choices > of > guide dog schools. So, if they become disenchanted or dissatisfied with > one > school they do not suffer a financial hardship when deciding to attend > another. Trust and emotional buy-in are all the building blocks a school > like GDB has to make a consumer relationship work. > > In the past five years 18 people have been laid off from GDB. Right or > wrong no employee had ever been laid off before. Before 2008, budgets > were > cut, some staff perks were cut, some positions and departments were > realigned, and puppy raisers and breeder keepers were asked to shoulder > more > financial obligations to care for their charges, but no employee was > simply > eliminated in order to decrease staff size. When the first ten people > were > separated there was grumbling and concern, but in general, stakeholders > felt > that the programs would continue and thrive. However, with the latest > staff > reductions, programs and staff directly connected to consumers were > dramatically affected. Well loved, trusted, and effective staff members > were removed. Personal access to trusted staff was eliminated. Consumers > were asked to trust a decision maker who had not established any kind of > bond with them as he made changes those very consumers considered part of > the fabric that made GDB better than ANY OTHER SCHOOL. > > Also, it didn't stop with the lay-offs. Two very senior staff members > retired at a time many of us find suspicious at best. Terry Barrett and > Don > Frisk worked at GDB long after they might have retired simply because they > loved their jobs and because they wanted to continue to make > contributions. > I tell you that you will have a very hard time convincing consumers that > the > timing of these two retirements is a coincidence. In addition, at least > one > other training supervisor has quit and left the guide dog field > completely. > Right or wrong, again, many of us find this additional departure not to be > coincidental. > > If all the "changes" aren't enough Paul Lopez has further eroded consumer > confidence in his leadership with what he has done concerning Guide Dogs > for > the Blind's reputation and involvement in the international guide dog > community by reducing the number of GDB certified assessors for the > International Federation of Guide Dog Schools from four to one, all in the > name of saving money. Previous administrations spent time and effort to > move GDB into the 21st century including establishing relationships and > connections which made our school one of the preeminent guide dog > organizations in the world. Trainers came to consult with the GDB staff. > GDB experts helped insure that other schools throughout the world were > held > to high standards of excellence in all aspects of their operations. GDB > could do this only because it is so large and staffed so well that it had > the necessary expertise within its ranks. Even before the lay-offs three > assessors working at GDB were told to withdraw from their IFGDS > commitments > which also mean that fewer individuals will attend International > Federation > meetings. > > Guide Dogs for the Blind has lost the trust and confidence of much of its > consumer base. I said earlier that due to my 9-11 experiences I am a > highly > visible guide dog user. I am contacted daily by GDB users who tell me > they > will not return to this organization for their next guide. I have been > told > by people who are in a position to know that staff is demoralized in ways > never experienced before. I have spoken with past members of the board > who > tell me that they are angered and outraged at the way the organization is > being run today. I am amazed that the board has not done anything visible > to stem the tide of outrage and anger and that its only public position is > that people simply do not know the internal issues and budgetary > challenges > which led to the decisions we now discuss. When I am asked my opinion and > guidance I do not have positive encouragement I can offer because I have > come to have the same views as others. I know I will be asked about the > GDB > issues when I attend the consumer National conventions this summer, and I > do > not have anything I can say with confidence that will alleviate consumer > fears and concerns. > > It is hard for me to write this letter. I love GDB, but I, like many, > have > no confidence in Paul Lopez and I am concerned that the board of directors > has not done anything obvious either to show the value of Mr. Lopez's > decisions or to remove him as CEO. I call on the Guide Dogs for the Blind > board of directors to take a vote of no confidence toward Paul Lopez and I > call on the board to remove him as CEO and begin a search for a truly > qualified replacement. Thank you for your time and consideration. > > Best, > > Michael Hingson > The Michael Hingson Group, INC. > "Speaking with Vision" > Michael Hingson, President > (415) 827-4084 > info at michaelhingson.com > To order Michael Hingson's new book, Thunder Dog, and check on Michael > Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit: > www.michaelhingson.com > To purchase your own portrait of Roselle painted by the world's foremost > animal artist, Ron Burns, please visit http://www.ronburns.com/roselle > > _______________________________________________ > Cagdu mailing list > Cagdu at nfbcal.org > https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu From info at michaelhingson.com Sun Jun 9 11:36:32 2013 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 11:36:32 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] discussion concerning my letter to the board of directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind In-Reply-To: References: <023701ce626b$19ed2e00$4dc78a00$@com> <51B01D54.1060705@bresnan.net> <034001ce62d7$73399f90$59acdeb0$@com> <00c101ce62d8$23e807f0$6bb817d0$@com> Message-ID: <00fc01ce6540$44d33dd0$ce79b970$@com> All, Cindy is correct. While petitions have no legal standing they are a way for people to make their feelings known. The fact that 426 people have now signed the petition demanding a change at GDB is something that the school leadership and board level should recognize, address, and fix. The evidence, however, is that GDB management and the GDB board do not care as they have chosen not to respond to letters sent to them and they have not demonstrated concern about a petition calling for change which as of this writing has 426supporters. Personally, I have heard from not only guide dog users, but volunteers, puppy raisers, and donors. All express dissatisfaction with the current leadership, atmosphere, and conditions at the school. Some have emailed me expressing concern about joining the petition as they are afraid that by doing so they may be putting their chances of getting future guide dogs from GDB in jeopardy. My response is would you want to attempt to get a guide dog from an organization that cannot take constructive criticism? Would you want to be associated with an organization that would throw you aside so easily? I would hope that GDB would not to such a thing to anyone, but at present I do feel that the management of the organization does not value blind people. The management and board are not demonstrating any level of trust and they are certainly not showing that they care for the organization that has been entrusted to them. The leadership of the school has not demonstrated that it has any concept of how to run a nonprofit service organization. I am amazed and, frankly, horrified at the outpouring of the responses to my letter that I have received personally. Even so, I know more people must have worries about what is happening at GDB. All of us should be concerned about this. The kind of behavior we are seeing is very much the same thing many of us encountered 30 and 40 years ago with NAC, and it is the same behavior we see from the workshop management groups of today. I will be happy to continue to receive responses and comments from people, and I will respond as I can. Please do not be offended if I do not respond immediately as I am only one person, but I will get to each letter. By the way, one of the reasons touted by the school management for its decision to lay off so many good, competent, and well trusted staff was to concentrate on improving student services through the new "call center" at the school. So what did the school actually do? Among other things management took two blind people out of positions they had been working for years and put them into a back room that functions as the "call center". There is no longer a visible blind person operating the switchboard, and another who had served as the admin person for the Training department is no longer in the public eye. Also, while the most recent issue of Guide Dog News says that everyone loves the center I tell you that I have complaints from students who have gone a week or longer without ever getting a call from them returned by the "call center". As I said in my letter my decision to speak out was a hard one, but it was one I felt necessary to make and support. The management team at GDB is tearing down the organization which many of us loved and valued. Frankly, at this point it isn't even being run as a good business since any sharp businessperson would know to do what is necessary to keep its consumers engaged and satisfied. The CEO and the board are ignoring the feelings of their stakeholders and hoping that this all will blow over. By ignoring the backlash from their decisions they prove most dramatically that they are in no way consumer oriented. They show in the most concrete way possible that they do not care nor value those they serve and need in order to survive. Leadership and vision at Guide Dogs for the Blind are lacking. This isn't good. I urge everyone to sign the petition whether you make comments or not. Even if you are not associated with GDB, expressing concern about the management of an organization which has well served blind people for 71 years and which now is eliminating the good staff and throwing away its core values is something which should be of concern to all of us. Best, Michael Hingson The Michael Hingson Group, INC. "Speaking with Vision" Michael Hingson, President (415) 827-4084 info at michaelhingson.com To order Michael Hingson's new book, Thunder Dog, and check on Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit: www.michaelhingson.com ? To purchase your own portrait of Roselle painted by the world's foremost animal artist, Ron Burns, please visit http://www.ronburns.com/roselle -----Original Message----- From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 11:18 AM To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users Subject: Re: [nagdu] FW: letter to the board of directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind On-line petitions such as that have no legal bearing. However, if someone finds that there are a lot of names that are agreeing that something needs changed, they may well look at it and begin to think of possible actions to be taken. CL On Jun 6, 2013, at 12:06 PM, "Star Gazer" wrote: > What exactly does signing an online petition do? > Does it have any legal standing? Does anybody at GDB care? > It sounds like they've been on this road for awhile. > I'll look over the letter. I also don't have a dog, and don't plan to > get one. > And lastly, if you had to get a new dog today, would you go to GDB > given what they are doing? > > > -----Original Message----- > From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael > Hingson > Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 1:01 PM > To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' > Subject: Re: [nagdu] FW: letter to the board of directors of Guide > Dogs for the Blind > > Thanks. Even though you don't have a guide dog I would appreciate you > and others signing the online petition. GDB has made some decisions > which reflect badly on its positive attitudes of blind people. > Already today I have seen several letters from people telling me that > because of what has been occurring at GDB they and others will not be getting guides from there. > On the petition page comment 125 is from a former prominent GDB board > of directors member who resigned last year because of actions and > attitudes of the current CEO. > > What is happening at GDB affects us all. > > Thanks for the nice comment on "Thunder Dog". We are getting close to > having a children's version and we have begun working on another book. > Too early to comment on the second book yet, but we are excited. > > Take care. > > > Best, > > > Michael Hingson > > -----Original Message----- > From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sheila > Leigland > Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 10:26 PM > To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users > Subject: Re: [nagdu] FW: letter to the board of directors of Guide > Dogs for the Blind > > hi, I don't have a guide from gdb but was familiar with them while > growing up In california during the sixties and seventies. > wWe lived next door to a blind couple with dogs from gdb and my Dad > always hoped that someday I would get a dog from them. The letter is > well written and I understand your concerns. I hope their issues will > be resolved in a favorable manner for all involved. > By the way, I loved reading thunderdog. > On 6/5/2013 10:05 PM, Michael Hingson wrote: >> All, >> >> The following is a letter I just sent to the board of directors of >> Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. Although it may appear that the >> content of this letter is guide dog specific I believe you all should >> be aware of this issue as it reflects on how agencies which should do >> better are in fact treating blind people and their own staffs. >> >> There are now significant problems within the Guide Dogs for the >> Blind organization which stem from bad leadership by a relatively new CEO. >> The problems in part are due to a poor attitude about blindness and >> partly they stem from his lack of competence in managing well a >> nonprofit organization, at least as far as I am concerned. Actually, >> hundreds of consumers have already sent letters concerning this issue >> to the board and many others have signed a petition concerning this. >> The petition is located at >> http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-the-board-its-time?source=c.em. >> m >> t&r_by >> =7790633. >> >> I am widely disseminating my letter because many of you may be asked >> about this issue, especially around the convention. Also, as many of >> you know I happen to be a quite visible guide dog user due to my > experience on 9-11. >> The fact is that what is happening at GDB should not be permitted nor >> ignored. You may wish to sign the petition and I ask you to consider >> so doing. >> >> There are issues I did not discuss within the letter in order to >> protect staff at all levels within the organization. However, >> suffice it to say that the amount of outrage and pushback by >> consumers and other stakeholders toward the leadership of Guide Dogs >> for the Blind is > unprecedented. >> >> Again, I send this for your information. Should you feel it >> necessary to contact me please feel free to do so at info at michaelhingson.com. >> Thanks for reading. >> >> >> Best, >> >> >> Michael Hingson >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Michael Hingson [mailto:Mike at michaelhingson.com] >> Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 08:47 PM >> To: bburke at guidedogs.com; gkerscher at guidedogs.com; >> sodell at guidedogs.com; ruthann.dodson24 at gmail.com; >> jboyd at guidedogs.com; mwatkins at guidedogs.com; sbutton at guidedogs.com; >> dgershen at guidedogs.com; jharris at guidedogs.com; >> amathieson at guidedogs.com; smansfield at guidedogs.com; >> jackscott at guidedogs.com >> Cc: mike at michaelhingson.com >> Subject: letter to the board of directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind >> >> Dear Members of The Board of Directors, Guide Dogs for the Blind, >> >> For some time I have been monitoring the changes at our school and >> the stakeholders' reactions to them. I am writing to express my feelings. >> Before proceeding let me introduce myself to those of you I have not met. >> My name is Michael Hingson. I received my first guide dog from GDB >> in June, 1964. For the past forty-nine years I have used guides only >> from GDB. I grew up with the school, its staff, and its advancements >> in guide dog and student training. While a college student I >> assisted Guide Dogs' staff in preparing testimony concerning pending >> legislation to change current guide dog laws in California. >> >> I am a firm believer in the value a guide dog brings to blind persons >> who can effectively learn to use it, and I know firsthand the value >> and strength of the human-animal bond. You see my fifth guide, >> Roselle, and I worked in the World Trade Center and escaped from the >> attacks on 9-11, 2001. Because of a story GDB put out concerning our >> escape Roselle and I became quite visible throughout the world. >> >> After 9-11 I came to work at GDB where I stayed for six and a half years. >> During that time I worked to keep Guide Dogs for the Blind visible to >> donors and prospective donors, possible students, and others. I >> successfully raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the school >> and I met with countless donors and spoke to tens of thousands of >> interested persons about the organization. >> >> In June, 2008, after a change in the leadership at GDB I left the >> organization to continue a developing speaking career. I now travel >> the world talking about issues like strengthening the Human-Animal >> Bond. In >> 2011 Roselle's and my story was published in a book called "Thunder >> Dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog, and the triumph of >> trust" which became an instant New York Times Bestseller and which >> has now been published in 12 languages. Today I continue to travel, >> consult, > and speak worldwide. >> >> I tell you all this to say that I understand change and know the >> challenges change and new ideas bring to any organization. >> Specifically I have seen much change during my 49 years associated >> with Guide Dogs. I have seen the school lead by several different >> CEOs each with their own leadership style and priorities. I also >> have seen the concern each time a new leader came along and took the >> school in a different direction. I never have found it necessary to >> speak out > concerning a CEO until now. Below are my thoughts. >> >> When Bob Phillips took the reins in 2001 he brought something new to >> the school when, for the first time, the CEO had a daughter who was a >> graduate of GDB. Bob's empathy permeated throughout his leadership >> as he worked to bring more of a marketing effort to the school. >> During his term Bob helped the school grow to be the largest guide >> dog school in > the United States. >> While some were concerned that he was bringing too much of a >> "business approach to the school", what he did was to improve the >> efficiency of the organization, and he helped enhance the reputation >> of GDB within the guide dog community, the service animal world. He >> supported actions which improved the reputation of Guide Dogs within >> the ranks of blindness consumer organizations. I participated in >> efforts Bob promoted to integrate GDB more into the local and Marin >> business community. In short, during 2001 to 2007 Guide Dogs for the >> Blind began to move out of a role as a large nonprofit, but >> relatively isolated from the world around it to a responsible >> community family member which was growing in stature and standing >> within the world > community. >> >> After Bob Phillips left the organization a new CEO was hired. We >> need not go into her contributions except to say that for the most >> part Nancy Gardner's leadership proved destructive to many of the >> initiatives begun by Bob Phillips and his predecessors. >> >> When Paul Lopez began his term as CEO there was much optimism for >> continued growth among many stakeholders. Some of us had concerns >> that he did not have a good grounding in a positive philosophy about >> blindness, but everyone took a wait and see approach. Rather than >> growth Paul has demonstrated that his approach is not well suited to >> a nonprofit philanthropic organization such as Guide Dogs for the Blind. >> I know you have heard from many concerning the issues stakeholders >> have with Paul's leadership and I do not want to go over ground you >> already have encountered. However, I believe my perspective is >> somewhat unique since I have a 49-year history as a student, and a >> six and a half year back ground as a GDB mid level management and >> leadership staff member. Also, I have served in management positions >> within various companies including serving as a company president, >> vice president, and I have served as a senior level manager in more >> than one sales organization. I know first-hand good leadership as >> well as poor and disconnected leadership. Paul Lopez is not >> demonstrating > good leadership for the benefit of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Let me > illustrate. >> >> 1. Consumer Relations. To date Paul Lopez has not made an appearance >> at any of the blindness consumer organization National meetings, and >> it is my understanding that he has not even attended any of the >> California affiliate meetings. I know he has received such >> invitations in the past because I delivered one to him personally >> last year long before the time of the National convention season. I >> also know he has received written invitations this year, but has not >> accepted them. The National organization conventions are the best >> places for any new leader to learn about the issues blind people find >> important. Also, they are the best platforms for any new blindness >> related program director to market their organization and to promote >> discussion. The fact that Paul has not attended National conventions >> among blind people is noticed by blind people throughout the country >> and red flags have gone up especially since his lack of action is >> directly opposite to what Bob Phillips did to promote relations >> during the early 2000s. Given the lack of visibility by the school >> and its newest CEO, and given the bad press within the consumer world >> I believe any positive momentum concerning consumer interest is gone. >> Furthermore I believe Paul Lopez's lack of visibility concerning >> consumer > organizations is a bad reflection on his value of input and > cooperation with blind people. >> >> On another front I have heard from many students who have attended >> classes over the past year and a half that Paul will not spend time >> with them, or at least he spends very little time with them, >> especially in the past few months. This is the exact time Paul >> should be selling his decisions and actions to his consumers, but he >> seems to be > having none of that. >> 2. Budget. Earlier this year when the announcement of lay-offs took >> place we all heard that the decision to terminate eight employees was >> in part a budgetary one. The local newspapers also reported the >> layoffs and stated that the reason was related to a need to reduce or > adjust the budget. >> This makes little sense especially when the stock market and the GDB >> reserves are growing. Also, given that ten employees lost their jobs >> in a similar move during the Nancy Gardner administration it is hard >> to understand why an additional eight, mostly long time employees, >> were dismissed. >> >> I like the concept of establishing the new call center which can help >> improve efficiency if handled properly. It seems to me that any time >> a call goes unanswered for more than one business day any >> organization which permits this is remiss in its obligation toward >> the consumers it serves. If students' did not get return calls >> before and if that has changed then well and good. Creating the call >> center should help improve > efficiency. >> However, laying off several long-term key staff people and choosing >> to terminate the head of graduate services given his standing in the >> world-wide guide dog community and the vast amount of knowledge and >> respect from consumers he brings to GDB does not seem efficient or >> wise. The community at large does not buy the budget and efficiency >> arguments for laying off some of the people who were terminated >> earlier this year. I agree with them. It can never be good to lose >> people of the caliber of those employees who were let go and expect >> any organization to continue to operate as well as it did before. >> Also, one aspect of decreasing the number of field reps while >> increasing the call return effectiveness is that you may find that >> more people actually need visits from a GDB rep. While Mr. Lopez has >> chosen to believe it more efficient to send people from GDB you >> cannot yet know if it might have been better to keep the people you >> lost, but work to keep them busier with visits as well as better >> involving them in GDB's marketing effort. Also, given that some of >> the employees worked on campus might it have been better to reassign >> or split their duties rather than dismissing them outright? Please >> do not say it was for budgetary reasons as GDB was not and is not in peril of going under. > The "business decision" to let them go is a bad one by any basic > business staffing morale standard. >> >> Speaking of morale, I have not heard any positive comments about >> moving Barbara Browning away from the switchboard and removing the >> friendly face that greets visitors to the administration building. >> The approach taken with Barbara again shows a business orientation >> not suited or appropriate for a nonprofit like GDB. >> >> 3. Trust. While blind people go to guide dog schools to obtain guides >> and gain the additional mobility assets they feel come with using a >> guide dog, the trust of the senior staff of guide dog schools often >> is > lacking. >> Senior staff have, for example, in the past changed school policies >> concerning dog ownership, reduced consumer representation on boards, >> reduced the influence levels of or eliminated consumer advisory >> committees, and downright ignored issues and input by stakeholders. >> Many of us have seen new senior staff come with ideas of "making the >> organization run more like a business" and "improving efficiency" >> while all they do is to alienate stakeholders and not grow the >> organization. The result is that students go to schools because of >> positive experiences with the staff members who work directly with >> them and they ignore leadership which they view as something which >> doesn't concern them, or they go elsewhere or decide not to use a >> guide > dog altogether. I have seen all three happen regularly. >> >> The unfortunate reality is that "business oriented CEOs" do not >> understand the subtleties of running a nonprofit or philanthropic >> organization. Yes, nonprofits should operate more in line with >> business practices than most do today. In fact, some of today's >> concepts regarding the "good" operation of a nonprofit are the very >> things which keep it from growing as they go against what makes any >> organization grow in our changing world. However, while trying to >> bring good business practices into the nonprofit arena the "corporate >> way" as it exists today also tends to exclude some of the very >> attitudes, drives, and strengths which make good nonprofits great. >> The most important of these is Trust. If a CEO arrives and changes >> some of the very core foundations upon which an organization is built >> without obtaining support from stakeholders then he or she loses the >> faith of those individuals and probably staff as well. Nonprofits >> must have emotional buy-in and support in ways many corporations >> today seem not to have and seem not to need in order to be successful. >> Corporations can buy loyalty while today's nonprofits cannot. Also, >> with an organization like GDB consumers have no permanent stake in >> the organization since they have many choices of guide dog schools. >> So, if they become disenchanted or dissatisfied with one school they >> do not suffer a financial hardship when deciding to attend another. >> Trust > and emotional buy-in are all the building blocks a school like GDB has > to make a consumer relationship work. >> >> In the past five years 18 people have been laid off from GDB. Right >> or wrong no employee had ever been laid off before. Before 2008, >> budgets were cut, some staff perks were cut, some positions and >> departments were realigned, and puppy raisers and breeder keepers >> were asked to shoulder more financial obligations to care for their >> charges, but no employee was simply eliminated in order to decrease >> staff size. When the first ten people were separated there was >> grumbling and concern, but in general, stakeholders felt that the >> programs would continue and thrive. However, with the latest staff >> reductions, programs and staff directly connected to consumers were >> dramatically affected. Well loved, trusted, and effective staff >> members were removed. Personal access to trusted staff was >> eliminated. Consumers were asked to trust a decision maker who had >> not established any kind of bond with them as he made changes those >> very > consumers considered part of the fabric that made GDB better than ANY > OTHER SCHOOL. >> >> Also, it didn't stop with the lay-offs. Two very senior staff >> members retired at a time many of us find suspicious at best. Terry >> Barrett and Don Frisk worked at GDB long after they might have >> retired simply because they loved their jobs and because they wanted >> to continue to make > contributions. >> I tell you that you will have a very hard time convincing consumers >> that the timing of these two retirements is a coincidence. In >> addition, at least one other training supervisor has quit and left >> the > guide dog field completely. >> Right or wrong, again, many of us find this additional departure not >> to be coincidental. >> >> If all the "changes" aren't enough Paul Lopez has further eroded >> consumer confidence in his leadership with what he has done >> concerning Guide Dogs for the Blind's reputation and involvement in >> the international guide dog community by reducing the number of GDB >> certified assessors for the International Federation of Guide Dog >> Schools from four to one, all in the name of saving money. Previous >> administrations spent time and effort to move GDB into the 21st >> century including establishing relationships and connections which >> made our school one of the preeminent guide dog organizations in the > world. Trainers came to consult with the GDB staff. >> GDB experts helped insure that other schools throughout the world >> were held to high standards of excellence in all aspects of their >> operations. GDB could do this only because it is so large and >> staffed so well that it had the necessary expertise within its ranks. >> Even before the lay-offs three assessors working at GDB were told to >> withdraw from their IFGDS commitments which also mean that fewer >> individuals will attend International Federation meetings. >> >> Guide Dogs for the Blind has lost the trust and confidence of much of >> its consumer base. I said earlier that due to my 9-11 experiences I >> am a highly visible guide dog user. I am contacted daily by GDB >> users who tell me they will not return to this organization for their >> next guide. I have been told by people who are in a position to know >> that staff is demoralized in ways never experienced before. I have >> spoken with past members of the board who tell me that they are >> angered and outraged at the way the organization is being run today. >> I am amazed that the board has not done anything visible to stem the >> tide of outrage and anger and that its only public position is that >> people simply do not know the internal issues and budgetary >> challenges which led to the decisions we now discuss. When I am >> asked my opinion and guidance I do not have positive encouragement I >> can offer because I have come to have the same views as others. I >> know I will be asked about the GDB issues when I attend the consumer >> National conventions this summer, and I do not have anything I can >> say with confidence that > will alleviate consumer fears and concerns. >> >> It is hard for me to write this letter. I love GDB, but I, like >> many, have no confidence in Paul Lopez and I am concerned that the >> board of directors has not done anything obvious either to show the >> value of Mr. Lopez's decisions or to remove him as CEO. I call on >> the Guide Dogs for the Blind board of directors to take a vote of no >> confidence toward Paul Lopez and I call on the board to remove him as >> CEO and begin a search for a truly qualified replacement. Thank you >> for your time > and consideration. >> >> Best, >> >> Michael Hingson >> The Michael Hingson Group, INC. >> "Speaking with Vision" >> Michael Hingson, President >> (415) 827-4084 >> info at michaelhingson.com >> To order Michael Hingson's new book, Thunder Dog, and check on >> Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit: >> www.michaelhingson.com >> To purchase your own portrait of Roselle painted by the world's >> foremost animal artist, Ron Burns, please visit >> http://www.ronburns.com/roselle >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> nagdu mailing list >> nagdu at nfbnet.org >> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for > nagdu: >> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sleigland%40b >> r >> esnan.net > > > _______________________________________________ > nagdu mailing list > nagdu at nfbnet.org > http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: > http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/info%40michael > hingso > n.com > > > _______________________________________________ > nagdu mailing list > nagdu at nfbnet.org > http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: > http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/pickrellrebecc > a%40gm > ail.com > > > _______________________________________________ > nagdu mailing list > nagdu at nfbnet.org > http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: > http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gma > il.com _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/info%40michaelhingso n.com From judotina48kg at gmail.com Sun Jun 16 11:09:01 2013 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (tina thomas) Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:09:01 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps (article) References: <1B8414BA545441CC956D52BE449C9EB8@owner1ff521382> Message-ID: <42BCA83F-37D6-45E6-B82C-7219D18454DB@gmail.com> Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: > From: "evergreenwoods66" > Date: June 15, 2013, 2:11:04 PM PDT > To: "Seeing Eye" > Subject: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps (article) > > Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps > > Dogs Naturally Magazine > > June 14, 2013 > > > > A lipoma is a growth of fat cells contained in a thin capsule, usually found just below the skin. Lipomas are most often found on the torso, neck, upper legs and armpits, but they can occur almost anywhere. Lipomas are the most common noncancerous soft tissue growth, although other lumps and bumps may appear on your dog, especially as he grows older. > > > > I've been observing lipomas, lumps and bumps on dogs for 40 years and I've made some observations I'd like to share with you. > > > > CAUSES > > > > First of all, I want to make it clear that these growths are a sign of chronic disease and not an acute issue. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are the body's way of ridding itself of toxins and other unwanted material but, because the body is out of balance, it can't eliminate toxins through normal channels such as the kidneys, liver or intestines. When the endocrine and immune systems are not functioning at full capacity, the body does the next best thing and tries to encapsulate any unwanted material and eliminate it through the largest excretory organ of the body: the skin. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are like a lump of dirt that you would sweep under the rug when you don't know what else to do with it. > > > > Statistics show that 1.7 million dogs in the United States are treated for lipomas every year. This doesn't include all the other lumps and bumps that appear on dogs as they reach middle age or older. I'm certain that close to a billion dollars or more is spent on the treatment of these various eruptions each year. > > > > I don't recommend surgical removal unless the lipoma is threatening the life of the dog. For every one of these bumps that are removed, more will return and require further surgical removal. As a surgeon for 25 years, I saw how removing one lump resulted in multiple lumps appearing later on in the dog's life. This is because surgery removes only the tip of the iceberg. Surgery will do nothing to address the toxins causing the fatty tumor and will leave scar tissue behind and this blocks the point of discharge the body needs to release those toxins. Once the scar tissue is created, the toxins feeding the tumor are forced deeper into the patient's body, causing damage to deeper organs and organ systems. > > > > Once present, lipomas are difficult to treat so prevention is the best approach. In my experience, key contributors to lipomas include: > > > > Poor Diet > > > > Carbohydrates, chemical preservatives and other toxins found in processed foods all contribute to fatty tumor growth. Water is also an important part of your dog's diet and tap water should be avoided as the chlorine can damage your dog's thyroid and upset his endocrine system. > > > > Drugs and Chemicals > > > > The products used on dogs to control fleas, ticks, heartworms and other worms are not only toxic to insects and parasites, they are toxic to your dog. There are natural and effective ways to control these internal pests without toxic residue. Vaccines and other pharmaceutical products are also loaded with contaminants and should be avoided whenever necessary. > > > > Environment > > > > Your dog's environment is a major source of toxins, especially if herbicides or pesticides are used in your area. In the spring and summer, the pest trucks are everywhere, spraying poisons to kill ants, fleas, ticks and everything else in their path, including you and your dog. I recommend you never use any of these products in your home or yard - ever. As for the bugs, they're supposed to be there so, for the sake of our environment, leave them alone. When you walk your dog in parks or areas where there is a likelihood of herbicides and pesticides being used, wash your dog's feet off with soap and water when you get home to prevent him from licking or absorbing the toxins through the pads of his paws. > > > > TREATMENT > > > > My choice of treatment for fatty tumors is to first stop supplementing the toxins by avoiding those mentioned above. Next, you must help your dog to remove any existing toxins and aid his body in its detoxification and healing process. I recommend a natural diet, filtered water, no drugs, chemicals, herbicides, pesticides or vaccines on or around my patients. Treatment choices include classical homeopathy, gemmotherapy, aromatherapy, bovine colostrum, fatty acid supplementation and glandular therapy. All of these modalities will complement the body's healing capacity. > > > > Remember that surgery is a suppressive treatment and will only drive the toxins and disease deeper into the patient. It should be used only as a last resort in any dog, no matter what issue you are dealing with. > > > > About the author > > Dr. Stephen Blake DVM > > > > Dr. Blake graduated from the University of Arizona 1969 with a BS in animal science. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1973 where he received his DVM. He has practiced small medicine for the past 36 years in San Diego, California. The past 30 years he has specialized in alternative veterinary medicine, utilizing Classical Homeopathy, nutrition, glandular therapy, massage, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture, Gemmotherapy, Oligotherapy and Bach Flowers. > > Dr. Blake graduated from Dr. Richard Pitcairn's first Veterinary certification course in 1993. He had been utilizing homeopathy in his practice for 13 years prior to taking the course. Certified in classical homeopathy by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy in 1993 and in acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1990. He now has a limited consultation practice in San Diego, CA. Dr. Blake has been a lecturer at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association national conventions for the past 10 years. He has just finished writing and illustrating his first book, The Pet Whisperer, which is available at > > www.thepetwhisperer.com > _______________________________________________ > > Seeingeye-l mailing list > To post a message. > Seeingeye-l at list.web.net > For general information about the list or to modify your subscription visit. > http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/seeingeye-l > To unsubscribe, press enter or click on this link. > <a href="Mailto:seeingeye-l-request at list.web.net"?Subject=unsubscribe > For questions/cncerns/etc please contact one of the list's administrators. > seeingeye-l-owner at list.web.net > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20130616/81de22f8/attachment.html From Kenvolonte at comcast.net Sun Jun 16 13:33:42 2013 From: Kenvolonte at comcast.net (Ken Volonte) Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:33:42 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) References: <1B8414BA545441CC956D52BE449C9EB8@owner1ff521382> <42BCA83F-37D6-45E6-B82C-7219D18454DB@gmail.com> Message-ID: <25103B80FF424F26A61144FD0C1C68EC@kenvolonte> balls! ----- Original Message ----- From: tina thomas To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 11:09 AM Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "evergreenwoods66" Date: June 15, 2013, 2:11:04 PM PDT To: "Seeing Eye" Subject: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps (article) Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps Dogs Naturally Magazine June 14, 2013 A lipoma is a growth of fat cells contained in a thin capsule, usually found just below the skin. Lipomas are most often found on the torso, neck, upper legs and armpits, but they can occur almost anywhere. Lipomas are the most common noncancerous soft tissue growth, although other lumps and bumps may appear on your dog, especially as he grows older. I've been observing lipomas, lumps and bumps on dogs for 40 years and I've made some observations I'd like to share with you. CAUSES First of all, I want to make it clear that these growths are a sign of chronic disease and not an acute issue. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are the body's way of ridding itself of toxins and other unwanted material but, because the body is out of balance, it can't eliminate toxins through normal channels such as the kidneys, liver or intestines. When the endocrine and immune systems are not functioning at full capacity, the body does the next best thing and tries to encapsulate any unwanted material and eliminate it through the largest excretory organ of the body: the skin. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are like a lump of dirt that you would sweep under the rug when you don't know what else to do with it. Statistics show that 1.7 million dogs in the United States are treated for lipomas every year. This doesn't include all the other lumps and bumps that appear on dogs as they reach middle age or older. I'm certain that close to a billion dollars or more is spent on the treatment of these various eruptions each year. I don't recommend surgical removal unless the lipoma is threatening the life of the dog. For every one of these bumps that are removed, more will return and require further surgical removal. As a surgeon for 25 years, I saw how removing one lump resulted in multiple lumps appearing later on in the dog's life. This is because surgery removes only the tip of the iceberg. Surgery will do nothing to address the toxins causing the fatty tumor and will leave scar tissue behind and this blocks the point of discharge the body needs to release those toxins. Once the scar tissue is created, the toxins feeding the tumor are forced deeper into the patient's body, causing damage to deeper organs and organ systems. Once present, lipomas are difficult to treat so prevention is the best approach. In my experience, key contributors to lipomas include: Poor Diet Carbohydrates, chemical preservatives and other toxins found in processed foods all contribute to fatty tumor growth. Water is also an important part of your dog's diet and tap water should be avoided as the chlorine can damage your dog's thyroid and upset his endocrine system. Drugs and Chemicals The products used on dogs to control fleas, ticks, heartworms and other worms are not only toxic to insects and parasites, they are toxic to your dog. There are natural and effective ways to control these internal pests without toxic residue. Vaccines and other pharmaceutical products are also loaded with contaminants and should be avoided whenever necessary. Environment Your dog's environment is a major source of toxins, especially if herbicides or pesticides are used in your area. In the spring and summer, the pest trucks are everywhere, spraying poisons to kill ants, fleas, ticks and everything else in their path, including you and your dog. I recommend you never use any of these products in your home or yard - ever. As for the bugs, they're supposed to be there so, for the sake of our environment, leave them alone. When you walk your dog in parks or areas where there is a likelihood of herbicides and pesticides being used, wash your dog's feet off with soap and water when you get home to prevent him from licking or absorbing the toxins through the pads of his paws. TREATMENT My choice of treatment for fatty tumors is to first stop supplementing the toxins by avoiding those mentioned above. Next, you must help your dog to remove any existing toxins and aid his body in its detoxification and healing process. I recommend a natural diet, filtered water, no drugs, chemicals, herbicides, pesticides or vaccines on or around my patients. Treatment choices include classical homeopathy, gemmotherapy, aromatherapy, bovine colostrum, fatty acid supplementation and glandular therapy. All of these modalities will complement the body's healing capacity. Remember that surgery is a suppressive treatment and will only drive the toxins and disease deeper into the patient. It should be used only as a last resort in any dog, no matter what issue you are dealing with. About the author Dr. Stephen Blake DVM Dr. Blake graduated from the University of Arizona 1969 with a BS in animal science. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1973 where he received his DVM. He has practiced small medicine for the past 36 years in San Diego, California. The past 30 years he has specialized in alternative veterinary medicine, utilizing Classical Homeopathy, nutrition, glandular therapy, massage, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture, Gemmotherapy, Oligotherapy and Bach Flowers. Dr. Blake graduated from Dr. Richard Pitcairn's first Veterinary certification course in 1993. He had been utilizing homeopathy in his practice for 13 years prior to taking the course. Certified in classical homeopathy by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy in 1993 and in acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1990. He now has a limited consultation practice in San Diego, CA. Dr. Blake has been a lecturer at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association national conventions for the past 10 years. He has just finished writing and illustrating his first book, The Pet Whisperer, which is available at www.thepetwhisperer.com _______________________________________________ Seeingeye-l mailing list To post a message. Seeingeye-l at list.web.net For general information about the list or to modify your subscription visit. http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/seeingeye-l To unsubscribe, press enter or click on this link. <a href="Mailto:seeingeye-l-request at list.web.net"?Subject=unsubscribe For questions/cncerns/etc please contact one of the list's administrators. seeingeye-l-owner at list.web.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20130616/fb47eae2/attachment.html From info at michaelhingson.com Sun Jun 16 16:28:48 2013 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:28:48 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) In-Reply-To: <25103B80FF424F26A61144FD0C1C68EC@kenvolonte> References: <1B8414BA545441CC956D52BE449C9EB8@owner1ff521382> <42BCA83F-37D6-45E6-B82C-7219D18454DB@gmail.com> <25103B80FF424F26A61144FD0C1C68EC@kenvolonte> Message-ID: <006801ce6ae9$41945f10$c4bd1d30$@com> "Balls"? What are you saying Ken? From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf Of Ken Volonte Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 01:34 PM To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Subject: Re: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) balls! ----- Original Message ----- From: tina thomas To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 11:09 AM Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "evergreenwoods66" Date: June 15, 2013, 2:11:04 PM PDT To: "Seeing Eye" Subject: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps (article) Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps Dogs Naturally Magazine June 14, 2013 A lipoma is a growth of fat cells contained in a thin capsule, usually found just below the skin. Lipomas are most often found on the torso, neck, upper legs and armpits, but they can occur almost anywhere. Lipomas are the most common noncancerous soft tissue growth, although other lumps and bumps may appear on your dog, especially as he grows older. I've been observing lipomas, lumps and bumps on dogs for 40 years and I've made some observations I'd like to share with you. CAUSES First of all, I want to make it clear that these growths are a sign of chronic disease and not an acute issue. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are the body's way of ridding itself of toxins and other unwanted material but, because the body is out of balance, it can't eliminate toxins through normal channels such as the kidneys, liver or intestines. When the endocrine and immune systems are not functioning at full capacity, the body does the next best thing and tries to encapsulate any unwanted material and eliminate it through the largest excretory organ of the body: the skin. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are like a lump of dirt that you would sweep under the rug when you don't know what else to do with it. Statistics show that 1.7 million dogs in the United States are treated for lipomas every year. This doesn't include all the other lumps and bumps that appear on dogs as they reach middle age or older. I'm certain that close to a billion dollars or more is spent on the treatment of these various eruptions each year. I don't recommend surgical removal unless the lipoma is threatening the life of the dog. For every one of these bumps that are removed, more will return and require further surgical removal. As a surgeon for 25 years, I saw how removing one lump resulted in multiple lumps appearing later on in the dog's life. This is because surgery removes only the tip of the iceberg. Surgery will do nothing to address the toxins causing the fatty tumor and will leave scar tissue behind and this blocks the point of discharge the body needs to release those toxins. Once the scar tissue is created, the toxins feeding the tumor are forced deeper into the patient's body, causing damage to deeper organs and organ systems. Once present, lipomas are difficult to treat so prevention is the best approach. In my experience, key contributors to lipomas include: Poor Diet Carbohydrates, chemical preservatives and other toxins found in processed foods all contribute to fatty tumor growth. Water is also an important part of your dog's diet and tap water should be avoided as the chlorine can damage your dog's thyroid and upset his endocrine system. Drugs and Chemicals The products used on dogs to control fleas, ticks, heartworms and other worms are not only toxic to insects and parasites, they are toxic to your dog. There are natural and effective ways to control these internal pests without toxic residue. Vaccines and other pharmaceutical products are also loaded with contaminants and should be avoided whenever necessary. Environment Your dog's environment is a major source of toxins, especially if herbicides or pesticides are used in your area. In the spring and summer, the pest trucks are everywhere, spraying poisons to kill ants, fleas, ticks and everything else in their path, including you and your dog. I recommend you never use any of these products in your home or yard - ever. As for the bugs, they're supposed to be there so, for the sake of our environment, leave them alone. When you walk your dog in parks or areas where there is a likelihood of herbicides and pesticides being used, wash your dog's feet off with soap and water when you get home to prevent him from licking or absorbing the toxins through the pads of his paws. TREATMENT My choice of treatment for fatty tumors is to first stop supplementing the toxins by avoiding those mentioned above. Next, you must help your dog to remove any existing toxins and aid his body in its detoxification and healing process. I recommend a natural diet, filtered water, no drugs, chemicals, herbicides, pesticides or vaccines on or around my patients. Treatment choices include classical homeopathy, gemmotherapy, aromatherapy, bovine colostrum, fatty acid supplementation and glandular therapy. All of these modalities will complement the body's healing capacity. Remember that surgery is a suppressive treatment and will only drive the toxins and disease deeper into the patient. It should be used only as a last resort in any dog, no matter what issue you are dealing with. About the author Dr. Stephen Blake DVM Dr. Blake graduated from the University of Arizona 1969 with a BS in animal science. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1973 where he received his DVM. He has practiced small medicine for the past 36 years in San Diego, California. The past 30 years he has specialized in alternative veterinary medicine, utilizing Classical Homeopathy, nutrition, glandular therapy, massage, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture, Gemmotherapy, Oligotherapy and Bach Flowers. Dr. Blake graduated from Dr. Richard Pitcairn's first Veterinary certification course in 1993. He had been utilizing homeopathy in his practice for 13 years prior to taking the course. Certified in classical homeopathy by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy in 1993 and in acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1990. He now has a limited consultation practice in San Diego, CA. Dr. Blake has been a lecturer at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association national conventions for the past 10 years. He has just finished writing and illustrating his first book, The Pet Whisperer, which is available at www.thepetwhisperer.com _______________________________________________ Seeingeye-l mailing list To post a message. Seeingeye-l at list.web.net For general information about the list or to modify your subscription visit. http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/seeingeye-l To unsubscribe, press enter or click on this link. <a href="Mailto:seeingeye-l-request at list.web.net"?Subject=unsubscribe For questions/cncerns/etc please contact one of the list's administrators. seeingeye-l-owner at list.web.net _____ _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20130616/ffdbfe71/attachment.html From Kenvolonte at comcast.net Sun Jun 16 19:30:01 2013 From: Kenvolonte at comcast.net (Ken Volonte) Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:30:01 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine LumpsAnd Bumps(article) References: <1B8414BA545441CC956D52BE449C9EB8@owner1ff521382> <42BCA83F-37D6-45E6-B82C-7219D18454DB@gmail.com><25103B80FF424F26A61144FD0C1C68EC@kenvolonte> <006801ce6ae9$41945f10$c4bd1d30$@com> Message-ID: <59C6A840D44D47D88161BB3D061336A3@kenvolonte> I want to clarify my cryptic and abrasive comment with regard to lipomas and other lumps. The doctor didn't address what might happen if these benign tumors are ignored. Has he seen a lump that is the size of a robin's egg one day and the size of a base ball the next? Has he experienced the odd mix of feelings upon encountering a guide dog in a restaurant with a bloody tumor which could be seen and smelled? The first dog was mine. The second belonged to another person. My convictions are strong in this matter and I realize that this position is unpopular; and so I chose a shorter way of expressing my discomfort with Dr. Blake's position. To ignore a bump or a lump is easy. The most neglectful person in the world could do that. Tumors can become cancerous even if they start out as nothing. That's why I always ask my vet to remove them. In one case, Dr. W advised against because of problems with the anesthesia and the condition of my dog. So that's what I meant. I'll go even further. By his reccomending homiopathy, aroma therapy etc. Mr. Blake is advocating quackery not medicine. I hope this doesn't luze friends, but I suspect it will. Bye for now. Happy trails. Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Hingson To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 4:28 PM Subject: Re: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine LumpsAnd Bumps(article) "Balls"? What are you saying Ken? From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf Of Ken Volonte Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 01:34 PM To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Subject: Re: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) balls! ----- Original Message ----- From: tina thomas To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 11:09 AM Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "evergreenwoods66" Date: June 15, 2013, 2:11:04 PM PDT To: "Seeing Eye" Subject: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps (article) Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps Dogs Naturally Magazine June 14, 2013 A lipoma is a growth of fat cells contained in a thin capsule, usually found just below the skin. Lipomas are most often found on the torso, neck, upper legs and armpits, but they can occur almost anywhere. Lipomas are the most common noncancerous soft tissue growth, although other lumps and bumps may appear on your dog, especially as he grows older. I've been observing lipomas, lumps and bumps on dogs for 40 years and I've made some observations I'd like to share with you. CAUSES First of all, I want to make it clear that these growths are a sign of chronic disease and not an acute issue. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are the body's way of ridding itself of toxins and other unwanted material but, because the body is out of balance, it can't eliminate toxins through normal channels such as the kidneys, liver or intestines. When the endocrine and immune systems are not functioning at full capacity, the body does the next best thing and tries to encapsulate any unwanted material and eliminate it through the largest excretory organ of the body: the skin. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are like a lump of dirt that you would sweep under the rug when you don't know what else to do with it. Statistics show that 1.7 million dogs in the United States are treated for lipomas every year. This doesn't include all the other lumps and bumps that appear on dogs as they reach middle age or older. I'm certain that close to a billion dollars or more is spent on the treatment of these various eruptions each year. I don't recommend surgical removal unless the lipoma is threatening the life of the dog. For every one of these bumps that are removed, more will return and require further surgical removal. As a surgeon for 25 years, I saw how removing one lump resulted in multiple lumps appearing later on in the dog's life. This is because surgery removes only the tip of the iceberg. Surgery will do nothing to address the toxins causing the fatty tumor and will leave scar tissue behind and this blocks the point of discharge the body needs to release those toxins. Once the scar tissue is created, the toxins feeding the tumor are forced deeper into the patient's body, causing damage to deeper organs and organ systems. Once present, lipomas are difficult to treat so prevention is the best approach. In my experience, key contributors to lipomas include: Poor Diet Carbohydrates, chemical preservatives and other toxins found in processed foods all contribute to fatty tumor growth. Water is also an important part of your dog's diet and tap water should be avoided as the chlorine can damage your dog's thyroid and upset his endocrine system. Drugs and Chemicals The products used on dogs to control fleas, ticks, heartworms and other worms are not only toxic to insects and parasites, they are toxic to your dog. There are natural and effective ways to control these internal pests without toxic residue. Vaccines and other pharmaceutical products are also loaded with contaminants and should be avoided whenever necessary. Environment Your dog's environment is a major source of toxins, especially if herbicides or pesticides are used in your area. In the spring and summer, the pest trucks are everywhere, spraying poisons to kill ants, fleas, ticks and everything else in their path, including you and your dog. I recommend you never use any of these products in your home or yard - ever. As for the bugs, they're supposed to be there so, for the sake of our environment, leave them alone. When you walk your dog in parks or areas where there is a likelihood of herbicides and pesticides being used, wash your dog's feet off with soap and water when you get home to prevent him from licking or absorbing the toxins through the pads of his paws. TREATMENT My choice of treatment for fatty tumors is to first stop supplementing the toxins by avoiding those mentioned above. Next, you must help your dog to remove any existing toxins and aid his body in its detoxification and healing process. I recommend a natural diet, filtered water, no drugs, chemicals, herbicides, pesticides or vaccines on or around my patients. Treatment choices include classical homeopathy, gemmotherapy, aromatherapy, bovine colostrum, fatty acid supplementation and glandular therapy. All of these modalities will complement the body's healing capacity. Remember that surgery is a suppressive treatment and will only drive the toxins and disease deeper into the patient. It should be used only as a last resort in any dog, no matter what issue you are dealing with. About the author Dr. Stephen Blake DVM Dr. Blake graduated from the University of Arizona 1969 with a BS in animal science. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1973 where he received his DVM. He has practiced small medicine for the past 36 years in San Diego, California. The past 30 years he has specialized in alternative veterinary medicine, utilizing Classical Homeopathy, nutrition, glandular therapy, massage, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture, Gemmotherapy, Oligotherapy and Bach Flowers. Dr. Blake graduated from Dr. Richard Pitcairn's first Veterinary certification course in 1993. He had been utilizing homeopathy in his practice for 13 years prior to taking the course. Certified in classical homeopathy by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy in 1993 and in acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1990. He now has a limited consultation practice in San Diego, CA. Dr. Blake has been a lecturer at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association national conventions for the past 10 years. He has just finished writing and illustrating his first book, The Pet Whisperer, which is available at www.thepetwhisperer.com _______________________________________________ Seeingeye-l mailing list To post a message. Seeingeye-l at list.web.net For general information about the list or to modify your subscription visit. http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/seeingeye-l To unsubscribe, press enter or click on this link. <a href="Mailto:seeingeye-l-request at list.web.net"?Subject=unsubscribe For questions/cncerns/etc please contact one of the list's administrators. seeingeye-l-owner at list.web.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20130616/7fd3b37b/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Sun Jun 16 19:49:56 2013 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:49:56 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine LumpsAnd Bumps(article) In-Reply-To: <59C6A840D44D47D88161BB3D061336A3@kenvolonte> References: <1B8414BA545441CC956D52BE449C9EB8@owner1ff521382> <42BCA83F-37D6-45E6-B82C-7219D18454DB@gmail.com><25103B80FF424F26A61144FD0C1C68EC@kenvolonte> <006801ce6ae9$41945f10$c4bd1d30$@com> <59C6A840D44D47D88161BB3D061336A3@kenvolonte> Message-ID: <009701ce6b05$5b171150$114533f0$@com> Ken- the article stated that it did not rement that all benign tumors be removed. Obviously if the tumor is growing and abscessing then it should be checked by a vet and the necessary course of treatment should follow. Tina From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf Of Ken Volonte Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 7:30 PM To: info at michaelhingson.com; Cagdu Subject: Re: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine LumpsAnd Bumps(article) I want to clarify my cryptic and abrasive comment with regard to lipomas and other lumps. The doctor didn't address what might happen if these benign tumors are ignored. Has he seen a lump that is the size of a robin's egg one day and the size of a base ball the next? Has he experienced the odd mix of feelings upon encountering a guide dog in a restaurant with a bloody tumor which could be seen and smelled? The first dog was mine. The second belonged to another person. My convictions are strong in this matter and I realize that this position is unpopular; and so I chose a shorter way of expressing my discomfort with Dr. Blake's position. To ignore a bump or a lump is easy. The most neglectful person in the world could do that. Tumors can become cancerous even if they start out as nothing. That's why I always ask my vet to remove them. In one case, Dr. W advised against because of problems with the anesthesia and the condition of my dog. So that's what I meant. I'll go even further. By his reccomending homiopathy, aroma therapy etc. Mr. Blake is advocating quackery not medicine. I hope this doesn't luze friends, but I suspect it will. Bye for now. Happy trails. Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Hingson To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 4:28 PM Subject: Re: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine LumpsAnd Bumps(article) "Balls"? What are you saying Ken? From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf Of Ken Volonte Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 01:34 PM To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Subject: Re: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) balls! ----- Original Message ----- From: tina thomas To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 11:09 AM Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "evergreenwoods66" Date: June 15, 2013, 2:11:04 PM PDT To: "Seeing Eye" Subject: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps (article) Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps Dogs Naturally Magazine June 14, 2013 A lipoma is a growth of fat cells contained in a thin capsule, usually found just below the skin. Lipomas are most often found on the torso, neck, upper legs and armpits, but they can occur almost anywhere. Lipomas are the most common noncancerous soft tissue growth, although other lumps and bumps may appear on your dog, especially as he grows older. I've been observing lipomas, lumps and bumps on dogs for 40 years and I've made some observations I'd like to share with you. CAUSES First of all, I want to make it clear that these growths are a sign of chronic disease and not an acute issue. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are the body's way of ridding itself of toxins and other unwanted material but, because the body is out of balance, it can't eliminate toxins through normal channels such as the kidneys, liver or intestines. When the endocrine and immune systems are not functioning at full capacity, the body does the next best thing and tries to encapsulate any unwanted material and eliminate it through the largest excretory organ of the body: the skin. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are like a lump of dirt that you would sweep under the rug when you don't know what else to do with it. Statistics show that 1.7 million dogs in the United States are treated for lipomas every year. This doesn't include all the other lumps and bumps that appear on dogs as they reach middle age or older. I'm certain that close to a billion dollars or more is spent on the treatment of these various eruptions each year. I don't recommend surgical removal unless the lipoma is threatening the life of the dog. For every one of these bumps that are removed, more will return and require further surgical removal. As a surgeon for 25 years, I saw how removing one lump resulted in multiple lumps appearing later on in the dog's life. This is because surgery removes only the tip of the iceberg. Surgery will do nothing to address the toxins causing the fatty tumor and will leave scar tissue behind and this blocks the point of discharge the body needs to release those toxins. Once the scar tissue is created, the toxins feeding the tumor are forced deeper into the patient's body, causing damage to deeper organs and organ systems. Once present, lipomas are difficult to treat so prevention is the best approach. In my experience, key contributors to lipomas include: Poor Diet Carbohydrates, chemical preservatives and other toxins found in processed foods all contribute to fatty tumor growth. Water is also an important part of your dog's diet and tap water should be avoided as the chlorine can damage your dog's thyroid and upset his endocrine system. Drugs and Chemicals The products used on dogs to control fleas, ticks, heartworms and other worms are not only toxic to insects and parasites, they are toxic to your dog. There are natural and effective ways to control these internal pests without toxic residue. Vaccines and other pharmaceutical products are also loaded with contaminants and should be avoided whenever necessary. Environment Your dog's environment is a major source of toxins, especially if herbicides or pesticides are used in your area. In the spring and summer, the pest trucks are everywhere, spraying poisons to kill ants, fleas, ticks and everything else in their path, including you and your dog. I recommend you never use any of these products in your home or yard - ever. As for the bugs, they're supposed to be there so, for the sake of our environment, leave them alone. When you walk your dog in parks or areas where there is a likelihood of herbicides and pesticides being used, wash your dog's feet off with soap and water when you get home to prevent him from licking or absorbing the toxins through the pads of his paws. TREATMENT My choice of treatment for fatty tumors is to first stop supplementing the toxins by avoiding those mentioned above. Next, you must help your dog to remove any existing toxins and aid his body in its detoxification and healing process. I recommend a natural diet, filtered water, no drugs, chemicals, herbicides, pesticides or vaccines on or around my patients. Treatment choices include classical homeopathy, gemmotherapy, aromatherapy, bovine colostrum, fatty acid supplementation and glandular therapy. All of these modalities will complement the body's healing capacity. Remember that surgery is a suppressive treatment and will only drive the toxins and disease deeper into the patient. It should be used only as a last resort in any dog, no matter what issue you are dealing with. About the author Dr. Stephen Blake DVM Dr. Blake graduated from the University of Arizona 1969 with a BS in animal science. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1973 where he received his DVM. He has practiced small medicine for the past 36 years in San Diego, California. The past 30 years he has specialized in alternative veterinary medicine, utilizing Classical Homeopathy, nutrition, glandular therapy, massage, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture, Gemmotherapy, Oligotherapy and Bach Flowers. Dr. Blake graduated from Dr. Richard Pitcairn's first Veterinary certification course in 1993. He had been utilizing homeopathy in his practice for 13 years prior to taking the course. Certified in classical homeopathy by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy in 1993 and in acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1990. He now has a limited consultation practice in San Diego, CA. Dr. Blake has been a lecturer at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association national conventions for the past 10 years. He has just finished writing and illustrating his first book, The Pet Whisperer, which is available at www.thepetwhisperer.com _______________________________________________ Seeingeye-l mailing list To post a message. Seeingeye-l at list.web.net For general information about the list or to modify your subscription visit. http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/seeingeye-l To unsubscribe, press enter or click on this link. <a href="Mailto:seeingeye-l-request at list.web.net"?Subject=unsubscribe For questions/cncerns/etc please contact one of the list's administrators. seeingeye-l-owner at list.web.net _____ _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu _____ _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20130616/d5218ed1/attachment.html From info at michaelhingson.com Sun Jun 16 20:46:30 2013 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:46:30 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine LumpsAnd Bumps(article) In-Reply-To: <59C6A840D44D47D88161BB3D061336A3@kenvolonte> References: <1B8414BA545441CC956D52BE449C9EB8@owner1ff521382> <42BCA83F-37D6-45E6-B82C-7219D18454DB@gmail.com><25103B80FF424F26A61144FD0C1C68EC@kenvolonte> <006801ce6ae9$41945f10$c4bd1d30$@com> <59C6A840D44D47D88161BB3D061336A3@kenvolonte> Message-ID: <00c301ce6b0d$41c835f0$c558a1d0$@com> Ken, I believe you have misread the doctor's position. He talked more about what to do to minimize the chance of getting any of these toomers, and he did say that benign lipomas are not generally harmful. He NEVER said not to use common sense if the conditions you described occurred. Ken, I suspect he has seen far more than any of us. Please do not be so quick to react and judge. I may not agree with everything stated in the article, but what was suggested was certainly worth considering. For example, for my part, I have never found yet that there are "natural" mechanisms to prevent flee and tic bites. That is not to say that such doesn't exist, it only means that I have not yet found a process that works better than Frontline. If I could find something that worked without use of toxins I'd jump on the chance not to give chemicals to Africa and Fantasia. Best, Michael Hingson From: Ken Volonte [mailto:Kenvolonte at comcast.net] Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 07:30 PM To: info at michaelhingson.com; Cagdu Subject: Re: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine LumpsAnd Bumps(article) I want to clarify my cryptic and abrasive comment with regard to lipomas and other lumps. The doctor didn't address what might happen if these benign tumors are ignored. Has he seen a lump that is the size of a robin's egg one day and the size of a base ball the next? Has he experienced the odd mix of feelings upon encountering a guide dog in a restaurant with a bloody tumor which could be seen and smelled? The first dog was mine. The second belonged to another person. My convictions are strong in this matter and I realize that this position is unpopular; and so I chose a shorter way of expressing my discomfort with Dr. Blake's position. To ignore a bump or a lump is easy. The most neglectful person in the world could do that. Tumors can become cancerous even if they start out as nothing. That's why I always ask my vet to remove them. In one case, Dr. W advised against because of problems with the anesthesia and the condition of my dog. So that's what I meant. I'll go even further. By his reccomending homiopathy, aroma therapy etc. Mr. Blake is advocating quackery not medicine. I hope this doesn't luze friends, but I suspect it will. Bye for now. Happy trails. Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Hingson To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 4:28 PM Subject: Re: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine LumpsAnd Bumps(article) "Balls"? What are you saying Ken? From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf Of Ken Volonte Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 01:34 PM To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Subject: Re: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) balls! ----- Original Message ----- From: tina thomas To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 11:09 AM Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps(article) Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "evergreenwoods66" Date: June 15, 2013, 2:11:04 PM PDT To: "Seeing Eye" Subject: [Seeingeye-l] Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps (article) Lipomas And Other Canine Lumps And Bumps Dogs Naturally Magazine June 14, 2013 A lipoma is a growth of fat cells contained in a thin capsule, usually found just below the skin. Lipomas are most often found on the torso, neck, upper legs and armpits, but they can occur almost anywhere. Lipomas are the most common noncancerous soft tissue growth, although other lumps and bumps may appear on your dog, especially as he grows older. I've been observing lipomas, lumps and bumps on dogs for 40 years and I've made some observations I'd like to share with you. CAUSES First of all, I want to make it clear that these growths are a sign of chronic disease and not an acute issue. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are the body's way of ridding itself of toxins and other unwanted material but, because the body is out of balance, it can't eliminate toxins through normal channels such as the kidneys, liver or intestines. When the endocrine and immune systems are not functioning at full capacity, the body does the next best thing and tries to encapsulate any unwanted material and eliminate it through the largest excretory organ of the body: the skin. Lipomas and other fatty tumors are like a lump of dirt that you would sweep under the rug when you don't know what else to do with it. Statistics show that 1.7 million dogs in the United States are treated for lipomas every year. This doesn't include all the other lumps and bumps that appear on dogs as they reach middle age or older. I'm certain that close to a billion dollars or more is spent on the treatment of these various eruptions each year. I don't recommend surgical removal unless the lipoma is threatening the life of the dog. For every one of these bumps that are removed, more will return and require further surgical removal. As a surgeon for 25 years, I saw how removing one lump resulted in multiple lumps appearing later on in the dog's life. This is because surgery removes only the tip of the iceberg. Surgery will do nothing to address the toxins causing the fatty tumor and will leave scar tissue behind and this blocks the point of discharge the body needs to release those toxins. Once the scar tissue is created, the toxins feeding the tumor are forced deeper into the patient's body, causing damage to deeper organs and organ systems. Once present, lipomas are difficult to treat so prevention is the best approach. In my experience, key contributors to lipomas include: Poor Diet Carbohydrates, chemical preservatives and other toxins found in processed foods all contribute to fatty tumor growth. Water is also an important part of your dog's diet and tap water should be avoided as the chlorine can damage your dog's thyroid and upset his endocrine system. Drugs and Chemicals The products used on dogs to control fleas, ticks, heartworms and other worms are not only toxic to insects and parasites, they are toxic to your dog. There are natural and effective ways to control these internal pests without toxic residue. Vaccines and other pharmaceutical products are also loaded with contaminants and should be avoided whenever necessary. Environment Your dog's environment is a major source of toxins, especially if herbicides or pesticides are used in your area. In the spring and summer, the pest trucks are everywhere, spraying poisons to kill ants, fleas, ticks and everything else in their path, including you and your dog. I recommend you never use any of these products in your home or yard - ever. As for the bugs, they're supposed to be there so, for the sake of our environment, leave them alone. When you walk your dog in parks or areas where there is a likelihood of herbicides and pesticides being used, wash your dog's feet off with soap and water when you get home to prevent him from licking or absorbing the toxins through the pads of his paws. TREATMENT My choice of treatment for fatty tumors is to first stop supplementing the toxins by avoiding those mentioned above. Next, you must help your dog to remove any existing toxins and aid his body in its detoxification and healing process. I recommend a natural diet, filtered water, no drugs, chemicals, herbicides, pesticides or vaccines on or around my patients. Treatment choices include classical homeopathy, gemmotherapy, aromatherapy, bovine colostrum, fatty acid supplementation and glandular therapy. All of these modalities will complement the body's healing capacity. Remember that surgery is a suppressive treatment and will only drive the toxins and disease deeper into the patient. It should be used only as a last resort in any dog, no matter what issue you are dealing with. About the author Dr. Stephen Blake DVM Dr. Blake graduated from the University of Arizona 1969 with a BS in animal science. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1973 where he received his DVM. He has practiced small medicine for the past 36 years in San Diego, California. The past 30 years he has specialized in alternative veterinary medicine, utilizing Classical Homeopathy, nutrition, glandular therapy, massage, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture, Gemmotherapy, Oligotherapy and Bach Flowers. Dr. Blake graduated from Dr. Richard Pitcairn's first Veterinary certification course in 1993. He had been utilizing homeopathy in his practice for 13 years prior to taking the course. Certified in classical homeopathy by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy in 1993 and in acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1990. He now has a limited consultation practice in San Diego, CA. Dr. Blake has been a lecturer at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association national conventions for the past 10 years. He has just finished writing and illustrating his first book, The Pet Whisperer, which is available at www.thepetwhisperer.com _______________________________________________ Seeingeye-l mailing list To post a message. Seeingeye-l at list.web.net For general information about the list or to modify your subscription visit. http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/seeingeye-l To unsubscribe, press enter or click on this link. <a href="Mailto:seeingeye-l-request at list.web.net"?Subject=unsubscribe For questions/cncerns/etc please contact one of the list's administrators. seeingeye-l-owner at list.web.net _____ _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu _____ _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20130616/9c7a8e48/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Mon Jun 17 13:30:25 2013 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:30:25 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] test Message-ID: <010b01ce6b99$8121b000$83651000$@com> From judotina48kg at gmail.com Mon Jun 17 18:34:29 2013 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:34:29 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] test Message-ID: <012a01ce6bc3$fb62e440$f228acc0$@com> This a test. From judotina48kg at gmail.com Tue Jun 18 11:21:34 2013 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (tina thomas) Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:21:34 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Fwd: [Seeingeye-l] Recall alert References: <45510FCE0EDC43D5A4CA9A0C08A52163@phyllisHP> Message-ID: Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: > From: "Phyllis Stevens" > Date: June 18, 2013, 11:12:01 AM PDT > To: "the TSE Chat listst" > Cc: TSE > Subject: [Seeingeye-l] Recall alert > > Go to http://www.naturapet.com/recall for details. > > Natura says: > We have some sad news to share. We are announcing today a voluntary recall of all Innova, California Natural, EVO, Healthwise, Mother Nature and Karma branded dry pet food and biscuit/bar/treat products with expiration dates prior to June 10, 2014. > > > Brands in the recall are > > Innova > EVO > California Natural > HealthWise > Karma > Mother Nature > > (Creator of the Universe)...I love you just the way you are, and because I am your creation, I love myself just the way I am. > from don Miguel Ruiz > > Phyllis Stevens > and her kitties, Simon and Sarah > > catlady1949 at charter.net > _______________________________________________ > > Seeingeye-l mailing list > To post a message. > Seeingeye-l at list.web.net > For general information about the list or to modify your subscription visit. > http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/seeingeye-l > To unsubscribe, press enter or click on this link. > <a href="Mailto:seeingeye-l-request at list.web.net"?Subject=unsubscribe > For questions/cncerns/etc please contact one of the list's administrators. > seeingeye-l-owner at list.web.net > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20130618/7162bd9f/attachment.html From info at michaelhingson.com Sun Jun 23 17:54:06 2013 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 17:54:06 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: [Nagdu-leaders] IMPORTANT: Many hands equals less work for all! could you help at our exhibit hall table? Message-ID: <003f01ce7075$54402ea0$fcc08be0$@com> > Hello to all convention goers, > > Our NFB convention in Orlando will begin in a week! > I'm once again in charge of scheduling volunteers to staff our exhibit > Hall table, since, alas, I couldn't convince my guide dog Fallon to do it! > > I know the agenda is packed full of interesting events to attend. So > please take a look at that agenda, figure out when you'll have some > time to give, and then fill in your prefered schedule shift(s). > Two hour shifts are preferable if possible. > We always need two persons working together at the table. > Note that the exhibit hall first opens on Tuesday, July 2, at 11 AM > rather than at the former opening day time of 9 o'clock. The hall is > open from 9 till 11 for sponsors only. > Below my signature you will find the > exhibit hall schedule. All Board members have stepped up and filled in > quite a few slots. All of Tuesday and part of Wednesday are filled in. > but we need volunteers for the remainder of the week. After I get a > few responses, I'll post the schedule again with more names filled in. > Please email me directly at sherrill.obrien at verizon.net with your > preference(s) rather than replying to the list. Those of you who are > presidents of affiliates, if you are coming to Orlando and could help, > that would be appreciated, or if you could ask any of your members who > you know are also coming, it would be helpful as well. > If you definitely want to volunteer, but don't know which times you > can commit to helping, please send me an email anyway so that I have a > list of names and cell phone numbers. We can narrow down your table > time(s) later. > > Thanks in advance for your help with this. Read on past my signature > for the schedule. > Be sure to include your cell phone number so we can more effectively > communicate in Orlando. I'll reply with mine as well. > Sherrill > email sherrill.obrien at verizon.net > home phone (813) 935-0474 > cell (813) 767-1890 > > When you send me an email, please include: > your time preference if you know it at this point, and your cell phone > number. > > > Exhibit Hall NAGDU Table > NAGDU's table number is A 20 > Exhibit Hall Location: > Convention Center, West Hall, Section WA1, Level 2 > > Schedule > > Tuesday, July 2 > Hall open to all exhibitors from 11:00am till 5:00pm > > 11:00 till 1:00 Michael Hingson > 11:00 till 2:00 Toni Whaley > > 1:00 till 3:00 Tina Thomas > > 2:00 till 5:00 Sherrill O'Brien > > 3:00 till 5:00 Marion Gwizdala > > Wednesday, July 3 > Hall open 8:30am till 5:00pm > > 8:30 till 10:30 Margo Downey > > 8:30 till 11:00 Michael Hingson > > 10:30 till 12:30 or 1:00 > > 1:00 till 3:00 > > 3:00 till 5:00 > > > Thursday, July 4 > Hall open noon till 1:45pm and 7 till 9:00pm > > noon till 1:45pm > Julie McGinnity and > > 7:00 till 9:00 PM > > > Friday, July 5 > hall open 12:00 till 1:45pm > (Note: we will probably not open our table for the Friday evening > shift, since we've learned from past experience that few people come > to the hall at this late date and time.) > > noon till 1:45 Toni Whaley and > _______________________ > ________________________ > nagdu mailing list > nagdu at nfbnet.org > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sherrill.obrien > %40ver > izon.net > > > _______________________________________________ > nagdu mailing list > nagdu at nfbnet.org > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sherrill.obrien > %40ver > izon.net > > > _______________________________________________ > nagdu mailing list > nagdu at nfbnet.org > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sherrill.obrien > %40ver > izon.net > > > _______________________________________________ > nagdu mailing list > nagdu at nfbnet.org > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sherrill.obrien%40v > erizon > .net > > > _______________________________________________ > Nagdu-leaders mailing list > Nagdu-leaders at nfbnet.org > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu-leaders_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nagdu-leaders: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu-leaders_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40 > gmail.com _______________________________________________ Nagdu-leaders mailing list Nagdu-leaders at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu-leaders_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nagdu-leaders: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu-leaders_nfbnet.org/info%40michaelhin gson.com _______________________________________________ Nagdu-leaders mailing list Nagdu-leaders at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu-leaders_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nagdu-leaders: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu-leaders_nfbnet.org/info%40michaelhin gson.com From info at michaelhingson.com Mon Jun 24 10:55:49 2013 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 10:55:49 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FYI FW: [Nagdu-leaders] IMPORTANT: update: could u help at our exhibit hall table? Message-ID: <002201ce7104$105bc2a0$311347e0$@com> Anyone going to the NFB convention in Orlando? Please help. Thanks. Mike Hingson -----Original Message----- From: Nagdu-leaders [mailto:nagdu-leaders-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sherrill O'Brien Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 09:21 AM To: nagdu leaders; Nagdu Subject: [Nagdu-leaders] IMPORTANT: update: could u help at our exhibit hall table? Hello once again conventioneers, Here's the updated schedule. Thanks to those who responded so quickly. We're doing great, and just need help on Wednesday, July 3, from late morning till 5pm. I've put a star in front of the shifts where we are still looking for volunteers, and have noted how many are needed. Sherrill email sherrill.obrien at verizon.net home phone (813) 935-0474 cell (813) 767-1890 When you send me an email, please include: your time preference if you know it at this point, and your cell phone number. Exhibit Hall NAGDU Table NAGDU's table number is A 20 Exhibit Hall Location: Convention Center, West Hall, Section WA1, Level 2 Schedule Tuesday, July 2 Hall open to all exhibitors from 11:00am till 5:00pm 11:00 till 1:00 Michael Hingson 11:00 till 2:00 Toni Whaley 1:00 till 3:00 Tina Thomas 2:00 till 5:00 Sherrill O'Brien 3:00 till 5:00 Marion Gwizdala Wednesday, July 3 Hall open 8:30am till 5:00pm 8:30 till 10:30 Margo Downey 8:30 till 11:00 Michael Hingson 10:30 till 1:00 Cindy Ray *11:00 till 1:00 one volunteer *1:00 till 3:00 two volunteers *3:00 till 5:00 two volunteers Thursday, July 4 Hall open noon till 1:45pm and 7 till 9:00pm noon till 1:45pm Julie McGinnity and Jessica Snyder 7:00 till 9:00 PM Cindy Ray and Jessica Snyder Friday, July 5 hall open 12:00 till 1:45pm (Note: we will probably not open our table for the Friday evening shift, since we've learned from past experience that few people come to the hall at this late date and time.) noon till 1:45 Toni Whaley and Robert Stigile ___________ ________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sherrill.obrien%40ver izon.net _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sherrill.obrien%40ver izon.net _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sherrill.obrien%40ver izon.net _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sherrill.obrien%40verizon .net _______________________________________________ Nagdu-leaders mailing list Nagdu-leaders at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu-leaders_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nagdu-leaders: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu-leaders_nfbnet.org/info%40michaelhin gson.com From info at michaelhingson.com Tue Jun 25 12:02:40 2013 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:02:40 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FYI FW: GDB's board still needs to hear from you! Message-ID: <035b01ce71d6$912c4260$b384c720$@com> All, I urge everyone to help out on this. I sent you information on the GDB issue earlier this month. It is the opinion of many of us that, in fact, the GDB board is still quite disconnected and does not understand the severity of the problem. The letter Bob Burke sent last Friday says nothing to address the issues and concerns of the various stakeholders of GDB. This school is National in scope and thus deserves National attention. Thanks for your assistance. Best, Michael Hingson From: Sheila Styron [mailto:noreply at list.moveon.org] Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:26 AM To: info at michaelhingson.com Subject: GDB's board still needs to hear from you! http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-the-board-its-time?mailing_id=13545 &source=s.icn.em.cr&%3Br_by=7790633&r_by=8014728 Dear petition signers, I am sharing a recent communication from GDB's board which many of you may not have read, followed by my response. I have included email addresses for the board for your convenience in responding directly to them. You may use the included petition link to encourage people to sign, as the board does not yet appear to recognize that our concerns are much broader than those addressed in the correspondence below. Therefore, we must continue to address our issues directly to GDB's board. Once again, thank you for signing, and I hope you will continue to lend your support, as issues currently faced by GDB and their resolution are relevant to all guide dog training programs. Subject: Communication from GDB Board Dear Alumni, As a GDB graduate your support and understanding is extraordinarily important to the board and leadership of GDB. We have a responsibility to earn that support and understanding with frank and ongoing communications. You may have heard about recent and substantial changes to our programs, which resulted in the layoff of eight employees. GDB is a large and complex organization, and from time to time, change is required to respond to new economic and program environments. However, we are also a community with a shared mission. I believe the board and GDB executive leadership are doing a good job of becoming an even more mission-driven organization, which is a wholly good thing in spirit and strategy. But, in execution, the way we announced the changes increased doubt instead of understanding. The past few months have been challenging for GDB. The organization may have been well served but our community was not. Both the board and GDB leadership have learned from this experience and from your comments, questions and concerns. The board recognizes and honors its relationships with clients, puppy raisers, donors and volunteers; and it also recognizes its responsibility to do what is necessary to ensure mission fulfillment in the future. That said, we will be evaluating the program changes with a set of rigorous metrics based on our traditional program standards of the annual number and quality of working teams. We will track progress, or the lack of it, and make adjustments in order to achieve our goals. We will share evaluation results on a quarterly basis. We understand that trust and confidence in GDB executive leadership has been brought into question. The board is confident in the executive leadership of GDB. The board believes the changes that have taken place, some of which predate Paul's arrival, are important to the ability of the organization to realize its mission. At the same time, the board realizes fully that it is also important to do a much better job of communicating about such changes, as we intend to do moving forward. We are reaching out to the Alumni Association board to improve our communication and teamwork. A meeting is scheduled at the end of July to conduct a comprehensive discussion of the board-approved five-year strategic plan. The AA board's involvement will help guide the development of the associated operational plans. We will continue to ensure that our alumni community and interests are represented through graduate participation on the GDB Board, as they are currently through our graduate board members. In the coming weeks and months, I believe you will see changes in our communications and approach all designed to deepen outreach to our constituents, rebuild relationships and refine leadership goals. The voice of all those who love and support the mission of GDB is important to us. We value and respect the role that the AA Board plays in making sure we hear and understand it. Your input and feedback will help all of us at GDB keep the focus on our graduates and on getting better in all that we do. Sincerely, Bob Burke Board Chair To:'bburke at guidedogs.com'; 'gkerscher at guidedogs.com'; 'sodell at guidedogs.com'; 'ruthann.dodson24 at gmail.com'; 'jboyd at guidedogs.com'; 'mwatkins at guidedogs.com'; 'sbutton at guidedogs.com'; 'dgershen at guidedogs.com'; 'jharris at guidedogs.com'; 'amathieson at guidedogs.com'; 'smansfield at guidedogs.com'; 'jackscott at guidedogs.com' Response to recent board communication to alumni Hello, Board, I am writing to express my thoughts on your recent communication to alumni. Thank you for finally breaking your silence, though what you stated in this communication is hardly encouraging to many of us and that you still do not understand the depth of concern and loss of trust many are experiencing. It appears that the board feels that the only thing which is amiss is in how changes have been miscommunicated, as when I spoke with George Kerscher on the heels of the shocking layoffs, he expressed this idea that if only messaging had been better, controversy could have been avoided. That was not true then, and it is not true four months later. The recent board communication implies that the board is still confident in current leadership and the plan the organization has been implementing. Therefore, it appears that the board has not yet understood our concerns regarding the inappropriateness of the current administration and its recent unpopular mandates. Given all the feedback you have received to date, which has surprisingly not shaken your expressed confidence in current leadership, it is doubtful to many of us that meeting with the alumni board to discuss the strategic plan represents little more than an effort to convince them that staying the course is their only choice. Sadly, the corporate board has the power to enact meaningful change, while we the people who need guide dogs have little recourse other than to continue to ask the board to carefully reconsider its position. On a more personal note, I trained with my first guide in 1971, and each time I have returned for a successor dog, I was pleased at obvious improvements in many areas of the program. Now, attempts are being made to convince me that less is more, and my trust of and pride in GDB is evaporating, a sad disappointment and sense of loss I never imagined I would experience in my lifetime. Unless the corporate board realizes that by allowing cuts and shortcuts which are already diminishing GDB's overall quality and reputation, along with eroding the organization's innovative spirit, you will lose me and so many others, alumni, donors, raisers and other volunteers, essentially GDB's core reasons for existing. I feel as if I am in mourning over the slow decline and death of a loved one who will soon be gone forever. Gretch is nine now, and I do not have confidence that GDB will feel like a safe place for me when it is time to return to train with my sixth guide dog. Please, please, please do not continue along this course as the negative consequences are far reaching and have already begun to seriously destroy GDB's morale and reputation. Sincerely, Sheila Styron _____ This message was sent to Michael Hingson by Sheila Styron through MoveOn's public petition website. MoveOn Civic Action does not endorse the contents of this message. To unsubscribe or report this email as inappropriate, click here: http://petitions.moveon.org/unsub.html?i=13545-8014728-AxTxKK Want to make a donation? MoveOn is entirely funded by our 8 million members-no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20130625/7874f5c7/attachment.html From Kenvolonte at comcast.net Thu Jun 27 07:45:30 2013 From: Kenvolonte at comcast.net (Ken Volonte) Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 07:45:30 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] a quick question Message-ID: <0F78768F195C4A3FA9897D56CB404E5F@kenvolonte> Dear Mr. Burke: It would increase my understanding to know the problem GDB was trying to fix by consolidating areas and all that came after. In Paul Lopez' first announcement, he said that some people were not receiving follow up. This won't help. Again, what were you trying to fix? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20130627/343b97b2/attachment.html From Mike at michaelhingson.com Fri Jun 28 20:05:24 2013 From: Mike at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 20:05:24 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FYI FW: a response to Bob Burke's email of last Friday Message-ID: <039401ce7475$81ce4e20$856aea60$@com> Greetings all, Earlier this month I forwarded to you a letter I sent to the Board of Directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind expressing my concerns over actions the GDB leadership team has taken to the detriment of the program and the school's relationship with consumers. This past Friday the first communications from the Board was sent to consumers. Given that letter's total lack of substance I made the response you will see below. As back ground, since my first letter I have heard from many individuals including staff, volunteers, donors, and consumers all of whom expressed support for what I said. The staff comments were especially disconcerting since I heard that many at the school feared for their jobs and that the overall attitude of many of the workers was that of a disenchanted and fearful lot. I have seen emails from donors who indicate that they no longer shall give to the school. Consumers tell me they will not go back to GDB for training and new dogs. Blind workers, I understand, are most unhappy and fearful of all. I am sending this to you as Guide Dogs for the Blind has been one of the premiere organizations serving blind people in the United States and now it is coming across as one of the worst. This kind of information is important to you whether or not you use a guide dog. You should be aware of how important it is for us as concerned blind consumers and citizens to stay on top of what agencies purporting to serve us do and how they behave. I look forward to seeing many of you next week in Orlando. I am sure the GDB issue will be discussed and pondered. Best, Michael Hingson -----Original Message----- From: Michael Hingson [mailto:Mike at michaelhingson.com] Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 07:49 PM To: bburke at guidedogs.com; gkerscher at guidedogs.com; sodell at guidedogs.com; ruthann.dodson24 at gmail.com; jboyd at guidedogs.com; mwatkins at guidedogs.com; sbutton at guidedogs.com; dgershen at guidedogs.com; jharris at guidedogs.com; amathieson at guidedogs.com; smansfield at guidedogs.com; jackscott at guidedogs.com Cc: mike at michaelhingson.com Subject: a response to Bob Burke's email of last Friday Dear Members of the Board of Directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind, I am in receipt of the letter Bob Burke sent on Friday, June 21, 2013 to GDB alumni, (or consumers as we feel ourselves to be). We are consumers in every sense of the word as we are the ones who ?consume? GDB services and thus we have the greatest stake of all in insuring that Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. truly remains committed to and provides the highest standard of excellence in all aspects of its operation. It is in this vein of a concerned consumer who understands a great deal about the high standards usually attained by GDB that I write to you. Mr. Burke?s letter is extremely disappointing in many ways. I will enumerate my observations and concerns below and within the original correspondence from Mr. Burke. Here is the original email along with my comments. From: Bob Burke [mailto:gdbboardletter at guidedogs.com] Sent: Friday, June 21, 2013 04:22 PM To: mhingson at sbcglobal.net Subject: Communication from GDB Board ?Dear Alumni, As a GDB graduate your support and understanding is extraordinarily important to the board and leadership of GDB. We have a responsibility to earn that support and understanding with frank and ongoing communications.? [Michael Hingson] I appreciate the desire for frank communications. However, are communications really ongoing? I know that within the past few months over a hundred letters were written to the GDB board by consumers and other stakeholders of which not one individual received even one automatic form letter response. I am sure that the members of the board never expected the mountain of correspondences from consumers, but no responses from the board at all? The ongoing concept is questionable at best. ?You may have heard about recent and substantial changes to our programs, which resulted in the layoff of eight employees. GDB is a large and complex organization, and from time to time, change is required to respond to new economic and program environments.? [Michael Hingson] Now we begin with the issues about ?frank communications?. ?Change is required to respond to new economic and program environments?? What does this even have to do with the issues raised by your consumers? What economic environments especially since the GDB operating reserve grew in the past two years back to nearly or above the $300,000,000 number amount where it stood when the economic downturn began in 2008? Also, telling us that GDB is a ?large and complex organization? is condescending at best. We all know better than many how large, complex, and sophisticated GDB is. Those qualities are the very reasons the consumers now writing to you picked GDB as our guide dog provider of choice. Saying that GDB is a ?large and complex organization? is unfortunate and justifies nothing relating to the issues consumers have raised. As far as program changes are concerned you are the organ which thus far has supported the very ?changes? that GDB leadership is putting in place while your stakeholders are expressing outrage and telling you that the changes do not work and are not working. Even the back room call center is not responding to calls in a timely manner. It appears to us, your consumers, that you are not demonstrating sufficient oversight and care for GDB. You seem to be relying on a CEO who is misleading you and whose own staff fears to contact you for fear of reprisal from the CEO. You as the board have not reacted to the hundreds of emails and letters which have been sent to you and you have seemed to take no interest in the fact that over 500 stakeholders have publicly expressed their dissatisfaction on a public petition web site. ?However, we are also a community with a shared mission. I believe the board and GDB executive leadership are doing a good job of becoming an even more mission-driven organization, which is a wholly good thing in spirit and strategy. But, in execution, the way we announced the changes increased doubt instead of understanding.? [Michael Hingson] The fact is that the tide of objections from consumers began only in a small part because of the way GDB made the announcements, and you have been told this in countless letters. The changes themselves are the problem. The individuals who are making the ?changes? are also the problem. In addition, Mr. Burke says, ?I believe the board and GDB executive leadership are doing a good job of becoming an even more mission-driven organization, which is a wholly good thing in spirit and strategy? and this while consumers and stakeholders by the hundreds continue to question this assertion. Mr. Burke does not even recognize the comments and viewpoints of consumers. Instead he says that the board and executive leadership are doing a good job and it would appear that he expects this to be the end of it. Discounting your stakeholders shows just how far the board has become disconnected from the consumers it serves and it shows more than any other demonstration can provide why the current executive leadership does not understand the mission, values, and needs of GDB. The disconnect and lack of understanding are the true reasons for the distrust everyone has expressed to you. >From my experiences in sitting on and chairing boards in California it seems to me that the board is more loyal to Paul Lopez than it is to the organization as a whole. If so, this is unfortunate. ?The past few months have been challenging for GDB. The organization may have been well served but our community was not. Both the board and GDB leadership have learned from this experience and from your comments, questions and concerns. The board recognizes and honors its relationships with clients, puppy raisers, donors and volunteers; and it also recognizes its responsibility to do what is necessary to ensure mission fulfillment in the future.? [Michael Hingson] ?Well served?: Please understand that if the board and executive leadership of GDB believes Mr. Burke?s statements than you are the only ones who do. The evidence of the divergence between the opinions expressed by Mr. Burke and the consumers of GDB services is overwhelming. Saying that ?The board recognizes and honors its relationships with clients, puppy raisers, donors and volunteers? does not make it so. Unfortunately the very lack of communications over the past few months and the lack of substance of Mr. Burke?s letter to us at this time, I think, show the exact opposite of what Mr. Burke says he wants. The comments I have seen about Mr. Burke?s letter for the most part are negative at best. One person said that the tone and nature of the wording of Mr. Burke?s letter depict someone lecturing a child and expecting that people are simply supposed to believe the words no matter the facts. Mr. Burke also says, ?it, (the board), also recognizes its responsibility to do what is necessary to ensure mission fulfillment in the future.? I hope that is so, but we as consumers have not seen this yet. I believe you are all good people, but you are being misled by executive staff with different values and possibly different objectives. Mr. Burke says that the board has learned from this experience. Mr. Burke?s letter does not show that any learning has taken place. If you have learned then you must undertake your fiduciary responsibility and change the executive leadership of GDB. The current executive staff has lost all credibility and standing with the stakeholders of the organization and if you continue to support the current executive team and do not change the GDB executive leadership then you too will lose what standing you have with the GDB community and the blind population of the U.S. as well. Things have gone too far now for the GDB executive team. They will never be trusted again by blind people and other stakeholders. If you need to gather more information then please do so, but do NOT leave out consumers in your investigations. If the changes reacted to by your consumers were orchestrated by other executive staff members then the board needs to understand this. Mr. Hibbard now directs training, and it is our understanding that he is behind a lot of Mr. Lopez?s efforts. The consumers of your services have a collective experience that greatly exceeds the entire training experience of the GDB staff. At present there are, for example, consumers who have been using guide dogs far longer than your most experienced trainer has worked in the field. There is no record of any of these consumers ever being consulted prior to the changes being instituted, and there is no evidence that the board has conducted investigations with your most experienced consumers since the anger by stakeholders began. ?That said, we will be evaluating the program changes with a set of rigorous metrics based on our traditional program standards of the annual number and quality of working teams. We will track progress, or the lack of it, and make adjustments in order to achieve our goals.? [Michael Hingson] What does this mean? Metrics has nothing to do with the kinds of services we are discussing and concerned about. Yes, one can find ways to measure anything, but GDB already uses a set of complex and ?rigorous metrics? to evaluate ?progress? on a number of fronts. GDB, as Mr. Burke has said is a large and complex organization. The metrics are in place, but the services have deteriorated anyway. ?We will share evaluation results on a quarterly basis. We understand that trust and confidence in GDB executive leadership has been brought into question. The board is confident in the executive leadership of GDB. The board believes the changes that have taken place, some of which predate Paul?s arrival, are important to the ability of the organization to realize its mission.? [Michael Hingson] These comments tell us again that you do not believe that what we have brought to you matters. If we are to believe what Mr. Burke says in his correspondence then you are going to do nothing despite a huge number of unsupportive comments from an unprecedented number of stakeholders. I hope that you realize that doing nothing to address the concerns and issues brought to you by your consumers is as great a violation of your trust and your responsibility as can be imagined. There is nothing in Mr. Burke?s letter that addresses consumer involvement. All the letter says is that we shall get some kind of report. If you permit Mr. Burke to ignore consumers and allow the existing leadership of GDB to work unchecked then we must begin to wonder if it is also time for a change in board leadership and perhaps the board overall. In today?s world consumer input is crucial for any organization to operate effectively. ?At the same time, the board realizes fully that it is also important to do a much better job of communicating about such changes, as we intend to do moving forward. We are reaching out to the Alumni Association board to improve our communication and teamwork. A meeting is scheduled at the end of July to conduct a comprehensive discussion of the board-approved five-year strategic plan. The AA board?s involvement will help guide the development of the associated operational plans. We will continue to ensure that our alumni community and interests are represented through graduate participation on the GDB Board, as they are currently through our graduate board members. In the coming weeks and months, I believe you will see changes in our communications and approach all designed to deepen outreach to our constituents, rebuild relationships and refine leadership goals. The voice of all those who love and support the mission of GDB is important to us. We value and respect the role that the AA Board plays in making sure we hear and understand it. Your input and feedback will help all of us at GDB keep the focus on our graduates and on getting better in all that we do. Sincerely, Bob Burke Board Chair ? [Michael Hingson] It is my understanding from several on the Alumni Board that the GDB Board of directors already has demonstrated its value of communications with consumers by not following through on the request of the Alumni Board. Even after the May GDB board meeting with representatives of the Alumni Board no communications was sent to stakeholders. Change means that something different must be done in order to obtain a different outcome. Let me comment a bit on Mr. Burke?s letter as a whole. I have used terms to describe the letter such as ?condescending?. His letter is written as if from one businessperson to another and says little of substance. The letter is something more like what we expect from a politician during an interview with the press in which the politician says a lot that sounds good to the casual observer, but, in fact, they say nothing at all. One can only wonder if, in fact, Mr. Burke?s letter was created by the newly hired pr firm that GDB has brought on board. In fact, why is a pr firm needed at all? If Mr. Burke wrote this letter then his level of disconnect from the issues is significant and, again, it might be time to wonder if he is the person to lead the board. One more observation. Mr. Burke?s email came from the email alias gdbboardletter at guidedogs.com. Why not from Mr. Burke?s address or from a known alias representing the entire board? Several individuals have asked me about this and have indicated that if anyone writes back to Mr. Burke at gdbboardletter at guidedogs.com who will really get their letters? Please, this is not nit picking. This is how far trust has eroded. The fact that people question an email alias is distressful. I am sending you the foregoing as further input. I am horrified by the amount of private correspondence I have received since my first email to you which support what I said and which show just how disenchanted and unhappy people from all areas of GDB influence really are. It is time for an executive leadership and executive staff change at GDB. No matter how you evaluate the performance of Paul Lopez and his executive staff, if you do not take into account the views of stakeholders, some of whom have decades of personal experience in the GDB world, then you are not doing a complete study and are not fully taking into account the entire picture. Thank you for taking time to read my comments. I would be happy to speak with any of you about what I have said here. You may reach me via email at mike at michaelhingson.com or by phone at (415) 827-4084. I hope to hear from you in order to continue our communications. Thank you for your time. Best, Michael Hingson The Michael Hingson Group, INC. "Speaking with Vision" Michael Hingson, President (415) 827-4084 mike at michaelhingson.com To order Michael Hingson's new book, Thunder Dog, and check on Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit: www.michaelhingson.com ? To purchase your own portrait of Roselle painted by the world's foremost animal artist, Ron Burns, please visit http://www.ronburns.com/roselle From info at michaelhingson.com Fri Jun 28 20:11:40 2013 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 20:11:40 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FYI FW: a response to Bob Burke's email of last Friday Message-ID: <03a301ce7476$60cbb950$22632bf0$@com> Greetings all, Earlier this month I forwarded to you a letter I sent to the Board of Directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind expressing my concerns over actions the GDB leadership team has taken to the detriment of the program and the school's relationship with consumers. This past Friday the first communications from the Board was sent to consumers. Given that letter's total lack of substance I made the response you will see below. As back ground, since my first letter I have heard from many individuals including staff, volunteers, donors, and consumers all of whom expressed support for what I said. The staff comments were especially disconcerting since I heard that many at the school feared for their jobs and that the overall attitude of many of the workers was that of a disenchanted and fearful lot. I have seen emails from donors who indicate that they no longer shall give to the school. Consumers tell me they will not go back to GDB for training and new dogs. Blind workers, I understand, are most unhappy and fearful of all. I am sending this to you as Guide Dogs for the Blind has been one of the premiere organizations serving blind people in the United States and now it is coming across as one of the worst. This kind of information is important to you whether or not you use a guide dog. You should be aware of how important it is for us as concerned blind consumers and citizens to stay on top of what agencies purporting to serve us do and how they behave. I look forward to seeing many of you next week in Orlando. I am sure the GDB issue will be discussed and pondered. Best, Michael Hingson -----Original Message----- From: Michael Hingson [mailto:Mike at michaelhingson.com] Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 07:49 PM To: bburke at guidedogs.com; gkerscher at guidedogs.com; sodell at guidedogs.com; ruthann.dodson24 at gmail.com; jboyd at guidedogs.com; mwatkins at guidedogs.com; sbutton at guidedogs.com; dgershen at guidedogs.com; jharris at guidedogs.com; amathieson at guidedogs.com; smansfield at guidedogs.com; jackscott at guidedogs.com Cc: mike at michaelhingson.com Subject: a response to Bob Burke's email of last Friday Dear Members of the Board of Directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind, I am in receipt of the letter Bob Burke sent on Friday, June 21, 2013 to GDB alumni, (or consumers as we feel ourselves to be). We are consumers in every sense of the word as we are the ones who ?consume? GDB services and thus we have the greatest stake of all in insuring that Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. truly remains committed to and provides the highest standard of excellence in all aspects of its operation. It is in this vein of a concerned consumer who understands a great deal about the high standards usually attained by GDB that I write to you. Mr. Burke?s letter is extremely disappointing in many ways. I will enumerate my observations and concerns below and within the original correspondence from Mr. Burke. Here is the original email along with my comments. From: Bob Burke [mailto:gdbboardletter at guidedogs.com] Sent: Friday, June 21, 2013 04:22 PM To: mhingson at sbcglobal.net Subject: Communication from GDB Board ?Dear Alumni, As a GDB graduate your support and understanding is extraordinarily important to the board and leadership of GDB. We have a responsibility to earn that support and understanding with frank and ongoing communications.? [Michael Hingson] I appreciate the desire for frank communications. However, are communications really ongoing? I know that within the past few months over a hundred letters were written to the GDB board by consumers and other stakeholders of which not one individual received even one automatic form letter response. I am sure that the members of the board never expected the mountain of correspondences from consumers, but no responses from the board at all? The ongoing concept is questionable at best. ?You may have heard about recent and substantial changes to our programs, which resulted in the layoff of eight employees. GDB is a large and complex organization, and from time to time, change is required to respond to new economic and program environments.? [Michael Hingson] Now we begin with the issues about ?frank communications?. ?Change is required to respond to new economic and program environments?? What does this even have to do with the issues raised by your consumers? What economic environments especially since the GDB operating reserve grew in the past two years back to nearly or above the $300,000,000 number amount where it stood when the economic downturn began in 2008? Also, telling us that GDB is a ?large and complex organization? is condescending at best. We all know better than many how large, complex, and sophisticated GDB is. Those qualities are the very reasons the consumers now writing to you picked GDB as our guide dog provider of choice. Saying that GDB is a ?large and complex organization? is unfortunate and justifies nothing relating to the issues consumers have raised. As far as program changes are concerned you are the organ which thus far has supported the very ?changes? that GDB leadership is putting in place while your stakeholders are expressing outrage and telling you that the changes do not work and are not working. Even the back room call center is not responding to calls in a timely manner. It appears to us, your consumers, that you are not demonstrating sufficient oversight and care for GDB. You seem to be relying on a CEO who is misleading you and whose own staff fears to contact you for fear of reprisal from the CEO. You as the board have not reacted to the hundreds of emails and letters which have been sent to you and you have seemed to take no interest in the fact that over 500 stakeholders have publicly expressed their dissatisfaction on a public petition web site. ?However, we are also a community with a shared mission. I believe the board and GDB executive leadership are doing a good job of becoming an even more mission-driven organization, which is a wholly good thing in spirit and strategy. But, in execution, the way we announced the changes increased doubt instead of understanding.? [Michael Hingson] The fact is that the tide of objections from consumers began only in a small part because of the way GDB made the announcements, and you have been told this in countless letters. The changes themselves are the problem. The individuals who are making the ?changes? are also the problem. In addition, Mr. Burke says, ?I believe the board and GDB executive leadership are doing a good job of becoming an even more mission-driven organization, which is a wholly good thing in spirit and strategy? and this while consumers and stakeholders by the hundreds continue to question this assertion. Mr. Burke does not even recognize the comments and viewpoints of consumers. Instead he says that the board and executive leadership are doing a good job and it would appear that he expects this to be the end of it. Discounting your stakeholders shows just how far the board has become disconnected from the consumers it serves and it shows more than any other demonstration can provide why the current executive leadership does not understand the mission, values, and needs of GDB. The disconnect and lack of understanding are the true reasons for the distrust everyone has expressed to you. >From my experiences in sitting on and chairing boards in California it seems to me that the board is more loyal to Paul Lopez than it is to the organization as a whole. If so, this is unfortunate. ?The past few months have been challenging for GDB. The organization may have been well served but our community was not. Both the board and GDB leadership have learned from this experience and from your comments, questions and concerns. The board recognizes and honors its relationships with clients, puppy raisers, donors and volunteers; and it also recognizes its responsibility to do what is necessary to ensure mission fulfillment in the future.? [Michael Hingson] ?Well served?: Please understand that if the board and executive leadership of GDB believes Mr. Burke?s statements than you are the only ones who do. The evidence of the divergence between the opinions expressed by Mr. Burke and the consumers of GDB services is overwhelming. Saying that ?The board recognizes and honors its relationships with clients, puppy raisers, donors and volunteers? does not make it so. Unfortunately the very lack of communications over the past few months and the lack of substance of Mr. Burke?s letter to us at this time, I think, show the exact opposite of what Mr. Burke says he wants. The comments I have seen about Mr. Burke?s letter for the most part are negative at best. One person said that the tone and nature of the wording of Mr. Burke?s letter depict someone lecturing a child and expecting that people are simply supposed to believe the words no matter the facts. Mr. Burke also says, ?it, (the board), also recognizes its responsibility to do what is necessary to ensure mission fulfillment in the future.? I hope that is so, but we as consumers have not seen this yet. I believe you are all good people, but you are being misled by executive staff with different values and possibly different objectives. Mr. Burke says that the board has learned from this experience. Mr. Burke?s letter does not show that any learning has taken place. If you have learned then you must undertake your fiduciary responsibility and change the executive leadership of GDB. The current executive staff has lost all credibility and standing with the stakeholders of the organization and if you continue to support the current executive team and do not change the GDB executive leadership then you too will lose what standing you have with the GDB community and the blind population of the U.S. as well. Things have gone too far now for the GDB executive team. They will never be trusted again by blind people and other stakeholders. If you need to gather more information then please do so, but do NOT leave out consumers in your investigations. If the changes reacted to by your consumers were orchestrated by other executive staff members then the board needs to understand this. Mr. Hibbard now directs training, and it is our understanding that he is behind a lot of Mr. Lopez?s efforts. The consumers of your services have a collective experience that greatly exceeds the entire training experience of the GDB staff. At present there are, for example, consumers who have been using guide dogs far longer than your most experienced trainer has worked in the field. There is no record of any of these consumers ever being consulted prior to the changes being instituted, and there is no evidence that the board has conducted investigations with your most experienced consumers since the anger by stakeholders began. ?That said, we will be evaluating the program changes with a set of rigorous metrics based on our traditional program standards of the annual number and quality of working teams. We will track progress, or the lack of it, and make adjustments in order to achieve our goals.? [Michael Hingson] What does this mean? Metrics has nothing to do with the kinds of services we are discussing and concerned about. Yes, one can find ways to measure anything, but GDB already uses a set of complex and ?rigorous metrics? to evaluate ?progress? on a number of fronts. GDB, as Mr. Burke has said is a large and complex organization. The metrics are in place, but the services have deteriorated anyway. ?We will share evaluation results on a quarterly basis. We understand that trust and confidence in GDB executive leadership has been brought into question. The board is confident in the executive leadership of GDB. The board believes the changes that have taken place, some of which predate Paul?s arrival, are important to the ability of the organization to realize its mission.? [Michael Hingson] These comments tell us again that you do not believe that what we have brought to you matters. If we are to believe what Mr. Burke says in his correspondence then you are going to do nothing despite a huge number of unsupportive comments from an unprecedented number of stakeholders. I hope that you realize that doing nothing to address the concerns and issues brought to you by your consumers is as great a violation of your trust and your responsibility as can be imagined. There is nothing in Mr. Burke?s letter that addresses consumer involvement. All the letter says is that we shall get some kind of report. If you permit Mr. Burke to ignore consumers and allow the existing leadership of GDB to work unchecked then we must begin to wonder if it is also time for a change in board leadership and perhaps the board overall. In today?s world consumer input is crucial for any organization to operate effectively. ?At the same time, the board realizes fully that it is also important to do a much better job of communicating about such changes, as we intend to do moving forward. We are reaching out to the Alumni Association board to improve our communication and teamwork. A meeting is scheduled at the end of July to conduct a comprehensive discussion of the board-approved five-year strategic plan. The AA board?s involvement will help guide the development of the associated operational plans. We will continue to ensure that our alumni community and interests are represented through graduate participation on the GDB Board, as they are currently through our graduate board members. In the coming weeks and months, I believe you will see changes in our communications and approach all designed to deepen outreach to our constituents, rebuild relationships and refine leadership goals. The voice of all those who love and support the mission of GDB is important to us. We value and respect the role that the AA Board plays in making sure we hear and understand it. Your input and feedback will help all of us at GDB keep the focus on our graduates and on getting better in all that we do. Sincerely, Bob Burke Board Chair ? [Michael Hingson] It is my understanding from several on the Alumni Board that the GDB Board of directors already has demonstrated its value of communications with consumers by not following through on the request of the Alumni Board. Even after the May GDB board meeting with representatives of the Alumni Board no communications was sent to stakeholders. Change means that something different must be done in order to obtain a different outcome. Let me comment a bit on Mr. Burke?s letter as a whole. I have used terms to describe the letter such as ?condescending?. His letter is written as if from one businessperson to another and says little of substance. The letter is something more like what we expect from a politician during an interview with the press in which the politician says a lot that sounds good to the casual observer, but, in fact, they say nothing at all. One can only wonder if, in fact, Mr. Burke?s letter was created by the newly hired pr firm that GDB has brought on board. In fact, why is a pr firm needed at all? If Mr. Burke wrote this letter then his level of disconnect from the issues is significant and, again, it might be time to wonder if he is the person to lead the board. One more observation. Mr. Burke?s email came from the email alias gdbboardletter at guidedogs.com. Why not from Mr. Burke?s address or from a known alias representing the entire board? Several individuals have asked me about this and have indicated that if anyone writes back to Mr. Burke at gdbboardletter at guidedogs.com who will really get their letters? Please, this is not nit picking. This is how far trust has eroded. The fact that people question an email alias is distressful. I am sending you the foregoing as further input. I am horrified by the amount of private correspondence I have received since my first email to you which support what I said and which show just how disenchanted and unhappy people from all areas of GDB influence really are. It is time for an executive leadership and executive staff change at GDB. No matter how you evaluate the performance of Paul Lopez and his executive staff, if you do not take into account the views of stakeholders, some of whom have decades of personal experience in the GDB world, then you are not doing a complete study and are not fully taking into account the entire picture. Thank you for taking time to read my comments. I would be happy to speak with any of you about what I have said here. You may reach me via email at mike at michaelhingson.com or by phone at (415) 827-4084. I hope to hear from you in order to continue our communications. Thank you for your time. Best, Michael Hingson The Michael Hingson Group, INC. "Speaking with Vision" Michael Hingson, President (415) 827-4084 mike at michaelhingson.com To order Michael Hingson's new book, Thunder Dog, and check on Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit: www.michaelhingson.com ? To purchase your own portrait of Roselle painted by the world's foremost animal artist, Ron Burns, please visit http://www.ronburns.com/roselle From margo.downey at verizon.net Fri Jun 28 20:49:55 2013 From: margo.downey at verizon.net (Margo and Arrow) Date: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 03:49:55 -0000 Subject: [Cagdu] [nagdu] FYI FW: a response to Bob Burke's email of last Friday In-Reply-To: <039401ce7475$81ce4e20$856aea60$@com> References: <039401ce7475$81ce4e20$856aea60$@com> Message-ID: <000001ce747b$ae702e70$0b508b50$@verizon.net> Michael, very well written. It seems as though their Board is locked into what they believe is correct. I think that actions on the part of the various stakeholder groups will hopefully show them that they need to take stakeholders seriously. Margo and Arrow -----Original Message----- From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael Hingson Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 11:05 PM To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'; 'Cagdu'; gdblounge at yahoogroups.com; 'NFB of California List'; 'NFB Talk Mailing List' Cc: mike at michaelhingson.com Subject: [nagdu] FYI FW: a response to Bob Burke's email of last Friday Greetings all, Earlier this month I forwarded to you a letter I sent to the Board of Directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind expressing my concerns over actions the GDB leadership team has taken to the detriment of the program and the school's relationship with consumers. This past Friday the first communications from the Board was sent to consumers. Given that letter's total lack of substance I made the response you will see below. As back ground, since my first letter I have heard from many individuals including staff, volunteers, donors, and consumers all of whom expressed support for what I said. The staff comments were especially disconcerting since I heard that many at the school feared for their jobs and that the overall attitude of many of the workers was that of a disenchanted and fearful lot. I have seen emails from donors who indicate that they no longer shall give to the school. Consumers tell me they will not go back to GDB for training and new dogs. Blind workers, I understand, are most unhappy and fearful of all. I am sending this to you as Guide Dogs for the Blind has been one of the premiere organizations serving blind people in the United States and now it is coming across as one of the worst. This kind of information is important to you whether or not you use a guide dog. You should be aware of how important it is for us as concerned blind consumers and citizens to stay on top of what agencies purporting to serve us do and how they behave. I look forward to seeing many of you next week in Orlando. I am sure the GDB issue will be discussed and pondered. Best, Michael Hingson -----Original Message----- From: Michael Hingson [mailto:Mike at michaelhingson.com] Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 07:49 PM To: bburke at guidedogs.com; gkerscher at guidedogs.com; sodell at guidedogs.com; ruthann.dodson24 at gmail.com; jboyd at guidedogs.com; mwatkins at guidedogs.com; sbutton at guidedogs.com; dgershen at guidedogs.com; jharris at guidedogs.com; amathieson at guidedogs.com; smansfield at guidedogs.com; jackscott at guidedogs.com Cc: mike at michaelhingson.com Subject: a response to Bob Burke's email of last Friday Dear Members of the Board of Directors of Guide Dogs for the Blind, I am in receipt of the letter Bob Burke sent on Friday, June 21, 2013 to GDB alumni, (or consumers as we feel ourselves to be). We are consumers in every sense of the word as we are the ones who ?consume? GDB services and thus we have the greatest stake of all in insuring that Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. truly remains committed to and provides the highest standard of excellence in all aspects of its operation. It is in this vein of a concerned consumer who understands a great deal about the high standards usually attained by GDB that I write to you. Mr. Burke?s letter is extremely disappointing in many ways. I will enumerate my observations and concerns below and within the original correspondence from Mr. Burke. Here is the original email along with my comments. From: Bob Burke [mailto:gdbboardletter at guidedogs.com] Sent: Friday, June 21, 2013 04:22 PM To: mhingson at sbcglobal.net Subject: Communication from GDB Board ?Dear Alumni, As a GDB graduate your support and understanding is extraordinarily important to the board and leadership of GDB. We have a responsibility to earn that support and understanding with frank and ongoing communications.? [Michael Hingson] I appreciate the desire for frank communications. However, are communications really ongoing? I know that within the past few months over a hundred letters were written to the GDB board by consumers and other stakeholders of which not one individual received even one automatic form letter response. I am sure that the members of the board never expected the mountain of correspondences from consumers, but no responses from the board at all? The ongoing concept is questionable at best. ?You may have heard about recent and substantial changes to our programs, which resulted in the layoff of eight employees. GDB is a large and complex organization, and from time to time, change is required to respond to new economic and program environments.? [Michael Hingson] Now we begin with the issues about ?frank communications?. ?Change is required to respond to new economic and program environments?? What does this even have to do with the issues raised by your consumers? What economic environments especially since the GDB operating reserve grew in the past two years back to nearly or above the $300,000,000 number amount where it stood when the economic downturn began in 2008? Also, telling us that GDB is a ?large and complex organization? is condescending at best. We all know better than many how large, complex, and sophisticated GDB is. Those qualities are the very reasons the consumers now writing to you picked GDB as our guide dog provider of choice. Saying that GDB is a ?large and complex organization? is unfortunate and justifies nothing relating to the issues consumers have raised. As far as program changes are concerned you are the organ which thus far has supported the very ?changes? that GDB leadership is putting in place while your stakeholders are expressing outrage and telling you that the changes do not work and are not working. Even the back room call center is not responding to calls in a timely manner. It appears to us, your consumers, that you are not demonstrating sufficient oversight and care for GDB. You seem to be relying on a CEO who is misleading you and whose own staff fears to contact you for fear of reprisal from the CEO. You as the board have not reacted to the hundreds of emails and letters which have been sent to you and you have seemed to take no interest in the fact that over 500 stakeholders have publicly expressed their dissatisfaction on a public petition web site. ?However, we are also a community with a shared mission. I believe the board and GDB executive leadership are doing a good job of becoming an even more mission-driven organization, which is a wholly good thing in spirit and strategy. But, in execution, the way we announced the changes increased doubt instead of understanding.? [Michael Hingson] The fact is that the tide of objections from consumers began only in a small part because of the way GDB made the announcements, and you have been told this in countless letters. The changes themselves are the problem. The individuals who are making the ?changes? are also the problem. In addition, Mr. Burke says, ?I believe the board and GDB executive leadership are doing a good job of becoming an even more mission-driven organization, which is a wholly good thing in spirit and strategy? and this while consumers and stakeholders by the hundreds continue to question this assertion. Mr. Burke does not even recognize the comments and viewpoints of consumers. Instead he says that the board and executive leadership are doing a good job and it would appear that he expects this to be the end of it. Discounting your stakeholders shows just how far the board has become disconnected from the consumers it serves and it shows more than any other demonstration can provide why the current executive leadership does not understand the mission, values, and needs of GDB. The disconnect and lack of understanding are the true reasons for the distrust everyone has expressed to you. >From my experiences in sitting on and chairing boards in California it seems to me that the board is more loyal to Paul Lopez than it is to the organization as a whole. If so, this is unfortunate. ?The past few months have been challenging for GDB. The organization may have been well served but our community was not. Both the board and GDB leadership have learned from this experience and from your comments, questions and concerns. The board recognizes and honors its relationships with clients, puppy raisers, donors and volunteers; and it also recognizes its responsibility to do what is necessary to ensure mission fulfillment in the future.? [Michael Hingson] ?Well served?: Please understand that if the board and executive leadership of GDB believes Mr. Burke?s statements than you are the only ones who do. The evidence of the divergence between the opinions expressed by Mr. Burke and the consumers of GDB services is overwhelming. Saying that ?The board recognizes and honors its relationships with clients, puppy raisers, donors and volunteers? does not make it so. Unfortunately the very lack of communications over the past few months and the lack of substance of Mr. Burke?s letter to us at this time, I think, show the exact opposite of what Mr. Burke says he wants. The comments I have seen about Mr. Burke?s letter for the most part are negative at best. One person said that the tone and nature of the wording of Mr. Burke?s letter depict someone lecturing a child and expecting that people are simply supposed to believe the words no matter the facts. Mr. Burke also says, ?it, (the board), also recognizes its responsibility to do what is necessary to ensure mission fulfillment in the future.? I hope that is so, but we as consumers have not seen this yet. I believe you are all good people, but you are being misled by executive staff with different values and possibly different objectives. Mr. Burke says that the board has learned from this experience. Mr. Burke?s letter does not show that any learning has taken place. If you have learned then you must undertake your fiduciary responsibility and change the executive leadership of GDB. The current executive staff has lost all credibility and standing with the stakeholders of the organization and if you continue to support the current executive team and do not change the GDB executive leadership then you too will lose what standing you have with the GDB community and the blind population of the U.S. as well. Things have gone too far now for the GDB executive team. They will never be trusted again by blind people and other stakeholders. If you need to gather more information then please do so, but do NOT leave out consumers in your investigations. If the changes reacted to by your consumers were orchestrated by other executive staff members then the board needs to understand this. Mr. Hibbard now directs training, and it is our understanding that he is behind a lot of Mr. Lopez?s efforts. The consumers of your services have a collective experience that greatly exceeds the entire training experience of the GDB staff. At present there are, for example, consumers who have been using guide dogs far longer than your most experienced trainer has worked in the field. There is no record of any of these consumers ever being consulted prior to the changes being instituted, and there is no evidence that the board has conducted investigations with your most experienced consumers since the anger by stakeholders began. ?That said, we will be evaluating the program changes with a set of rigorous metrics based on our traditional program standards of the annual number and quality of working teams. We will track progress, or the lack of it, and make adjustments in order to achieve our goals.? [Michael Hingson] What does this mean? Metrics has nothing to do with the kinds of services we are discussing and concerned about. Yes, one can find ways to measure anything, but GDB already uses a set of complex and ?rigorous metrics? to evaluate ?progress? on a number of fronts. GDB, as Mr. Burke has said is a large and complex organization. The metrics are in place, but the services have deteriorated anyway. ?We will share evaluation results on a quarterly basis. We understand that trust and confidence in GDB executive leadership has been brought into question. The board is confident in the executive leadership of GDB. The board believes the changes that have taken place, some of which predate Paul?s arrival, are important to the ability of the organization to realize its mission.? [Michael Hingson] These comments tell us again that you do not believe that what we have brought to you matters. If we are to believe what Mr. Burke says in his correspondence then you are going to do nothing despite a huge number of unsupportive comments from an unprecedented number of stakeholders. I hope that you realize that doing nothing to address the concerns and issues brought to you by your consumers is as great a violation of your trust and your responsibility as can be imagined. There is nothing in Mr. Burke?s letter that addresses consumer involvement. All the letter says is that we shall get some kind of report. If you permit Mr. Burke to ignore consumers and allow the existing leadership of GDB to work unchecked then we must begin to wonder if it is also time for a change in board leadership and perhaps the board overall. In today?s world consumer input is crucial for any organization to operate effectively. ?At the same time, the board realizes fully that it is also important to do a much better job of communicating about such changes, as we intend to do moving forward. We are reaching out to the Alumni Association board to improve our communication and teamwork. A meeting is scheduled at the end of July to conduct a comprehensive discussion of the board-approved five-year strategic plan. The AA board?s involvement will help guide the development of the associated operational plans. We will continue to ensure that our alumni community and interests are represented through graduate participation on the GDB Board, as they are currently through our graduate board members. In the coming weeks and months, I believe you will see changes in our communications and approach all designed to deepen outreach to our constituents, rebuild relationships and refine leadership goals. The voice of all those who love and support the mission of GDB is important to us. We value and respect the role that the AA Board plays in making sure we hear and understand it. Your input and feedback will help all of us at GDB keep the focus on our graduates and on getting better in all that we do. Sincerely, Bob Burke Board Chair ? [Michael Hingson] It is my understanding from several on the Alumni Board that the GDB Board of directors already has demonstrated its value of communications with consumers by not following through on the request of the Alumni Board. Even after the May GDB board meeting with representatives of the Alumni Board no communications was sent to stakeholders. Change means that something different must be done in order to obtain a different outcome. Let me comment a bit on Mr. Burke?s letter as a whole. I have used terms to describe the letter such as ?condescending?. His letter is written as if from one businessperson to another and says little of substance. The letter is something more like what we expect from a politician during an interview with the press in which the politician says a lot that sounds good to the casual observer, but, in fact, they say nothing at all. One can only wonder if, in fact, Mr. Burke?s letter was created by the newly hired pr firm that GDB has brought on board. In fact, why is a pr firm needed at all? If Mr. Burke wrote this letter then his level of disconnect from the issues is significant and, again, it might be time to wonder if he is the person to lead the board. One more observation. Mr. Burke?s email came from the email alias gdbboardletter at guidedogs.com. Why not from Mr. Burke?s address or from a known alias representing the entire board? Several individuals have asked me about this and have indicated that if anyone writes back to Mr. Burke at gdbboardletter at guidedogs.com who will really get their letters? Please, this is not nit picking. This is how far trust has eroded. The fact that people question an email alias is distressful. I am sending you the foregoing as further input. I am horrified by the amount of private correspondence I have received since my first email to you which support what I said and which show just how disenchanted and unhappy people from all areas of GDB influence really are. It is time for an executive leadership and executive staff change at GDB. No matter how you evaluate the performance of Paul Lopez and his executive staff, if you do not take into account the views of stakeholders, some of whom have decades of personal experience in the GDB world, then you are not doing a complete study and are not fully taking into account the entire picture. Thank you for taking time to read my comments. I would be happy to speak with any of you about what I have said here. You may reach me via email at mike at michaelhingson.com or by phone at (415) 827-4084. I hope to hear from you in order to continue our communications. Thank you for your time. Best, Michael Hingson The Michael Hingson Group, INC. "Speaking with Vision" Michael Hingson, President (415) 827-4084 mike at michaelhingson.com To order Michael Hingson's new book, Thunder Dog, and check on Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit: www.michaelhingson.com ? To purchase your own portrait of Roselle painted by the world's foremost animal artist, Ron Burns, please visit http://www.ronburns.com/roselle _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/margo.downey%40verizon.ne t