ACBGE and Employment Committee Want You to Bring Your Resume
Hey, hey! Bring your resume! ACBGE and the Employment Committee are sponsoring a workshop that will allow you to work one-on-one with a human resource specialist. Joanne McIntyre has over 20 years of experience working in the HR field. And she will be able to meet with you and assist you with your resume at convention! To schedule an appointment with Joanne, contact Judy Jackson via email, [email protected], or call (940) 255-9241. Appointments must be made prior to convention and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Joanne will also be our guest speaker during the ACBGE annual luncheon.
BRL Now Has a Facebook Page!
League (BRL) is an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. Check out their newly established Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/BrailleRevivalLeague
BRL welcomes any person, blind or sighted, who believes in and is willing to work for the furtherance of braille as the primary medium of literacy for people who are blind or for whom braille is a viable method for reading and writing to become a member of this exciting affiliate. BRL is a membership organization whose purpose is to promote the teaching, production and the broader acceptance and use of braille as the primary tool of literacy for people who are blind. Its membership is comprised of braille users, teachers, transcribers, braille producers and other individuals who are proponents and supporters of braille. BRL believes braille instruction should be available in all schools and other educational facilities to students who are blind or functionally blind and that the mastering of braille should become a required and integral part of the curriculum for the training of prospective teachers of students who are blind.
GDUI Convention Features Three Dog Night Raffle, BarkaLounge, And More
The GDUI convention will take place from Sunday, July 7 through Wednesday, July 10. Big thanks to the convention program planning team: Lynn Merrill; Sarah Calhoun; Nara Murphy; Maria Hansen; Penny Reeder and Andrea Giudice.
A few courtesy reminders from Mr. A. (Andrea’s guide):
- Keep your dog on a short leash when out and about in the hotel.
- Give your guide dog a chance to relieve at least twice as often. The water is different from home, there’s lots of excitement, the schedule is more hectic than at home, etc.
- And please remember to pick up after us. I get so embarrassed by what my mom says when she steps in poop!
- Convention is one of the most stressful working environments for us guide dogs. Give us every opportunity to be successful.
Get tickets for the Three Dog Night Raffle. This year we have three plush dogs wearing beautiful, hand-crafted leather Hava Original harnesses available! To purchase tickets via phone, call Sarah Calhoun at 1-866-799-8436. During convention, tickets will be available in the BarkaLounge.
GDUI BarkaLounge hours:
Sunday, July 7, noon to 5 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday, July 8 and 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, July 10, 9 a.m. to noon.
Sunday, July 7th, the BarkaLounge opens at noon. Kick back and enjoy; socialize, purchase cool products, get your guide a restorative canine massage, and, best of all, the lovely Louisville Ladies (Miss Jane and Miss Connie), the queens of the BarkaLounge, will be there to help.
Carla, canine massage therapist, will be available only during BarkaLounge hours this year. To schedule time for your dog’s massage, call her at (650) 678-0884.
GDUI is partnering with Genesee Community College to provide nail trimming and ear cleaning. This complimentary service will also be available during BarkaLounge hours.
Sunday’s first session runs from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. It’s titled “Help Your Dog Adjust to Convention Life.” The presenter is Becky Barnes Davidson, Consumer Outreach, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Get tips on dealing with the relief areas, other guide teams, canes, finding help, and conquering convention chaos!
GDUI’s Hotel Orientation runs from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. This is for guide dog users only, and will be provided by guide dog school staff and trained volunteers.
GDUI’s board meeting runs from 3 to 4 p.m., followed by a meet-and-greet with the GDUI board from 4 to 5 p.m.
The live auction preview begins at 3:30 and ends at 6 p.m. Check out all the cool, interesting items that will cross the auction block! Volunteers will be available to assist with describing items. (Note: GDUI is not responsible for shipping any auction items.)
Doors open for the live auction at 6:45 p.m. A cash bar will be available. The auction begins at 7 p.m. It will have all the things you love about auctions - a vast array of items to encourage bidding battles, a cash bar, and … much laughter! Stay tuned to the GDUI Announce list for teasers about items in this year’s auction.
Start your Monday off right with the GDUI Morning Bark. Join the group for a community run for kibbles, coffee and conversation. Enjoy mingling and sharing stories with guide dog school grads and staff from across the country. All are welcome.
Again Monday, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., GDUI will hold its hotel orientation (for guide dog users only). See Sunday’s description for details. The BarkaLounge opens at 10 a.m.
Monday’s first session kicks off at 1:15 p.m. Give a quick intro for yourself and your dog, count how many fellow grads are from your school, how many of the same breed of dog are in the room, learn which friends have returned for another year, and hear important announcements regarding GDUI2019.
Session 2 starts at 2:45 p.m., and is called “Moans, Groans and Grumbles.” Presenters to be announced.
Not sure which food your guide dog should be eating? Then come to session 3 from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. Dr. Renee M. Streeter, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, will sort it all out for you and your guide.
At 5:45 p.m., come and check out how to access graphics in a new way with Midlina! The presenter is Dr. Hari Prasath Palani, CEO of UNAR Labs, LLC. UNAR Labs is an early-stage start-up company developing products with the aim of providing blind and visually impaired people seamless access to digital media, from graphs to maps to text. We do this with our AI powered software platform, Midlina, which instantly transforms digital media content on your smartphone into a multi-sensory output perceivable through haptic (active touch), auditory, gestures, and enhanced visual feedback.
Join us again Tuesday morning for the breakfast run. The BarkaLounge will open at 10 a.m.
Hear some tall tales straight from the dog’s mouth from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. Guide dog school representatives will talk about how they do what it is that we are so grateful they do!
Do your hackles go up when there’s a news story about service dogs (not guide dogs)? Drop in from 2:45 to 4 p.m. for “When Us and Them Becomes We!” Presenters Veronica Morris and Bradley W. Morris will talk about the panel at Top Dog that opened the door to conversations about how the guide dog community relates to the broader service dog community. Bring your questions and be prepared for unexpected answers in a conversation with a wheelchair user and a psychiatric service dog user from Psychiatric Service Dog Partners! Prepare to be surprised!
Concerned about pedestrian safety? Had a run-in with a quiet car, or a distracted driver? Come to “Stop! Look! Listen!,” a pedestrian safety panel discussion, at 4:15 p.m. Representatives from guide dog schools will share tips and provide reminders on how to navigate.
Are you more of a techie? Come check out “Top Ten Technology Treasures” with Steve Famiglietti from 5:45 to 7 p.m. There are many pieces of technology available to help people with low vision or blindness as they go through different phases of their lives. Each day, we are presented with many challenges ranging from equal access during school to staying healthy and fit. We’ll learn about exciting new developments, apps, and tech supports addressing the needs of individuals with visual impairments.
Wednesday morning, join us for the morning bark at 6:45 a.m. All are welcome. The BarkaLounge opens at 9 a.m. – and you’ll only have an hour to purchase your raffle tickets for the Three Dog Night Raffle! Tickets are 3 for $5 and 7 for $10; winners will be announced during the luncheon.
The GDUI luncheon will be held from 12:15 to 2:30 p.m. It features a keynote address and awards presentations. Lynn Merrill and Chris Eastwood will share their tale, “Quest to Conquer Katahdin, the Appalachian Trail’s End!” You will also have the opportunity to send up a cheer for the 2019 GDUI award winners. Get your tickets early - this year’s luncheon will sell out fast!
For more information, teasers and updates, go to https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-convention-2019/.