Guide Dog Users
of California

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
2004 FALL CONVENTION PREVIEW
FUN DAY
DEAR DOGS AND CATS
GDUI CONVENTION REPORT, BIRMINGHAM, 2004
GDUC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

As I sit down to write to you, I hear the whistle of a passing train and the continuous song of a small locust ensemble. I am now officially living in Kansas City, Missouri, and my first trip back to Los Angeles will happen just in time for CCB’s fall convention. You can read more about GDUC’s fall agenda in the convention preview which will appear next in Forward.

Speaking of conventions, this issue of Forward will also feature a report of GDUI’s activities in Birmingham last July.

The most exciting news for California handlers is the signing into law of our safe travel legislation by Governor Schwarzenegger. Special thanks to Dan Kysor, Shirley Manning and everyone else who worked with Assemblywoman Fran Pavley and her staff to strengthen assistance dog protection legislation in California.

I want to inform everyone reading this issue of Forward that Guide Dog Users of California is seeking nominations for election to the following positions: president, vice president, treasurer and two directors. Jerry Arakawa is chairing this committee for GDUC and can be reached by phone at 310-398-7004 or . These elections will take place at GDUC’s fall business meeting Saturday morning, October 30, at 8:30 A.M., Los Angeles Airport Marriot, 5855 W. Century Blvd.

I am once again asking for someone to step up to the plate and take on the task of editing Forward. This will be my last issue as your stand-in editor, although I will be writing to all of you once more as GDUC’s president in the winter issue. Please contact me, Sheila Styron by phone at 816-363-3172 or if you are interested in this position. Now please enjoy the rest of Forward.

NCCB’s 2004 fall convention runs from Thursday, October 28 through noon on Sunday, October 31, at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel, located at 5855 West Century Blvd. GDUC will be sharing a table in the exhibit hall with the Sacramento chapter where our new T-shirts will be on sale for $20.00. They are a gorgeous shade of blue and feature an embroidered version of GDUC’s logo on the front.

As has become our tradition, GDUC will once again be serving a complementary continental breakfast at 8:15, Saturday morning before our business meeting gets underway at 8:30. GDUC will be electing a new president, and the positions of vice president, treasurer and two directorships are up for grabs.

After a break, at 10:15, GDUC’s morning program will feature Dr. Jane Brackman. Dr. Brackman is a leading expert on the cultural history of domestic dogs. She's the author of two books, and consults with numerous museums. Her articles appear regularly in popular publications. She was a guide dog school administrator for several years and currently serves on the California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Jane’s interest in the cultural evolution of dogs is a result of a unique combination of experience in a variety of disciplines including education, guide dog school management, canine biology and history. Dr. Brackman will discuss, in words that lay persons can understand, some of the mysteries still perplexing scientists about Canis Familiaris such as the oddities that occur as wolves change to dogs, the eccentricities of canine biology, and the curious relationship between form and function in dog breeds. The lecture will include discussion of some of the most current dog science projects.

GDUC’s luncheon will be one you won’t want to miss. Special guest speaker, Elizabeth Morosco, is being honored with GDUC's Lifetime Achievement Award. Before her 21 years as Assistant Field Rep at GDB's Topanga facility, Liz headed up 4H projects including raising guide dog puppies. Liz was chosen as Woman of the Year in 2003 for California's 41st District, and she will entertain you with all her experiences, humorous and touching, from a lifetime filled with guide dogs at GDUC's luncheon. Liz is much loved and has contributed tirelessly to guide dog teams, and GDUC is proud to honor her with its Lifetime Achievement award.

I attended the Fun Day at Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael with my puppy-raising group again this year. I thought it would be a good socializing experience for my guide dog, Baltic, because she has had three run ins with aggressive dogs since Christmas. This has left her nervous around dogs she doesn't know and there are times when she'll bark at other dogs. Fortunately for Baltic, the dogs didn't physically injure her.

When we first got to the GDB campus, Baltic seemed fine and I thought things were going to be fine. But when we encountered a group of puppies and raisers standing on the sidewalk, Baltic backed up and acted like she wanted to run the other way. The other raisers were surprised at her reaction until I and the people in my club explained what had happened to Baltic in the passed few months. They were all supportive.

I healed Baltic through the crowd and when we had reached the end, I petted her a reassured her that these dogs were not going to hurt her. I decided not to work her and just healed her the rest of the day. Baltic was still nervous of all the dogs for a while but she gradually gained back her usual confidence and inquisitiveness and wanted to visit the puppies. I let her visit the dogs as long as she behaved herself and did a sit stay until I gave her permission to go make friends.

At the end of the day, we met one of the standard poodles that GDB is training as a potential guide dog. The poodle was a black, male about 14 months old. He and Baltic wanted to play very badly. I was able to feel the poodle and he was tall with curly hair. His tail was short and his ears longer and shaped differently from a Labrador. Hopefully he'll be guiding someone soon. I did find out that Baltic's mother, Sunflower, has been retired from breeding. I was hoping I'd would see one of her parents at the parade of breeding stock but they weren't there.

As we investigated the items for sale by various puppy raising groups, I managed to find a few things I needed. There were clubs selling dog jewelry, dog necessities like collapsible bowls and leashes, things for your house and yard like wind chimes and they sold puppy raising themed clothes. I bought a fleece blanket for Baltic to lie on that folds up into a little pocket and a new back pack to carry Baltic's things in.

When we got home, Baltic ran laps around my living room to let off stress and then ate her dinner. She slept all evening and part of the next morning. We both had a good time and the puppies helped Baltic remember that all dogs aren't mean.

Lena and Baltic (Little Boo)
GDB Class OR69 Oct. 20, 2001

When I say to move, it means go someplace else, not switch positions with each other so there are still two of you in the way.

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help, because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king size bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort. Look at videos of dogs and cats sleeping, they can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing but sarcasm.

My compact discs are not miniature Frisbees.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. In addition, I have been using bathrooms for years - canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cats' butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Once again, I was privileged to serve as GDUC’s delegate to Guide Dog Users, Inc.’s convention held in conjunction with that of the American Council of the Blind in Birmingham, Alabama, early last July. A wide variety of events both informative and entertaining were enjoyed by those in attendance, including the appearance of three handlers working miniature guide horses.

Ginger Bennett ran an enthusiastic and well attended affiliate meeting where we learned that guide dog handlers around the country are busy fighting for their rights and strengthening guide dog protection legislation as we have done in California.

It was hot and humid in Birmingham, but handlers braved it on July 4, Sunday afternoon for two outdoor orientation sessions where teams could learn the lay of the land between the hotel and convention center. Again this year, handlers met each morning at 7 to walk to a nearby restaurant, which route proved to be a bit more challenging this time around, as although the distance was short, we had to cross a couple of freeway entrances/exits to make it to Sophie’s. Thanks to all the guide dog instructors from around the country who helped us out in Birmingham with this route and so much more.

Monday afternoon’s activities were kicked off by Ann Edie and Alexandra Curlin who brought us up to date on The Panda Project. Panda is Ann’s mini guide horse who was not unfortunately allowed to fly with her from upstate New York to Birmingham, a situation still in the process of negotiation for future flying working teams with the FAA.

Following, was a hands-on workshop presented by the Seeing Eye and conducted by Carla Campbell and Vicky Winslow. Those of you who attended GDUC’s spring convention will remember the great job Carla did when she put on a similar version of this popular event.

Monday evening featured school updates with all the programs in attendance telling us a little about how their organizations got their starts which along with other presentations you will be hearing in Pawtracks. This portion of the evening was just a warm-up to GDUI’s reception honoring The Seeing Eye celebrating 75 years of proud history producing working teams.

Tuesday morning, at 11:30, I married Bill Stephan at Lynn Park, a location steeped in civil rights history. There were several teams helping us celebrate, throwing kibble instead of rice. Everyone made it back to the hotel in time for a presentation by Dr. Karen Overall, a world renowned veterinarian and animal behaviorist discussing the use of pharmacological options that may solve working problems, prolonging the life of a working team.

At GDUI’s business meeting, GDUI members had a chance to hear from candidates running for ACB offices, and although we were flattered that so many speakers showed up, our meeting ran quite long making it unfortunately necessary to postpone the Guiding Eyes from the Blind workshop on local advocacy until next year’s convention.

At its business meeting, GDUI held elections, and since Debbie Grubb’s four years as GDUI’s president were complete, I was elected to follow in her capable footsteps. DeAnna Noriega remains as GDUI’s first vice president, and Kevin Chinn, known to many of you for his tireless work in advocacy, was elected second vice president, filling the spot I previously occupied. GDUI’s new secretary is Nancy Trzcinski from Massachusetts, and no, I didn’t misspell her name. Jane Sheehan continues as GDUI’s treasurer, and GDUI proudly welcomes two new directors, Penny Reeder and Alice Ritchhart.

The Guiding Eyes for the Blind reception was a hit as always, and Tuesday evening’s GDUI activity was Taller Tales, as told by handlers instead of instructors ably hosted by Kae Madera.

GDUI’s luncheon continued the theme of our guide dog roots, and Thom Ainsworth, retired GDB instructor and original advocacy expert, was GDUI’s keynote speaker. GDUI’s programming after lunch featured two presentations which went together as if we had planned them to. First, Michele Pouliot addressed us on how Guide Dogs for the Blind is incorporating food rewards into training along with the use of food in shaping positive responses in our dogs. She was then joined by Lukas Franck for a discussion of methods of positive training in general in guide work. Lots of good information led to lots of questions leading to even more good info.

GDUI’s walk scheduled for Thursday afternoon was cancelled because of hot humid weather induced lack of interest. So our last real GDUI event took place Wednesday evening. DeAnna Noriega hosted an evening of good advice and role play surrounding “all those sticky situations” handlers sometimes face while interacting with the public.

Next year, it’s off to Vegas with our guides, and what excitement will we be reporting in fall, 2005? Will there be dancing dogs?.

Sheila Styron, President, 32 W. Dartmouth Road Kansas City, MO 64113 sharkent@aol.com

Ann Kysor, Vice President, 225 15th Street West Sacramento, CA 95691, 916-372-9869 ann@kysor.net

Jerry Arakawa, Secretary, 11180 Orville St. Culver City, CA 90230-5380 310-398-7004 jarakawa@comcast.net

Dan Kysor, Treasurer, 225 15th Street West Sacramento, CA 95691 916-372-9869 Dan@kysor.net

Shirley Manning, Director, 201 South Alexandria Ave. #203 Los Angeles, CA 90004 213-487-5570 smanning@jfb.org

Gina McGaughey, Director, 430 St. Haight Ave. Alameda, CA 93277 510-521-4033 lovedogs@alamedanet.net

Melita Waters, Immediate Past President, 220 Capri Ave. Santa Ana, CA 92703-4110 714-836-4993 mjwaters@surfree.com