[Nfbnet-members-list] Become a Member of Our Guide Dog Users' Division

[NAGDU President]

Dear NFBNET Subscribers,

                 Since you are subscribed to a 
discussion list on this service, you are either a 
member of the National Federation of the Blind or 
interested in becoming a member of the oldest, 
largest, most dynamic membership organization of 
the blind in the world. I am certain you are 
aware that the National Federation of the Blind 
is one unified organization, so if you belong to 
any part of this incredible organization you are 
a part of the whole. I am also certain you know 
that the National Federation of the Blind is on 
the forefront of removing the obstacles of low 
expectation we face as blind people, whether 
those obstacles are legal, economic, social, 
physical, or attitudinal barriers. Our strength 
lies in the truth that we are the most 
influential force in removing these barriers and 
it is due to our organizational and philosophical unity.

The National Association of Guide dog Users is 
the nation’s leading membership organization for 
blind people who use guide dogs.  NAGDU is a 
strong and proud division of the National 
Federation of the Blind. We conduct public 
awareness campaigns on issues of guide dog use, 
provide advocacy support for guide dog handlers 
who face discrimination, support sound policy and 
effective legislation to protect the rights of 
guide dog users, offer educational programs to 
school and civic organizations, and function as 
an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind.

                 If you are a guide dog user or 
interested in issues concerning guide dog users, 
you owe it to yourself to become a member of the 
organization that is leading the way for guide 
dog users’. For instance, when Delta Airlines 
decided to implement a policy that violates the 
Air Carrier Access Act, we were the only service 
animal consumer group that met with Delta 
officials face-to-face – including the president 
of Delta Airlines – to represent the voice of 
guide dog users. When guide and other service 
animal users face discrimination, the NAGDU 
Hotline is where they turn for support and 
information. The NAGDU Guide & Service Animal 
Mobile app is the only place you can find all the 
state and federal laws about access to public 
places in the palm of your hand whether you use 
an iOS or Android device. The annual NAGDU 
Seminar provides the most informative, cutting 
edge information about guide dog use in the 
United States. The national convention of the 
National Federation of the Blind is the largest 
gathering of any membership consumer organization 
in the world with nearly 3000 registrants of 
which about 400 are guide dog users. Why would 
you not want to be a part of this incredible organization?

                 If you are already a member of 
the National Association of Guide Dog Users, I 
want to thank you for your support and encourage 
you to find ways to become more actively 
involved. If you are not a member, I want to help 
you join this dynamic group of guide dog users. 
Your time, talent, and energy are the elements 
that make us the strong, influential voice we have come to be!

                 Becoming a member of the 
National Association of Guide Dog Users is very 
simple. We start by recommending you join one of 
our affiliate divisions, if one is organized in 
your state, since membership in an affiliate 
division constitutes membership in the National 
Association of Guide Dog Users. We currently have 
affiliate divisions in the following states:

California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Michigan
Missouri
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin

We also have a few affiliate Guide Dog Users 
Committees (the first step in becoming a 
division) and some interest in organizing 
divisions in other states, so if your affiliate 
is not in the above list and you are interested 
in helping us organize a division, please get in touch with me.

                 If there is not a division in 
your affiliate, you are invited to join the 
National Association of Guide dog Users. Joining 
NAGDU only takes a few clicks and our dues are a 
nominal $5.00. We are currently in the process of 
overhauling our website and the “Join NAGDU” 
button was inadvertently dropped but it will be 
up very soon! In the meantime, don't let this 
deter you from joining. Simply click the 
following link to go directly to our donate page

http://nagdu.org/nagdu/donate.html

and send us an email to <treasurer at nagdu.org> 
letting us know you joined. Membership is 
generally from convention to convention; however, 
if you join between now and this year’s 
convention, we will extend your membership to our 2019 convention.

                 So, join now and be a part of 
the change that is occurring in the world of 
guide dog use! We look forward to your energy and support!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
(813) 626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG


The National Federation of the Blind knows that 
blindness is not the characteristic that defines 
you or your future. Every day we raise 
expectations because low expectations create 
barriers between blind  people and our dreams. 
You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.