“Pins for Pups” Rolls in Dollars to Support Guides and Puppy Raisers

The Rocky Rovers GDB alumni chapter in Colorado held its Third Annual Pins for Pups and have raised nearly $6,000 over the past three years to support Colorado GDB alumni and puppy raisers and national Guide Dogs for the Blind projects.

Seventeen GDB alumni, puppy raisers and their friends and family came out to Crown Bowling Lanes in Denver to participate in our chapter fund raiser. We had a ton of fun as well!  Two lanes were set up with rails for those folks who were totally blind to be able to find their way to their lane and hopefully send the ball down on the correct lane.

Our guide dogs and puppies-in-training sat patiently while their handlers rolled down the lanes in hopes of winning prizes for the highest overall score. The top award for guide handler went to our chapter president, Andre Van Hall. Michael Brobst won the prize for highest score for the puppy raisers. The grand prize for raising the most funds by a guide handler was a weekend night for two at the Hyatt, Downtown Denver and was won by Richard Faubion. The top prize for the puppy raiser who raised the most money was Barb Wells.

Funds raised by Pins for Pups, as well as special donations from Colorado alumni, puppy raisers and their friends, were donated to GDB to support the new dorm facility at the San Rafael campus, $1,545. Funds have also been used to buy two harnesses, $700 total, to honor two local puppy raiser clubs who have raisers active in the Rocky Rovers group: Have Paws, Will Travel and Liberty on Leashes.

With over $2,900 in our chapter account at the end of 2014, these funds will help underwrite our annual Holiday Party; $500 is planned to be donated to GDB for the new Whelping Complex in San Rafael; and a $500 scholarship will be offered to a guide dog handler who would like to attend the Portland Alumni Reunion in 2015.

We request that any Colorado guide user who has a request for support to please contact the Rocky Rover’s leadership by calling 720-207-8362. Our GDB Colorado Rocky Rovers chapter continues to have wonderful social events while raising money to make a difference for folks impacted by vision loss across Colorado and the United States!

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Foggy Doggies Enjoy a Day at Angel Island

By: Maile George, Alumni Association Board Co-chair

Autumn is one of the best times of year on the San Francisco bay, and the Foggy Doggies day on the bay began promising pure magic. Members of this San Francisco Alumni chapter and their friends traveled via bus, rail, para transit and private car with their guide dogs from counties south, east and north of San Francisco and arrived on ferry docks in Oakland, San Francisco and Tiburon. Guide dogs confidently led their handlers along piers onto creaky gangways, beside other passengers and onto the ferry to seats where they were exposed to the salty air.

When the boats arrived, the guide dog teams disembarked and ranger/interpreter Casey Dexter Lee welcomed the Foggy Doggies ashore. One interesting fact about Angel Island is that no dogs are allowed except service dogs. After introductions, the group walked to picnic tables on which Casey had previously arranged various specimens of plants. The group enjoyed smelling, touching and looking at Eucalyptus pods and leaves, Toyon, Bay Laurel, Buckeye, Norfolk pine, Oak and many other native and non-native plants.

To illustrate the long history of Angel Island in a tactile way, Casey allowed each person to touch representative symbols of the history of Angel Island. She asked the group to identify what each object represented. There was a slightly concave wooden platter that was used for proofing bread, a canteen that could have belonged to a World War 1 veteran, a replica of a Japanese poem carved into the wall at the immigration detention station, and a Nike running shoe to symbolize the Nike Missile Base located on the island from 1954 until it was decommissioned in 1962. Finally, Casey treated the group to homemade silver dollar sized pancakes made from acorn flour she’d processed by pounding acorns into a meal.  She processed it in a similar way to how the earliest inhabitants of Angel Island, the Native American Miwok did.

After this unique science and history lesson, Casey turned the group loose to eat lunch in Ayala Cove. Once again, guide dogs expertly guided  their handlers past visitors eating grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, fish tacos, oysters on the half shell, chili, and sandwiches purchased from the café. After lunch, some guide dog teams headed off for a hike, while others relaxed, enjoying the natural beauty of the San Francisco bay.

All too quickly, it was time to head back to the ferry dock where the Foggy Doggie teams would travel home via their various modes of transportation, the dogs anxious for their well-deserved dinners! One chapter member commented that he had never had the opportunity to go to Angel Island, and he was grateful to be a part of an alumni chapter that provided him with an opportunity to do something he’d always wanted to do and to make the trip independently. Other members expressed some trepidation ahead of time about traveling to a new area, but felt that with the support of other guide dog handlers, they were excited about taking advantage of the opportunity to have some fun.

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Mommies with Guides – Alumni Chapter Update

By: GDB graduate Tracy Boyd

Spring and summer were packed full of events for Mommies with Guides (MWG)! After making a splash in our Real Simple magazine article and appearing on the Portland area news, our focus turned to grass roots work. In May, MWG was privileged to be invited to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Pinot and Pups Gala in which record breaking funds were raised to support GDB programs.

Two events in June included substantial walks with our guides, families, and friends. The Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade walk was four miles long and the dogs did a fantastic job! We were proud to represent GDB and pleased with the number of observers and news outlets that recognized GDB. The second event in June was the Glen Neighborhood Fair, where we did some fundraising – selling our beautiful bracelets as well as print copies of the painting “The Guide” which is a wonderful depiction beautifully capturing the independence a guide dog provides to a mother of young children. Our Final June event was the Oregon Vision Walk for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. That walk was only three miles and we were joined by many new faces to MWG.  Our group was over 50 participant’s strong including family and friends. MWG even took away three awards for largest group, most team spirit, and best t-shirts! It was very satisfying to lend our support to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the Oregon Vision Walk, which raised $39,000 (MWG is proud to say we raised $1,100), plus we had fun contributing to such a worthwhile cause. We also received a generous sponsorship for 60 MWG t-shirts from Gresham Ford.

Mommies with Guides took a collective break in July so members could recharge and spend time with family. Our work takes on a different intensity when the kiddos are home in the summer and it helps to keep them busy with activities. In late August, members of MWG attended Oral Hull Fund Day. Oral Hull is a park located in the outskirts of Portland, Oregon which is designed specifically for the low vision and blind community. This event was the primary fundraiser for the park and included: a BBQ lunch, many vendors, games for kids and live music. As fall quickly approaches, MWG intends to keep up the pace. A picnic was planned in late September at a member's home and it was a chance to just socialize and not worry about an organized event. Tentative plans this month include a Harvest weekend at Oral Hull park for members and our families. MWG will join the Alumni Chapter Raining Canines for a couple of events in November and December. Other events are likely to be scheduled as the season progresses. In between these events, MWG members meet via conference call on a monthly basis. Our group is unique as it includes mommies with guide dogs in many different regions of the United States, although the founding members are from the Portland area.

We look forward to sharing experiences with and supporting each other as well as educating the general public around us! You can also check us out of Facebook: www.facebook.com/mommieswithguides

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GDB Fun Day in San Diego!

By: Juliet Cody, San Diego Surf Dogs Alumni Chapter President

Finally the weather report said we are going to get rain – something we have been longing for in Southern California for a while. However, GDB Fun Day in San Diego was going to take place that Saturday, so I’m sure the GDB puppy raisers, guide-dog/ handler teams, and all the new little puppies were hoping the rain would stop before then.

It rained hard all night, but when my guide-dog Jura woke me up early to eat her breakfast, the rain had stopped. “Good,” I thought to myself…but, when I opened the back door to relieve her, I felt a blast of cold wind and the yard was soaked. As I was getting ready and sipping my coffee I thought, “I hope it warms up and it doesn’t rain” – the puppy raisers had worked so hard on the preparations for this special day.

By the time everyone got to The South Oceanside Elementary School, where the event was held, the day began to blossom. The Fun Day kicked off with Starbucks’ coffee and breakfast snacks as another beautiful day in paradise had begun. The sun came out, and more folks and puppies were popping in – puppy raisers had wasted no time in getting the word out! Some had their guide dog puppies, while others had career change dogs. Pat Salzarulo, a puppy raiser from San Diego, was there with her career change dog Cabo who is now a therapy dog. He works at the court houses in San Diego and his job is to sit at the stand with the children who are testifying in front of the judge and jury. Cabo’s presence helps to calm the children, so that they can give their testimony. Along with Cabo, Pat brought her new yellow Lab puppy in training, Sabrina. Guide-dog/handler teams from our GDB Alumni Chapter – San Diego Surf Dogs were there: showing off their beautiful guides, displaying electronics for the blind, and making braille name tags for donations to help the clubs. The Oceanside Police were also there with their rescue dog, an intelligent German Sheppard who was demonstrating his important job.

The Puppy Clubs from San Diego, Temecula, and Orange County held an auction and brought an array of gorgeous baskets, ceramics, paintings and homemade doggy beds! After a yummy lunch, it was the main event – the distribution of the new guide dog puppies. The GDB Puppy Truck with seven puppies arrived and everyone gathered. GDB Community Field Representative Rick Wilcox began announcing the puppy raisers’ names and introduced the puppy they would be receiving. And yes, the puppies were adorable and it was so exciting! I saw at first hand the joy, instant love, strong dedication, and the solid bond between the raisers and the puppies. 

Big group photo of everyone and their puppies/dogs in front of the GDB Puppy Truck

 

Sharing this time with our puppy raisers exposed me to a clearer vision of what GDB is all about: the giving and taking, the donations that run the program, the puppy raisers that play such a major role, and the guide dog handlers who are able to expand their life to new challenges – we are all playing an important role in crucial situations and the rewards are endless.

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Guiding Through Electric Lights in Temecula Parade

By: Juliet Cody and Peter Mansell - Presidents of GDB's San Diego Alumni Chapter

Puppy raisers from Temecula, CA, Kevin and Cathy Capone, last year arranged for the puppy raising groups in Southern California to participate in Temecula’s Electric Light Parade. The Capones have access to provide a parade float, which last year all puppy raisers helped to decorate and it was beautiful. Everyone marched, and the parade was a success. However afterward, they all felt that something was missing. This year, when planning the parade they came to the conclusion that it was us, the guides and their handlers, that were missing in the parade. They agreed that displaying the cute puppies to promote GDB was good: but better yet, showing off the cute dog handlers with our well-trained guide dogs guiding would make it spectacular! We got a call from Pat Salzarulo, a puppy raiser in San Diego, inviting all of our alumni chapter teams to the parade. It didn’t take long for the invitation to get around, and it took even less time for the handlers and their guide dogs to get excited!

The evening of the parade was bitter cold and perfect to match our theme. The GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND sign glowed and put the spotlight on our message.

 

The puppy raisers received us at the staging point with sandwiches, chips, cookies and drinks. Most of us had never met before, but when the night was over we were a family.

 

Photo descriptions: 1) Puppy raisers and GDB graduates ride on the float together with their puppies and dogs 2) Sign reads on truck with GDB logo: Volunteer Puppy Raisers - Southern CA. "Raise a puppy...change a life." 3) Big group shot made up of puppy raisers with their puppies and GDB graduates with their guide dogs.

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Alumni Connections: Introducing Mommies with Guides

By: Melissa Hudson, Chapter Coordinator & Tracy Boyd, Mommies With Guides Alumni Chapter President

As promised in a previous blog post, here is an overview/introduction to our newest Guide Dogs for the Blind Alumni Chapter. They were unanimously voted in by the Alumni Association Board of Directors at our last Board meeting on December 7, 2013. Congratulations and welcome to the "family"! 

Mommies with Guides is the newest Alumni Chapter with Guide Dogs for the Blind. We are located in the Greater Metropolitan area in beautifully, green Portland, Oregon. We meet once a month via conference call and at least four times a year at mutually decided upon locations. Currently, Mommies with Guides is comprised of women who are: all guide dog handlers and mothers (some are married and some are single), but by no means is this chapter an exclusively a "women's only chapter". We welcome and strongly encourage: dads, grandparents both male and female, as well as those who are blind and considering having children to join our chapter.

Mommies with Guides has provided a source of support for its members, not only for the trials and tribulations of everyday life but rather, the nuts and bolts of keeping the proverbial wheel of life in motion. This chapter has provided a platform where our children can bond and build friendships with other children who have parents who are blind. Members can share challenges, give advice or just lend an empathetic ear to things like: relationships, child rearing, eye diseases, pain management and even guide dog concerns and joys.

Most of us can say we know a blind person, some can even say they know a guide dog handler, some even know a blind mom and/or dad, but how many people really know more then one blind parent who has a guide dog? We only really knew one other than ourselves before meeting these extraordinary ladies. We are more than a group of blind, inspirational, guide dog using mommies, we are bound by the ties we share. Our blindness does not define us – we are women, we are mommies, we are one hundred percent partners to those we love and we are life changers all through the use of a guide dog!

The founders of this Alumni Chapter are four phenomenal women: Rhonda Patrick (Treasurer), Kelsey Sparks (Secretary), Joy Ross (Vice President) and Tracy Boyd (President).  Please "Like" our Facebook page "Mommies with Guides" and join our Alumni Chapter - we'd love to have you!

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Alumni Connections: GDB Alumni Chapters

By: Melissa Hudson, Chapter Coordinator

One of the many ways Guide Dogs for the Blind sets itself apart, is our amazing Alumni Association! Within our Alumni Association, we have fabulous, unique and varied Alumni Chapters, just like all of our grads! Joining an Alumni Chapter is a great way to connect with fellow guide dog handlers, puppy raisers and your community at large. Yes, GDB Alumni Chapters are open to grads, puppy raisers, community members, friends and family too!

Here is a list of our geographically-based chapters:

Colorado Alumni Chapter of GDB
The Foggy Doggies (Northern California)
GDB Handlers of the Northeast
Great White North GDB Alumni Chapter (Canada)
Guide Dog Handlers of the Midwest (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana & Michigan)
Guide Dog Teams of Orange County (Southern California)
North State Guide Dog Handlers (Chico, CA)
Oklahoma City GDB Alumni Chapter
Reigning Canines (Portland, OR)
River City Guide Dog Users (Sacramento, CA)
San Diego Alumni Chapter (Southern California)
Sunshine Guide Dog Teams (Florida)
Big Star Dawgs (Texas)
The Greatest Paws on Earth (Utah)
Washington State GDB Alumni
Windy City Chapter (Chicago, IL)

Now, here's a list of our interest-based Alumni Chapters:

GDB Cruisers (people who love traveling via cruises)
GDB Tech Dogs (people interested in assistive technology)
Guide Dog Handlers All Ways (graduates with multiple disabilities)
Talking Dogs Alumni Chapter (people involved in the Speakers Bureau)

Here's a list of Alumni Chapters that are no longer active but, are seeking new members to help re-establish them (We need your help!):

GDB Los Angeles Guide Dogs Alumni Chapter
Greater Toronto GDB Alumni Chapter
Montana Guide Dog Handlers
Montreal Chapter

As you can tell, we have quite a fun and diverse group of Alumni Chapters! All of our Alumni Chapters are always looking for new members, so why not join one, help re-establish one or start a new one! If that sounds interesting to you, please email me directly at mhudson@guidedogs.com and I'll get you started on the path to being connected!

Each Alumni Chapter has its own meeting schedule and dynamics, whether the meetings are via conference call, in person or online. That's what's so great about our Alumni Chapters - their flexibility, love for each other and GDB! In future blog posts, we'll spotlight one of our amazing Alumni Chapters to give you a better insight, so keep checking in!

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